Gibson Mark 35 (MK35) info?

[Thomas James]

In a perfect world. Would the top of a Mark 35 be domed?

I know these are unique. The Kasha bracing, etc. This one has got the bridge/saddle too far forward by ~ 1/4"  Half the string holes go through the brace under the bridge. The tiny bridge plate split, the bridge is lifting. And other crazy stuff... I am considering a repair to stabilize it. A sentimental job.

[Eric Steven Johansen]

I had a 35 I sold at one of your swap meets way back when, and it had a slight dome to it, but I must say it was one of the blandest sounding guitars I've ever owned. Must be really sentimental..............

[Frank Ford]

• In a perfect world there would be no Gibson Mark guitars.  (Sorry, but I just couldn't resist that cheap shot.)

Seriously, there were so many production problems with that ill-fated series of guitars that many if not most were declared "seconds" and sold off cheaply.  Those usually have a "2" stamped in the back of the peg head, between the tuners.  Others were much worse off and stamped "BGN"  and presumably sold for next to nothing to factory employees at the time.

Back in the day, we the term "Mark" was often used to denote revision or version number, but we always assumed that for these guitars it referred to the purchaser. . .

[Greg Mirken]

I've never figured out what BGN stands for; do you know?

[Thomas James]

Thanks for the info guys.  I think a quick robust repair will work. He just wants it to be playable. It was a gift from days gone by. I got the bridge off easy with no heat and little prying. The three dimensional rosette sound hole ring was falling off.

BGN. I read somewhere a fellow claimed it meant 'Bargain'?

[Paul Verticchio]

We had one as a trade-in last year.  Boy, did it have problems and was not marked as a second or a bargain.

I convinced the dealer not to put any repair $$$ into it using the theory that "Anyone whose dumb enough to buy one of these guitars deserves the privilege of paying for repairs themselves." He laughed & agreed.

BTW: That guitar weighed in at over 8 lbs.  There was enough wood in it to make two 000 sized guitars.

[Joshua Levin-Epstein]

BGN = Begone!

[Hesh Breakstone]

I have a very good customer/friend who has a Mark series Gibson (higher end model...) that we have been trying to keep singing for him for some years now.  He loves it even with his very own bong water and vomit stains from college in the sound hole (not kidding.... does Stew-Mac sell Haz-mat suits....).  This one is BRW and actually sounds pretty good when the sides and back aren't cracking...

In the day, the Mark series day.... these were billed as state-of-the-art and packed with innovation and features.  Psycho-acoustics was alive and well circa 1972ish.... and still seems to be to this day.... ;)