Trying to learn about my gibson blues king

[andymac0035]

Hi, I'm a newbie.

I'm trying to learn about a guitar I have.
It was given to me as a gift in 1997.

It says Gibson Montana Division on the hardshell case.
Inside the guitar is says

Gibson 1894-1994 100 years
style- blues king
number- 90184018

It has a black finish with off-white trim.

[nvosmeier]

Does it look like this?

Gibon Blues King

Available Finishes:
Vintage Sunburst, Antique Walnut
Gibson Montana introduces the L-Series Blues King Model, with the small-body shape of the 1930s Gibson L-00 but with a slightly shallower body depth for a fuller, more balanced tone.

"The new Blues King takes the traditional Gibson L-Series design a step forward," says Henry Juszkiewicz, Gibson chairman and CEO. "The L-Series flat-tops have been favorites of blues guitarists from the very beginning, and we believe the Blues King will inspire a new generation of artists to carry on a great American art form."

http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/7065/l00blueskingsx8.jpg

[andymac0035]

Yes, it looks like that, except for the sunburst finish.

I'm curious as to the guitar's value as well.
I'm debating between selling it or keeping it.
I play as a hobby, I'm not a serious musician or anything.

Here are some pics I took of it.
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/3/web/663000-663999/663915_230_full.jpg
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/3/web/663000-663999/663915_231_full.jpg
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/3/web/663000-663999/663915_232_full.jpg

[Gibson-Talk]

These can be purchased new for $1,800 and on Ebay they haven't been selling too well. If you search for completed auctions on Ebay for these you'll see one sold for $1,500 but five others that haven't met reserves and only got bids up to $1000 or less.

The sunburst is the most popular. I thought they only came in sunburst and walnut. I'm not sure about the black color.

[andymac0035]

I wondered if the black (ebony right?) finish was an oddball color or not.
I thought that it might be considered rare, and the fact that it is a 100th anniversary edition might help it's value as well.

[Gibson-Talk]

I don't know if that 100th edition makes any value difference or not. Or why yours is black. You could always call Gibson Montana and ask them for the details with your serial number.

[Wally]

From "Gibson's Fabulous Flattop Guitars" by my friend Eldon Whitford along with David Vinopal and Dan Erlewine...
The L-00 was introduced sometime between late '29 and early '31. "The more common examples of the L-00 from this period share these characteristics: black lacquer finish all around, spruce top and mahogany sides and back, white binding on top only, V-shaped neck, rectangular rosewood bridge, 14 frets-to-the-body and pearl dots in a rosewood fingerboard (twin dots at the 12th fret), three on a plate tuners on a tapered peghead, mock-tortoise shell pickguard (a few in white celluloid), and either "The Gibson" or "Gibson" in the old script silkscreened diagonally across the peghead."
"By 1934 the finish was sunburst with an amber area of perhaps only six inches in diameter."

Andy, it would appear that you have a modern version of the first incarnation of the L-00.
Cool guitar.

[andymac0035]

Thanks!