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1953 Gibson ES-295
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Serial #: A-15459, white oval label. Factory order #: Y5933 Body size at lower bout: 16". Scale length: 24 3/4" Nut Width: 1 11/16" Neck depth, 1st/10the frets: .83/.95
Materials: Arched slab cut maple laminate body; solid mahogany neck; solid Brazilian rosewood fingerboard with dual-parallelogram pearloid fingerboard inlay and peghead inlay; triple bound top, bound fingerboard and back.
Hardware: Original P-90 single coil pickups, and adjustable truss rod. Vintage correct Gibson gold triple parallelogram tailpiece, numbered gold barrel volume and tone knobs, single-ring gold Kluson Deluxe tuners, white plexi pickguard with gold floral motif, cream pickup covers, pickup riser, and adjustable compensated rosewood bridge. Original electronics and wiring harness included.
Notes: Just before Christmas of 1951, guitar legend Les Paul persuaded Gibson to build a custom ES-175 with a shimmering gold finish, which he presented as a holiday gift to a disabled player. By the next year, Gibson put this model into regular production as the ES-295.
Gibson's first 16" archtop with twin pickups, the ES-295 was an instant hit with its light weight body and flashy looks. Immortalized by Sun Studio guitarist Scotty Moore, the 295 earned its place in music history as the guitar that backed Elvis' very first recordings. Fitted with cream P-90 pickups until 1957, the ES-295 was discontinued altogether the following year.
This intriguing example has both a serial and factory order number from 1953, and retains all its original pickups, electronics, and wiring harness intact. With a natural blonde lacquer finish applied some years ago, the guitar was fitted with vintage correct gold parts including the triple parallelogram tailpiece, numbered barrel volume and tone knobs, Kluson Deluxe tuners, floral motif pickguard, cream pickup covers and riser, and compensated rosewood bridge.
Weighing in at barely 5lb, 13oz, this featherweight guitar is a delight to hold and simply floats on the lap or the strap. Maintained without pick, buckle, thumb, or fingerboard wear, the guitar has immaculate vintage width fretwork, with enhanced modern height for effortless contemporary feel and fret life. The 16" body sits easily in the lap, and the 24 3/4" scale makes stretch chords and fast runs a pleasure. The neck is gently rounded in profile, with smooth low action over the solid Brazilian rosewood fingerboard, and the original P-90 pickups are peerlessly clear and detailed. A section of the rim in the jack area was professionally replaced some time ago as well. Finally, the guitar is supplied with its original arched brown Gibson hardshell case, with original electronics and wiring harness.
With original examples fetching upwards of $20K or more on the vintage market, this guitar is an excellent restoration candidate, or enjoy the handsome slab cut maple body au natural, with true classic bop era tone. Your choice: one only, call now.
Setup: Trussrod tension and neck relief adjusted; bridge height adjusted; bridge compensation set; string slots at nut and bridge inspected and recut as necessary; bridge foot contour inspected and fit to top as necessary; bridge wheels and tuners lubricated; fingerboard and bridge oiled; body and neck cleaned and hand polished, electronics tested and adjusted.
This instrument is strung with medium gauge nickel round wound strings. The guitar will accommodate lighter or heavier gauge strings, according to preference. String action is set at 4/64" to 5/64" at the 12th fret, with light neck relief. The action may be lowered or raised to your requirements with the adjustable bridge.
