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1959 Gibson ES-125
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Factory order #: S853-29
Body size at lower bout: 16". Scale length: 24 13/4" Nut Width: 1 11/16" Neck depth, 1st/10th frets: .87/1.02
Materials: Solid Honduras mahogany neck, arched slab-cut maple back and top; mahogany sides; solid Brazilian rosewood fingerboard..
Hardware: All original hardware includes nickel raised diamond trapeze tailpiece, compensated Brazilian rosewood bridge, gold bell knobs, Kluson Deluxe tuners, contoured tortoise pickguard.
Notes: Some guitars get babied. Some rode hard. And a few just plain forgotten.
Introduced in 1938 as the ES-100, the Gibson ES-125 was renamed in 1941, and remained in continuous production for over 30 years. With its clear P-90 pickup and fast 24 1/2" scale, the ES-125 was the firm's most popular electric archtop, offered true Gibson quality and playability at an affordable price. The laminated body offers superior feedback resistance, and the guitar produces a lively acoustic tone for playing unplugged.
This gleaming instrument is in phenomenal 100% original condition, with all original hardware and finish, without cracks, pick, buckle, fret or fingerboard wear. Even the expected light checking in a finish of this vintage is amazingly absent. In short, this brilliant little box is about as close to new old stock as we've ever seen in this model: someone, somewhere, seems to have put it away and simply forgotten about it, for over sixty years.
At barely 5lb 2oz this guitar is remarkably lightweight, and nimbly balanced on the lap or the strap. The original P-90 pickup provides smooth classic single-coil tone, with excellent clarity and detail, and the guitar has smooth low action over a fresh high-precision setup, on a classic traditional C profile neck. Even its original Gibson brown alligator case remains just as pristine as the guitar it contains.
A solid player for jazz, swing or blues, the ES-125 remains by far the best value in a true vintage Gibson archtop. We've never seen one more attractive, and we don't expect to anytime soon. One only: call now.
Setup: This instrument is strung with medium gauge roundwound 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 moderate relief for acoustic playing with medium strings. The action may be lowered or raised to your requirements with the adjustable bridge.
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