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c. 1947 Gibson ES-150

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Body size at lower bout: 17". Scale length: 25 1/2" Nut Width: 1 11/16"

Materials: Slab cut maple top, back, and sides; solid Honduras mahogany neck; Brazilian rosewood fingerboard and bridge.

Hardware: Original hardware includes adjustable P-90 pickup; nickel trapeze tailpiece; compensated rosewood bridge; bound tortoise pickguard, clear gold barrel tone and volume knobs, adjustable truss rod. Hand antiqued nickel Kluson style tuners.

Notes: Debuting in 1936, the ES-150 was the instrument Charlie Christian made famous: the first commercially successful electric guitar. Originally a 16" guitar, the ES-150 was upsized after the war to L-5 dimensions, with a 17" lower bout and the longer 25 1/2" scale. With it's larger body and longer neck, the postwar ES-150 is one of very few electric guitars that can hold its own both amplified and unplugged.

Larger and more costly than the ES-125, the 17" ES-150 is also much scarcer, produced only between 1947 and 1956. This brilliant example was built without a factory order number, but may be dated by construction details. The bound tortoise pickguard and prewar script logo were discontinued by late 1948, around the same time that the adjustable polepieces in the P-90 pickup were introduced, and the dot fingerboard and no-number barrel knobs are both seen only on examples before 1950.

From the family of the original owner, this lovingly maintianed guitar is in superb condition, with all original sunburst finish, and is without cracks, pick, buckle or thumbwear. Apart from a short weather check in the upper veneer on the back, the instrument appears strikingly pristine overall. The action is low and inviting, the P-90 pickup plays fat and sweet, and the Brazilian rosewood fingerboard has fine original frets over a gentle C profile neck. An exceptionally handsome and elegantly playable classic Gibson big-box jazz guitar. Call now.

Setup: This instrument is strung with medium gauge nickel roundwound strings (.012-.054). The guitar will accommodate lighter or heavier gauge strings, according to preference. String action is set at 5/64" to 6/64" 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.

Case: Original Gibson arched brown plushlined hardshell case.

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