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1953 Gibson ES-150N
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Factory order #: Y7023-7 stamped on inside back, at treble soundhole.
Body size at lower bout: 17" Scale length: 25 1/2" Nut Width: 1 11/16" Neck depth, 1st/10th frets: .89/.99
Materials: Arched slab-cut maple top, back, and sides; solid Honduran mahogany neck; Brazilian rosewood fingerboard; polished aluminum nut.
Hardware: Original nickel hardware includes P-90 single coil pickup and electronics, raised diamond trapeze tailpiece, compensated adjustable Brazilian rosewood bridge, gold numbered barrel tone and volume knobs. Vintage correct aged 5-ply beveled pickguard and aged Kluson Deluxe 15:1 tuners installed, original tuners included.
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. This noncutaway model assumed its final version in 1950, with the bound fingerboard and trapezoidal inlays.
With it's larger body and longer neck, the 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. (In the last year of production just 6 ES-150s were built, in contrast to some 1273 ES-175s and a whopping 3090 of the ES-125.)
To find this model in natural finish is exceedingly rare, as a blonde finish option for this model was not offered in Gibson catalogs, or recorded in factory shipping records. Quite possibly a custom order, this striking guitar is only the first ES-150 in natural finish we have ever had the pleasure to offer, and the warmly aged lacquer finish checks out as all original under rigorous inspection.
Maintained in sparkling condition, the guitar shows a figured slab-cut arched maple body, and lightweight mahogany neck, all remarkably free of pick, buckle or thumb wear. The original frets remain in fine condition in the lovely Brazilian rosewood fingerboard, with only a bit of grooving in the first position. This closet kitty rarely left the comfort of the plush pink lining of its original brown Lifton hardshell case, every bit as pretty as the guitar it held.
Gibson's soundboard and back plates in this era are a fraction of the weight of later models, and at a scant 5lb. 9 oz. this guitar has a surprisingly robust unplugged voice. The original P-90 pickup is clear, detailed, and faithful to the acoustic tone, with all original volume and tone pots and barrel capacitor in excellent condition.
The action is low and even with a high-precision setup over the gentle C profile neck. The voice is pure '50s: from bop to rockabilly to T-Bone blues. With its L-5 size and L-5 scale, this handsome guitar offers true vintage performance, at a player's price. Rare as can be, and pretty as they come: one only, call now.
Setup: This instrument is strung with medium gauge nickel flatwound 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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