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1956 Gibson ES-140TN, Rare Blonde, 1 of 8

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FON #: V6776-16 Body size at lower bout: 12 3/4". Scale length: 22 3/4" Nut Width: 1 9/16" Neck depth, 1st/10th frets: .88/.97

Materials: Arched slab-cut maple body; solid Honduran mahogany neck; solid Brazilian rosewood fingerboard; dot mother of pearl fingerboard inlays; bound top and back.

Hardware: Original hardware includes P-90 single coil pickup, pots and cap, nickel trapeze tailpiece, contoured tortoise pickguard, adjustable Brazilian rosewood bridge, gold bell knobs. Vintage correct Kluson Deluxe tuners.

Notes: Introduced in 1950, the Gibson ES-140 was unique in the marketplace: a full-depth, cutaway archtop guitar in a compact 3/4 body size. A scaled-down version of the ever-popular ES-175, the ES-140 offered big guitar performance for the player seeking a more diminutive instrument, or just travelling light. When the full depth model was discontinued in 1956, Gibson supplanted it with this thinline version, the ES-140T.

Produced in sunburst finish until 1970, the ES-140T was offered in blonde for only three short years, from 1956 to 1958. During its abbreviated run, a grand total of just 57 examples of the ES-140TN rolled off the line, and this little wonder is one of just 8 examples produced in natural finish in the debut year.

Maintained in gleaming condition, the guitar has all original finish and electronics, including the black dogear P-90 single coil pickup, volume and tone pots, and Sprague 'bumble bee' capacitor. All binding is original and tight to the body, and the instrument is notably free of pick, buckle, thumb or fingerboard wear, with fine original fretwork.

Tipping the scales at a scant 4lb 2oz, this featherweight marvel is simply a delight, on the lap or the strap. The neck is gently rounded in a comfy C profile, playing elegantly, with smooth low action over a fresh high precision setup. Surprisingly resonant for a guitar its size, this pint sized thinline sits handily under the arm, and the fast scale length makes stretch chords and fast runs a breeze. The legendary P-90 pickup provides a detailed, open tone, unrivalled to this day.

The original tortoise pickguard, chrome trapeze tailpiece, gold bell knobs, and Brazilian rosewood bridge all remain fitted to the guitar, with a vintage correct set of nickel Kluson Deluxe tuners restored to the peghead. The lustrous blonde finish has ambered to a warm honey hue, with just enough scattered spider checking to assure its originality. With a recent pro neck set, both neck angle and bridge height are excellent, with ample room for saddle adjustment up or down. Apart from a bit of case wear to the upper bass side, the guitar shows few signs of use altogether,

Complete with its original Gibson brown alligator fiber case, this petite player is as rare as they come, and every bit as handsome. An exceedingly nimble travel companion, from the bandstand to the overhead bin, 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 and grounding tested, pickup adjusted.

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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