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1956 Gibson ES-295

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Serial #: A-23915, white oval label. Factory order #: V 5310-21

Finish: original gold finish, nitrocellulose type

Body size at lower bout: 16". Scale length: 24 3/4" Nut Width: 1 11/16"

Materials: Solid mahogany neck; solid Brazilian rosewood fingerboard; arched maple top and back; dual-parallelogram mother of pearl fingerboard inlay and crown peghead inlay; triple bound top, bound back.

Hardware: All original gold hardware includes P-90 single coil pickup and electronics, single-ring Kluson Deluxe tuners, combination trapeze tailpiece/adjustable bridge, numbered barrel knobs, white royalite pickguard with gold floral motif.

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.

The ES-295 was fitted with cream P-90 pickups until 1957, then discontinued altogether by the following year. It is equipped with the same trapeze tailpiece/bridge as the original Les Paul Model, but happily, the strings curl over the bridge bar, allowing palm muting with ease.

Weighing in at just 6lb 8oz, this eyecatching guitar is a joy to hold, on the lap or the strap. The instrument has all original hardware, and has been well maintained without pick, buckle, or fingerboard wear. The 16" body sits easily under the arm, and the 24 3/4" scale makes stretch chords and fast runs a pleasure. The neck shows some light thumbwear, and the finish shows scattered normal lacquer checking, with a few random nicks and a solid older headstock repair. The neck has a comfy full C profile, with smooth low action over the solid Brazilian rosewood fingerboard, and the twin P-90 pickups are wonderfully clear and detailed. Finally, the guitar is supplied with its original deluxe arched brown Gibson Faultless hardshell case, complete with pink plush lining.

A glittering example of Gibson's true Golden Age. One only: call now.

Setup: The frets have been precision leveled, recrowned and polished as required; 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.

This instrument is strung with medium gauge nickel flatwound 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 deluxe brown Gibson arched hardshell case.