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1961 Gibson ES-125 TC

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Serial #: 23366

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

Materials: Solid Honduras mahogany neck; maple top back, and sides; solid Brazilian rosewood fingerboard

Hardware: Original hardware includes black cover P-90 pickup with original pots, capacitor, and gold reflector cap tone and volume knobs; dark swirl tortoise pickguard; nickel-plated Kluson Deluxe tuners, raised-diamond trapeze tailpiece. Compensated adjustable ebony bridge.

Notes: Introduced in 1938 as the ES-100, the ES-125 was renamed in 1941, and remained in continuous production for over 30 years. The thinline version debuted in 1956, and the cutaway made its first appearance in 1960, succeeding the ES-225 model which was retired in 1958. The thinline cutaway ES-125TDC was the most popular version of the model, offering true Gibson quality and playability at an affordable price. The lightweight laminated body offers superior feedback resistance, and the clarity and range of the P-90 pickup and fast 24 3/4" scale makes for a highly versatile and playable combination. Essentially a thinline version of an early '50s ES-175, the model is ideal for jazz, blues, rockabilly and traditional guitar styles of all types.

Clean as a whistle, this example weighs in at an astounding 4lb. 12oz. and is an absolute delight to hold and play. In superb original condition, the guitar is without pick, buckle or thumbwear, right down to the original frets. The neck is the coveted early 60's shape with a gentle flattened D profile, and the full 1 11/16" fingerboard width. Apart from a bit of thumbwear on the neck near the frets, the guitar appears virtually unplayed, and the original cherry sunburst retains its vibrant color brilliantly. Action is smooth and low over freshly dressed original fretwork. The guitar is supplied with an original Gibson black plushlined hardshell case of the period. (The original black softshell case can also be shipped on request.) A solid and versatile player player, the ES-125 remains an outstanding value in a true vintage Gibson archtop.

Setup: The frets have been precision leveled, recrowned and polished; 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 radius inspected and recurved as necessary; bridge wheels and tuners lubricated; fingerboard and bridge oiled; body and neck cleaned and hand polished. The guitar is strung with nickel roundwound strings (.012-.054).

Case: Original Gibson fiber case.

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