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1971-2 Gibson ES-150DCN

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Serial #: 727978

Body size at lower bout: 16". Body depth: 3" Scale length: 24 3/4" Nut Width: 1 9/16"

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

Hardware: 100% original chrome hardware includes twin Gibson Patent sticker 'T-Top' humbucking pickups, and electronics including master volume control; Kluson Gibson Deluxe double ring tuners; trapeze tailpiece with raised-parallelogram crossbar; compensated adjustable Tune-O-Matic bridge; beveled 5-ply pickguard; 3 way control switch.

Notes: Perhaps no Gibson electric guitar has undergone more permutations than the venerable ES-150. Introduced in late 1936 as a 16" non-cutaway full depth archtop, the 150 revolutionized the course of popular music as the first commercially successful electric guitar, championed by the pioneering soloist Charlie Christian. By 1947, the model had been upsized to a 17" body, and fitted with the new P-90 single coil pickup. Discontinued in 1956, the model languished until 1969, when it reappeared in a radically new incarnation.

Boasting twin humbucking pickups, the rechristened ES-150DC became the first full depth, fully hollow double cutaway archtop guitar Gibson ever produced, and the only model so designed for almost half a century. Built in modest numbers, the 150 was finally dropped from the catalog in 1975, though a few examples eked out as late as 1979.

This example, now well into it's fifth decade, is in exceptional 100% original condition, free of pick, thumb or fingerboard wear, with all-original blonde finish and plating both bright and shiny. Finished in a gently ambered blonde lacquer, the body shows show attractive slab cut figure in the arched maple, with handsome birdseye figure on the back. With fine medium jumbo frets and a sleek, fast D profile neck, the fingerboard is utterly effortless to play. The 24 3/4" scale is fast and nimble, the twin original Patent sticker humbuckers are fat and sweet, and the 16" fully laminated body is crack resistant, easy to hold and offers enhanced resistant to feedback. This gleaming guitar is also fitted with the rare Gibson logo embossed pickup covers, seen only on guitars from late 1970 through 1972.

The unique double cutaway body facilitates unimpeded access to the full 22 fret fingerboard, and the master volume control on the treble cutaway horn is a very handy addition that is exclusive among Gibson full-depth archtops to this day. Free of pick, buckle, thumb or fingerboard wear, the instrument shows few signs of play altogether, apart from some wear to the pickup covers, and a tiny filled screw hole near the tailpiece.

A handsome and highly playable instrument in a distinguished lineage that spans a half century of hard-working guitars. One only: call now.

Setup: This instrument is strung with medium gauge nickel 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 black Gibson logo arched hardshell case with plush lining.

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