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1974-5 Gibson ES-150DC

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Serial #: 551171

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 Kluson Gibson Deluxe double ring tuners; trapeze tailpiece with raised-parallelogram crossbar; solid rosewood adjustable bridge; twin Gibson Patent stamped humbucking pickups and electronics including master volume control; 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 and only full depth double cutaway archtop guitar Gibson ever produced. Built in modest numbers, the model was finally dropped from the catalog in 1975, though a few examples eked out as late as 1979. Color options included walnut, cherry and natural finishes, with the blondes outnumbered by the walnut guitars by almost three to one. (A mere 78 examples of the blonde ES-150DC shipped out of Kalamazoo in 1975.)

This example, now well into it's third decade, is in sparkling original condition, free of pick, thumb or fingerboard wear, with 100% original finish and plating both bright and shiny. Absent even typical finish checking, the guitar shows little sign of age or play altogether. The top and back show nice slab cut figure in the arched maple, and with excellent 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 humbuckers are fat and sweet, and the 16" body is easy to cradle and substantially resistant to feedback. 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 Gibson inexplicably abandonded on its full-depth archtops to this day. A handsome and highly playable instrument in a distinguished lineage that spans a half century of hard-working guitars.

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

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