Gibson ES-125 Arch Top Hollow Body Electric Guitar , c. 1949
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Gibson ES-125 Model Arch Top Hollow Body Electric Guitar, c. 1949, made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, serial # 4441 (FON), sunburst top, dark back and sides finish, mahogany back, sides and neck, maple top, rosewood fingerboard, black tolex hard shell case.
This is an interesting and fairly early example of Gibson's post-WWII ES-125, the "bread and butter" electric during the company's period of rebuilding after the war years. This guitar has an odd mix of features, mostly specific to this era. The 16" body is laminated mahogany with a flat back but the top is maple, a mix we have only seen a few times. The pickup has non-adjustable slug poles, soon replaced by the familiar adjustable version. The tailpiece is an off-the-rack part not specific to Gibson, but probably all that was available at the time. The knobs are the earliest gold-backed clear style with no numbers, the tuners early postwar open-back Klusons and the post-war "Gibson" logo decal is the earliest "joined dot" version.
The Factory Order Number in this guitar is generally thought to indicate construction in the 1949 range, but many of these features are more typical of the 1947 period ES-125. Another Gibson conundrum! While marketed as a student model, these ES-125 guitars were fully a professional quality instrument and are often seen with many styles of players in period photographs. This one is a nice example of the model, quirky perhaps and showing some wear but a very good-playing and sounding guitar with an excellent neck angle and a livelier, punchier tone than many later '50s examples.
Overall length is 40 1/2 in. (102.9 cm.), 16 in. (40.6 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 3 1/4 in. (8.3 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 24 3/4 in. (629 mm.). Width of nut is 1 11/16 in. (43 mm.).
Overall this is a nice example, showing some typical wear and tear but remaining original with no serious damage or repair. The all-original finish shows some typical checking and a collection of minor dings, scratches, scuffs and dents, most heavily on the lower rim. There is a decent size area of "strap burn" on the lower back from some vinyl left in contact with the finish long ago. The back of the neck has some feelable dings and dents worn through the lacquer between the 3-7th fret zones.
All parts remain all original except possibly the tailpiece. The clear tone knob is a bit clouded. The original small frets have been crowned down in the lower positions and have some light wear but playability remains very good. 70+ years on this is a fine playing and sounding example of this modest but delightful Gibson classic, ready to gig housed in a good modern HSC. Overall Excellent - Condition.
This is an interesting and fairly early example of Gibson's post-WWII ES-125, the "bread and butter" electric during the company's period of rebuilding after the war years. This guitar has an odd mix of features, mostly specific to this era. The 16" body is laminated mahogany with a flat back but the top is maple, a mix we have only seen a few times. The pickup has non-adjustable slug poles, soon replaced by the familiar adjustable version. The tailpiece is an off-the-rack part not specific to Gibson, but probably all that was available at the time. The knobs are the earliest gold-backed clear style with no numbers, the tuners early postwar open-back Klusons and the post-war "Gibson" logo decal is the earliest "joined dot" version.
The Factory Order Number in this guitar is generally thought to indicate construction in the 1949 range, but many of these features are more typical of the 1947 period ES-125. Another Gibson conundrum! While marketed as a student model, these ES-125 guitars were fully a professional quality instrument and are often seen with many styles of players in period photographs. This one is a nice example of the model, quirky perhaps and showing some wear but a very good-playing and sounding guitar with an excellent neck angle and a livelier, punchier tone than many later '50s examples.
Overall length is 40 1/2 in. (102.9 cm.), 16 in. (40.6 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 3 1/4 in. (8.3 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 24 3/4 in. (629 mm.). Width of nut is 1 11/16 in. (43 mm.).
Overall this is a nice example, showing some typical wear and tear but remaining original with no serious damage or repair. The all-original finish shows some typical checking and a collection of minor dings, scratches, scuffs and dents, most heavily on the lower rim. There is a decent size area of "strap burn" on the lower back from some vinyl left in contact with the finish long ago. The back of the neck has some feelable dings and dents worn through the lacquer between the 3-7th fret zones.
All parts remain all original except possibly the tailpiece. The clear tone knob is a bit clouded. The original small frets have been crowned down in the lower positions and have some light wear but playability remains very good. 70+ years on this is a fine playing and sounding example of this modest but delightful Gibson classic, ready to gig housed in a good modern HSC. Overall Excellent - Condition.