Gibson ES-295 Owned by Jeff Tweedy of Wilco Arch Top Hollow Body Electric Guitar (1955)
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Gibson ES-295 Owned by Jeff Tweedy of Wilco Model Arch Top Hollow Body Electric Guitar (1955), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, serial # A-20956, cherry sunburst re- finish, laminated maple body; mahogany neck with brazilian rosewood fingerboard, original brown hard shell case.
This is a very cool and unique guitar, just out of the Wilco Loft where it has been living for the last 17 years or so. It is a great playing and sounding original Gibson ES-295 finished not in the model's usual gleaming gold but a bright cherry sunburst. This is a later refinish but gives every indication of being Gibson factory work, likely done in the mid-1960s when this was the standard finish on a number of models; before 1968 the Les Paul re-issues the gold finish was not in use. As a further indication of this timing, the originally gold-played tailpiece was re-plated in chrome, as was standard at the time in Kalamazoo. We have seen a number of Gibson factory re-finish jobs through the years, but this one is particularly nicely done and in its own way as striking looking as the original gold livery.
The guitar retains all of its original features and hardware including the fancy cream-colored floral decorated pickguard, double P-90 pickups with white plastic "dog ear" covers and the classic four-knob tone/volume control array with amber "hatbox" knobs and switch tip. The top is triple-bound; the back and fingerboard are single-bound. The rosewood fingerboard has double parallelogram inlays; the headstock has a pearl crown and "Gibson" inlay. Interestingly enough the refinish on the headstock face blanked out the dot in "Gibson" which the worker apparently failed to mask off! Apart from the replated tailpiece the original gold-plating remains intact (a bit worn in spots) on the rest of the hardware. It also appears the fingerboard was refretted and rebound at the same time, as the larger wire and binding are 1960s style rather than 1950s.
That adjustable patent pending "Les Paul" trapeze style bridge/tailpiece with the strings looping over was thankfully retained when the guitar was re-worked; this solid metal bar bridge is a defining element in the ES-295's tone. Other than this the model is essentially an ES-175D featuring the same laminated maple body and mahogany neck. The 295 has been long recognized as one of the most iconic guitars of the 1950s in its gold finish, but this one is unique and puts a whole new spin on the model's look.
Gibson built 1,770 ES-295s between 1952 and 1958, but this is likely the ONLY one with this particular cherryburst color scheme; gold overall was the only finish originally offered. As this finish is known to not wear well (particularly on the neck) it is likely an owner had the probably worn guitar refurbished at Gibson in the later 1960s, when it would have already been well over 10 years old. The "A" Artist serial number indicates it was originally shipped around June-July 1955, one of 166 sold that year. The Factory order number X8680-12 places its initial construction in 1954; sales of the 295 seem to have quickly sagged after a strong start in 1953 and this example must have sat in stock for a time before being shipped.
The ES-295 was most famously played by Scotty Moore on Elvis Presley's iconic Sun records, and so often considered the ultimate Rockabilly guitar. The classic 1950s Ersel Hickey photo that epitomizes the Rockabilly aesthetic features him with his ES-295 and drape suit, the quintessential bopper. The (usually) all-gold showboat ranks along with the Gretsch 6120 as the quintessential "Cool Cat's" guitar and a timelessly great-playing/sounding instrument; this cherry-shaded beauty one has a tag From H&H Music in Texas under case lid so likely it was part of some interesting scenes even before landing in the Wilco Loft in Chicago.
Overall length is 40 3/4 in. (103.5 cm.), 16 1/16 in. (40.8 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 3 3/8 in. (8.6 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 24 3/4 in. (629 mm.). Width of nut is 1 3/4 in. (44 mm.).
This is a simply great-looking and playing 295, re-worked at the factory to a one-of-a-kind instrument. It shows not too much play time since but with simply carries tons of vibe. The (1960s) finish is quite clean overall showing surprisingly little checking with some small dings and chips mostly around the edges but really no serious wear. The rear pickup riser looks to have been replaced at the time but all the other fittings appear unchanged from the 1960s; no strap button was ever even added at the heel.
The gold plating is lightly worn with a nice patina, the chrome tailpiece is still clean. The guitar retains the larger 1960s frets with very little wear; really it looks like the instrument was only sparingly used after the factory refresh. This is an excellent gigging 295; still original sonically and in its own way as flashy as always -- a great-sounding 1950s Gibson with a 1960s vibe as well. It includes the original HSC, somewhat worn but serviceable with the Wilco loft markings along the lower edge. Restored to Excellent Condition.
This is a very cool and unique guitar, just out of the Wilco Loft where it has been living for the last 17 years or so. It is a great playing and sounding original Gibson ES-295 finished not in the model's usual gleaming gold but a bright cherry sunburst. This is a later refinish but gives every indication of being Gibson factory work, likely done in the mid-1960s when this was the standard finish on a number of models; before 1968 the Les Paul re-issues the gold finish was not in use. As a further indication of this timing, the originally gold-played tailpiece was re-plated in chrome, as was standard at the time in Kalamazoo. We have seen a number of Gibson factory re-finish jobs through the years, but this one is particularly nicely done and in its own way as striking looking as the original gold livery.
The guitar retains all of its original features and hardware including the fancy cream-colored floral decorated pickguard, double P-90 pickups with white plastic "dog ear" covers and the classic four-knob tone/volume control array with amber "hatbox" knobs and switch tip. The top is triple-bound; the back and fingerboard are single-bound. The rosewood fingerboard has double parallelogram inlays; the headstock has a pearl crown and "Gibson" inlay. Interestingly enough the refinish on the headstock face blanked out the dot in "Gibson" which the worker apparently failed to mask off! Apart from the replated tailpiece the original gold-plating remains intact (a bit worn in spots) on the rest of the hardware. It also appears the fingerboard was refretted and rebound at the same time, as the larger wire and binding are 1960s style rather than 1950s.
That adjustable patent pending "Les Paul" trapeze style bridge/tailpiece with the strings looping over was thankfully retained when the guitar was re-worked; this solid metal bar bridge is a defining element in the ES-295's tone. Other than this the model is essentially an ES-175D featuring the same laminated maple body and mahogany neck. The 295 has been long recognized as one of the most iconic guitars of the 1950s in its gold finish, but this one is unique and puts a whole new spin on the model's look.
Gibson built 1,770 ES-295s between 1952 and 1958, but this is likely the ONLY one with this particular cherryburst color scheme; gold overall was the only finish originally offered. As this finish is known to not wear well (particularly on the neck) it is likely an owner had the probably worn guitar refurbished at Gibson in the later 1960s, when it would have already been well over 10 years old. The "A" Artist serial number indicates it was originally shipped around June-July 1955, one of 166 sold that year. The Factory order number X8680-12 places its initial construction in 1954; sales of the 295 seem to have quickly sagged after a strong start in 1953 and this example must have sat in stock for a time before being shipped.
The ES-295 was most famously played by Scotty Moore on Elvis Presley's iconic Sun records, and so often considered the ultimate Rockabilly guitar. The classic 1950s Ersel Hickey photo that epitomizes the Rockabilly aesthetic features him with his ES-295 and drape suit, the quintessential bopper. The (usually) all-gold showboat ranks along with the Gretsch 6120 as the quintessential "Cool Cat's" guitar and a timelessly great-playing/sounding instrument; this cherry-shaded beauty one has a tag From H&H Music in Texas under case lid so likely it was part of some interesting scenes even before landing in the Wilco Loft in Chicago.
Overall length is 40 3/4 in. (103.5 cm.), 16 1/16 in. (40.8 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 3 3/8 in. (8.6 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 24 3/4 in. (629 mm.). Width of nut is 1 3/4 in. (44 mm.).
This is a simply great-looking and playing 295, re-worked at the factory to a one-of-a-kind instrument. It shows not too much play time since but with simply carries tons of vibe. The (1960s) finish is quite clean overall showing surprisingly little checking with some small dings and chips mostly around the edges but really no serious wear. The rear pickup riser looks to have been replaced at the time but all the other fittings appear unchanged from the 1960s; no strap button was ever even added at the heel.
The gold plating is lightly worn with a nice patina, the chrome tailpiece is still clean. The guitar retains the larger 1960s frets with very little wear; really it looks like the instrument was only sparingly used after the factory refresh. This is an excellent gigging 295; still original sonically and in its own way as flashy as always -- a great-sounding 1950s Gibson with a 1960s vibe as well. It includes the original HSC, somewhat worn but serviceable with the Wilco loft markings along the lower edge. Restored to Excellent Condition.