Gibson ES-225TD Thinline Hollow Body Electric Guitar (1956)
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Gibson ES-225TD Model Thinline Hollow Body Electric Guitar (1956), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, serial # V8739-7, sunburst top, dark back and sides finish, laminated maple body, mahogany neck with rosewood fingerboard, black hard shell case.
This is a clean and largely original example of a Gibson ES-225TD from 1956, the first year of production for the model. The 225 was the first of Gibson's down-market thinline electrics, a radical idea when it was designed in 1955. They were offered in both single and double pickup format, this twin pickup model being a lot more versatile. This ES-225TD remains a cool and often overlooked 1950's Gibson, a simple but very functional instrument.
The thin-rimmed single cutaway, bound sunburst body is fully hollow with two P-90 pickups and the standard 4-konb, 1 switch wiring gig. A distinctive feature is the patented Les Paul metal trapeze tailpiece/bridge, shared only with the ES-295 and then 1952-3 Les Paul Model. This gives a different sonic character than the usual wooden bridge/tailpiece combination found on most similar Gibsons. The bound rosewood fingerboard has pearl dot inlay, the headstock carries a pearl Gibson logo and individual enclosed Kluson tuners with plastic buttons. Only 205 of these shipped 1956, not a spectacular figure and the model only held on until 1959, when it was replaced by the new ES-330 and the similar but less expensive ES-125 TD.
The combination of the thin hollow body, solid metal bar bridge and P-90 pickups results in a sharper tone than most other '50's hollowbody guitars while retaining plenty of Gibsony "meat" and growl. The 225TD is a great choice for Blues, Honky Tonk, Rockabilly or early Rock'n'Roll stylings, and a good stage guitar under many circumstances. This model was most memorably used by Crickets' rhythm guitarist Nikki Sullivan on the early Buddy Holly recordings, and is famously pictured on the cover of the 1958 LP "The Chirping Crickets". This '56 has a slimmer round-backed neck than some and is an excellent player, a super friendly guitar with a great vibe.
Overall length is 40 1/2 in. (102.9 cm.), 16 in. (40.6 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 13/16 in. (4.6 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.).
This guitar is quite clean overall with just some small dings and chips to the all-original, mostly to the headstock and heel. There is some checking here and there, most heavily on the sides, heel and headstock. The guitar has no cracks or structural damage.
The hardware is mostly original with a few exceptions: The tuners are authentic original individual plastic-button Klusons but from the 1960s with the characteristic "double line" logo on the casing. The amber switch tip is a repro, as is the blind nut on the pickguard bracket. All other hardware remains original with some wear, particularly to the plating on the top of the Les Paul tailpiece (which is sometimes missing entirely).
The guitar has been refretted with wire both wider and taller than the original, but not obnoxiously so. This is a very good player with a better neck angle than some, housed in a modern molded HSC. Overall Excellent - Condition.
This is a clean and largely original example of a Gibson ES-225TD from 1956, the first year of production for the model. The 225 was the first of Gibson's down-market thinline electrics, a radical idea when it was designed in 1955. They were offered in both single and double pickup format, this twin pickup model being a lot more versatile. This ES-225TD remains a cool and often overlooked 1950's Gibson, a simple but very functional instrument.
The thin-rimmed single cutaway, bound sunburst body is fully hollow with two P-90 pickups and the standard 4-konb, 1 switch wiring gig. A distinctive feature is the patented Les Paul metal trapeze tailpiece/bridge, shared only with the ES-295 and then 1952-3 Les Paul Model. This gives a different sonic character than the usual wooden bridge/tailpiece combination found on most similar Gibsons. The bound rosewood fingerboard has pearl dot inlay, the headstock carries a pearl Gibson logo and individual enclosed Kluson tuners with plastic buttons. Only 205 of these shipped 1956, not a spectacular figure and the model only held on until 1959, when it was replaced by the new ES-330 and the similar but less expensive ES-125 TD.
The combination of the thin hollow body, solid metal bar bridge and P-90 pickups results in a sharper tone than most other '50's hollowbody guitars while retaining plenty of Gibsony "meat" and growl. The 225TD is a great choice for Blues, Honky Tonk, Rockabilly or early Rock'n'Roll stylings, and a good stage guitar under many circumstances. This model was most memorably used by Crickets' rhythm guitarist Nikki Sullivan on the early Buddy Holly recordings, and is famously pictured on the cover of the 1958 LP "The Chirping Crickets". This '56 has a slimmer round-backed neck than some and is an excellent player, a super friendly guitar with a great vibe.
Overall length is 40 1/2 in. (102.9 cm.), 16 in. (40.6 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 13/16 in. (4.6 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.).
This guitar is quite clean overall with just some small dings and chips to the all-original, mostly to the headstock and heel. There is some checking here and there, most heavily on the sides, heel and headstock. The guitar has no cracks or structural damage.
The hardware is mostly original with a few exceptions: The tuners are authentic original individual plastic-button Klusons but from the 1960s with the characteristic "double line" logo on the casing. The amber switch tip is a repro, as is the blind nut on the pickguard bracket. All other hardware remains original with some wear, particularly to the plating on the top of the Les Paul tailpiece (which is sometimes missing entirely).
The guitar has been refretted with wire both wider and taller than the original, but not obnoxiously so. This is a very good player with a better neck angle than some, housed in a modern molded HSC. Overall Excellent - Condition.