1946-48 Gibson ES-125
SOLD!!!! This guitar has been SOLD!!!!
I really wanted an archtop electric guitar for my Western Swing gigs where I usually have to play everything from fiddle tunes to gospel to Bob Wills. The Telecaster is great, but doesn't sound right for fiddle tunes and doesn't give the right rhythm sound for when I'm the only guitar player (and it's just me and a fiddle).
It's pretty original. So far I know that the tailpiece, knobs, and tuner buttons are replacements. But everything else seem to be original. I put a fresh set of frets on it 1/2003 and they have zero playing time on them.
Not the most interesting back I've ever seen, but it's startingly clean for a guitar of this age. I think it must be between a 1946-1948, based on the peghead and pickup.
The knobs were replaced with "speed" knobs (one original is in the case), which I actually like because I like to see the numbers on them.
The pickup sounds really good, with just the right sound for this kind of guitar. The tone knob affects the volume more than I'd like, but the tone can really go from fat and sweet to thin and nasty. It's a versatile guitar and I like the simplicity of the single pickup. Just plug and play w/out a bunch of options to get in the way. The only thing "wrong" here is that, as is normal for stock Gibsons of this type, the tone affects the volume. If you roll the tone down, the volume drops, too.
Tuner buttons have been replaced.
The tuners themselves have a ton of backlash, but I've gotten used to 'em.
The neck is huge and fat, but again, I get used to it. I'd like to re-shape it, but hate to ruin the guitar, so I'll likely just leave it. For the price, these ES-125's are great for what I need it for.
This is a shot of the top of the guitar showing the bridge height, replaced volume/tone knobs, and general health of the guitar's top.
The guitar has the original case which I'd personally never actually use being that it doesn't have much padding or offer much protection. I carry the guitar in a soft gig bag or put it in a dreadnaught case when I go out.