Gibson ES-135 Arch Top Hollow Body Electric Guitar (1956)

Gibson ES-135 Model Arch Top Hollow Body Electric Guitar (1956), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, serial # V5316-33 (FON), sunburst top, dark back and sides finish, laminated maple body, mahogany neck with rosewood fingerboard, original brown tolex soft shell case.

The ES-135 is a rather rare 1950's Gibson model-basically a fancier 16" ES-125 with a bound fingerboard and pearloid inlay like the 17" ES-150. Only just over 500 of this very fine looking guitar were made between 1955-58, and this is about the nicest one we have seen.
 
Overall length is 40 1/2 in. (102.9 cm.), 16 1/4 in. (41.3 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 3 1/2 in. (8.9 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.). Very little playwear overall; some chips on the headstock edges and very minor dings not much else. Added jackplate (no cracks underneath but some wood loss where the jack was pushed in) and a newer tailpiece baseplate (original trapeeze still present) are the only alterations. Well, except for one period addition: the original owner "Mary Francis" had her name added to the lower bout in exquisitely rendered sign-painter's script. We think this gives this old gal character to spare-this is also a great playing and sounding 50's Gibson, with a very rich tone. It looks like the original Mary Francis did not get much use out of this guitar, and it is a gem of a full-depth 16" guitar with a great period vibe. Overall Excellent Condition.

Item # 5133
 
This item has been sold.


 
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