Gibson ES-225TDN Thinline Hollow Body Electric Guitar (1958)

Gibson ES-225TDN Model Thinline Hollow Body Electric Guitar (1958), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, serial # T5498-31 (FON), natural lacquer finish, laminated maple body, mahogany neck with rosewood fingerboard, original brown tolex hard shell case.

An extremely clean and original example of the ES-225TDN, the most desirable variant of the 1950's mid-line 225 series models. A great if somewhat overlooked Gibson guitar, this instrument features a single cutaway bound thin fully hollow body with two P-90 pickups and the patented Les Paul metal tailpiece/bridge unit. The bound rosewood fingerboard has a standard pearl dot inlay, the headstock carries a pearl Gibson logo and individual enclosed Kluson tuners with plastic buttons. The combination of the thin body, metal bridge and P-90 pickups results in a more solid feel and a sharper tone than most other '50's hollowbody guitars mixed with plenty of P-90 "meat" and growl.

The 225 is a great guitar for Blues, Honky Tonk, Rockabilly or early Rock'n'Roll stylings, and can mellow down to a jazzy ambiance as well. 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 natural 2-pickup version is quite rare with only 223 shipped in 1958, the peak production year, and a total of only 542 over 4 years. We can't imagine there are many more out there as nice as this one!
 
Overall length is 40 5/8 in. (103.2 cm.), 16 in. (40.6 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 15/16 in. (4.9 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 24 5/8 in. (625 mm.). Width of nut is 1 11/16 in. (43 mm.). This beautiful blonde is 100% original and unaltered except for an added (correct era Gibson) strap button at the heel. The natural finish has some medium-heavy checking but virtually no loss, and is perfectly aged to the classic Gibson amber patina. A few small dings (the most visible is on the headstock face under the "SO" in the logo) but really 50+ year old guitars rarely turn up cleaner than this. If you wanted to quibble, it looks like some old lube from the tuners leeched into checks on the back of the headstock, making them more visible than they might have been. The frets are extremely good, neck angle perfect, pickups balanced…this is easliy the nicest ES-225 of any variant we have ever had. Includes an excellent original brown, pink lined HSC. Excellent + Condition.

Item # 5433
 
$6,750.00