Product information
1963 Gibson ES-120T just in!
The secret's out on these guitars - honestly, it's been out for some time now. The "Melody Maker" of thinline hollowbody electrics, the ES-120T's student model presentation gave boomer youth an accessible jazz guitar that would surprise some of the more discerning vintage guitar enthusiasts decades later.
Sharing its DNA with the ES-125T (T for Thinline), the ES-120T forgoes the treble-side F hole and body mounted electronics for a surface-mounted molded pickguard that handles all of the guitar's electronic duties.
The rest of the guitar's construction stays true to that ES-125T design - Sunburst finish, unbound Mahogany neck, and Rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays. The Rosewood adjustable bridge and nickel-plated trapeze tailpiece are familiar elements to the build as well.
The original lone "Melody Maker" single coil pickup works really well in this model, with great clarity and note definition for a single neck pickup instrument. A bit like a reverse Junior in a way, the volume and tone controls can be manipulated to provide lots of tonal flavors.
The neck is a comfortable slim/medium C with original medium jumbo frets, and playability is excellent! The 1 11/16" nut width allows for comfortable rhythm and lead work alike.
The pickguard experienced a break just above the input jack long ago, as is often the case with these large molded pickguards. It was repaired somewhat crudely (at least from the inside, using a pick as cleat!), but is holding together just fine. It remains completely original otherwise.
Priced with a new Gator ES hardshell case.
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