Gibson ES-140TN 3/4 (1958)

$10,500.00
On Consignment
Expedited Shipping Required
Contact For Purchase

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Product information

Small & Mighty: This stunning 1958 ES-140TN 3/4 brings LP-like playability into the ES-175 format

There are student model guitars from the Golden Era, and then there's this -a 1958 Gibson ES-140TN 3/4 in marvelous original condition!

Essentially Gibson's version of a "baby" ES-175, this thinline version is one of the rarer production instruments you're ever to encounter from this period. Just 1 of 22 shipped in '58, it follows the production behaviors of many of the other Natural-finished Gibsons of the period. Gibson shipped on average a much smaller percentage of Natural guitars relative to the standard Sunburst finish. Even though it's a 3/4 guitar, this 140 was no exception.

It appears from our evaluation that this 140TN 3/4 spent more time dormant in its original brown Lifton hardshell case than anything, with one headstock chip to prove it had actually been handled outside of its case at one point in almost 70 years. The Natural finish and lacquer is largely unfaded and lacks the typical weather checking we're used to seeing on guitars of this vintage. Hardware and plastics are in excellent shape, as are the original electronics.

It's easy to make assumptions about sound with such a small hollowbody. Sharing much of the shape of a Les Paul but with the construction of a fully hollow laminated Maple guitar, it naturally has a more focused and direct acoustic tone. Plugged in, however, you could close your eyes and swear you were hearing one of its bigger brothers. The original P90 pickup has excellent output, with no lack of warmth and clarity that makes these pickups so coveted.

The neck profile is nice and round, with a typical C shape and a lean taper that retains its fullness nicely. The 1 9/16" nut width, 22 3/4" scale length, and 19-fret fingerboard might sound cramped and/or limiting on paper, but the guitar is a total joy to play.

Whether you're a collector or you've got a thing for 'lil Gibsons, it's hard to not be impressed by this one!

Includes original Lifton 3/4 hardshell case. On consignment. Expedited shipping required.

Body

Style
Hollowbody
Body
Laminated Maple
Finish
Nitrocellulose
Color
Natural

Hardware

Pickups
Original P90 | 8.7k
Electronics
Original
Controls
Volume / Tone
Bridge
Original
Tuners
Original Kluson
Pickguard
Original
Knobs
Original Amber Bonnet

Neck

Neck
Mahogany
Binding
N/A
Carve
50s C | .89-.94"
Fingerboard
Brazilian Rosewood
Radius
12"
Inlays
Dot
Frets
Original
Nut
Original
Scale Length
22 3/4"

Other

Serial #
FON T6165 18
Weight
4lb 3oz
Case
Original Lifton

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