Gibson

Gibson ES-120T (1963)

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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.

Body
Style
Thinline Hollowbody
Body
Laminated Maple
Finish
Nitrocellulose
Color
Sunburst

Hardware
Pickups
Original Melody Maker single coil | 6.8k
Electronics
Original
Controls
Volume / Tone
Bridge
Rosewood w/ Trapeze tailpiece
Tuners
Kluson Single-line
Pickguard
Original
Knobs
Original Reflector

Neck
Neck
Mahogany
Binding
None
Carve
'64 C | .80" @ 1st / .93" @ 9th
Fingerboard
Rosewood
Radius
12"
Inlays
Dots
Frets
Original
Nut
Original
Scale Length
24 3/4"

Other
Serial #
5lb 6oz
Weight
5lb 6oz
Case
Gator Hardshell