Gibson ES-125T (1964)

Often overlooked but never under-appreciated, Gibson's thinline hollowbody electric brought the classic workingman's 125-style guitar into a slim, comfortable, and lightweight playing electric.

Gibson's ES-125 enjoyed incredible success among working musicians for its no-frills feature set and rich sounding electric hollowbody tone since its release in 1941. This second version "T" style (T for thinline) that came along in the late 50s took its queues from its bigger brother ES-225, offering a slimmer, lighter option that offered enhanced playability and comfort. This 1964 Gibson ES-125T is a wonderful sounding example. It's got its fair share of expected lacquer checking and patina on the original nickel-plated hardware along with some natural play wear and buckle rash. There's a crack repair on the rear lower bout along with some old overspray in the area - the work was done some time ago it seems, and is nice and stable.

Tonally, it aims right at the 125 sound but with a quicker, snappier response that tightens up the lows while keeping all that great woodiness intact. While there's no question this is a formidable jazz instrument, it easily reaches into the Blues, Rockabilly, and Americana. It also makes for an excellent vocal accompaniment for the songwriter looking for an alternative to their primary acoustic.

If you're looking for signature P90 neck pickup tone in a hollowbody package that rivals the weight of some flattop acoustic guitars, you'll find it in this Gibson!