Gibson 2005 ES-137 Custom Sunburst Semi Hollow Electric Guitar Excellent

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The Gibson ES-137 Custom is one of the best kept secrets in the modern Gibson catalog — a single-cutaway semi-hollowbody that draws a direct line from the ES-175 tradition while incorporating a solid mahogany center block for feedback rejection and enhanced sustain. Where the ES-175 is fully hollow and the ES-335 is a double-cut, the ES-137 carves out its own identity: rounder, warmer, with a focused midrange that sits between a full archtop and a solidbody.

This upgraded "Custom" version is the stuff! Ebony fingerboard instead of rosewood, split diamond inlays, gold hardware throughout, and PAF-voiced humbuckers rather than the hotter 490/498 pickups found in the Classic. This example checks every box: laminated curly maple back and sides over a mahogany block, white multi-ply body binding, and a body that measures 16" across the lower bout with a depth of just 2-1/4" — thin enough that it wears more like a solidbody than a traditional archtop.

The neck is mahogany with a '59 Rounded profile — .8175" at the first fret, 1.027" at the twelfth — which puts it firmly in comfortable, medium-C territory. The ebony fretboard is in excellent condition with 22 frets, a 12" radius, and a 1-11/16" nut width. Action is dialed in at 2/32" on both the first and sixth strings at the twelfth fret — genuinely playable right out of the case. The gold Grover Keystone tuners are original and function well. The Nashville Tune-O-Matic bridge with stopbar tailpiece is all original, string spacing measures 2.018" at the bridge, and the 24.75" scale length keeps things in familiar Gibson territory. The black pickguard and tan switch tip are both original and in very good condition. Hardware throughout is gold and holding up well.

The PAF humbuckers are the real draw here. Reading 7.76k at the bridge and 7.69k at the neck.  The PAF sticker is present on the underside of each pickup. Four original black knobs, original pots and wiring, all solders intact. The sunburst finish is original and in excellent condition — some light wear consistent with play and age, nothing approaching structural concern. The guitar weighs 8 lbs 15.5 oz, which is on the heavier side for a semi-hollow but well within reason given the mahogany block. Comes in the original Gibson case, also in very good condition, with the owner's manual.

The ES-137 Custom was discontinued, and clean examples don't surface often. If you've been looking for a single-cut semi-hollow that handles jazz, blues, and classic rock with equal authority — and does it with the build quality and hardware that Gibson's Custom Shop was putting out at its best — this is worth a serious look.

SPECIFICATIONS

• Weight: 8lbs 15.5oz
• Color: Sunburst
• Body material: Laminated curly maple back and sides, mahogany block
• Body condition: Excellent
• Body original? yes
• Body binding: white multi-ply binding
• Body binding condition: Excellent
• Body length: 20-1/4"
• Body finish original?: yes
• Body finish condition: Excellent
• Lower bout: 16"
• Waist: 9-3/8"
• Upper bout: 11-5/8"
• Body depth/thickness: 2-1/4"
• Pickguard color: black
• Pickguard original?: yes
• Pickguard condition: Excellent
• Pickguard screws original?: yes
• Strap Buttons: yes
• Strap Button Added?: no
• Scale length: 24.75"
• Neck material: mahogany
• Neck profile: '59 Rounded
• Neck thickness at 1st Fret: .8175"
• Neck thickness at 12th Fret: 1.027"
• Action 1st String at 12th Fret: 2/32"
• Action 6th String at 12th Fret: 2/32"
• Neck condition: Excellent
• Neck finish original?: Yes
• Neck markings: Split diamonds inlays
• Fretboard material: ebony
• Fretboard condition: Excellent
• Fretboard radius: 12"
• Fret condition: Excellent
• Fret count: 22
• Nut material: synthetic
• Nut width: 1-11/16"
• Bridge brand: Nashville Tune-O-Matic with stopbar tailpiece
• Tremolo or fixed bridge?: fixed
• Bridge original?: yes
• Saddle material: metal
• Saddles original?: yes
• Bridge and saddle screws original?: yes
• String spacing at bridge: 2.018"
• Bridge condition: Excellent
• Tuner Brand and Model: Gold Grover Keystone
• Tuners original?: yes
• Changes to headstock for tuners?: no
• Tuner condition: Excellent
• Tuner markings: Grover
• Tuner screws original?: yes
• Truss Rod Cover: yes
• Overall length: 4-7/8"
• Documentation: owner manual
• Case brand: Gibson
• Case original?: yes
• Case condition: very good
• Case smells?: no
• Pickup brand: Gibson PAF Humbuckers
• Pickup count: 2
• Pickup Reading: B 7.76k, N 7.69k
• Pickup Original? yes
• Pickup markings: PAF sticker underside
• Pickup condition: Excellent
• Pickup screws original?: yes
• Pickup cover color: gold
• Pickup cavity condition: Mint
• Knob color: black
• Knob count: 4
• Knobs original?: yes
• Knob condition: Excellent
• Potentiometer count: 4
• Potentiometers original?: yes
• Potentiometer condition: Mint
• Solders original?: yes
• Wiring original?: yes
• Switch condition: Mint
• Switch original?: yes
• Switch tip color: tan
• Switch tip original?: yes
• Output jack original?: yes
• Tailpiece brand: Gibson
• Tailpiece color: gold
• Tailpiece condition: Excellent
• Tailpiece original?: yes

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