ON HOLD - Gibson 1961 ES-125TC Cherry Sunburst Electric Guitar Excellent

No sales tax for US customers outside California.

Judging from the staff reaction to this 1961 Gibson ES-125, I expect it to show up in our Staff Favorites sooner than later.  This guitar is gorgeous!  It is clear that it wasn't played much at all over the years.  It shows some great character in the natural checking, with strong finish color. 

The ES-125TC is a thinline, single-pickup archtop built around a fully laminated maple body — top, back, and sides — with a single Gibson dog-ear P-90. That construction produces a bright, articulate voice with firm low-end and a clear, glassy midrange character that sits well in a mix without overwhelming low-end bloom. The P-90 reads 8.49k, which is a healthy output for the type and consistent with original Gibson spec. This example is in excellent condition throughout, with all original finish in excellent shape, original binding in excellent condition, and no repairs to the body, neck, or fretboard. These guitars have a great acoustic tone and are really fun to play on the couch, practicing or coming up with new ideas.

The ES-125TC was Gibson's entry-level thinline electric, introduced in the late 1950s as a slimmed-down, single-pickup version of the ES-125T. The 'C' suffix designated the Florentine cutaway, giving access to the upper frets on a body platform that was otherwise aimed at players who wanted a semi-hollow feel without full-depth archtop bulk. The combination of laminated maple construction, P-90 pickup, and 24.75" scale on a cutaway thinline made it a practical working instrument and a legitimate tone tool. The Brazilian rosewood fretboard adds warmth and articulation, and the Kluson Deluxe tuners are original,.

The only change to the guitar is the trapeze tailpiece.  The original had broken at the hinge, so I took a correct vintage replacement from my stash to make the guitar complete. All other hardware — the original black dog-ear P-90, wiring, solder joints, pots, knobs, pickguard, and pickguard screws — is confirmed original and in excellent to very good condition. The case is non-original and in very good condition with no odor. Action is set at 2/32" on both the first and sixth strings at the 12th fret with 10-46 gauge strings.

SPECIFICATIONS

• Color: Cherry Sunburst
• Finish Original?: yes
• Finish Condition: excellent
• Weight: 5lbs 3oz
• Overall Length: 40-1/4"
• Nut Width: 1-11/16"
• String Spacing At Bridge: 2.073"
• Scale Length: 24.75"
• Action 1st String At 12th Fret: 2/32"
• Action 6th String At 12th Fret: 2/32"
• Neck Profile: C
• Neck Material: mahogany
• Inlay: Mother of Pearl dot
• Neck Date: none
• Neck Markings: none
• Neck Condition: excellent
• Neck Repairs: none
• Neck Finish Original?: yes
• Tuner Brand And Model: Kluson Deluxe 3 on a side
• Tuners Original?: Yes
• Changes To Headstock For Tuners?: No
• Tuner Condition: excellent
• Tuner Markings: none
• Tuner Screws Original?: Yes
• Truss Rod Cover: yes
• Nut Material: bone
• Nut Repairs: none
• Fretboard Radius: 12"
• Fretboard Material: Brazilian rosewood
• Fretboard Condition: excellent
• Fretboard Repairs: none
• Fret Condition: excellent
• Fret Repairs: none
• Fret Count: 20
• Body Material: Laminated maple top, back, and sides
• Body Condition: excellent
• Body Markings: ES-125TC
• Body Repairs: none
• Body Binding: yes
• Body Binding Condition: excellent
• Body Finish Original?: yes
• Body Finish Condition: excellent
• Body Length: 20-1/4"
• Lower Bout: 16-1/8"
• Waist: 9-1/4"
• Upper Bout: 11-1/2"
• Body Depth/Thickness: 1-7/8"
• Tremolo Or Fixed Bridge?: Floating bridge
• Bridge Original?: Yes
• Bridge And Saddle Screws Original?: Yes
• Bridge Condition: excellent
• Saddle Material: rosewood
• Saddles Original?: Yes
• Pickguard Color: black
• Pickguard Original?: yes
• Pickguard Condition: excellent
• Pickguard Screws Original?: yes
• Neck Pickup Brand: Gibson "dog ear" P-90
• Neck Pickup Original?: yes
• Neck Pickup Reading: 8.49k
• Neck Pickup Markings: none
• Neck Pickup Condition: excellent
• Neck Pickup Screws Original?: yes
• Neck Pickup Cover Color: black
• Solders Original?: yes
• Wiring Original?: yes
• Potentiometer Count: 2
• Potentiometers Original?: yes
• Potentiometer Condition: excellent
• Output Jack Original?: yes
• Tailpiece Brand: Gibson
• Tailpiece Color: nickel
• Tailpiece Condition: very good
• Tailpiece Original?: no
• Knob Color: gold
• Knob Count: 2
• Knobs Original?: yes
• Knob Condition: very good
• Case Original?: no
• Case Condition: very good
• Case Smells?: none
• Documentation: none
• Accessories Included: none
• String Gauge: 10-46
• Smells?: none
• Nut Original?: yes

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