Gibson 1952 ES-5 Steve Howe Collection

No sales tax for US customers outside California.

The Gibson ES-5 was introduced in 1949 as Gibson's top-of-the-line electric archtop and was the first production guitar to feature three pickups. The Steve Howe Collection designation connects this instrument to Yes guitarist Steve Howe, a noted collector and advocate of the ES-5 platform. This example carries the full ES-5 specification: Kluson Waffleback tuners with keystone heads, multi-ply cream double binding with black and white purfling, amber top-hat knobs, a five-potentiometer control layout, and a Gibson rosewood adjustable-height bridge. The three-piece flamed maple and walnut neck is capped with a beautiful Brazilian rosewood fretboard.

Three Gibson P-90 Dogear pickups in a 17-inch fully hollow laminated flamed maple body on a 25.5-inch scale is a combination that produces significant output with a characteristically warm, complex midrange and strong note definition — qualities the ES-5 platform was built to deliver. The neck reads medium C in profile at .870" at the first fret and .965" at the tenth, with a Brazilian rosewood fingerboard and mother of pearl block inlays. Action is set at 2/32" on both the first and sixth strings at the 12th fret with 10-46s. Overall condition is excellent, with original finish in excellent shape and original wiring and solder joints intact. A Certificate of Authenticity is included from the Steve Howe collection.

The body has a professionally repaired crack on the bottom side, visible in the photos. The tailpiece is replaced; the original tailpiece is included. The nut has been replaced (micarta) with a repair noted. The guitar has been refretted; fret condition is excellent. Pickup screws on the neck and middle pickups are non-original; bridge pickup screws are original. The bridge originality is unconfirmed. The case brand is Gibson and condition is excellent, though it is not original to the guitar

This is a beautiful piece with gorgeous figuring, and it plays incredibly well too.

SPECIFICATIONS

• Color: Sunburst
• Finish Original: Yes
• Finish Condition: Excellent
• Overall Length: 41-3/4"
• Nut Width: 1-5/8"
• Scale Length: 25.5"
• Action 1st String At 12th Fret: 2/32"
• Action 6th String At 12th Fret: 2/32"
• Neck Profile: Medium C
• Neck Material: 3-piece flamed maple and walnut
• Inlay: Mother of Pearl Block
• Neck Thickness At 1st Fret: .870"
• Neck Thickness At 10th Fret: .965"
• Neck Condition: Excellent
• Neck Repairs: None
• Neck Finish Original: Yes
• Tuner Brand And Model: Kluson Waffleback with Keystone heads
• Tuners Original: Yes
• Changes To Headstock For Tuners: None
• Tuner Condition: Excellent
• Tuner Markings: None
• Tuner Screws Original: Yes
• Truss Rod Cover: Yes
• Nut Material: Micarta
• Nut Original: No
• Nut Repairs: Yes
• Fretboard Radius: 12"
• Fretboard Material: Brazilian rosewood
• Fretboard Condition: Excellent
• Fretboard Repairs: None
• Fret Condition: Excellent
• Fret Repairs: Refret
• Top Material: 3-ply laminated flamed maple (pressed)
• Body Material: Flamed maple
• Body Condition: Very good
• Body Repairs: Professional crack repair on bottom side
• Body Binding: Multi-ply cream double w/ black & white purfling
• Body Binding Condition: Excellent
• Body Finish Original: Yes
• Body Finish Condition: Excellent
• Body Length: 21"
• Lower Bout: 17"
• Waist: 10-1/2"
• Upper Bout: 12-5/8"
• Body Depth/Thickness: 3-3/8"
• Bridge Brand: Gibson rosewood adjustable-height
• Tremolo Or Fixed Bridge: Fixed
• Bridge Original: Unconfirmed
• Bridge Condition: Excellent
• Saddle Material: Rosewood
• Pickguard Color: Black
• Pickguard Original: Yes
• Pickguard Condition: Excellent
• Pickguard Screws Original: Yes
• Neck Pickup Brand: Gibson P-90 Dogear
• Neck Pickup Original: Yes
• Neck Pickup Reading: 7.32k
• Neck Pickup Markings: None
• Neck Pickup Condition: Excellent
• Neck Pickup Screws Original: No
• Neck Pickup Cover Color: Black
• Neck Pickup Cavity Condition: Excellent
• Middle Pickup Brand: Gibson P-90 Dogear
• Middle Pickup Original: Yes
• Middle Pickup Reading: 7.80k
• Middle Pickup Markings: None
• Middle Pickup Condition: Excellent
• Middle Pickup Screws Original: No
• Middle Pickup Cover Color: Black
• Middle Pickup Cavity Condition: Excellent
• Bridge Pickup Brand: Gibson P-90 Dogear
• Bridge Pickup Original: Yes
• Bridge Pickup Reading: 7.21k
• Bridge Pickup Markings: None
• Bridge Pickup Condition: Excellent
• Bridge Pickup Screws Original: Yes
• Bridge Pickup Cover Color: Black
• Bridge Pickup Cavity Condition: Excellent
• Solders Original: Yes
• Wiring Original: Yes
• Potentiometer Count: 5
• Potentiometers Original: Yes
• Potentiometer Condition: Excellent
• Output Jack Original: Yes
• Tailpiece Brand: Gibson
• Tailpiece Color: Gold
• Tailpiece Condition: Excellent
• Tailpiece Original: No — original included
• Knob Color: Amber
• Knob Count: 5
• Knobs Original: Yes
• Knob Condition: Excellent
• Case Brand: Gibson
• Case Original: No
• Case Condition: Excellent
• Case Smells: None
• Documentation: COA
• Accessories Included: None
• String Gauge: 10-46
• Smells: None
  

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