Gibson ES-125 1956

Gibson introduced the ES-125 in 1941 as an affordable electric archtop with simple appointments and a single pickup. Production paused during WWII and resumed in 1946 with the then-new P-90 pickup. By 1956 the ES-125 was a core student and working-player model, built on a full-depth 16-inch body with laminated maple construction for feedback resistance and durability. It is the direct ancestor to countless entry-level archtops and remains a practical studio and stage tool thanks to its light weight, strong acoustic voice, and warm electric response.

This 1956 example has a single dog-ear P-90 with the signature clear midrange bite and round lows. The original small frets are in good condition and it plays great across the board. The chunky neck is period-correct and feels fantastic in an unmistakable “old guitar” kind of way. The bridge is a replacement, which is common on these as the originals can break. One pot is a later replacement CTS that dates to 1964.  The finish shows has attractive and vibey age checking and play wear, and there are no breaks. Includes a newer case. Weight is 2400g.

SPECIFICATIONS

• Model year: 1956
• Body: full-depth 16″ non-cutaway archtop
• Top: laminated maple, pressed arch, parallel bracing
• Back and sides: laminated maple
• Neck: mahogany, set-neck construction
• Fingerboard: Rosewood, dot inlays
• Scale length: 24.75″
• Nut width: approx 1 11/16″
• Fingerboard radius: approx 12″
• Frets: original small wire, good condition
• Pickup: single Gibson dog-ear P-90 in neck position
• Controls: single volume, single tone
• Bridge: replacement, rosewood floating, compensated saddle
• Tailpiece: trapeze with diamond crossbar, nickel-plated
• Tuners: Kluson 3-on-a-strip with white buttons
• Pickguard: single-ply black teardrop on L-bracket
• Finish: sunburst nitrocellulose with checking and wear
• Binding: single-ply top and back
• Hardware: nickel-plated
• Weight: 2400g
• Condition: vibey play wear and checking, no breaks
• Case: new case included