Gibson ES-225TDN Thinline Hollow Body Electric Guitar (1957)
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Item # 12343
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Gibson ES-225TDN Model Thinline Hollow Body Electric Guitar (1957), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, serial # U387-6, natural lacquer finish, laminated maple body, mahogany neck with rosewood fingerboard, original brown hard shell case.
This is nice example of a 1957 ES-225TDN, the rarest and most desirable variant of Gibson's 1950s mid-line 225 series models. A great if somewhat historically overlooked guitar, the ES-225 was the first "down-market" thin-line archtop from Kalamazoo and paved the way for countless similar instruments from not only Gibson but Harmony, Kay and many others. Although taken for granted now, the thin-body electric archtop was an exciting new idea at the time, and proved lastingly popular.
Introduced in 1955, this model features a 16" wide single Florentine cutaway fully hollow body that is just under 2" deep at the rim. It is fitted with two P-90 pickups and (originally) the patented Les Paul metal tailpiece/bridge unit. This guitar has been set up with a modern repro of the correct 1957-style Bigsby with the "Duane Eddy" arm used only that year and a genuine older Biggby bridge. While not strictly original this setup is era-appropriate and more useful to many players than the solid bar Les Paul tailpiece, particularly for vintage rock'n'roll and rockabilly stylings.
The 225 was a midline model for Gibson, intender to offer the advantages of the new thinline design pioneered on the high-end Byrdland to a wider (read amateur) audience. The bound rosewood fingerboard has plain pearl dot inlay and the headstock carries a pearl Gibson logo and individual enclosed Kluson Deluxe tuners with plastic buttons. This example has a factory "stinger" on the back of the headstock unusual on a midline model. This black-with-pointed bottom motif is usually found on higher end guitars. The Es-225's combination of a thin body, metal bridge and P-90 pickups results in a sharper tone than most other '50s hollowbody guitars mixed with plenty of P-90 "meat" and growl.
The ES-225 is a great guitar for blues, honky tonk, rockabilly or early rock'n'roll stylings, and can mellow down to a jazzy ambiance as well. The neck on this example has a chunky "C" profile with a very solid feel, typical of this year. The model was most memorably used by Crickets rhythm guitarist Nikki Sullivan on early Buddy Holly recordings. The natural-finish double pickup version is not only the most spectacular-looking variant but is also quite rare. This is one of only 125 shipped out in 1957, the second production year, out of a total of only 542 spread over the model's 4 year run. This lovely example comes complete in the original brown hard case; if desired it could be restored to the original configuration with a Las Paul trapeze bridge/tailpiece without undue trouble.
Overall length is 40 5/8 in. (103.2 cm.), 16 in. (40.6 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 15/16 in. (4.9 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 24 5/8 in. (625 mm.). Width of nut is 1 11/16 in. (43 mm.).
This is for the most part a clean, largely original guitar, the only alterations being an old refret and the Bigsby installation plus vintage Gibson style strap buttons, one added on the heel and another mounted a bit higher on the upper back rim than standard above the tailpiece. The beautiful ambered natural finish has some small dings, dents, and scrapes but only light checking. The headstock edges have some noticeable dings and chipping, this is the most heavily worn spot on the instrument. The back of the neck has some feelable dinks but nothing too heavy. For some reason there is a small screw set into the top side of the heel, likely the remains of another oddly-placed strap button.
Everything on this guitar except the tailpiece and bridge (and various strap buttons) remains original and there are no notable repairs. The G string tuner is a bit bent but still works fine, and the tuner buttons have shrunken up somewhat but are not crumbling. The guitar looks to have been refretted some time back with wire similar to the original, with a newer bone nut as well. This 225 guitar plays and sounds fantastic; a slim and beautiful blonde from the mid-'50s. The original brown HSC has some external wear but is still in very good shape as well. Overall Excellent - Condition.
This is nice example of a 1957 ES-225TDN, the rarest and most desirable variant of Gibson's 1950s mid-line 225 series models. A great if somewhat historically overlooked guitar, the ES-225 was the first "down-market" thin-line archtop from Kalamazoo and paved the way for countless similar instruments from not only Gibson but Harmony, Kay and many others. Although taken for granted now, the thin-body electric archtop was an exciting new idea at the time, and proved lastingly popular.
Introduced in 1955, this model features a 16" wide single Florentine cutaway fully hollow body that is just under 2" deep at the rim. It is fitted with two P-90 pickups and (originally) the patented Les Paul metal tailpiece/bridge unit. This guitar has been set up with a modern repro of the correct 1957-style Bigsby with the "Duane Eddy" arm used only that year and a genuine older Biggby bridge. While not strictly original this setup is era-appropriate and more useful to many players than the solid bar Les Paul tailpiece, particularly for vintage rock'n'roll and rockabilly stylings.
The 225 was a midline model for Gibson, intender to offer the advantages of the new thinline design pioneered on the high-end Byrdland to a wider (read amateur) audience. The bound rosewood fingerboard has plain pearl dot inlay and the headstock carries a pearl Gibson logo and individual enclosed Kluson Deluxe tuners with plastic buttons. This example has a factory "stinger" on the back of the headstock unusual on a midline model. This black-with-pointed bottom motif is usually found on higher end guitars. The Es-225's combination of a thin body, metal bridge and P-90 pickups results in a sharper tone than most other '50s hollowbody guitars mixed with plenty of P-90 "meat" and growl.
The ES-225 is a great guitar for blues, honky tonk, rockabilly or early rock'n'roll stylings, and can mellow down to a jazzy ambiance as well. The neck on this example has a chunky "C" profile with a very solid feel, typical of this year. The model was most memorably used by Crickets rhythm guitarist Nikki Sullivan on early Buddy Holly recordings. The natural-finish double pickup version is not only the most spectacular-looking variant but is also quite rare. This is one of only 125 shipped out in 1957, the second production year, out of a total of only 542 spread over the model's 4 year run. This lovely example comes complete in the original brown hard case; if desired it could be restored to the original configuration with a Las Paul trapeze bridge/tailpiece without undue trouble.
Overall length is 40 5/8 in. (103.2 cm.), 16 in. (40.6 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 15/16 in. (4.9 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 24 5/8 in. (625 mm.). Width of nut is 1 11/16 in. (43 mm.).
This is for the most part a clean, largely original guitar, the only alterations being an old refret and the Bigsby installation plus vintage Gibson style strap buttons, one added on the heel and another mounted a bit higher on the upper back rim than standard above the tailpiece. The beautiful ambered natural finish has some small dings, dents, and scrapes but only light checking. The headstock edges have some noticeable dings and chipping, this is the most heavily worn spot on the instrument. The back of the neck has some feelable dinks but nothing too heavy. For some reason there is a small screw set into the top side of the heel, likely the remains of another oddly-placed strap button.
Everything on this guitar except the tailpiece and bridge (and various strap buttons) remains original and there are no notable repairs. The G string tuner is a bit bent but still works fine, and the tuner buttons have shrunken up somewhat but are not crumbling. The guitar looks to have been refretted some time back with wire similar to the original, with a newer bone nut as well. This 225 guitar plays and sounds fantastic; a slim and beautiful blonde from the mid-'50s. The original brown HSC has some external wear but is still in very good shape as well. Overall Excellent - Condition.