Gibson ES-125 Model Arch Top Hollow Body Electric Guitar (1948), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, sunburst top, dark back and sides finish, mahogany body and neck, rosewood fingerboard, black hard shell case.
A rather rare and very early example of Gibson's post-WWII ES-125, the "bread and butter" electric during the company's period of rebuilding after years of mostly war-oriented work. This guitar has features specific to this era; the 16" body is laminated mahogany (later examples are maple) and the pickup (the first P-90) has non-adjustable poles. The tailpiece is an off-the-rack part not specific to Gibson and the tuners are simple openback Klusons, 3 to a plate. Knobs are the earliest gold-backed clear style with no numbers and the post-war "Gibson" logo decal is the earliest "joined dot" version.
This is a very good playing and sounding guitar; although designed as a student model these guitars were fully a professional quality instrument and are often seen in period photographs. This one is a particularly nice example of the model.
Overall length is 40 1/2 in. (102.9 cm.), 16 1/8 in. (41 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 3 1/4 in. (8.3 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 24 3/4 in. (629 mm.). Width of nut is 1 11/16 in. (43 mm.). Extremely nice overall, all original except tuner buttons replaced. A superb example of the early post-WWII ES-125, with early features including a flat back, all-mahogany body and P-90 pickup with non-adjustable poles. A great sounding and playing guitar! Excellent + Condition.
