Gibson ES-140 Model Arch Top Hollow Body Electric Guitar (1953), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, sunburst lacquer finish, laminated maple body, mahogany neck with rosewood fingerboard, original brown tolex hard shell case.
The ES-140 is an extremely cool little Gibson and a surprisingly great sounding guitar. The small 3/4 size ES-140 electric archtop was offered through much of the 1950's, described by Gibson as perfect for students, "ladies" or just guitarists desiring a compact fully hollow archtop. This one shows very few signs of use is in completely original condition.
Looking deceptively almost like a toy ES-175 the ES-140 is in fact a fully professional quality instrument with a great-feeling round profile neck, single P-90 pickup and simple appointments. With a smaller body cavity the tone is a bit brighter and snappier than the typical ES-175. This early 1950's ES-140 plays beautifully and has an amazingly big honking tone for such a small instrument.
Overall length is 36 1/2 in. (92.7 cm.), 12 3/4 in. (32.4 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 3 1/4 in. (8.3 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 23 in. (584 mm.). Width of nut is 1 5/8 in. (41 mm.). Overall this guitar is amazingly clean, all original and complete except the tuner buttons appear to have been replaced. There are two small dings in the top behind the bass side F-hole, one on the headstock and a few small spots of finish marring from reaction to a plastic strap or cord. All this detracts only minimally from this fantasticelly well-preserved guitar, which still resides in its lovely original brown HSC. Sometimes we wish ALL 1950's Gibsons looked (and smelled!) like this one� just about as nice as they come! Excellent + Condition.
