Gibson ES-150DCN Model Arch Top Semi-Hollow Body Electric Guitar (1974), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, serial # 250853, natural lacquer finish, laminated maple body; mahogany neck with rosewood fingerboard, black tolex hard shell case.
One of Gibson's more interesting ideas at the end of the '60s, the ES-150DC used a recycled model number for a new hybrid guitar -- a full-depth, hollow body variant on the ES-335 series. This natural-finish example from the early 1970s has features specific to that period: the narrow three-piece mahogany neck has no volute but is stamped "Made In USA". The hardware is chrome including the covers on the patent # pickups, the tailpiece, and the Tune-O-Matic bridge which has nylon saddles. The knobs are the "witch hat" amp-style pieces typical of the period. The double-ring tulip button tuners still have "Gibson Deluxe" stamped on the cases.
The pickups are the engraved patent number units just coming into use at the time, replacing the earlier stickered versions. All pickup screws, both the polepieces and height adjustment screws are Phillips-head instead of slot-head, a quirk sometimes seen on Gibsons beginning around this time.
While it much resembles an ES-335 from the front, the ES-150D is structurally a very different instrument with a hollow 3" deep body and no solid center block. There is a substantial internal block extending from the neck almost to the rear pickup, but not all the way back beyond as in the ES-335, which would have made for a very heavy guitar. The tone is more in the range of an ES-175, and the guitar handles in a similar way to the other full-depth hollow guitars. The instrument also has a master volume control on the lower horn, an unusual and useful feature Gibson rarely used on stock models.
This fairly rare guitar was produced in far smaller numbers than the rest of the ES-335 thinline family. The production run lasted just a few years starting in 1969 running into the mid-'70s before piddling out. The ES-150DC did not prove a big seller despite a very practical design and excellent sound. Only 132 natural finish examples were made in 1974 and the total for the entire production run is just over 500 in this most attractive blonde finish. This ES remains in nicely original condition and is also a fine player's instrument, an interesting and cool variation on one of Gibson's classic formulas.
Overall length is 42 in. (106.7 cm.), 16 in. (40.6 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 3 1/8 in. (7.9 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 24 3/4 in. (629 mm.). Width of nut is 1 9/16 in. (40 mm.).
Overall this is a nice original example showing some light general wear but no notable repairs or modifications. The finish shows typical minor chips, dings, and scuffing overall, the most concentrated area of wear being some odd scratching to the peghead face. There are a couple of small dents in the pickup covers. The original frets look to have been crowned down just a bit and they and the fingerboard shows soma minor wear. Still, this is an excellent player, with a very lively and versatile sound. Overall a nice natural-finish example of this oft-forgotten Gibson experiment that deserves to be better remembered. Excellent Condition.
