Gibson ES-225TD Model Thinline Hollow Body Electric Guitar (1959), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, serial # S9407-26 (FON), sunburst top, dark back and sides finish, laminated maple body, mahogany neck with rosewood fingerboard, black tolex hard shell case.
This is a relatively clean and fine playing example of a Gibson ES-225TD from 1959, the last year of production for the model. The 225 was the first of Gibson's down-market thinline electrics, a radical idea when it was designed in 1955. They were offered in both single and double pickup format, this twin pickup model being a lot more versatile. This ES-225TD remains a cool and often overlooked 1950's Gibson, a simple but very functional instrument.
The thin-rimmed single cutaway, bound sunburst body is fully hollow with two P-90 pickups and the standard 4-konb, 1 switch wiring gig. A distinctive feature is the patented Les Paul metal trapeze tailpiece/bridge, shared only with the ES-295 and the 1952-3 Les Paul Model. This gives a different sonic character than the usual wooden bridge/tailpiece combination found on most similar Gibsons, with a lot more top-end bite. The bound rosewood fingerboard has pearl dot inlay, the headstock carries a pearl Gibson logo and individual enclosed Kluson tuners. 728 of these shipped 1959, actually a pretty good sales figure, the model's best total so far. Still, Gibson had other plans and the Es-225 was replaced before the end of the year by the brand new ES-330 and similar but less expensive ES-125TD.
The combination of the thin hollow body, solid metal bar bridge and P-90 pickups results in a sharper tone than most other '50's hollowbody guitars while retaining plenty of classic P-90 "meat" and growl. The 225TD is a great choice for Blues, Honky Tonk, Rockabilly or early Rock'n'Roll stylings, and a good stage guitar under many circumstances. This model was most memorably used by Crickets' rhythm guitarist Nikki Sullivan on the early Buddy Holly recordings, and is famously pictured on the cover of the 1958 LP "The Chirping Crickets". This '59 has a slimmer round-backed neck than some and is an excellent player, a super friendly guitar with a great vibe.
Overall length is 40 1/2 in. (102.9 cm.), 16 in. (40.6 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 13/16 in. (4.6 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.).
This guitar is quite clean overall with some typical Gibson checking and only very light play wear, just some small dings and chips to the all-original finish, mostly to the headstock and heel. The guitar has no cracks or structural damage; there was some gapping at the heel that was filled along the way, although the neck angle is quite good (better than many of these) and the neck is not shifting at all. There is a tiny sealed split in the side at the cutaway/heel joint just below the binding line related to this.
All hardware is in the original style with some correct replacement parts: The tuners are more modern individual Kluson Deluxes but with the "Keystone" buttons used on more expensive guitars. The amber switch tip is a repro, as are the correct-style amber knobs and the pickguard bracket; the guard itself is original. The baseplate of the Les Paul tailpiece is later (it is chrome plated) but the arms and bridge section (with some plating wear on top) are original. The pickups and wiring remain original. A strap button was added to the back below the heel.
The original frets have some light wear but still play well. Overall this 225 is a very good player with a better neck angle than some, a nice example housed in a later HSC with some notable wear but functional. Very Good + Condition.
