Gibson ES-295 Model Arch Top Hollow Body Electric Guitar (1955), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, gold lacquer finish, laminated maple body, mahogany neck with rosewood fingerboard, original brown hard shell case.
A great example of one of Gibson's flashiest arch-tops. Finished in gold with a cream-colored floral decorated pickguard, the ES-295 has been long recognized as one of the iconic guitars of the 1950's. The 295 is equipped with double P-90 pickups with white plastic "dog ear" covers and the classic four-knob tone and volume control array with amber "hatbox" knobs. The top is triple bound; back and fingerboard are single-bound. The 19-fret rosewood fingerboard has double parallelogram inlays, the headstock has a pearl crown and "Gibson" inlay.
The guitar features all gold-plated hardware including the adjustable patent pending "Les Paul" trapeze style bridge/tailpiece with the strings looping over. The ES-295 is essentially a flashier ES-175, featuring the same laminated maple body and mahogany of that model with the eye-catching finish of an all gold Les Paul.
Gibson built 1,770 examples of this model between 1952 and 1958, and they are one of Gibson's most recognizable 1950's classics. The ES-295 was the guitar played by Scotty Moore on the earliest Elvis Sun records, and is often considered the ultimate rockabilly guitar. The classic Ersel Hickey photo that epitomizes the rockabilly aesthetic features the ES-295. The quintessential "cool cat's" guitar and a great sounding instrument to boot!
Overall length is 41 in. (104.1 cm.), 16 in. (40.6 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 3 1/4 in. (8.2 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.).
Very nice overall; some typical checking/greening and wear to the back of the neck and a very thin coat of clear overspray put on long ago to protect it; otherwise all original. General play wear is light; gold plating on bridge is fairly well worn. A great playing 295 with a very nice original brown case. Excellent Condition.
