Gibson 135 Anyone own one?

Philco · #1 08-27-2011, 07:44 AM

In the guitar store the other day and spotted a wine red Gibson 135 on the wall.

It really is a most basic model. Probably made out of compressed cardboard

There is no binding, the fretboard looks like a bad floor plank, the gibson sign is painted on and the Tuners and Trapeze tailpiece look like they were made from abandoned toys from the local junk yard.

It played GREAT!!
It sounded FANTASTIC.
2 P90's in this one. I forgot how great P90's were.
Out of all the guitars I played that day.......this one ate them all for a great and loud jazz sound.
They have a solid block of wood right down the centre like a 335.
So it's the best of both worlds.
Fatter jazz tone than a 35, 45, 55 because of the bigger body and still no feedback.......although I imagine there is a limit.

Man that guitar was everything I hated and loved.
I want one! (yeah I know I want just about everything)
Anyone have one?
Can you share your impressions?
http://web.me.com/pbuckle1/filechute/Gibson%20135.png

dmorash · #2 08-27-2011, 08:27 AM

I had one with humbuckers before. The tone was good as it seems to be with Gibsons. I really had to fight it to get it to respond - too much semi and not enough hollow for me. There were workmanship issues as well and chords did'nt sound in tune up and down the fretboard. I did'nt lose any money when I traded it in though - they seem to be good deals used.

Philco · #3 08-27-2011, 08:38 AM

Troubling to hear about the tuning problems.

I'm not surprised though. It really looked like it was put together in 15 minutes at 5.30 on a Friday.

It's such a bewildering thing to play a guitar that was so lacking in so many ways but that sounded and played better than instruments 3 times it's price with better timber and hardware.
Love em or leave em, Gibson got some real basic things very right.

pingu · #4 08-27-2011, 08:43 AM

Quote:

Man that guitar was everything I hated and loved.
I want one! (yeah I know I
want just about everything)
Anyone have one?
Can you share your
impressions?

I may well be that individual guitar that was great for you
when that happens you gotta buy that actual guit ..............

Drifter · #5 08-27-2011, 11:45 AM

I recently traded a Les Paul for a 135 and I love it. It plays great and with Thomastik Jazz Bebop 011s it sounds very nice, even with the P-100 pickups. I was thinking about swapping them for Lollar P90s but the more I play, the less urgent this seems to be. Soundwise, it may be somewhere inbetween a full hollow Jazz Box and a Les Paul, but it has a character all of its own. This one is a keeper. If the one you've tried speaks to you, you should buy it. Nice workhorse.

dmorash · #6 08-27-2011, 03:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Philco

It's such a bewildering thing to play a guitar that was so lacking in so many ways but that sounded and played better than instruments 3 times it's price with better timber and hardware.
Love em or leave em, Gibson got some real basic things very right.

If it played right and sounded right than.. you know the old saying - if it walks like a duck and sounds like a duck it probably is a duck.

I like your observation 'Love em or leave em, Gibson got some real basic things very right'

Philco · #7 08-27-2011, 07:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drifter

I recently traded a Les Paul for a 135 and I love it. It plays great and with Thomastik Jazz Bebop 011s it sounds very nice, even with the P-100 pickups. I was thinking about swapping them for Lollar P90s but the more I play, the less urgent this seems to be. Soundwise, it may be somewhere inbetween a full hollow Jazz Box and a Les Paul, but it has a character all of its own. This one is a keeper. If the one you've tried speaks to you, you should buy it. Nice workhorse.

Actually I really like the look of that instrument. Thanks for posting.

You guys are right, I really should just buy that particular instrument.
Unfortunately it's on consignment at the shop and is not subject to the usual great deals I would get there. The owner wants to much for it compared to Ebay prices.....about $400 to much.

I'm going through my self imposed cooling off period but I did think about that guitar as soon as I opened my eyes this morning

Drifter · #8 08-28-2011, 12:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Philco

I'm going through my self imposed cooling off period but I did think about that guitar as soon as I opened my eyes this morning

There's a word for it: You're in love!

Philco · #9 08-28-2011, 01:33 AM

I hear you.
But the object of my desire has a serious flaw.
I almost have to avert my eyes when I see that light red fret board.
It's that thing where you just gag a little.
It's all wrong.
It looks like freaking Balsa Wood.

Ok let's get Zen...........Balsa wood has it's place in the world and it's own beauty.

Right!

Like that toy glider plane you had when you were a kid! The fretboard is the same color as that!

Yeah it's all good! I'm digging it and accepting its difference!!

But I remember that plane crashed and smashed into pieces.
And that fretboard reminds me of Woodwork class at High School where all they could afford to give us was some cheap crap splintery red colored wood like the freaking color of that fretboard!!!

See I'm conflicted.
Baby is no good for me.

Drifter · #10 08-28-2011, 02:04 AM

Well, the price ain't right anyway. There will be other guitars calling your name.