Anyone here play a Gibson ES-125TC?

[FatJeff]

Thanks, sailjazz. As it turns out, I ended up getting a Gibson L4 CES. I'd still be in the market for a 125TC in the future (once my bank account heals from this latest wound!).

[SamBooka]

I bought a '67 model and put a zollar pick up and it brought out the warmest tone and for my small hands it is an awesome jazz guitar. I would say keep watching the E-bay, G-base. I paid $1200 for mine. good luck.

What was wrong with the original pu?

[Archtop 13]

I've built some thinlines, Played 125's & 225's & restored a Sorrento recently. Personally I was hoping for a lot more from the Gibsons. The Epi had a super thin top(If anything is going to warp, & it had). In the end it's all subjective. The Epi had PAF's in it & sounded really nice plugged in. I'd suggest you play before you pay. The laminated boxes sound a little "Cardboardy" to me, which can be ok on a deeper body, but it really bothered me on the thinner guitars. Again, subjective...

[Jim Soloway]

Once upon a time, the ES125TCD in cherry sunburst was my dream guitar. On the other hand, that was in 1965 and I was 13 years old at the time.

[FatJeff]

Once upon a time, the ES125TCD in cherry sunburst was my dream guitar. On the other hand, that was in 1965 and I was 13 years old at the time.

I must still be 13 then. :-)

[TF]

I have owned both an ES125TC and a single-pickup Sorrento, at different times.

The ES125TC played nicely, but the single-coil P90 produced more noise than I could stand. (YMMV here, many people like the P90. Just make sure to perform only at venues with perfectly clean 120VAC power, and with no lighting dimmers, electric motors or fluorescent lights anywhere near.)

The Sorrento I bought sound unheard, mail-ordered from a nationally known dealer of collector guitars. By the time I figured out that it needed a neck reset, the return period had expired. I had a reset done locally, but this guitar remained kind of a dog, with a somewhat crude level of fit and finish - it gave off a subjective "budget guitar" vibe. But I didn't lose money on it, even with the neck reset expense - after all, it was a clean-looking 1963.

I still would like to acquire a thinline single-HB-pickup guitar, but a really GOOD one...

[FatJeff]

...the single-coil P90 produced more noise than I could stand. (YMMV here, many people like the P90. Just make sure to perform only at venues with perfectly clean 120VAC power, and with no lighting dimmers, electric motors or fluorescent lights anywhere near.)

Question re: the P90 single coil. I've just recently purchased a guitar with a P90 (first time non-humbucking for me), so is there any way to avoid this other than demanding clean AC at a particular venue? In other words, can you bring along a filtered power strip or something to combat this tendency?

[sailjazz]

What was wrong with the original pu?

The original P-90 was a bit harsh. The Atilla Zoller pickup is very warm and has that wonderful Herb Ellis, Joe Pass sound out of the 125 which is a very thin body. That being said it is suprising how when it is un-plugged the guitar has a decent acoustic sound and certainly is loud enough to practice in the living room. I have also tried the Bartolini pick up but I think the Zoller produces a richer sound

[barrymclark]

...Heritage H525...

High on my want list.

[J.T.]

I use a 125TC for soul jazz and crossover jazz. I also use it on traditional (1950s style) blues gigs. I also have a 125 (no cutaway) for swing-mainstream jazz. Both guitars have a single P90, the TC P/U being a Lollar. Love them both.

[Greentone]

For years, I had a Gibson ES-125T (no cutaway) and a Gibson ES-175. Each had a single-pickup. The 125T had a P90 while the 175 had a single humbucker. I used the 125T for 50s and 60s Jim Hall, Herb Ellis jazz tones and the 175 for Joe Pass tones. Each guitar worked to perfection.

The 125T was the better acoustic guitar of the two--figure that one out? It was quite resonant and had a substantial amount of acoustic energy. It was the guitar that I routinely picked up and played.

When I started having kids and those costs got substantial, I decided to sell a couple of guitars. I thought long and hard but kept the 175. I was never really sure I made the right decision, even though the 175 was clearly an iconic jazz instrument.

[desuitcase]

Bought a used es-125tc (1965 I think) in 1976 when I was 20yrs old. My first Gibson archtop. The bridge was strange --- a tuneomatic on two poles coming straight out of the top --- instead of the usual wood base fitted over the top. The top ended up caving in. Been afraid of them ever since.

[zizala]

I've had a couple ES-125TC's.....a '60 and a '61.
I liked them both but had to let them go so time ago for reasons I don''t recall.....probably something about "cashflow" and life's sudden turns.

Since then and in a very similar vein....I've found and have been playing '60 and '62 Guild T-100's that I prefer.
I think its those Franz pickups....