Gibson ES-135

**Stringswinger** · 07-22-2018, 02:05 PM

I have a sometimes bandmate who has one of those. The P-100's are neither P-90 nor Humbucker. And the guitar is neither ES-175 nor ES-335. He had used it with rounds and flats and the jazz tone while 'passable" is never stellar. His wife bought him that guitar so he is attached to it, but he has much better guitars and I always chide him about the 135 when he brings it to a gig.

Gibson (like Fender and Martin) hit most of their home runs before 1960 IMO.

**guitar_65riff** · 07-22-2018, 02:07 PM

That's a real nice guitar. Thought of putting in humbuckers?

**Longways to Go** · 07-22-2018, 02:18 PM

I ended up letting my 135 go because of the P-100's. The sound was always too thin on top no matter how I tweaked. It's too bad too, because I loved that big thick neck and the acoustic resonance of the guitar was really nice. But my new 175 has all the tone I wanted from the 135 easily and effortlessly, so I'm not looking back with any regrets.

**rabbit** · 07-22-2018, 03:10 PM

Agree with guitar_65riff, that is kinda nice-lookin' guitar.

If you've no use for a Les Paul (how I think of these) you might try playing thru
two amps. I admit that I'm on a two-amp jag at the moment but a good thing might be waiting for you.

Differenter is generally betterer in two-amp-ville. This is all I know, so, good luck!

**Gitfiddler** · 07-22-2018, 03:20 PM

To me the modern day ES135's were always a bit of a compromise, especially the P100 models. The body style is close to the iconic ES125T/225TD, but semi-hollow. The humbucker version hung around for a long time, with various trim/bling levels before being dropped by Gibson.

I've never seen an orange one like the OP's photo. I have owned a blonde 135 Ltd. Ed. with Classic 57's that sounded great, especially for jazz and RnB. What made it special? The pickups!

As suggested, maybe dropping in different pickups might help salvage a cool and unique looking instrument. That being said, ALL guitars are the sum of their respective parts. Unless you are ready to put it on the block and sell it, why not mess with its 'parts'?

**rio** · 07-22-2018, 03:31 PM

I haven’t ever heard anyone really liking p100s but I have no experience with them. Some P90s might help. I had a student with an es135 that had humbuckers and it was a pretty good sounding guitar. Eventually he switched to an Eastman though and the sound was better. It seems like a good jack of all trades guitar but I’d rather try to specialize foe what I’m playing or use a 335 style guitar. But who knows, maybe if o gave one some serious time I’d like it. Does it have a balsa wood block or something heavier?

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**GNAPPI** · 07-22-2018, 03:34 PM

P100's are weak, and have less than stellar tone but like other less than perfect pups there's nothing that an amp with a decent EQ and power cannot help.

But there are some pretty good aftermarket 90's that are (IMO) a far better solution than jacking a git that some player 50 years down the road may thank or hate you for your decision :-)

**John A.** · 07-22-2018, 03:44 PM

This guy (Matt Davis) gets a beautiful tone out of an ES 135

John

**smmllr** · 07-22-2018, 04:08 PM

Since this is one of an all-too-saturated collection, I don’t need to modify it to make it a better gigging guitar; I’ve got plenty of those. 135’s may never achieve vintage market status, but if they do, this one might bring a tad more simply because its finish and other features are so unique. Therefore, as long as I keep it, I’ll keep it stock.

And I agree with other posts: in trying to create a 175/335, P-90/humbucker hybrid, they ended up with something that falls short in all categories. But like I said in my initial post, flatwounds through the bridge pickup sound nice enough (I actually dislike the weight more than the sound).

I appreciate the interest and input, everyone. Thanks.

**icr** · 07-22-2018, 04:09 PM

I got mine in 1993, I never thought of it as much of a Jazz guitar. For me it plays more like a solid body.

**marcwhy** · 07-22-2018, 05:24 PM

It's OK to not like a guitar, even a good one. Sometimes we connect with a guitar, and other times not; "jazz tones" are subjective, so play it or sell it.

**Dedalus** · 07-22-2018, 06:55 PM

Originally Posted by GNAPPI

P100's are weak, and have less than stellar tone but like other less than perfect pups there's nothing that an amp with a decent EQ and power cannot help.

But there are some pretty good aftermarket 90's that are (IMO) a far better solution than jacking a git that some player 50 years down the road may thank or hate you for your decision :-)

I can't speak to the 135, but I had Sydney luthier, Frank Grubisa, put a P100 in the neck position of a Merlin he made for me about twenty years ago--a chambered, PRS/Gibson style solid body. I have always regretted that decision but plan on replacing it with a P90 or CC pickup some time soon. Always found the pickup muddy/woofy and unbalanced.

**smmllr** · 07-22-2018, 07:58 PM

Originally Posted by smmllr

flatwounds through the bridge pickup sound nice enough (I actually dislike the weight more than the sound).

Editor's note: I meant flatwounds through the neck pickup sound nice enough, of course. Damn the bridge pickup.

Also, in reply to rio, it's got a balsa inner block.

**rio** · 07-23-2018, 04:49 AM

Originally Posted by John A.

This guy (Matt Davis) gets a beautiful tone out of an ES 135

John

Oh that’s interesting. I played with Matt back in college a bit and thought I remembered him playing a 175. Maybe it was a 135 or maybe he switched - back then I was only playing bass so it’s possible I mistook it for a 175 in my naïveté. Great player and I always liked his sound.

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**John A.** · 07-23-2018, 07:56 AM

Originally Posted by rio

Oh that’s interesting. I played with Matt back in college a bit and thought I remembered him playing a 175. Maybe it was a 135 or maybe he switched - back then I was only playing bass so it’s possible I mistook it for a 175 in my naïveté. Great player and I always liked his sound.

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He told me he has had the 135 since his teens. He has a really light touch, which I think is the key to that tone. Agreed, he's a fantastic player. I know him from a jam I frequent in the neighborhood where we both live, and get to hear him pretty regularly.

John

**Robert1950** · 07-23-2018, 02:18 PM

If the guitar feels good, and plays good, change the pickups. If you don't like the hum, you can get some good hum-cancelling P90s, like Lollar or Fralins. Or you can have some mini-humbuckers installed. I love the finish of that guitar. Oh, and amps are the other half of the equation.

**Doctor Jeff** · 07-24-2018, 10:23 PM

I have a 2002 135 with Classic 57's which I love. It's a very comfortable and versatile guitar. It has a balsa block and trapeze tailpiece.

I would disagree that it's Les Paul-like. There is sustain, but there's also an airiness that evokes fully hollow boxes, though without the trademark 175 "thunk."

If you can't get a good jazz tone out of this one, there's something wrong.

The only "downside" is that it's heavy--over 9 lbs, IIRC. Not a problem for me since I mainly play sitting down. It balances very well on the leg, and I don't really notice any difference in ergonomics between the 135 and other fully hollow guitars I have.

Gibson ES-135-fullsizeoutput_fda-jpeg

**Robertkoa** · 07-29-2018, 12:43 AM

I like how they sound with Humbuckers much better.
To produce that nice resonance and not have a Humbucker to milk it -you can coil cut the Humbuckers or Parallel them anyway...

To the OP - maybe listen to those Duncan Humbuckers in Demos which fit in a P90 and order them slightly overwound...if you like the sound.

I like the ES 137 also ...

And the 135 seems to go further...

And the Heritage 525 further still....