Vintage Gibson ES-125, L-48, L-50 still worth it?

[Jx30510]

I'm watching vintage GIBSON Es125, L48 L50, etc.. And the sky high prices they have attained 2800 to 3500€ in most cases.. And am asking myself, appart from the resale / speculation value, are these still worth as instruments in a pure musical way (sound, playability, quality..)?
These guitars were for the most entry level guitars.
Other than the collectability, and obvious "mojo" of having a historic Gibson, are they today good instruments for the price?
I've heard comparisons, for instance, of a Es125, and Godin Kingpin, the difference was almost unhearable..
I'd like to buy an acoustic archtop, but the Gibson price rise just drives me nut.. Is it crazy to buy an Es125 at 3000 bucks!?

[John A.]

An ES 125 is not really an acoustic guitar, so if you really want an acoustic it’s definitely not worth the price.

As an electric, 125s are surprisingly good guitars, basically a less fancy 1-P90 175 without the cutaway. If you want something that has that exact Gibson sound, a 125 is a great value compared to one of those. A kingpin is slightly different sounding - very good, but its somewhat its own thing. If that’s what you like, and are not obsessed with exactly duplicating a Gibson sound, it’s a fantastic value. I had one, and liked it a lot.

As far as L48s and L50s go … L48s are laminated mahogany tops, so not a huge sound. L50s are carved spruce, so the truest acoustic of these 3. Prices are heavily driven by their collectibility, though, and there are better values (e.g., Loar, some vintage Epiphones)

[Jx30510]

Thanks for your insight.
Well I had an Es125 a few years ago, a 1958. I sold it in 2015 I think, for 1200€. That was the price they sold for at that time! And I had bought directly from the US on Ebay (I live in France) for 900€ in 2009!.
So they tripled in price in a 10 years.. Will this stop or?
I opened this thread because, in my memory, the Es125 was good for the money I payed for it in 2009. There were a bunch of them, I mean a lot, in 2009 at these prices.
Today, it is really hard for me to convince myself these guitars are 3000€ good.
Should have never sold mine in 2015.. But I had an Epiphone Es125 Premium at the time that was just...better. Or at least equivalent,
but a little different.. Did I really say it?

[John A.]

Thanks for your insight.
Well I had an Es125 a few years ago, a 1958. I sold it in 2015 I think, for 1200€. That was the price they sold for at that time! And I had bought directly from the US on Ebay (I live in France) for 900€ in 2009!.
So they tripled in price in a 10 years.. Will this stop or?
I opened this thread because, in my memory, the Es125 was good for the money I payed for it in 2009. There were a bunch of them, I mean a lot, in 2009 at these prices.
Today, it is really hard for me to convince myself these guitars are 3000€ good.
Should have never sold mine in 2015.. But I had an Epiphone Es125 Premium at the time that was just...better. Or at least equivalent,
but a little different.. Did I really say it?

Yes, 10-12 years ago, ES 125s we’re a real bargain, often under $1000. But the prices rose sharply. I think a lot of us regret buying them then because it was kind obvious they were about to shift from “player" to "collectible". Now, compared to a 175, they’re still reasonable, but against the broader archtop market, not so much.

[wzpgsr]

If you want something that has that exact Gibson sound, a 125 is a great value compared to one of those. A kingpin is slightly different sounding - very good, but its somewhat its own thing. If that’s what you like, and are not obsessed with exactly duplicating a Gibson sound, it’s a fantastic value. I had one, and liked it a lot.

It's a personal value decision. The difference between the "clones" and the real thing probably gets into the realm of diminishing returns as a function of cost. But if you want old wood and that classic Gibson laminate sound from the 1950s, as expensive as some 1950s ES-125s are being listed for, they're still a lot cheaper than ES-175s from the same era. My ES-125 plays very nicely—perfect neck carve, perfect string tension, perfect tone. The Godin clones I've played were in the same ballpark, but if we're splitting hairs, they were not on par with the Gibson.

[Woody Sound]

I played an L50 for several years, it sounded better than my teacher's S400CES. As an innocent youngun, I said something about that and he was really annoyed.

[John A.]

It's a personal value decision. The difference between the "clones" and the real thing probably gets into the realm of diminishing returns as a function of cost. But if you want old wood and that classic Gibson laminate sound from the 1950s, as expensive as some 1950s ES-125s are being listed for, they're still a lot cheaper than ES-175s from the same era. My ES-125 plays very nicely—perfect neck carve, perfect string tension, perfect tone. The Godin clones I've played were in the same ballpark, but if we're splitting hairs, they were not on par with the Gibson.

Agreed, although I found the Godin is a little more functional as an acoustic. Also, the lower end Gibsons used to be kind of a cheap thrill/best-kept secret - a 125 or LP Special was a great guitar for very little money. Godin kind of grabbed that niche.

[citizenk74]

My humble '49 L-48 is not going anywhere.

[burchyk]

I only played one 125 and while it had lots of vintage mojo, not sure I would want it as my main guitar. I'd feel guilty about changing anything about it. It had a massive neck. Maybe it was not the best specimen. Some people get great sounds on them, so what do I know.

But then I also wasn't super impressed with the quality of a few 50s and 60s 175s I could get my hands on either. Ended up with 175D VOS that I preferred, which is now sitting in the corner while I spend practice time enjoying a $200 Epi Dot Studio that I had SS frets and SD Antiquities installed. Call me an idiot, I don't mind

[vance h]

My first guitar was an L50. I must admit I was quite taken with the aura, but if it had not had the Gibson headstock I wouldn’t have thought it was anything special. Emotion plays a bigger part in our connection with guitars than we would like to admit. But maybe that’s not such a bad thing, in the end.

[Jx30510]

Yeah owning a vintage Gibson is some kind of accomplishment for a jazz guitarist for what it represents more than the "instrument"?
That video is really great sounding by the way. Doesn't help the GAS syndrome

[icr]

L50s sound really nice! I don't see them getting any cheaper. Just because they are 'entry level' guitars does not mean they don't sound good.
Also, look at market value of other 'entry level' guitars, like vintage Les Paul Jr or vintage Fender Mustang and Musicmaster.

I remember when I got my L50, when prices were pushing toward $1000, thinking that is crazy money at the time. Glad I have one now.
First time I passed up on one from the 1930s was in 1996 at a pawn shop for $300. I was perplexed at the time wondering why they were so cheap when a 1950s solid body cost so much? I figured those old acoustic arch tops just sounded bad...boy I was wrong.