Gibson ES-125 Advice

**dcontoyannis** · 01-09-2023, 04:38 PM

Hi all and happy new year! I am looking to buy my first archtop guitar and was curious to hear opinions about the ES-125. I recently played one at a local shop and was blown away by its tone. The guitar is from the mid 1950s and the folks at the store say it has only had one owner and has all the original parts intact. It is indeed in good shape for a vintage guitar but the only issue I noticed when playing it was that it had some fret buzz at the 10th fret on a few strings. If that wasn't an issue, I probably would have bought it on the spot, but now I worry that some sort of work might be needed.

I have only played 1 or 2 archtops in my life, so I'm taking a cautious approach before making a purchase and hoping to educate myself a bit. I was hoping that the good folks on the forum could offer me some advice on what to look for in a used archtop and how to do a somewhat thorough visual inspection. One thing I've run across online is to make sure the top hasn't "sunk" but I haven't really seen any good photos of what that looks like except for some really obvious cases where the guitar was in really bad shape. If there are any other questions you recommend I should ask the shop, please let me know.

Finally, any advice you can offer on how to convince the missus that another guitar is an essential purchase...

**SOLR** · 01-09-2023, 06:51 PM

There's a thread (probably a few) on the subject and what to look for '30s Gibson L-7

or this ES 125 evaluation ...playback on YT only

for fret noise around 10th might need a truss rod adjustment....shop may be able to straight edge it and confirm truss rod is in good shape.....

S

**dcontoyannis** · 01-09-2023, 08:52 PM

Thanks for the links!

**nevershouldhavesoldit** · 01-09-2023, 09:23 PM

I understand the anticipation that accompanies the purchase of one's first archtop. But I don't think that buying a 70 year old entry level guitar is a good way to join the ranks. If you're looking for a guitar that will let you explore and expand your knowledge and enjoyment of jazz guitar, I think you're much better off starting with an instrument you can play and enjoy without worries, like one of the Godin 5th Avenues or a Gretsch Streamliner. They're great value new and are readily available used from people just like you who reached the next plateau.

If you know nothing at all about archtops, the little knowledge you get from generalizations on a web forum will not insulate you from the risks of buying an old guitar. I'd strongly suggest starting with a nice entry level instrument and trying as many others as you can once you have a guitar with which to play and learn.

**dcontoyannis** · 01-09-2023, 09:38 PM

Thanks for the advice. This is not the first time I’ve felt the itch, and till now I’ve decided that I should stop looking at guitars and get back to practicing. But guitar shopping sure is fun…

**Little Jay** · 01-10-2023, 01:42 PM

My ES-125 (1950) is the only guitar I will never part with. Especially the regular deep body models are very consistent in quality; actually, I heve never played a bad one.

Prices have gone up dramatically overhere in Europe though, so it’s no longer the bargain or ‘entry level vintage archtop’ it used to be. Got mine for $1000 some 8 years ago but is was in far from mint condition.

Mine needed a refret, but is was well worth it.

**dcontoyannis** · 01-10-2023, 02:00 PM

The prices have definitely gone up, unfortunately. I'm seeing prices consistently over $2,000 (in the U.S). @Jay -- what is it about your 125 that makes it such a keeper for you?

**Little Jay** · 01-10-2023, 02:54 PM

(*edit: oops, I got a double post somehow instead of my initial answer… I’ll type it again…..pffff…..)

Reasons to keep:

1) the sound! Depending on how you pick it or how you set tone and volume (50ies wiring, so they infuence eachother), it can sound dark and jazzy, or funky and even rocky. You would expect only one pickup to be limiting, but somehow it’s not at all! Oh and it has this punchy ploc going on that some call thunk

2) playability! Best playing guitar I have, somehow everything becomes more effortless… I can’t really explain how. I tried imitating the setup in other guitars (same measures, distances and settings) but never got it the same. The neck has 72 years of wear (only 8 years by me) and feels like those old shoes you can’t throw away because they feel so nice and comfortable.

3) consistency: for some reason I hardly ever have to tune this guitar. And it always sounds good and reacts the same way. Other guitars I have one night sound great and the next night I’m fighting to get good sounds. Can’t really explain this one either.

I have to disclose that mine came without tonebars when I bought it, they were completely missing (there is an elaborate thread on this forum from some years ago). To prevent the top from sinking I placed a sound post under the bridge, which makes it a bit different from other 125s.

To demonstrate some different sides of my ES-125:

**SOLR** · 01-10-2023, 04:05 PM

Originally Posted by Little Jay

(*edit: oops, I got a double post somehow instead of my initial answer… I’ll type it again…..pffff…..)

Reasons to keep:

1) the sound! Depending on how you pick it or how you set tone and volume (50ies wiring, so they infuence eachother), it can sound dark and jazzy, or funky and even rocky. You would expect only one pickup to be limiting, but somehow it’s not at all! Oh and it has this punchy ploc going on that some call thunk

2) playability! Best playing guitar I have, somehow everything becomes more effortless… I can’t really explain how. I tried imitating the setup in other guitars (same measures, distances and settings) but never got it the same. The neck has 72 years of wear (only 8 years by me) and feels like those old shoes you can’t throw away because they feel so nice and comfortable.

3) consistency: for some reason I hardly ever have to tune this guitar. And it always sounds good and reacts the same way. Other guitars I have one night sound great and the next night I’m fighting to get good sounds. Can’t really explain this one either.

I have to disclose that mine came without tonebars when I bought it, they were completely missing (there is an elaborate on this forum from some years ago). To prevent the top from sinking I placed a sound post under the bridge, which makes it a bit different from other 125s.

To demonstrate some different sides of my ES-125:

Sounds like you definitely got your money's worth with that axe.

Well done LJ

S

**va3ux** · 01-10-2023, 10:24 PM

Originally Posted by dcontoyannis

Thanks for the advice. This is not the first time I’ve felt the itch, and till now I’ve decided that I should stop looking at guitars and get back to practicing. But guitar shopping sure is fun…

Well that's just crazy talk. That's not how it works around here.

**dcontoyannis** · 01-12-2023, 09:51 PM

Awesome playing, Jay! Sadly, I dragged my feet too long and somebody else bought the guitar.

**Tim Clark** · 01-12-2023, 10:35 PM

My 1966 ES125 thinline is also the best guitar I've ever had and a forever keeper. Most comfortable neck ever, featherweight, sounds great, stays in tune!

Unfortunately it now needs both new frets and a neck reset, and the luthiers in my area are so busy I will have to leave it in a shop for at least a month.

Since I'm gigging and didn't have a suitable substitute guitar I just bought a Guild T-50 Slim which is essentially an ES125T copy: exact size and weight, though with a slightly different neck profile.

I like it a lot. You might want to consider advice from a previous poster about buying something newer for your first archtop.