I actually played far too little on Gibsons. Occasionally they went to the rehearsal room but were used sporadically for some reason. Only my Melody Maker (1965) and Les Paul junior (1987) occasionally received supporting roles to play slides on.
Gibson ES-125 - 1952
Tobacco sunburst and a serial number starting with the letter "Z" and also to the year 1952. The single P-90 element positioned at the neck has a huge output. The height of the individual "poles" on the P90 is adjustable (from the 1950 model year). Everything is original, even the machine heads that no longer makes tuning very simple. Once in-tune, this ES continues to hold surprisingly well. Because of his age, this old lady has been spared lately.
A little history of the ES-125; Gibson introduced a budget model in 1938 known as the ES-100 model. This instrument is based on Gibson's L-50 arch top acoustic guitar where a pickup was added. In 1941, the ES-100 was replaced by the Gibson ES-125 model. The guitar's body had a laminated curved maple top, which became Gibson's standard on its electric hollow body instruments. The back and sides were also made of maple. The pickguard is made of celluloid in the "turtle" style. The neck is made of Honduras mahogany and provided with Brazilian rosewood. On the head the name Gibson was printed in gold, In 1942 production stopped due to the war. The model was reintroduced in 1946 when Gibson again focused on guitar production. In addition to the version I own, variants have also appeared with a much thinner body, with two elements or with a single cutaway. The letters added to the model number ES-125 show which version it concerns: T (hin), D (ubble) and C (utaway). For example, an ES-125TDC has all these combinations. Several other Gibson ES models also use these additions.
Gibson Melody Maker - 1965
Original 1965 "double cut" single coil Melody Maker in Cherry Red. Over the years, the red has faded a bit, making the color brown a bit more prominent.
The bridge (and also tailpiece) is still of the type around which the strings are attached.
The tuners are far from perfect, but replacing them would be an attack on the originality.
Gibson Marauder - 1976
Intended as an affordable alternative when the cheaper Japanese guitars were on the rise in the 1970s. It also seemed to be the intention that the instrument could compete with some Fenders from that period. The shape of the body is somewhat reminiscent of that of the Les Paul, the headstock of the guitar resembles that of the Flying-V.
The screwed neck could not find approval with many Gibson enthusiasts. In the plastic pickguard there is a narrow humbucker element next to the bridge and a conventional humbucker at the neck (design by Bill Lawrence). The Marauder was made in a relatively small edition (approx. 7000) in the Kalamazoo factory of Gibson between 1975 and 1979.
The sound of both elements can be mixed using a potentiometer.
This copy is in good condition. Only a "spot" on the back of the neck is disfigured, where it has stood against a stand or the like.
Gibson Les Paul Special DC Limited Edition - 1977
A reissue (1955) version that you rarely encounter. This limited edition has a double cutaway (most were single) and features two P90 "soap bar" elements. A flat mahogany body and also a mahogany neck. This version was produced from 1976 to 1979, but re-released by the custom shop in 1993 - 1994.
The guitar strap can be attached to the back of the heel of the neck or to the top "wing". I thought for a while that an extra connection was added, but I see this on other copies from that time.
Pleasant to play (partly due to the low frets) and a heck of a sound. In good condition.
Gibson Marauder - 1978
See also the 1976 Marauder. However, this body has a dark color and is made of mahogany. A previous owner once used 2 wide humbuckers. Meanwhile, an original pickguard with accessories from that time has been mounted. If you look closely, you can still see something of the recess in the body that was once there to accommodate both wide humbuckers. The original elements are cast in transparent epoxy as standard.
The white maple neck has dots that barely contrast with the color of the neck due to their light color. I'm probably not the only one who finds that difficult.
This Marauder served as the first teaching guitar for my daughter for years, probably fun to learn on a Gibson.
Gibson The Paul - 1979
Solid walnut wood, both the body and the neck. Available from 1978 - 1982. It was built in Nashville and was marketed as an affordable alternative in the late 1970's. No maple top and the pickup switch is located in the potentiometer area to save on production costs.
The so-called "dirty finger" elements have a relatively high output. The body has a stamp with the date April 9 1979. The pickups have the date OCT '78 and APR '79.
It is surprising that 40 years later Gibson released a reissue of this model, the "Gibson The Paul 40th Anniversary". This time with a rosewood fingerboard instead of ebony. The anniversary is recognizable from a distance because it is missing the dot between the nut and the first fret.
Gibson Les Paul junior - 1987
A first reissue of the double-cut junior from the late 1950s / early 1960s. Were built from 1986 to 1989.
The bridge and tuners deviate from its original example at the reissue.
This is built in Nashville and is dated January 14, 1987. Nice guitar for slide.
Gibson ES-335 TD Dot reissue - 2003
This Cherry Red 335 was purchased new (something else) in 2003, standard with a few '57 humbuckers. The "drawing" in the wood is clearly visible through the slightly transparent red lacquer.
Built in the Memphis factory, which I also visited a few years later.
Date according to the serial number is: March 5, 2003.
This ES has been rarely used to date.
