Hot or Not? 52 ES-125 "Make offer"

[el diablo]

That is the model that bridged the gap from the non cut acoustic L-series to the cut ES series in that time frame. My early fifties L-50 and ES-175 w same p/u

It's a lower end model, and looks like it has the single piece inline tuners and dot neck (not parallelogram inlays.). The tail piece is also a low end appointment. Strip job and non original case should drop the price to where you are thinking. $500-700 if it plays well. That guitar , if properly sorted out, should sound great played both acoustically and electrically.

 

[GreatDane]

i had a '49 ES-125 with the big body and one of those nice old P90s that just sounds so big and nasty with overdrive. it was great. i sold it along with a bunch of other guitars, and have no regrets, but it was a killer instrument. it was strung with some big flat-wounds, and had a great vibe.

 

[Guitar Heel]

I will also add that one of the 125's that I used to own was the best-smelling guitar I've ever had. So you might be paying a smell premium.

 

[Elias Graves]

I will also add that one of the 125's that I used to own was the best-smelling guitar I've ever had. So you might be paying a smell premium.

Cigarettes and whiskey?
Cheap perfume and beer?
Hookers and blow?

 

[Guitar Heel]

Cigarettes and whiskey?
Cheap perfume and beer?
Hookers and blow?

yes.

 

[Elias Graves]

yes.

Ahh. The total package!

 

[Pine Apple Slim]

I had a mint 51' ES125 like GreatDane's.
Absoulutely the best pickup ever. A real Blues machine. Clean to wicked growl just by how hard you picked it.
I think I paid $300 for in the early 90s and sold it for $700 after about 10 yrs in a fit of gas.
I could prob get $1000-$1200 for it nowadays if I still had it.
No regrets, I only played it at home. It was so clean and original I was afraid to take it out of the house.

 

[el diablo]

Note that there is no pickguard ( can be an issue in resale and not easy to find ) .
.Buy it if it fits your karma.

 

[Guitar Heel]

Dave's has one that's non-original for 1750, and they have the best used prices out there, IMO.

http://davesguitar.com/products/gibson/es-125-52-2/

 

[el diablo]

Dave's has one that's non-original for 1750, and they have the best used prices out there, IMO.

http://davesguitar.com/products/gibson/es-125-52-2/

1750 with an incredibly crappy solder job on the tailpiece? ??? It's not like you ( not YOU you, but you in the us you sense) can't find a replacement tailpiece anymore. Any 50s-60s are direct fits.

 

[Elias Graves]

I know of two in very good condition (all original) for $1500. Take your pick.

 

[bsman]

Hmm, you can get a brand new Godin 5th Avenue Kingpin for seven bills, so that might inform my decision process on this guitar....

 

[Elias Graves]

Hmm, you can get a brand new Godin 5th Avenue Kingpin for seven bills, so that might inform my decision process on this guitar....

But....Only a Gibson is good enough...

 

[bsman]

That's right -- you have a Godin, don't you!?

 

[Elias Graves]

That's right -- you have a Godin, don't you!?

Used to. Not any more.

 

[bsman]

Used to. Not any more.

Did you not bond with it, or was there a problem?

 

[Elias Graves]

Did you not bond with it, or was there a problem?

No problem. Had my fun with it. Time to move on to new toys.
I never fell in love with it, though. Great quality, especially at the price.
I've kinda got to where most manufactured stuff feels too consistent, if that makes any sense. It just feels generic and lacking personality.
Since I started making my own, I'll likely not buy any more assembly line guitars.
If I can't afford a real custom, I'll stick with my own home brews.

I have a friend here wanting me to do a custom for his daughter, which I'm considering.

After that, I'll probably build myself one more very similar to my white one. I'd like to have one set up with two P90s and one set up with two firebird minis instead of the half and half I have now.