Y represents 1953, and this guitar was the 26th in batch 4011. FON’s were used at various times, and from 1952 to 1961 started with a letter code, counting down from Z to Q. This Gibson ES-125 in the original full body, no cutaway, one pickup configuration, is clearly dated to 1953 from the FON, Factory Order Number stamped on the inside back and visible from the treble F-hole. Several variants of the ES-125 were made, including full size body, thin body, thin body with cutaway, and one or two pickups. Wartime production ended in 1943, and resumed from 1946 to 1970. These student models are a way of accessing these fabulous Gibson tones without the higher price tags of the other more desirable models, grab them before they fly away.Produced as an entry level electrified archtop guitar, the Gibson ES-125 first appeared as the ES-100 in 1938, with a name change in 1941. There’s jazz, blues and roots all hiding in the cherry red overcoat. Admittedly there’s an amount of wrangling required to tame the beast but even at more reasonable volumes, this guitar sings. The most famous proponent of the ES125 has to be George Thorogood and the pickups on this guitar do definitely deliver that raunchy tone. The guitar comes with its correct ‘Gator skin’ case.
Inside, the electronics are all correct and both pickups are working really well with all the bite, growl and warmth you expect from vintage P-90’s. There are a few scratches here and there which isn’t surprising but all in all this is a very clean guitar. The original frets and fretboard are in good shape without any extreme wear.
The faux-tortoise shell pickguard hasn’t warped. The tailpiece and rosewood bridge are in fantastic condition as are the plastics.
The cherry finish on this guitar has weathered well and is still quite vivid as is the back.
What you do get here is a great sounding and stylishly understated thinline electric guitar in the spirit of the classic ES-330’s and ES-225’s. The neck and pickguard are unbound and the headstock is the free of any unnecessary artist flourishes. The accoutrements are basic, in fact the only real adornment is the binding around the body. As student models go, you wouldn’t mind taking delivery of anything coming out of Kalamazoo duding the 50’s or early 60s and this near MINT, 1964 ES-125 TDC certainly punches above its weight.
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