Gibson ES-137 Thinline BlueBurst, 2006 / *No Longer Available*

Introduced in Nashville during 2002, the Gibson ES-137 thinline is intended to combine two of Gibson’s most successful designs – the resonance of the thinline archtop ES models, and the solidity of the Les Paul classic. However, this instrument is thicker than a thinline model, and uses mahogany instead of maple for the center block.

Bringing together the Florentine cutaway, arch top body with the solid mahogany center block, and using most of the hardware from a Les Paul including the pickups, tune-a-matic bridge and stop tailpiece, the ES-137 thinline is a very versatile guitar.

This Gibson ES-137 Thinline dates to October 24, 2006 and was built at Gibson’s now-closed Memphis facility. It sports a very nice, non traditional blue burst finish in nitrocelluose lacquer and is in overall good condition. This example is not entirely stock, as the tuners, bridge and tailpiece have been upgraded and the guitar has been set up for the Feiten Tuning System. The tuners are gold-plated HipShot locking models with metal keystone buttons. The bridge and tailpiece are a massive Babicz set from Full Contact Hardware.  Two of the control knobs have been replaced – the gold knobs are volume, the black are tone.   Gold-plated Schaller Strap Locks have also been added.    The stock pickups are Gibson 490R and 490T models.

Here’s the maker on the Babicz bridge and tailpiece set:

“A direct replacement for any guitar equipped with the “Tune-o-Matic” bridge and Stop Tailpiece, this innovative solution allows for extremely fast and precise individual string height “action” adjustments as well as accurate individual intonation adjustments.

There are no gaps or voids to inhibit the transference of the vibration of the string and the resonance of the body. The “Full Contact Hardware” direct coupling replacement system for “Tune-o-Matic” style bridges mounts directly to the top of the guitar, therefore unwanted spaces between the bottom of the bridge and the top of the guitar are eliminated. The Babicz “Full Contact Hardware” system for “Tune-o-Matic” style guitars offers unmatched stability, increased sustain, dramatically improved fullness and tone along with complete adjustability.”

This guitar is in overall good condition, and plays well and cleanly.   The original Gibson hard shell case is included.