❌SOLD❌ Gibson ES135 Cutaway Thinline Archtop Sunburst, 1996

The single cutaway, thinline Gibson ES135, built from 1991 to 2004 started out as a quite different guitar – the 1954 ES-130 non-cutaway archtop electric, renamed the ES-135 in 1956 and discontinued in 1958. For 1991, Gibson blended the ES-334 concept with the ES-175 body shape and added a pair of P-90 or humbucking pickups and either a trapeze or stop tailpiece. The model was discontinued in 2004.

The Gibson ES135 shares many construction features with other ES (Electric Spanish) thinline models. The 16 inch wide, 2.25 inch deep body sports a Florentine cutaway and is built using Maple/Poplar/Maple laminate to reduce feedback. Key to the design, there is a Maple center block to provide the feedback and sustain rejection of a solid body but with the tonal shape of an archtop. The fingerboard is Indian Rosewood with dot position markers. The neck is ‘set’ into the body as Gibson traditionally does, but there are two significant differences from most other Gibson models. First, the neck is Maple rather than Mahogany, though Gibson has used Maple on a number of models. Second, the headstock tips back at 14 rather than 17 degrees. The 17 degree head pitch has been one of Gibson’s marketing points for several years now. The use of Maple and the reduced head pitch decreases the likelihood of headstock breakage should the guitar fall.

For hardware, the Gibson ES135 features Gibson Deluxe ‘Kluson Style’ tuners with plastic Keystone buttons are used, with a modern tune-o-matic bridge and trapeze tailpiece at the other end of the strings. For electronics, a pair of great-sounding P-90 pickups lead to a standard 3-way switch and individual volume and tone controls. A pair of Schaller strap lock buttons are installed.

This Gibson ES135 dates to March 28, 1996 and was built at the now-closed Gibson shop in Memphis, Tennessee. It is in overall good condition with a bit of finish damage here and there in the form of small dents and scrapes. On the back, you may notice a reddish bar along the line of the waist – this discoloration is caused by reaction with the padding on a stand some time ago. The guitar plays well, and P-90s sound very good!

Sold with a non-original hard shell case.