❌SOLD❌ Shopworn Gibson ES Les Paul Pelham Blue, 2016

We’ve previously listed this now shopworn Gibson ES Les Paul in Pelham Blue, built during 2016 at the now-closed Memphis plant. Since then, it’s suffered a small bit of finish damage near the pickup selector switch, and we’re offering it at a reduced price. One guitar bumped into another while being replaced on the rack, and the resulting dent broke out a small amount of the Pelham Blue finish.

Normally, the term ‘Shopworn’ applies to new instruments. This guitar was a very lightly used, consignment item, but ‘Shopworn’ is the most accurate description for its condition. 

This provides us with an opportunity to discuss finish touch ups and repairs. The Twelfth Fret Repair Shop is experienced in such repairs, but on close examination, this particular type of damage can’t be invisibly repaired. One of the reasons is that it’s an overwhelmingly natural response to immediately touch the damage, and this transfers skin oils which will cause a dark line. Even with the correct Pelham Blue finish, which has a metallic component, a clean colour blend will be practically impossible. The repair will always be visible, and quite possibly not be a visual improvement.

Aside from the small chip next to the pickup selector, this shopworn Gibson ES Les Paul is in very good condition, with the original plastic films on the pickguard and control access plates.

Here’s the description from our original posting:

Coming from the now shuttered Memphis plant in 2015, the Gibson ES Les Paul combined classic Les Paul aesthetics with the immensely successful thinline ES concept. Along with the plant, this model has, as such, been discontinued by Gibson’s new management. The new ES-235 is perhaps its replacement in this class.

Here we’re looking at a very, very clean Gibson ES Les Paul sporting a classy Pelham Blue finish, a medium blue with a light metallic component. This specific guitar has hardly been played and still has the protective plastic on the pick guard. There is virtually no wear of any type, to the frets, fingerboard, finish or plating.

The ES Les Paul includes Kluson Deluxe type tuners, with a traditional ABR-1 type tune-o-matic bridge and stop tailpiece. Electronics start with MHS humbuckers, emulating the original Gibson PAF pickups, a pickup selector and individual volume and tone controls. The output jack is on the lower treble side.

The ES Les Paul plays very well, and is one of the lightest quality electrics available. One of the few lighter is the Fender Telecaster Thinline, a very different instrument. If you need the sound of a Les Paul but also need or appreciate lighter weight, look no further. This is a well built, well thought out instrument, with classic lines, excellent playability, and a great sound.

The original brown Gibson branded hard shell case is included.

In their archive section (which may disappear at any time), Gibson described the ES Les Paul in this way:

“The perfect marriage of Les Paul and ES-335 yields powerful tones and a lightweight playing feel, courtesy of PAF-style MHS pickups, rounded ‘C’ neck profile, historic details and more.”