Introduced in 1936, the ES-150 was Gibson's first commercially-successful electric guitar. By 1953, it was a proper jazz box with a 17"-wide body made of feedback-resistant laminate Maple. For electronics, the primitive Charlie Christian pickup of the '30s was phased out by 1947, in favor of the cutting-edge P90. The P-90 was Gibson's first pickup homerun, and it is a reliable single-coil design used in modern guitar designs to this day. With its warm, rich and dynamic tone, the P90 is an excellent choice for a big body archtop. If you're looking for a good jazz guitar, the ES-150 gets it done with dark, bass thump and clean articulation across the register.
This 1953 Gibson ES-150 features the original sunburst finish and Trapezoid inlays into the Brazilian Rosewood fingerboard. It includes all of its original parts and components, and it's in very good cosmetic condition. There is a scuff on the treble side of the lower bout (see photos), and the finish is checked all around the body. The original pickguard is sturdy and in nice shape, and we love the rounded-off early-'50s pickup cover.
This 1953 ES-150 can chunk out chords all night in a swing band, and when you turn up the volume, solos cut through the mix with nice definition and clarity. The combination of the P90 and the 17" body give you the warm, wooly sound you want from a good jazz box. The C-shaped neck feels full and substantial, but it's not overly chunky. The current setup is excellent with .012-gauge flatwound strings—the perfect strings for a guitar like this!
This 1953 ES-150 was made in Gibson's famous Parsons Street factory in Kalamazoo, Michigan. There is something special about a good old "Kalamazoo Archtop," and this ES-150 illustrates that. It includes its original chipboard case, which is in impressive condition. The case feels like a rare find that complete the vintage package and vibe.