Drawing from earlier '30s archtops, the Gibson ES-125 debuted in 1941 as an affordable, accessible 16" electric. Over the years, it developed a strong reputation as a hard-working utility instrument, prized today for its rich tone and simplicity.
This ES-125 rolled out of Kalamazoo, Michigan in 1954, and it features a lightweight 16-1/4"-wide archtop body outfitted with a single P90 pickup and volume and tone controls. The '50s Gibson sunburst is iconic, and the figuring on the Maple is subtle and just right. The Brazilian Rosewood fingerboard shows some nice grain, and the matching Brazilian Rosewood bridge helps deliver the authentic, woody sound of a '50s archtop. This 1954 ES-125 in exceptional cosmetic condition. The finish shows some checking and minor wear hear and there (see photos), but this is a clean vintage Gibson!
At some point, the original tuners were swapped with modern replacements that hold tune nicely. The black pickguard is also a replacement, and there is an added strap button on the back at the heel. Otherwise, the parts and electronic components appear to be original to 1954. Under the blacklight, the finish fluoresces evenly all around. The frets are all in good shape, and the action is low and inviting. It is currently setup with .011-.049 strings that have a plain 3rd string. These are a great feel, but swapping to a wound 3rd string will improve the intonation up the neck. The guitar weighs 5 lbs 1.3 oz, and the pickup resistance measures 7.48 k ohms.
This 1954 Gibson ES-125 includes a cool vintage case that we believe originally belonged to a Gretsch or a Guild (case experts, let us know what you think). The case has a moderate nicotine odor, which is fitting for the archtop "smoky jazz club" vibe. It has a very cool sticker from some place called Marguerite's in South Dakota. Cool!