The Gibson ES 125: The Most Underrated Vintage Gibson?

[@DonaldPotter_ReadingZone]

I bought my 1964 Gibson ES 125 (Serial #368731) in on March 1, 1966, at the Ray Lammers Music Story in Cincinnati, Ohio. After several decades playing classical guitar, I recently did some repair work on the Gibson ES 125 and have switched back to plectrum. It is still a dream to play, and the sound is incredible. Hats off Virgil Warren and his father Ervin who taught me the Mel Bay Modern Guitar Method.

[@richardcolan1432]

The 125 I had 30 years ago was my first guitar for playing jazz/blues. It was a very good sound and really worked well for me as it has a true vintage feel and tone at an affordable price.

[@davidolson3776]

My Grandfather had a 1956 Gibson ES 125. It was passed down to my father, and now to me. I'm not a guitar player, but I am determined to become one. This guitar deserves to be played.

[@jimbonacum8917]

I have a TCD and it is a magical instrument. It has 2 original P90's which are incredibly versatile. By playing around with the volume and tone controls you can get anything from a sweet fat jazz tone to a roaring rock sound. I highly recommend them.

[@jamieholroydguitar]

Nice guitar!

[@moonboykitty]

The Loar - LH-309 is new for $750 retail. Has headstock inlays, open back tuners, fretboard binding, chunky soft V neck shape, a carved spruce top that sounds pretty good unplugged. Of course it plays great, especially for folks with bigger hands (chunky neck, wide nut and 16" fret radius). These guitars are incredibly easy to set up with the floating bridge and trapeze tailpiece. Just remember to change strings one at a time, or if you must mark your bridge location at the 24-3/4" scale length.

[@nickrandles1102]

🤤 🤤🤤. I’ll have one by the end of the year. Can’t wait. Yours is gorgeous

[@jamieholroydguitar]

Thanks!

[@fredheuser5730]

I have a 59 Es 125. Incredibly versatile guitar and highly underrated. Judging from Reverb prices, they are increasing in value.

[@sallhame]

I've got at 59' ES 125T. When discussing guitars with people it's always funny to say "I've got a 59' Gibson" ha ha. But it's a very good guitar. Everyone who tries it just sits down ans plays and plays.

[@leonardbragg7910]

I have a 1955 ES-125. Love the sound

[@jamieholroydguitar]

They’re cool guitars!

[@RYwoodview]

I've had a 1962 ES 125T for about 30 years now as the second owner, all original except the wooden bridge. Sweet tone, actually sounds much better in person than the recordings you were able to get. Haven't played the 125 full body, but totally satisfied with the resonance of the 125T. This will pass to my children when I go, and will just get more special (and valuable). Thank you so much for this story!

[@rickjensen2717]

Very nice instrument and rich sound! I have a semi-hollow Gibson ES 137 which is similar to an ES 135 but with humbuckers - very warm sound, about half way between a 335/345 and a 175.

[@jamieholroydguitar]

Thanks! Nice guitars. I almost bought a black one a few years ago.

[@davecampbell233]

My 125 looks identical to the one in your video except my tuning pegs had to be replaced. I went with something similar to keep with the look. This was my first guitar and I love the feel of the neck. I've always said you could blindfold me and have me play various guitars and I would recognize that one by the neck. Mine was bought in 1962, and I love it.

[@jamieholroydguitar]

Cool story. Which tuners did you get?

[@davecampbell233]

@@jamieholroydguitar To be honest, I don't know. I took it to a Luthier and told him I wanted something that looked like the originals. Unless you're an expert on those things, you can't tell they aren't the original

[@leonardbragg7910]

I also changed the tuners. The buttons dried an cracked apart. I found exact vintage replacement tuners. The rest of the guitar is nearly immaculate. I also have the original case and am only the second owner.

[@conradgittins4476]

A very nice instrument. There's nothing wrong with budget guitars if they work well which that one certainly does. I also prefer the slightly understated appearance without neck binding or fancy inlays. I'm planning to build an L4 and there is temptation to make it without the cut away.

[@nutcase1065]

I own 1932 L-4, you have your work cut out but in the end it will be well worth it. Good Luck

[@MicheleConnors-z5k]

I have my grandpa's 1942 es125 ❤

[@CTinNorthville]

How noisy do you find the P90 for clean tones like you're playing; saw Billy Bragg play one of these in Royal Oak, Michigan not too long ago through a newer Fender tube amp as his "acoustic" set up. I was surprised. Killer tone.

[@jamieholroydguitar]

I’ve not found it noisy - I’ve actually got louder telecaster pickups!

[@livewire4495]

ES 125T was my first guitar in 1964. Still have it. Looking at it as I type. A Tonal Treasure. I was Suppose to get a 62 Les Paul, but my Father passed it up because it was used. IYEEEE!😎

[@jamieholroydguitar]

Thanks for sharing!

[@josejazz]

I have a 1953 one, dig it, tones of mojo. I wonder how close they are in terms of sound with the ES 175 P-90´s of the same era.

[@mwpv11]

You should do a video about Emily Remler she was a great player

[@jamieholroydguitar]

Thanks for the suggestion! I always thought her tuition dvds were excellent and highly recommend them.

[@tasosdiaforetico7377]

Yeah she was insanely good sweet thing

[@petemacmillen]

I have a 1963 Es-125 tc with and extra p90 fitted sometime so Es-125 TCD .No block as 335 so ok with lower gain amps

[@ivan_emege]

Today there are great reproduction of these classic laminated jazz box, the best ones in my i opinión are the Japanese Kingsnake Curtis.

[@teresabenezra8144]

My second guitar was the ES125 Sunburst. It was in 1964. I was 10 yrs old. The guitar is somewhere?. ... I keep looking for the perfect one to purchase to add to my collection.

[@jamieholroydguitar]

I might know of one here in the UK if you are still looking

[@nutcase1065]

Very nice guitar. The reason Gibson was able to reduce the price is in the box. This is the model they started using laminates which changed the tone. Not inferior but just different. Get a hold of a solid carve top(L-5) and you'll hear the difference.

[@jamieholroydguitar]

Yep! I agree

[@rodford500]

I have a Guild T-50 Slim. It sounds fantastic. If you get a chance to try one, don't pass it up. You can hear RJ Ronquillo play one on KZbin.

[@GIBKEL]

I believe Marc Ribot loves his ES-125. I accidentally bought JGeils’s ES 125 with the slug pickup. Long story. Beautiful!

[@JohnMaag-f3t]

I've got a chinese knock off of the ES-125T I bought from Amazon for $202.83 delivered to my door. I was wanting the Gibson model but I just couldn't afford one. The one I bought has a brand name of Redid and I'll have to say for the money I really love the tone and playability.

[@jega157]

I've been looking at those....both Redid and Grote. So you really like the jazz tones both acoustic and amplified?

[@jfar3340]

beautiful. Is the lack of cutaway annoying for straight ahead jazz and swing?

[@jamieholroydguitar]

It’s never bothered me personally!

[@jfar3340]

@@jamieholroydguitar awesome thanks

[@jws2196]

Question for you, How would you tell if the ES 125 is fake, did they have model numbers on the inside of the guitars like today's acoustics with a glued-on sticker? Did they have the serial number stamped on the headstock. What other things can I look for? Thank You for this video, I enjoyed it. I have purchased one that has been modified. It now has 2 P90 pick-ups with volume and tone switches for both and a Bigsby tremolo setup on it. There is the ink stamped number ES125 on the inside you can see threw the F hole but nothing else on the inside. No other identifying makers on the guitar except the Gibson name on the headstock. Thanks Jim.

[@jamieholroydguitar]

Check out the Gibson ES 125 Facebook group

[@jws2196]

Ok, Thank You, I will do it.

[@stevenedwards4470]

I was today years old when I learned the numbers were the original prices. 😝 I've been involved with guitars for 44 years and that point always slipped by me.

[@jamieholroydguitar]

I was they were still the same price!

[@jaydenanderson53]

Does anyone know the name of the piece that Martin is playing in that clip? It sounds really familiar but I can’t put my finger on it. 9:04

[@jamieholroydguitar]

Darn that dream

[@JazzGuitarScrapbook]

Not underrated enough if Reverb prices are anything to go by…

[@jamieholroydguitar]

Good point, especially with the two pickup cutaway models! They haven’t gone up as much as say a 330 though

[@daveyandell2017]

Do you notice any hum from the P90?

[@jamieholroydguitar]

Not particularly

[@johanbilliard1658]

Is the Godin 5th Avenue kingpin a good alternative?

[@jamieholroydguitar]

I did a video comparing it to the 125 but I don’t think it came close

[@jimcadorette1140]

I’ve got a ‘57. Amazing. What strings do you like on yours?

[@jamieholroydguitar]

Nice! I use round 12s

[@ivan_emege]

How thick is the plywood top? Thanks

[@jamieholroydguitar]

Not very I don’t think!

[@CellZealot]

@@jamieholroydguitar 5/32" as measured with a caliper on my '55 ES-125 at the F hole.

[@belascialoja4812]

At about 9:45 or so, you are talking about how George Benson "...gets some ??? and tie the strap into the headstock..." Even the Speech-to-Text engine "hears" this mystery-word as "rup." I don't know what this is & would like to know. Help?

[@jamieholroydguitar]

The es 125 doesn’t come with two strap buttons so you can use one of them and use string in the other hole of the strap and tie it at the top of nut under the strings. Wes, Lenny Breau and Benson sometimes did this.

[@daveyandell2017]

Let me know if you're ever in the market to sell your Gibson ES-125. I'd be interested in buying it.

[@jamieholroydguitar]

Thanks I have someone else also looking for one but send me an email and I’ll let you keep you updated if you are in the UK. Thanks

[@nationalduo4945]

I prefer the full thickness es 125 to the es 175….

[@delusican1960]

Why are you playing a different guitar if the video is about the ES-125?

[@ilyasnamozov2914]

You play different guitar