brettyboy Posted July 10, 2017 Share Posted July 10, 2017 Just inherited a beauty of a guitar, it's an ES-125. It was my great grandfathers, then my grandfathers, then my uncles, and now mine. I polished it up, restrung it, and bought a case for it today. I'm trying to figure out the exact year and I'm having trouble. I don't see any stamped FON on the back through the F holes. All I see is a hand written sequence that says 5G4486. I have it narrowed between 47-52 because of other characteristics like 19 frets, tapered headstock, non adjustable poles, and black cloth strips glued around the edges inside the body. Pictures attached, anyone have any ideas on that hand written number sequence? Picture of number inside is black and white so you can read it better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldCowboy Posted July 10, 2017 Share Posted July 10, 2017 The tailpiece (no diamond) suggests 1949 or 1950 at the earliest. Not sure about the number. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brettyboy Posted July 10, 2017 Author Share Posted July 10, 2017 The tailpiece (no diamond) suggests 1949 or 1950 at the earliest. Not sure about the number. Thanks, I think I've got it pretty narrowed to 1949. The pickup doesn't have adjustable pole pieces and the barrel knobs have no numbers they are just clear. Any other thoughts on this by anyone? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimR56 Posted July 10, 2017 Share Posted July 10, 2017 The "5G4486" is a bit of a puzzler. 4486 would have suggested 1950 to me, but either way you're in the ballpark (good research on your part, by the way). More important than figuring out whether it's 1949 or 1950 is the fact that this cool old Gibson was passed along in a family, and is now in the hands of someone who obviously appreciates it and will take good care of it. Congrats, and I hope you enjoy the hell out of it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave F Posted July 11, 2017 Share Posted July 11, 2017 I picked up an ES150 last week. The ink stamp seen through the treble F-hole starts with an Y so I'm assuming it's a '53. The back of the head stock is stamped 5G8995 ???? Plus it's lengthwise instead of widthwise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brettyboy Posted July 11, 2017 Author Share Posted July 11, 2017 The "5G4486" is a bit of a puzzler. 4486 would have suggested 1950 to me, but either way you're in the ballpark (good research on your part, by the way). More important than figuring out whether it's 1949 or 1950 is the fact that this cool old Gibson was passed along in a family, and is now in the hands of someone who obviously appreciates it and will take good care of it. Congrats, and I hope you enjoy the hell out of it. Thanks, yes absolutely. I've loved this guitar growing up visiting my uncles house. It's now my baby, I can feel the family history in it when I play it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin 1940D28 Posted September 13, 2017 Share Posted September 13, 2017 The Gibson ES 125 was my first quality Guitar, a brand new 1957 model. Still have it and play it. The serial # number posted is an add on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pesh Posted September 18, 2017 Share Posted September 18, 2017 That's so cool! What a thing to inherit! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
retrorod Posted December 8, 2017 Share Posted December 8, 2017 Nice guitar. I know this is an old post but was curious if the original poster could verify if the guitar back is flat (not arched)? I had one of those years ago. I really liked the flat pole-pieced P90...! Nice family piece! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jazz+ Posted August 18, 2018 Share Posted August 18, 2018 Nice guitar. I know this is an old post but was curious if the original poster could verify if the guitar back is flat (not arched)? I had one of those years ago. I really liked the flat pole-pieced P90...! Nice family piece! Do Gibson P90 dogear pickups made today have a close sound to that 125 dogear? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G0ldrush1958 Posted January 26, 2019 Share Posted January 26, 2019 1946 161⁄4" wide Approximately 3.5" thick body Scale length 243⁄4 One non-adjustable P-90 pickup with "dog ears" Pickup in neck position Tortoise grain pickguard Trapeze tailpiece Single bound top and back Pearloid circular fingerboard inlays Silkscreen logo Sunburst finish 1948 Dot fingerboard inlays 1950 Plain tailpiece P-90 pickup with adjustable poles Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimR56 Posted January 27, 2019 Share Posted January 27, 2019 1946 161⁄4" wide Approximately 3.5" thick body Scale length 243⁄4 One non-adjustable P-90 pickup with "dog ears" Pickup in neck position Tortoise grain pickguard Trapeze tailpiece Single bound top and back Pearloid circular fingerboard inlays Silkscreen logo Sunburst finish 1948 Dot fingerboard inlays 1950 Plain tailpiece P-90 pickup with adjustable poles The original 1946-49 version can be found with either dot ("circular") or trapezoid fingerboard inlays. The standard body depth was 3 3/8". Also, the bodies of some of the early variants were made of laminated mahogany (flat back). Laminated maple (arched back) became standard in 1950. A fairly confusing history on this model. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ksdaddy Posted January 27, 2019 Share Posted January 27, 2019 A fairly confusing history on this model. It wouldn't be a Gibson otherwise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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