JAD Posted February 25, 2020 Share Posted February 25, 2020 I've owned so many Gibson guitars over the years, I'm over seventy now, that I lose track, and I wish I'd kept them all! I'm probably going to buy another 3/4 size oldie and hopefully a goodie soon. An old elbow injury makes the 3/4 size necessary and as I've gotten older the need for small body small neck has become even more so. I've owned several ES 125 3/4 and one ES140, which is pretty much the same as the ES125 3/4 but with the cutaway. I traded or sold all those and of course wish I hadn't, so I am looking, will buy one by late spring probably. But I would rather buy a brand new reissue of one of these old classics! I'm sure there are others would snap one up? The guitar I played the most when I was young was an early 70s SG I bought new, that was stolen and I never replaced it. I don't believe Gibson ever made a 3/4 size version of that? Anyway, I like arch-tops. Like most guitar players, I used to buy and sell or trade guitars like crazy. Had an ES 125T a 225T and a few other similar Gibson arch-tops I can't recall the exact model of now, but they all would be too big now with my messed up elbow. Well, that's my problem, and my dream request to Gibson design team is for a 3/4 size arch top reissue. Thanks for listening. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larsongs Posted February 25, 2020 Share Posted February 25, 2020 Wouldn't that be the ES339? Also available as a Casino Coupe... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JAD Posted February 25, 2020 Author Share Posted February 25, 2020 Nice as the 339 looks, it is actually considerably larger lower bout and neck width than the es125 3/4 or the es140. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clayville Posted February 25, 2020 Share Posted February 25, 2020 (edited) I've had an ES-140 3/4 on my wish list forever but have never pulled the trigger, and the vintage prices keep rising while I dither. I currently play a CS-356 that I love (same size as the ES339) so I favor the *somewhat smaller* models, also due to an arm injury in my youth. To my knowledge, Gibson doesn't currently offer anything like the 3/4 models of the 1950s and early 60s. But there are a few builders out there making guitars that are inspired by them somewhat: similar size and shapes to those Gibson 3/4 ES's like the 140 and the 125. The B&G 'Little Sister' might be worth looking into for you - they offer a 'Private Build' version that's pretty High End, but there are import versions substantially less expensive. Wide Sky Guitars is a builder in Taos, NM who offers seemingly similar models too. And theFretwire offers a build-it-yourself electric parlor kit with two P-90s that seems to be based on the Little Sister shape. That one has been tempting to me too, though I can't vouch for the quality of the hardware. Good luck! Edited February 25, 2020 by clayville Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JAD Posted February 26, 2020 Author Share Posted February 26, 2020 Thanks for the hints. Its funny on the pricing of the 3/4 size ES series old Gibsons. The price guides keep showing lower values than they are commonly offered for. And some Japaneses buyer obviously bought up a lot of them several years ago, and is trying to make killing on them now on e bay. But I see one now and then on G base, reverb.com or even E bay at a decent price. I got to 'pull the trigger' as you say one of these times. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobouz Posted February 26, 2020 Share Posted February 26, 2020 I'll be turning 69 in a few months, and like you, I did a lot of instrument trading in the '70s. One was a 1950s LG2-3/4 that was a flea market find. Indeed, it's a very short fingerboard scale on Gibson's 3/4 sized guitars. Also agree that the prices for any of Gibson's 3/4s are very high these days - too high to be justified, imho. I can't remember when the last time was that I saw one for what I would consider to be a fair price. Hopefully patience will prevail and you'll find the right one at the right price! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larsongs Posted February 26, 2020 Share Posted February 26, 2020 Then there's the Rickenbacker 325's & 360's like Lennon played... Not a Gibson but very popular 3/4 Guitars... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JAD Posted February 27, 2020 Author Share Posted February 27, 2020 17 hours ago, bobouz said: I'll be turning 69 in a few months, and like you, I did a lot of instrument trading in the '70s. One was a 1950s LG2-3/4 that was a flea market find. Indeed, it's a very short fingerboard scale on Gibson's 3/4 sized guitars. Also agree that the prices for any of Gibson's 3/4s are very high these days - too high to be justified, imho. I can't remember when the last time was that I saw one for what I would consider to be a fair price. Hopefully patience will prevail and you'll find the right one at the right price! I had one of the LG2 3/4 as well, but it needed too much work so moved it sideways. Ditto a couple other LG models, LG1 and a rather nice LG 2, but it was a tad too big for my messed up left arm. Kind of wish I kept the LG2 though, sounded quite nice in the mid range. I use a couple early sixties Guild M20 models now for acoustic, but I feel an itch to trade or sell one of them and try something else. Just can't help myself I guess. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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