flamestripes Posted September 20, 2022 Share Posted September 20, 2022 Hello, Looking for expertise. Attached are some pictures of my guitar for the past 42 years. From the model number it seems to be a ES 126 T, very close to the ES 125 TD but a few details differ. Any one has any information on this ES 126 T ? It's very clear the model number on the second picture What is the meaning of the D or O after the model number? I never found a clue on browsing internet Your help will be greatly appreciated Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gearbasher Posted September 20, 2022 Share Posted September 20, 2022 (edited) I never heard of an ES 126. Web search brings up nothing. The "T" stands for thin body. A "D" stands for double pickups. I have no idea what the "O" stands for. I had a '57 ES 125 and the stamp looked different. Yours' almost looks hand done. Mine looked more like this one: BTW: TCD means Thin, Cutaway, Double pickup. Edited September 20, 2022 by gearbasher 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flamestripes Posted September 20, 2022 Author Share Posted September 20, 2022 Interesting. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdgm Posted September 20, 2022 Share Posted September 20, 2022 (edited) Looking at Tom Wheeler's 'American Guitars' pp 132-135; no mention at all of 126 although it lists 7 or 8 ES-125 variations over the years...maybe you already know this. The fact that your model no. is handwritten (or stencilled?) makes me wonder. Have you any more pics? Headstock front and back? We have some very knowledgeable folks in the acoustic section of this forum so you might want to post there too. Perhaps @ksdaddy or even @JimR56 may have some knowledge.... Edited September 21, 2022 by jdgm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ksdaddy Posted September 21, 2022 Share Posted September 21, 2022 It's quite plain to see that the model number was written with a pen. Maybe the original stamping was faint and someone tried to "fix" it but didn't have a clue as to what the guitar was. The guitar pictured is either and ES-125D or an ES-125TD. I can't tell if it's a thick or thin body in the pic. It was made 1955 or later (20 frets) and the bridge and tuners are not original. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slimt Posted September 21, 2022 Share Posted September 21, 2022 1 minute ago, ksdaddy said: It's quite plain to see that the model number was written with a pen. Maybe the original stamping was faint and someone tried to "fix" it but didn't have a clue as to what the guitar was. The guitar pictured is either and ES-125D or an ES-125TD. I can't tell if it's a thick or thin body in the pic. It was made 1955 or later (20 frets) and the bridge and tuners are not original. Agree. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flamestripes Posted September 21, 2022 Author Share Posted September 21, 2022 Thanks all for those insights. I will take some more pictures this week end and post here. Have a nice day Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt. Pepper Posted September 21, 2022 Share Posted September 21, 2022 That looks hand written with a pen. I had a ES-225TD and it had the same ink stamp for a Production Number, or what ever it was called back then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flamestripes Posted September 24, 2022 Author Share Posted September 24, 2022 Hello, Apologies but had no time during this week to take pictures Here are some additional pictures to follow up on identify this Gibson. Thanks all for your comment so far and the one to come and your help I'm curious of a clear model name and a production date. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flamestripes Posted September 24, 2022 Author Share Posted September 24, 2022 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flamestripes Posted September 24, 2022 Author Share Posted September 24, 2022 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flamestripes Posted September 24, 2022 Author Share Posted September 24, 2022 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flamestripes Posted September 24, 2022 Author Share Posted September 24, 2022 Apparently , i need to wait to upload other pictures Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ksdaddy Posted September 26, 2022 Share Posted September 26, 2022 Yep, ES-125TD with changed tuners, bridge, added jack plate ( likely to cover a rip-out of the original), and the neck has been reset, judging by the two plugged holes on the back near the neck heel where they shot steam in to soften the glue. Look inside for another number inside, if you can see any. Models such as these didn’t typically have serial numbers on the back of the headstocks until around ‘62 or so, but you might find a factory order number inside. If you held a gun to my head I would date this as a 1960. Let’s see how close I am. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flamestripes Posted September 26, 2022 Author Share Posted September 26, 2022 The other fhole as a 80 as per the attached picture. Compared to numbering scheme, it's strange. There is no number on the headstock. I can not attach a picture of the head due to size limitation Any helps welcome Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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