Gibson ES135

[atolleter]

Just picked this one up in a trade:

 

 

2003, has stop tail so mahogany block, grover tuners and 57 classics.

[BobB]

Very cool Ax. "57 Classic humbuckers in a semihollow body are the best of all worlds. Nice!

[atolleter]

Thnx, I'm not a fan of the Blueburst, I'd rather it to be red but I'm hoping it grows on me or I may just sale it.

[cdntac]

I think it's a cool colour.

[atolleter]

I'm actually impressed with the playability so far.

[Hoyt]

I just picked up a black ES135. I like it a lot so far, 10 days.

 

I've always played solid body electrics, well except for a beat to heck Rickenbacker 360, and the ES135 is perfect. I've been mostly into acoustics lately, and I like the way this sounds and plays moving from an acoustic.

 

These are real deals for a Gibson hollow body with 57 Classic pickups. I paid less than $1000 and got a guitar that plays and sounds better than the 339s and 335s I was trying out. Those were nice, but this just suits me better and leaves enough for a new amp. But, I do like the red 335s and 339s. But then, the crazy horn on the 135 is kind of cool too.

 

Good luck with yours.

[KSG_Standard]

I have an '02 ES135 Limited Edition and it's a very cool guitar. The '57 classics are a perfect match for it.

 

[atolleter]

What is the different between the ES135 and ES135 LE?

[KSG_Standard]

I think the only difference is that the LE doesn't have F-holes. It's got a mahogany center block, '57 classic pups and Grover tuners just like yours.

[atolleter]

Well I see some Limited with F-holes and some Standard without starting in 2003 so it's all kinda confusing but I thought the Limited had PAFs.

[Kenny V]

The color will grow on you. A couple of years ago I picked up the same color 135 used. I bought it because I really liked the guitar and the price. I wasn't too wild about the color, but I have grown to love it. My only complaint is it shows finger prints quite easily. I use the Gibson spray cleaner after I use the guitar so it looks great every time I take it out of the case. Enjoy.

Kenny V

[atolleter]

I've played it a few hours over Saturday and Sunday already, I like the acoustic, unplugged tone of it. Plugged in gives me a kind of jazzy feel, through my 5F1.

[Hoyt]

Atoller --

 

Is the "5F1" you mentioned, the Champ or what?

 

I've got one of the recent Fender Champion 600 with a few mods that sounds darn nice with the 135. But, I'm starting to wonder what might be even better for me. I like reverb and vibrato/trem -- so I'm kind of thinking about the Princeton Reissue, but would appreciate any thoughts. I have a fairly recent Vox AC15, but it's just a little bigger than I need and sounded a bit better with my previous Jazzmaster. I'm even thinking about the one knob jobs like the 57 Champ RI or Victoria 518 (or with a 12 inch).

 

I'm really learning a lot about these guitars on your thread. KSG's 135 is quite cool looking too.

[Kenny V]

Hoyt,

A tube amp with reverb and vibrato is the way to go. The Princeton is a great amp. For about $100 more you can move up to a Fender Deluxe Reveb Reissue which is 22 watts of tube power. I tried both the Princeton and the DRRI and I liked the DRRI a lot more.

Kenny V

[Hoyt]

Thanks Kenny V.

 

I think you are right. I'll look at the Fender Deluxe Reverb. I forgot that a friend loaned me his DRRI about 10 years ago for a few days. It has that Fender clean sound that I like and I really loved the reverb and vibrato. I played a long time last night with my little Champion 600 and it was really singing with the 135. It always sounded good with the Fender Telecaster and Jazzmaster I used to have -- but it sounds much better with the 135. I would like something a little bigger with reverb/vibrato. Decisions, Decisions.

 

Didn't mean to hijack the Atoller's thread, but you don't see a lot of discussion on the 135. Glad he started this thread.