robroy Posted October 28, 2012 Share Posted October 28, 2012 I am trying to narrow down the year my beloved Es-125 was built. I think but am not sure that the tuners are replacements but all else I believe to be original. Thanks for your input! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
retrorod Posted October 28, 2012 Share Posted October 28, 2012 Hey robroy, You have a fine original example of a late 40's ES-125. The clear barrel knobs, the non-adjustable pole P-90, tapered headstock and tailpiece design are indicators of that. Furthermore, I bet it has a flat back of mahogany as well as the top being mahogany also! Get a flashlight and look inside of the F-holes for a FON # The earliest 'post-war'125's (1946) had these features. It is a little different than the ES125's that followed. Finding a # could help pinpoint the year. I had one of these in the 90's. Mine was very 'punchy' and the P90 sounded awesome. The pickup is rather rare and unique to these early 125's. SWEET Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robroy Posted October 28, 2012 Author Share Posted October 28, 2012 Thanks for quick response retrorod.... not having any luck finding a FON, unfortunately. Just getting it down to the late 40's is a help though. thanks! I know I lucked out finding this one....The more I play it, the more I love the tone..... the woodiness and the P-90 is wonderful. thanks again. Robert Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
retrorod Posted October 28, 2012 Share Posted October 28, 2012 Does the guitar have a flat back versus arched? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robroy Posted October 28, 2012 Author Share Posted October 28, 2012 Yes, a flat back and a body depth of 3 5/16". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robroy Posted October 28, 2012 Author Share Posted October 28, 2012 The back and sides are definitely mahogany and the top may be too... I always had assumed the top was some laminated spruce, but it's hard to tell beneath the sunburst. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j45nick Posted October 28, 2012 Share Posted October 28, 2012 The back and sides are definitely mahogany and the top may be too... I always had assumed the top was some laminated spruce, but it's hard to tell beneath the sunburst. Just look at the edge grain of the top in the f-holes. Laminated tops are almost always three-ply, and the 90 degree change in grain direction is usually obvious. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robroy Posted October 28, 2012 Author Share Posted October 28, 2012 It's hard to detect any end grain with the dark stain.... it looks pretty thick not to be laminate, but I'm no expert. Weren't these guitars always made of laminate? thanks for your input! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
retrorod Posted October 29, 2012 Share Posted October 29, 2012 Pretty sure that the tops and backs are laminates. Possibly the sides also. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robroy Posted October 30, 2012 Author Share Posted October 30, 2012 So I'm thinking it's about a1947 model...... How does that sound? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimR56 Posted October 30, 2012 Share Posted October 30, 2012 I think the transition to the modern style "Gibson" headstock logo (as on your guitar) occurred in 1948, so I would have thought '48 or '49. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
retrorod Posted October 30, 2012 Share Posted October 30, 2012 Sounds about right. Man, I like that guitar What else do have ,robroy? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robroy Posted October 30, 2012 Author Share Posted October 30, 2012 Thanks retrorod! I'm fortunate to have two late 40's Lg-2s as well. This is my only electric. I'm learning to get some nice tone out of her and I know it'll keep getting better. I'm playing through a reissue Les Paul G5 that I mic into my pa when I play live. Thanks again for all the input! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j45nick Posted October 31, 2012 Share Posted October 31, 2012 That's pretty clearly a laminate top, which is typically about 3/16" thick (just under 5mm), while a solid top would be about 1/8" (just over 3mm). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
55 225 Posted December 20, 2012 Share Posted December 20, 2012 I am trying to narrow down the year my beloved Es-125 was built. I think but am not sure that the tuners are replacements but all else I believe to be original. Thanks for your input! I have an all mahogany one with trapeziods and an arched back-- 1947 or 8 i think - love the slug P-90 ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SamBooka Posted December 27, 2012 Share Posted December 27, 2012 I have an all mahogany one with trapeziods and an arched back-- 1947 or 8 i think - love the slug P-90 ! If it has trapezoids that probably would have been an ES 150 [Not the Charlie Christian version, but the second postwar version] I have been wrong before though! For the ES 125 of 12 I say definitely a 48 or 49 not later than that because of the slug pole pieces Edit: I take that back, the 150 is a 17 inch kind of hard to mistake it for 16 inch Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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