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Gibson ES 135
For two short years (and again later), Gibson introduced a guitar that was considered a semi-acoustic, and semi-hollow guitar called the ES 135. It was a part of the Gibson ES line, which were guitars that were electric, but had hollow bodies just like an acoustic guitar. The “ES” stands for “Electric Spanish.” This distinction was made because there was a similar style of guitar popular in Hawaii that was played with the instrument laying flat on the lap of the player. The ES 135 was introduced in 1956, but had a short-lived production. It was discontinued in 1958. Then later, in 1991, the ES 135 was brought back, with some minor improvements. Gibson made them until 2002, and discontinued them for a second time. There are some who really like the original Gibson ES 135’s, but they have a few distinctive noises that aren’t favored among most artists. The original ES 135 had a tendency to almost bark when played roughly, because of the trapeze tailpiece. It also had P100 pickups that would squeal at inopportune times at high volumes. These qualities were among the reasons for the models “retirement” in 1958, and among the things improved before the model was brought back in 1991. This particular model of Gibson guitar is great for a novice player who doesn’t want to spend a lot of money on their instrument. The ES 135 is usually cheaper than other models, but is actually a well-made Gibson, put together the same way other models were. If you are looking for a brand new guitar, and the ES 135 is something that intrigues you, there is an ES 137 that is still in production, and is very similar. An ES 135 features a trapeze style tailpiece, and a single cutaway that’s referred to as a Florentine Cutaway. It was and is distinctive because it wasn’t made with a completely hollow body. It had a block running up the middle of the body that helped with suppressing feedback. It is made of maple, with a rosewood neck. These models are easy to find online, and you can find some great deals on the ES 135. There are guitar dealers that carry them, you can look at Gibson’s official website, or you might find a steal on one of the popular auction-style trading sites. Tell us what you know about this guitarUpload your images, or send us the url to your video. We'll embed it on this page, and give you plenty of feedback. Gibson ES 135 to Gibson ES Series |