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Hello everybody!
Lately, I've been really loving the look and sound of the Gibson ES-150 (the archtops, not the later semi hollows)
What can I look to spend on a decent playing one?
Also, are there any good alternatives on the market? I'm aware of the Godin 5th Avenue Kingpin but haven't spent too much time with one.
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01-31-2014 02:58 AM
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Old ones from the 30s with CC pickups are anywhere between 3000-6000 depending on condition. They are 80 years old so most have some issues and all have huge v necks
Dutch luthier Slaman is best known for his ES150 copies.
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That sounds about right for a pre-war ES150 with a CC pickup. If you like a P90 (preferred in my case) you can find nice ones more in the $2,000-2,500 range for the post-war 17" long scale version. A shorter scale 16" option is the ES125, usually more like $1,500-2,000 depending on condition. That seems to be what I see around. Great guitars!
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I guess you're looking at the post-war 17" non-cutaway ES-150 with the P90. Yes, that one can be found for between $2000 and $2500 although I got mine, 1954, for $1650 in 2011. That is because it may have been refinished/resprayed. has new tuners and a replacement tailpiece (ES-175 trapeze style).
Last edited by Jabberwocky; 01-31-2014 at 04:55 AM.
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That's beautiful! I love those old P90s.
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Are you looking for a CC-pickup guitar? Then the Slaman, and the theoretical Loar seen at the NAMM show are your only non-vintage options. Or you could build a frankenstein... which is a quest I was on for years before I lucked into finding a 1939 one for a price too good to turn down. You could find a pre-war L50 or post-war L48 and install a CC pick up in it. I've seen them installed in L5's and L7's, but I've also seen L7's where somebody nicked the braces routing the top, and eventually the top caves in. I'm guessing that means you really need an X-braced model, but even then, it's hard to know whether you'll actually clear the braces. Also worth noting, a lot of new guitars have 20-22 frets, unlike an ES-150 that had 19, so the fingerboard might extend too far. I seem to recall J.Hale installing a 2 screw Lollar in an Eastman 805, but they had shortened the fingerboard/neck extension to do it - major surgery on top of carving a hole in the top. Personally, I feel like the 3-screw CC-pickups from the UK are the way to go, with those big, long magnets running under the top. I don't know if one of those would fit an Eastman if you shortened the neck....
If you're fine with a P90 equipped one, then the Loar 309 is basically your non-vintage option. I played a Godin yesterday, but I didn't dig it. However, post war ES-150's and ES-125 can be found at the prices indicated above, so they're actually somewhat reachable.
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Thanks for the quick replies! I'm really looking for a post-war P90 equipped one. And if the vintage ones are really that affordable I mightaswell just save a while and get myself one of those.
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I paid 1300 for mine with non original tuners/pickup. Unfortunately damaged in shipping but for the time that I had it (even thought I was jonesin for a 17 in) I realized that it wasn't enough of an upgrade from my 125 to make it worth repairing.
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I love to have an ES150. but I wouldn't trade my 125 for one. I think I'd like the longer scale but the 16" body on the 125 is a little more comfortable for me. This particular one is also set up really well and sounds great to my ears. As others have said, they're each a little different so it's best to play one first if possible, although I think that also applies to the 150 and most other vintage guitars.
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1951 Gibson ES-150 "Sunburst" https://reverb.com/item/339616-1951-...ce=android-app
This may be crazy, because I need another guitar like a hole in the head...however, another guitar will hurt less!
Anyway, seeing I'm into my 65th year, I thought that getting a guitar born in the same year, '51, would be cool!
Of course it's gotta be playable, and in excellent condition for its age, as I am
!
I'm not concerned about "collector's" value, just a fair price for a nice 1951 archtop!
What should I look for? I'd like to stay under $3500, if possible!
Thanks!
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i think it's too expensive. GC had a higher end ES 300 for 1800.00.
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I was born in 51 also... always wanted a git as old or older than me but never did. I look at it this way if you get that 150 you won't have to worry about what it's worth in the... end will you? It will be your heirs and they may just dump them in a GC and take what they can get for it.
So I say, if you got the bucks that's not a bad price, go fer it!
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I can tell you what I paid for mine, a 1953 ES-150. $1650. The seller had bought it from Gruhn's.
Gruhn's thought that the back of the neck may have been refinished. The tailpiece is a replacement. The original P90 may have been replaced with a Fralin P90. I bought it to be played so these things were and are of no consequence to me.
I have seen them sell from $1800 to $2600 in "original" condition. The median asking is between $2150 and $2450. Dave's Guitar had a wonderfully flamed maple 1950 ES-150 for sale asking for $2450. That one has a repaired crack.
Chuck of Rumbleseat is open to negotiation. If you ask me I'll pay no more than $2000 for it. But then, I am known to be cheap.
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Thanks Jabs! I'm not wedded to this particular guitar. It looks tempting... but it's a teaser for ideas! Dangerous stuff for me!
Thanks for the feedback though, I like the guitar, shot some questions back to Rumbleseat, we'll see if it finds a home! MUCH appreciation!
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All of them !
Originally Posted by gspirro1
50's were a nice period for archtops. As a guideline to stay in your budget and if you go for Gibsons, the major choice would be this ES 150 postwar model or a 175, or and ES 300, all equipped with the same P90 and with great laminated tops. Epiphones might be an alternative but I'm less into them. I tried an Epi Zenith model (solid formed tabletop) and it was a canon guitar for around 1000 bucks.
All these models are nice jazz workhorses. Try any of them if you can. I own a '46 ES 300. You can't be wrong with them.
Happy hunting !
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Well, I put an offer in on this ES150 above. We'll see what's going to happen.
But...question:
If you get a "player grade" guitar, why is it that the value seems to drop, whenever someone brings it up to snuff?
I wonder, because I have a brother who could take a turd of a guitar and make it beautiful, and his luthier buddy, ( no hack by any means) could address any non-finish issues.
But I guess I can answer my own question! It's a Relic-ing in Reverse, of course! DUH!
So I get myself a guitar full of someone else's debris polished and painted out of it, that has a real history in the timeline of life!
Whoa...I may be on top of some cool marketing s#it here! HA!
Anyway, I still am looking for that '51. Doesn't have to be a Gibson but I've never owned a Gibson. Maybe, 65 years later, we'll get together!
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Very nice! And much appreciated! Originally Posted by abelljo
I'm looking for a guitar built in 1951, specifically, because we'll have the same birthday!
Silly? I guess... but "It's my party...and I'll Cry (be silly) if I want to"...
Sh÷t, if you remember that stupid song...you're old too!
So if yall kin fine me a schweet lookin' closet queen 1951 Broadcaster, er Nocaster, er somethin' for under... say $3500, I'd be real 'ppreciative... (yea, dreamin'on)
But THANKS, seriously, to all your comments and suggestions! It's great fuel to the fire!
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Just looking at arch tops in production by 1951, you could think of the non-cutaway ES's like the 125, 150. Also there is the ES175, which was first sold in 1949. The L4 or L4c is also sold by 1951, and I think also the L7c.
I saw a 1955 ES175 with P90's for about $3200, so I imagine you could find something in your range.
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So, that ES-150 has a longer, 25-1/2" scale, not 24-3/4" (like an ES-125.)
If this is correct does it matter to you?
My take on that guitar is that she's a bit overpriced if she absolutely needs NO work,
no new tuners, isn't even close to a re-fret, neck re-set, etc. Unpack her, tune her
and she plays perfectly and sounds great; then the extra $ does not matter.
Any problem, she is overpriced, maybe a heartache.
If she turned out to be perfect & wonderful (P90 must be original) you'll forget the premium you paid.
This is the difficulty of not being able to play the merch. prior to the sale.
You are not getting any younger and apparently you can still play & buy instruments.
Do what you love while you can. I won't take this idea though any further.
Best of luck!
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It all started when I realized that I could get a classic 175 p90 tone on a budget with an ES125. After some time on the market for a 125, I found a good deal and placed an order. I was disappointed by the condition, but the shop took the guitar back and covered the shipping. I continued my search, but realized that prices had been going up in the 125 market over the past year or so. I then saw what was marked at a Gibson ES300 at a local shop. I went to try it, but it turned out that someone misread the FON and it wasn't an ES300 at all; it was a 150. They lowered the price for me, but not enough, given the condition of the instrument. Regardless, I had fallen in love with the 17" body and 25.5" scale. On that same day, I saw another ES150 for sale online, and I took another gamble after talking to the sales people at the shop that had it. I was skeptical at first, but when it arrived I was shocked by how great the condition was. I am now a happy owner of an 1952 Gibson ES150!
I don't imagine I need to go into details on the tone, which is so familiar to many, but to me it reminds me of the sound of Tal Farlow when played through a clean amp with flatwounds. Occasionally I give it some dirt and it handles a blues tone incredible well. All in all, amazing instrument.
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Wow! That looks to be in great shape, and what a nice sunburst! Your patience has paid off. Congratulations on a real classic, and play it in good health!
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Quick demo! Recorded on a cheap USB mic, but you get the idea.
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That tone! Can you tell I'm happy?
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super guitar and great tone! What strings are you using?
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Thomastik Swing 12's. I haven't tried 13's on this guitar yet, no complaints about the 12's. Originally Posted by Timo
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