Gibson ES-135

[Jazz_175]

Has anyone played a Gibson ES-135 here?

I saw this model on the used staff at around 1000 euros.

Some have P90 Pickups, others have 57 Classics.

It looks a bit like a smaller ES-175.

[kris]

I've played one with P90 PUs.
used I saw $1100 -$1300.

[Doctor Jeff]

I played a used one recently with P90's--listed at $1100. If I didn't have too many guitars already I would have snapped it up.

This is a fine guitar at a decent price and one of the best bargains for a jazz-ready Gibson IMO.

[mongrel]

If I were ever to sell my old ES 355, I would most likely get a 135 with the 57 classics and the trapeze. Yesterday the local Guitar Center had one for $1,100 but it was in the blueburst finish which would be a deal killer for me unless it was like $750 and then I would get busy with the sandpaper. Besides P-90's, some of them came with P-100's which are stacked humbuckers in P-90 guise. Some say that they lack the real P-90 character but I've never A/B'd them and the P-100 equipped 135's have sounded good to me. The ES 137 is the same structure, I believe, just tarted up a bit and goes for as much as $1,000 more than the plain Jane 135. Although the 137's may come with ebony boards which I like.

[teamster]

Es-135 sports a balsa center block the Gibson refers to as chromite,
while the 137 has a mahogany centerblock. More sustain?

Also the 137 comes in two varities the classic uses a Rosewood board
with a "C" inlaid at the 12th fret(denoting Classic), while the custom
is equipped with the ebony board and more elaborate markers.

135 can be found with trapeze or stopbar tailpiece,
137 only wears the stopbar.

Presently only the ES-137 Classic is on Gibsons bill of fare.

[Buster Loaf]

I played one. The neck on it was terrific. Felt very much like 1950's j45 neck. It just felt beautiful in the palm. And to the heel was carved so nice. A pleasure to hold.

Didn't get to plug it in though.

[Jazz_175]

Here is another difficult question for you to answer:
Which is better 135 or 137?

[PTChristopher]

Ciao Paolo,

Gotta love the 135 with a trapeze tailpiece. The balsa centerblock is ideal in this size guitar in my opinion.

You still hear the body size, but get remarkable feedback resistance and very even (but not excessive) sustain.

Compare the 135 to the Howard Roberts Fusion and in my opnion you can really hear the life in the 135. It has just enough size to make the balsa block work.

In my opinion (should make a key to type that in one stroke), one always needs to watch out for Gibson workmanship shortfalls and the sticky-soft lacquer. But as a design, the 135 is great.

>>> Which is better 135 or 137?

The 137 is far closer to a 335 in sound. The mahog' block is pretty massive.

I think a real Gibson aficionado may find a lovable difference between a 137 and 335.

In my opinion, the 137 is a good workhorse design (again assuming you are OK with any sticky-soft finish issues) but does not have the hollow character of the 135.

Chris

[eddy b.]

Hey Jazz 175 I have had both the 135 and 137 I sold the 135, kept the 137. I will tell you the 137 is a very versatile guitar, however if you are seeking the "archtop tone" neither of these guitars will do it as well as a 175 or similar design. the main reason I love my 137 is because it sounds great to my ears and looks great. It is like a les paul dressed up like a 175. i can't say enough good things about this guitar. the 135 sounded good but high volume made it feedback in the bad way and it just didn't pop like a 175 I guess the depth of the body is what makes it sound that special "way".

[Jazz_175]

eddy b.
Do you have the Classic or the Custom Model?

[Ob Com]

135s are wonderful guitars- the trapieze and balsa combination makes it nice and soft/mellow- closer perhaps to the fully hollow es 330 perhaps in sound?

I have a 137custom- love it to bits for the way it sounds.

I'd say it had a very different tone from my 355- mahogany vs maple centre block, and also the block on the 137 does not go all the way to the bottom of the body like it does on most 335's.

The 137 is very very versitile.

It can get in the jazz arena, but also rock out and is perhaps one of the finest blues guitars.

it doesnt sound like a 175 though.

Great guitar in its own right.

I even like the varitone

[eddy b.]

hey jazz 175 i should have said mine is a classic bought it in '07...it's a sweet axe..

[s1track3d]

Hi, I am working towards getting a Gibson ES-135. Is there any advice anyone can provide, like years to get, things to look for? Yes, unfortunately, I will probably be getting one online site unseen, relying on pictures and the integrity of the seller.

It will be my first Gibson, do I know very little but I have heard many complaints about inconsistent build quality and such. (actually, I did briefly own a ES 175 which was a complete lemon and has steered me away from Gibson, until now)

I like a neck profile more on the slim rather than thick side (similar to a Epiphone Dot, SlimTaper "D" profile) I can't deal with a chunky (baseball bat) neck width…

I am most interested in a humbucker/trapeze model but I can deal with trapeze or stop tail, p90, p100 or humbuckers.

So, why am I interested in the 135?

I like the woodier sound of hollow bodies and I like the sustain of semi hollows, the 135 looks like a good candidate because of the balsa wood feedback block. (and yes, I like they idea of actually having a Gibson…

I was also considering:
Eastman T184MX-CS
Epiphone Casino Elitest
D'Angelico EX-SS
Eastman El Rey series (chambered - no experience)

If anyone knows any other mounted TOM thinlines or makes/models in this sound realm, I'm open to suggestions (approx. 1500 US budget) (my preferred nut width is 1-11/16th's, and a 25.5" scale but 24.75 scale is fine too, nut width of 1-5/8th's at the very smallest though)

Thank you

[John A.]

I guy who's a regular at a jam I frequent plays one with a trapeze and p-100s. He sounds great, gets an almost early Jim Hall sort of tone. I haven't tried his, so I can't speak to the neck's profile, but all 135's have 24.75" scale lengths. People say good things about Epiphone Sorrentos in this vein.

[Little Jay]

The 135 is Gibson's best kept low budget secret! Try one you'll like it.

[palindrome]

I owned three of these over time (two earlier ones with p-100s and a later one with humbuckers).

Since you specifically inquired about neck profiles: the earlier ones (one having been a 1996) had mildly slimmer necks, whereas I found the neck on the late model (a 2002 one, if memory serves) rather chunky.

[jzucker]

the el rey and 184 are neck heavy . I love the 386. Sold my 137 and still have the 386.

My 137 was very heavy.

[TOMMO]

I have a 1992 (first year of production) and it has a rather chunky neck. It's a fine guitar. I didn't like th P100 pickups - sounded quite enemic so I swapped them for a set of Gibson P 90s which I like much better.

[GNAPPI]

Mine is a trapeze P-100 1993 model, and there were some fit and finish issues, on mine incuded, but they can be had for under a thousand buckaziods and IMO they're the best deal in the Gibson semi-hollow market.

The pups are quiet, and the guitar has a nice rich sound unlike any other I have.

[Gitfiddler]

Mine has a great jazz voice, especially with flats. But it can give a 335 a run for its money with round wounds!
Classic 57's work extremely well in this budget model.

Not sure where the OP is located, but I'd be happy to let him try mine if ever in the SF Bay Area.
Here are the shots the dealer sent me that made me take a blind leap. Glad I did!!

[JJCayle]

I just bought one 2 days ago 2002 ES135 with classic 57's. I love this guitar! Great feel and sound

[hotpepper01]

I once owned a ES135 for a short period of time. It had P100 pickups in it. P90s are more common. I am sorry to say that I didn't like it a lot. Quite heavy guitar, sounded OK, playability was not great. The ES135 is something between
a Gibson Les Paul and a ES175 without the excellence of either of these models.
The Peerless Epiphone Sorrento was much better value in my eyes.

[Doctor Jeff]

Hehe I posted on this 4 years ago and finally got one last winter.

A nice guitar it is, not super thunky like a 175, but fine and mellow nonetheless. With Classic 57's.

[smmllr]

I bought this 1997 Gibson ES-135 used several years ago, and have kept it primarily because I think it's a one-off finish: metallic orange front/back/sides/neck, gold hardware, white pickup covers and pickguard (latter stashed in the case), model not stenciled on the headstock.

It's certainly one of the "meatiest" guitars I've ever played with a fat neck, and thick semi-hollow width and weight. I've never been thrilled with the P-100's, though after slapping on flat-wounds and ignoring the bridge pickup, I find it has a respectable "jazz tone." Nonetheless, it's always seemed like an axe with great individual parts, but its sum total somehow falls short.

[mad dog]

My friend had one just like that. He'd put Fralin P90s in, so in that way the guitar had been substantially improved. I wanted to like it but didn't much. Too heavy. But I won't generalize. If I tried a few more, no doubt one would click.