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Gibson ES-125 TDC Sparkling Burgundy w. Original HSC Pickups, Electronics, Etc.
Estimated price for orientation: 1 598 $
Category: Electric Guitar
Class:
Description Brand: Gibson String Configuration: 6 String Model: ES-125 TDC Exact Year: 1968 Body Type: Hollow Country/Region of Manufacture: United States Dexterity: Right-Handed
You’re viewing a vintage Kalamazoo-made 1968 Gibson ES125 TDC (serial # 919087) in very good condition with a straight neck (no twisting or bowing), original frets (with lots of life left), mostly original parts, and no cracks, breaks or repairs. As you can see, the guitar has the original walnut finish on the back and sides and a sparkling burgundy (Gibson’s version of candy apple red) top. The color of the top is not original. When the guitar came to me, a previous owner had sanded the top of the body and the front of the headstock down to the bare wood. They had also replaced the neck pickup with a Dimarzio humbucker, although the original P90 was still in the case compartment, but someone had cut off the wings on the baseplate and the pickup cover was gone. I took it upon myself to restore the guitar, so I had Third Coast Guitars in Chicago re-decal and refinish the headstock and refinish the top in sparkling burgundy nitrocellulose lacquer, as it was a custom color Gibson used in the 1960s (but you rarely see it on 125s). As you can tell, they did an AMAZING job! It's a beautiful and unique guitar that looks like it survived the past 49 years in amazing condition (only you will know otherwise). And because the refin was done in nitro, it will age naturally. I had it done two years ago and there are only the lightest of scratches, but to me it probably needs a few more to help it look a bit aged. However, since the back, rims, neck and back of headstock have very few dents, dings, scratches or weather checking (except for some checking at the top of the neck/bottom of headstock) the nearly flawless sparkling burgundy nitro on the top and mirror-like black finish on the headstock looks quite natural! But that’s the beauty of this guitar; nobody will know its history but you, and any aging that happens will be from you. Additionally, the guitar weighs in at a feather-light 5lbs 9oz on my digital scale, and is perfectly balanced, meaning you can play it all night long with no back or shoulder pain. Even if you added a Bigsby, the guitar would still likely weigh less than 6lbs! As far as other aspects of the restoration, I also bought a new nickel-silver base plate and a new black genuine Gibson dogear cover for the neck P90 so I could reinstall it. The P90s have the clear bobbins that Gibson started using in 1968 (if you want to see under the pickup covers, let me know and I'll either email you a pic of them or replace one of the current pictures with picture of the P90s without their covers). Other than that, the pickguard and pickguard bracket, the strap buttons, and the tuners are not original. The tuners are new Kluson reissues of the original tuners (there were Grover Rotomatics on it when I got it). However, the bridge, tailpiece, pots, switch, jack, electronics and pickups (all the important stuff a player cares about) are all original. The bridge is the 1960s patent number bridge. I don’t know if the case is original. It is the style of case that Gibson used in the late 60s and early 70s, so I assume it is. All the latches, hinges and handle are fully functional and the tolex and interior are in good condition still. Oh, I also have the knob pointers for the volume and tone pots, but never put them back on the guitar after the refin; I’ll send them along. I should also note that the volume pot for the neck pickup cuts out when you turn it all the way up to 10. I never replaced it because it is the original volume pot and if you back off of it just a smidge (just ever so slightly – not even enough to effect the volume) the sound comes back on (and stays on) without a problem. Some control cleaner might clear that up, but I’ve never tried, as it never seemed like much of a problem to me. The nut width is the slim 1 9/16” typical of late-60s Gibsons and the neck profile is that comfy round late 60s profile that gently fills your hand and makes playing a breeze. It’s the perfect neck for women, those with smaller hands, or anyone who appreciates late ‘60s Gibson necks! I really love this guitar; It is super unique with the sparkling burgundy finish (though still period correct for the 1960s). I’ve taken it across the country and to Europe and back. The pickups are big, articulate and piano-like clean and hot, punchy, and throaty when overdriven. I really don’t want to sell, but I have to sell one of my guitars to pay for college expenses, and I don’t want to sell any of my 330s. Yes the top and the head stock were refinned, but they were professionally done in nitro at an eminently reputable shop (check out Third Coast Guitars online). You will definitely be the coolest kid in school with this axe, and nobody else will be playing one like it! I’ve only seen one other ES-125 TDC in sparkling burgundy, and that guitar has sparkling burgundy as its original finish and costs $5300, if I recall correctly. So you can get the same sound (as the pickups and electronics on this guitar are original) and the same vibe you’d get with that guitar, but at a fraction of the price! As always, bidders from the USA, Canada, the UK, Europe, Australia and New Zealand are all welcome! I can't think of a better gift for a player than a vintage sparkling red Gibson (for yourself or a player you love) under the tree!
I think I’ve covered everything, but please ask any questions and thanks for looking.
Description
| Brand: | Gibson | String Configuration: | 6 String |
| Model: | ES-125 TDC | Exact Year: | 1968 |
| Body Type: | Hollow | Country/Region of Manufacture: | United States |
| Dexterity: | Right-Handed |
You’re viewing a vintage Kalamazoo-made 1968 Gibson ES125 TDC (serial # 919087) in very good condition with a straight neck (no twisting or bowing), original frets (with lots of life left), mostly original parts, and no cracks, breaks or repairs. As you can see, the guitar has the original walnut finish on the back and sides and a sparkling burgundy (Gibson’s version of candy apple red) top. The color of the top is not original. When the guitar came to me, a previous owner had sanded the top of the body and the front of the headstock down to the bare wood. They had also replaced the neck pickup with a Dimarzio humbucker, although the original P90 was still in the case compartment, but someone had cut off the wings on the baseplate and the pickup cover was gone. I took it upon myself to restore the guitar, so I had Third Coast Guitars in Chicago re-decal and refinish the headstock and refinish the top in sparkling burgundy nitrocellulose lacquer, as it was a custom color Gibson used in the 1960s (but you rarely see it on 125s). As you can tell, they did an AMAZING job! It's a beautiful and unique guitar that looks like it survived the past 49 years in amazing condition (only you will know otherwise). And because the refin was done in nitro, it will age naturally. I had it done two years ago and there are only the lightest of scratches, but to me it probably needs a few more to help it look a bit aged. However, since the back, rims, neck and back of headstock have very few dents, dings, scratches or weather checking (except for some checking at the top of the neck/bottom of headstock) the nearly flawless sparkling burgundy nitro on the top and mirror-like black finish on the headstock looks quite natural! But that’s the beauty of this guitar; nobody will know its history but you, and any aging that happens will be from you. Additionally, the guitar weighs in at a feather-light 5lbs 9oz on my digital scale, and is perfectly balanced, meaning you can play it all night long with no back or shoulder pain. Even if you added a Bigsby, the guitar would still likely weigh less than 6lbs! As far as other aspects of the restoration, I also bought a new nickel-silver base plate and a new black genuine Gibson dogear cover for the neck P90 so I could reinstall it. The P90s have the clear bobbins that Gibson started using in 1968 (if you want to see under the pickup covers, let me know and I'll either email you a pic of them or replace one of the current pictures with picture of the P90s without their covers). Other than that, the pickguard and pickguard bracket, the strap buttons, and the tuners are not original. The tuners are new Kluson reissues of the original tuners (there were Grover Rotomatics on it when I got it). However, the bridge, tailpiece, pots, switch, jack, electronics and pickups (all the important stuff a player cares about) are all original. The bridge is the 1960s patent number bridge. I don’t know if the case is original. It is the style of case that Gibson used in the late 60s and early 70s, so I assume it is. All the latches, hinges and handle are fully functional and the tolex and interior are in good condition still. Oh, I also have the knob pointers for the volume and tone pots, but never put them back on the guitar after the refin; I’ll send them along. I should also note that the volume pot for the neck pickup cuts out when you turn it all the way up to 10. I never replaced it because it is the original volume pot and if you back off of it just a smidge (just ever so slightly – not even enough to effect the volume) the sound comes back on (and stays on) without a problem. Some control cleaner might clear that up, but I’ve never tried, as it never seemed like much of a problem to me. The nut width is the slim 1 9/16” typical of late-60s Gibsons and the neck profile is that comfy round late 60s profile that gently fills your hand and makes playing a breeze. It’s the perfect neck for women, those with smaller hands, or anyone who appreciates late ‘60s Gibson necks! I really love this guitar; It is super unique with the sparkling burgundy finish (though still period correct for the 1960s). I’ve taken it across the country and to Europe and back. The pickups are big, articulate and piano-like clean and hot, punchy, and throaty when overdriven. I really don’t want to sell, but I have to sell one of my guitars to pay for college expenses, and I don’t want to sell any of my 330s. Yes the top and the head stock were refinned, but they were professionally done in nitro at an eminently reputable shop (check out Third Coast Guitars online). You will definitely be the coolest kid in school with this axe, and nobody else will be playing one like it! I’ve only seen one other ES-125 TDC in sparkling burgundy, and that guitar has sparkling burgundy as its original finish and costs $5300, if I recall correctly. So you can get the same sound (as the pickups and electronics on this guitar are original) and the same vibe you’d get with that guitar, but at a fraction of the price! As always, bidders from the USA, Canada, the UK, Europe, Australia and New Zealand are all welcome! I can't think of a better gift for a player than a vintage sparkling red Gibson (for yourself or a player you love) under the tree!
I think I’ve covered everything, but please ask any questions and thanks for looking.
I think I’ve covered everything, but please ask any questions and thanks for looking.