Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I am wondering why someone who would list this guitar would refer to it as a flat top? I have this same exact guitar, but mine is a 125 not a 125t.
http://cgi.ebay.com/63-GIBSON-ES125-vintage-ES-125-150-L-K_W0QQitemZ7412247637QQcategoryZ33025QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

My understaning was that Gibson ES (Electro Spanish) guitars are "archtops". My 1967 ES335TDC certainly has an arch to its top!

Thanks, you can clearly SEE that it is an archtop. Kindof makes me wonder what this person is up to. Reading guitar auctions is entertaining even when you aren't buying!

I'm not a Gibson expert, but I believe this guitar is an ES125T. I think the 'T' designation stands for 'thinline' archtop. Gibson also made archtops with thicker bodies. 'T' means it's the thinner body. Epiphone uses the same 'T' designation on their thinline archtops (i.e. Casino, Sorrento, Riviera, etc).

Randy, you are right, but it isn't a flattop. His is a 125T and mine is a 125 but I like to see what they go for and I saw this auction and it mystified me! First of all, it isn't a real common model, although not valuable, but I would think if you knew what model it was, you would know it was an arch top. I had mine since about 1975 and never knew the model until a few years ago! When I bought it, the guy told me it was an ES 175, and the only real difference between the 125 and the 175 are the fret markers. Funny, that when they were made they were cheapies, but I love the one I have! I guess it isn't a really big deal, but one of those things that make you go hmmmmmmmmmm.

Yes, I know it's not a flattop. As far as I know, all ES-series guitars are indeed archtops. I once wanted one of these guitars for my collection, because I like Gibson/Epiphone thinlines and P90 pick-ups. Instead I've wound up with (6) Epiphone Casinos and a Sorrento.

My ES 125 was my first electric guitar! I really love it, and it has a really nice mellow tone. I wish they made "student" guitars like this one these days! I wonder if people will look back and thing that today's el-cheapo stuff is good? I think this guitar was like 150.00 or something when it was new!
I think mine is 1959-60,( I dont recall exactly) so that was still quite a bit back then!

There is a good question for another thread: is vintage better? For what and for whom?

Kaia: After twenty-plus years of collecting vintage guitars, I've decided that modern instruments from Rickenbacker (V-series, C-series), Epiphone (Elitist series), Fender (Japanese), Hofner (All), and Gretsch (Recent) are usually better than the original vintage pieces. I've grown tired of worn frets, checked finishes, crackly switches, and scratchy pots. I understand that all of these things can be fixed, but I've decided that shiny and new is better. To this end, I have been selling off many of my vintage pieces. I currently have a new Rick 1996 AFG on order, and it'll be better than any original at a fraction of the cost. Some of the V-series Ricks I bought new from 1989-1993 have very few hours of playing time on them. I suppose that makes them future collectibles.

I see your point, Randy, as I have seen a lot of abused vintage gear, too, and as far as I am concerned, modern instruments are of exceptional high quality.

However, I tend to think vintage is a bit better (if there are no abuse issues) for the following reasons: first, I think that the woods used in 1950-1960s era guitars came from old-growth hardwoods, a charcteristic of which is better sound properties; second, I think that those woods were naturally aged, helping to make them structually stable which again improved their sound properties.

My opinion is based on my experience with my 1967 ES-335TDC which I bought (with paper route money) from the original owner back in 1969:



I obviously have taken good care of it. The guitar has the same vibe as it had when I got it more than 30 years ago. The neck has not needed an adjustment for over a decade. I did note recently that I need to tweak the intonation a little on two or three strings - but I last strung it over five years ago before I had an electronic tuner to set the intonation precisely!

Gary: That's a very pretty guitar. Unfortunately, many of the vintage pieces currently being sold aren't that nice. And the ones that are aren't affordable for mere mortals like me. Luckily, I bought a lot of guitars and amps in the 1980's before the vintage market took off. I wasn't trying to say that vintage pieces can't be better. I've bought a number of very clean older guitars that played great, like a '66 Epi Casino that I bought for $200 in 1984. It was my favorite player until I picked up an '04 Epi Casino Elite (MIJ) on eBay for $800. The new guitar was better player and absolutely mint, so I sold the '66 for $1200. That's just one example. Nice vintage pieces are obviously good investments, and you'll never lose money when reselling them. I've just grown tired of guitars with issues (i.e. what's original, what's been replaced, deteriorating binding, etc). Now don't get me started on 'relic' guitars...

I'm a fan of the ES-335 - especially my own '05 model!

From the time of my first guitar lesson in 1967 I had wanted and dreamed one of these. I traded a CGA color computer monitor for this in 1986.



It goes to every gig and practice, although I only use it for a couple of songs. Even though I prefer my Rics and my Godin for everyday play, for certain tunes and tones, nothing can touch my '69 LP Deluxe. At 11 lbs, you don't wear it for very long.

...Dean

I have an ES-125T exactly like that one. I should line up my J-45, J-180, ES-125T, ES-335, Les Paul Standard, and my EB2 bass and take a picture of them. Nice little family!

My only Gibsons are a '96 J160E (Sunburst), a '04 SG Classic (Cherry), and a '04 Les Paul Junior (Sunburst). All are P-90 equipped. I have been thinking about a reissue Les Paul Classic (with P-90's too).

Dean: Nice trade. There is a good chance that the CGA monitor is in a landfill site somewhere today.