The Gibson ES series of
semi-acoustic guitar
A semi-acoustic guitar, also known as a hollow-body electric guitar, is a type of electric guitar designed to be played with a guitar amplifier featuring a fully or partly hollow body and at least one electromagnetic pickup. First created in t ...
s (hollow body electric guitars) are manufactured by the
Gibson Guitar Corporation
Gibson, Inc. (formerly Gibson Guitar Corporation and Gibson Brands Inc.) is an American manufacturer of Guitar manufacturing, guitars, other musical instruments, and professional audio equipment from Kalamazoo, Michigan, and now based in Nashvi ...
.
The letters ES stand for Electric Spanish, to distinguish them from Hawaiian-style
lap steel guitar
The lap steel guitar, also known as a Hawaiian guitar or lap slide guitar, is a type of steel guitar without pedals that is typically played with the instrument in a horizontal position across the performer's lap. Unlike the usual manner of pla ...
s which are played flat on the lap. Many of the original numbers referred to the price, in dollars, of the model. Suffixes in the names indicate additional appointments, for example "T" means "thinline" (a thinner profile than most) while "D" means "double pickup". Many of the models come with
f-holes
A sound hole is an opening in the body of a stringed musical instrument, usually the upper sound board.
Sound holes have different shapes:
* Round in flat-top guitars and traditional bowl-back mandolins;
* F-holes in instruments from the viol ...
, though some, such as
B.B. King
Riley B. King (September 16, 1925 – May 14, 2015), known professionally as B.B. King, was an American blues guitarist, singer, songwriter, and record producer. He introduced a sophisticated style of soloing based on fluid string bending, sh ...
's signature
Lucille series, are made without f-holes. Some models are full-bodied models, while single- and double-
cutaways are also available. Two different styles of
cutaways are used, both named by Gibson after Italian cities. ''Florentine'' models had a sharper, more pointed end on the cutaway, while more rounded and contoured cutaways were called ''Venetian'' style.
Numerous signature models of the ES series exist, as well as some later hybrid models such as the "
ES-Les Paul" that combines features of a
Gibson Les Paul
The Gibson Les Paul is a solid body electric guitar that was first sold by the Gibson Guitar Corporation in 1952. The guitar was designed by factory manager John Huis and his team with input from and endorsement by guitarist Les Paul. Its typic ...
with those of the ES series.
ES Series guitars were built at Gibson's
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in Shelby County, Tennessee, United States, and its county seat. Situated along the Mississippi River, it had a population of 633,104 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, making it the List of municipalities in Tenne ...
factory from 2000 until 2019. After Gibson's change of ownership in 2019, the Memphis factory was closed and production was moved back to
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville, often known as Music City, is the capital and List of municipalities in Tennessee, most populous city in the U.S. state of Tennessee. It is the county seat, seat of Davidson County, Tennessee, Davidson County in Middle Tennessee, locat ...
.
Models
ES models
*
ES-5 (1949–1955) Three-pickup, full depth hollowbody. / (1955–1962)
ES-5 Switchmaster
*
ES-100 (1938–1941) Entry-level archtop hollow-body model. (Renamed to ES-125)
*
ES-120T (1962–1971) Most basic student model, thinline
*
ES-125 (1941–1970) Successor of ES-100. / (1956–1960) ES-125T (thinline).
*
ES-130 (1954–1956) (Renamed to ES-135)
*
ES-135 (1956–1958) Thick-body version of ES-125TDC. / (1991–2002)
*
ES-137 (2002–2013) Upscaled ES-135 with
Les Paul
Lester William Polsfuss (June 9, 1915 – August 12, 2009), known as Les Paul, was an American jazz guitarist, jazz, country guitarist, country, and blues guitarist, songwriter, luthier, and inventor. He was one of the pioneers of the solid body ...
sound.
*
ES-139 (2013 only) Semi-hollow dealer exclusive, sized between a
Les Paul
Lester William Polsfuss (June 9, 1915 – August 12, 2009), known as Les Paul, was an American jazz guitarist, jazz, country guitarist, country, and blues guitarist, songwriter, luthier, and inventor. He was one of the pioneers of the solid body ...
and
ES-135. No f-holes. Marketed as a lighter alternative to the Les Paul.
*
ES-140 (1950–1957) 3/4 size, short scale ES-175. / (1956–1968) ES-140T (thinline).
*
ES-150
The Gibson ES-150 is a pioneering electric guitar produced by Gibson Guitar Corporation.Hunter, Dave, The Rough Guide to Guitar, Penguin Books, 2011. Introduced in 1936, it is generally recognized as the world's first commercially successful ...
(1936–1956) Gibson's first electric guitar, based on
L-50.
/ (1937-?) EST–150 (tenor) and EPG–150 (plectrum) were shipped. / (1969–1974) ES-150DC resembling thick ES-335.
*
ES-165 (1991–2013) Single pickup ES-175 based on
Herb Ellis's.
*
ES-175 (1949–) Full depth, florentine cutaway, maple top, 24 3/4" scale. / (1953-) ES-175D (dual pickup). / (1976–1979) ES-175T (thinline hollow-body)
*
ES-225T (1955–1959) Variation on ES-125T (thinline, florentine cutaway), with trapeze bridge.
*
ES-250 (1938–1940) Rare, fancier version of ES-150. Replaced by ES-300.
*
ES-260 (1982–1983) Resembling ES-125T/ES-225T (thinline, florentine cutaway), but semi-hollow with center block, stop tailpiece, and humbuckers instead of P90 pickups.
*
ES-275 (2016-2019) Slimmed down L5 hollowbody shape with a 15" upper bout, 2.25" depth, and a Venetian cutaway
*
ES-275 Thinline (2018-2019) Semihollow version of the ES-275 with a 2" depth
*
ES-295 (1952–1959) ES-175 resembling
Les Paul Goldtop with trapeze bridge.
*
ES-300 (1940–1952) Successor of ES-250, with a slant-mounted long pickup. Short PU in 1941. Reintroduced with P-90 in 1946, added second P-90 in 1949. Replaced by ES-350.
*
ES-320TD (1971–1974) Similar to ES-330TD but with
tune-o-matic
Tune-o-matic (also abbreviated to TOM) is the name of a fixed or floating bridge design for electric guitars. It was designed by Ted McCarty (Gibson Guitar Corporation
Gibson, Inc. (formerly Gibson Guitar Corporation and Gibson Brands Inc ...
and metal control plate.
*
ES-325 (1972–1979) Similar to ES-330TD but with
mini-humbucker
The mini-humbucker is a humbucker, humbucking guitar Pick up (music technology), pickup (used in electric guitars). It was originally created by Epiphone, the Epiphone company. The mini-humbucker resembles a Gibson Guitar Corporation, Gibson P.A.F. ...
s, single f-hole, and a half-moon shaped plastic control plate
*
ES-330TD (1958–) Double rounded cutaway, thinline hollow-body
*
ES-333 (–2003) Stripped-down version of ES-335
*
ES-335 (1958–) World's first thinline archtop semi-acoustic (semi-hollow-body with center-block) / (2013–) ES-335 Bass
*
ES-336 (1996–2001) Replaced by CS-336.
*
ES-339 (2007–) Size of CS-336 with construction of ES-335.
*
ES-340TD (1968–1973) ES-335 with a master volume/mixer and phase switch
*
ES-345 (1958–1981) ES-335 construction, but with parallelogram inlays, Varitone, and stereo outputs.
*
ES-347 (1978–) Alternate ES-345 with a coil-tap switch instead of Varitone
*
ES-350 (1947–1956) Rounded cutaway ES-300. / (1955–1981)
ES-350T as a plainer
Byrdland.
*
ES-355 (1958–1982) Upscaled ES-345 (ebony fretboard, extra binding, etc.) with
vibrato unit, optional Varitone and stereo outputs.
*
ES-359 (2008–) Upscaled ES-339 (ebony fretboard, extra binding, gold hardware, block inlays).
*
ES-369 (late 1970s–) ES-335 with Dirty Finger humbuckers, coil tap switch, and snakehead headstock.
*
ES-390 (2013–) Similar in size to the ES-339, but with the fully hollow construction of ES-330. Equipped with mini humbuckers (2013 model year) or dog-ear P90s (2014–present).
*
ES-775 (1990–1993) ES-175 with higher quality components
*
ES Artist (1979
[ ]
An advertisement in 1979 for Artist series: "''RD Artist Active''" released around 1977, and two new models added in 1979, "''ES Artist Active''" and "''Les Paul Artist Active''".–) Upscale model of ES-335 without f-holes, with active circuit by
Moog.
ES signature models
:;ES-333 signature
*
Tom DeLonge Signature ES-333 (2003–) Equipped with a single high-output Gibson Dirty Fingers bridge humbucker.
:;ES-335 signature
*
DG-335 (2007–?)
Dave Grohl
David Eric Grohl (; born January 14, 1969) is an American musician. He founded the rock band Foo Fighters, of which he is the lead singer, guitarist, principal songwriter, and only consistent member. From 1990 to 1994, he was the drummer of th ...
model based on
Trini Lopez
Trinidad López III (May 15, 1937 – August 11, 2020), known as Trini Lopez, was an American singer and guitarist. His first album included a cover version of Pete Seeger's " If I Had a Hammer", which earned a gold disc for him. His other ...
.
*
Trini Lopez
Trinidad López III (May 15, 1937 – August 11, 2020), known as Trini Lopez, was an American singer and guitarist. His first album included a cover version of Pete Seeger's " If I Had a Hammer", which earned a gold disc for him. His other ...
(1964–1971)
Trini Lopez
Trinidad López III (May 15, 1937 – August 11, 2020), known as Trini Lopez, was an American singer and guitarist. His first album included a cover version of Pete Seeger's " If I Had a Hammer", which earned a gold disc for him. His other ...
two versions: Standard model based on ES-335, Deluxe model based on
Kessel model, both with diamond-shaped
sound holes and a single-side headstock.
*
Chris Cornell
Christopher John Cornell ( Boyle; July 20, 1964 – May 18, 2017) was an American musician, best known as the lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist, and the primary lyricist for the rock music, rock bands Soundgarden and Audioslave. He also had a ...
(2013–) First edition released in 2013 with a limited edition run of 250 released in 2019 - green Olive Drab finish with Jason Lollar Gretsch Filtertron style Lollartron pickups, Bigsby vibrato, and Cornell's signature inlaid on the headstock
:;ES-355 derivative signature
*
Lucille (1980–1985)
B.B. King
Riley B. King (September 16, 1925 – May 14, 2015), known professionally as B.B. King, was an American blues guitarist, singer, songwriter, and record producer. He introduced a sophisticated style of soloing based on fluid string bending, sh ...
model based on ES-355TD-SV without
f-hole
A sound hole is an opening in the body of a string instrument, stringed musical instrument, usually the upper Sound board (music), sound board.
Sound holes have different shapes:
* Round in flat-top guitars and traditional bowl-back mandolins;
...
s.
:;ES-330/ES-336 derivative signature
*
Johnny A. (2004–) ES-336 sized fully-hollow thinline body with sharp double cutaways that resemble the Barney Kessel model with three variants (all models have '57 Classic humbuckers and 25.5" scale unless otherwise noted):
**Signature with Bigsby vibrato
**Standard with Bigsby vibrato, which has less cosmetic appointments compared to the Signature, nickel instead of gold hardware, and a rosewood fretboard instead of ebony
**Spruce Top, with a spruce top instead of maple and a stopbar tailpiece instead of a Bigsby vibrato, rosewood fretboard, and Alnico III CustomBuckers instead of '57 Classics
Derived models
*
335-S (1980–1983) Loosely related solidbody guitar similar in shape and controls to
ES-335 with two Dirty Fingers pickups.
*
CS-336 (2001–?) Custom Shop's first "tonally carved" guitar.
*
CS-356 (2001–?) Upscaled
CS-336 with goldplate parts, ''etc''.
Vegas(2006) Offset semi-hollow with similar aesthetics to the Trini Lopez - non-reverse Firebird six-in-line headstock, diamond f-holes, and split-diamond inlays. Two variants:
Standard- Plain maple top, ebony fingerboard, '57 Classic humbuckers, four finishes: Ebony, Natural, Sunburst, Wine Red.
High Roller- AAA Flame maple top, gold hardware, block inlays, Burstbucker Pro humbuckers, four finishes: Desert Sunset, Felt Green, Neon, Roulette Red.
*
Les Paul Bantam/Florentine (1995/1996–) Custom Shop models with thinline semi-hollow-body with center-block. (Note: "''Gibson USA Florentine''" released in 2009 is a solid-body model
)
*
ES-Les Paul (2014-2016) Mash up of
Les Paul
Lester William Polsfuss (June 9, 1915 – August 12, 2009), known as Les Paul, was an American jazz guitarist, jazz, country guitarist, country, and blues guitarist, songwriter, luthier, and inventor. He was one of the pioneers of the solid body ...
and
ES-335
*
Les Paul Signature (–)
**Midtown (2011–2016) Smaller chambered body with f-holes that came in five variants:
***Standard with dot inlays and BurstBucker humbuckers, as well as optional Bigsby vibrato
***Standard P-90 with trapezoid inlays and P-90 pickups
***Custom with humbuckers, block inlays and split diamond headstock inlay, like an ES-355
***Kalamazoo, with appointments referencing the Byrdland
***Signature Bass
*
EB–2 bass (1958–1972)
*
EB-6 6-string bass/
baritone guitar (1959–1961: hollow-body similar to
EB–2,
[Danelectro #3412, #4423 & UB–2 image]
/ref> 1962–1965: '' SG-shaped'' solid-body similar to EB-3/ EB-0[: ])
Related models
Origin models
:Note: in the 1920s, L-4 and L-5 were once electrified by Lloyd Loar
Lloyd Allayre Loar (1886–1943) was an American musician, instrument designer and sound engineer. He is best known for his design work with the Gibson Mandolin-Guitar Mfg. Co. Ltd. in the early 20th century, including the F-5 model mandolin and ...
, but halted by his end of contract in 1924.
* L-4 (1911–) The bass model of ES-175 and its derivatives.
* L-5 (1922–) The bass model of ES-5, Byrdland, ES-350T, possibly ES-225, and these derivatives.
** Byrdland (1955–) Thinline, short-scale L-5 CES, named after Billy Byrd and Hank Garland
Walter Louis Garland (November 11, 1930 – December 27, 2004), known professionally as Hank Garland, was an American guitarist and songwriter. He started as a country musician, played rock and roll as it became popular in the 1950s, and release ...
.
** Super 400 CES ( 9341950s–)
* L-50 (1934–) The base model of the first Electro Spanish model, ES-150
The Gibson ES-150 is a pioneering electric guitar produced by Gibson Guitar Corporation.Hunter, Dave, The Rough Guide to Guitar, Penguin Books, 2011. Introduced in 1936, it is generally recognized as the world's first commercially successful ...
.[: ]
* The Log (1940) A forerunner of the later center-block semi-hollow models, ES-335/345/355.
Related signature models
* Tal Farlow (1962–1971) Tal Farlow model.
* Howard Roberts Fusion (1980–) Howard Roberts
Howard Mancel Roberts (October 2, 1929 – June 28, 1992) was an American jazz guitarist, educator, and session musician.
Early life
Roberts was born in Phoenix, Arizona to Damon and Vesta Roberts, and began playing guitar at the age of 8 — a ...
model.Chet Atkins
Chester Burton Atkins (June 20, 1924 – June 30, 2001), also known as "Mister Guitar" and "the Country Gentleman", was an American musician who, along with Owen Bradley and Bob Ferguson (musician), Bob Ferguson, helped create the Nash ...
signature model 6120, with Gibson 492R and 490T humbucking pickups instead of Gretsch Filtertrons.
Related derivative models
* EDS–1275 Double 12 (1958–) Doubleneck, hollow-body (1958–1962) or '' SG-shaped'' solid-body (1962-) guitar with 12 and 6 string guitar necks.
Other doubleneck models include:
**''EMS–1235 Double Mandolin'' (mandolin[ — comparing the 1962/1963 & 1964 EBSF–1250 (4 string bass + guitar + fuzztone), 1964 EBS–1250 (4 string bass + guitar), and Elvis' 1965 EBS–1250 (6 string bass + guitar)]
**''EDS–1250'' (6 string bass & 4 string bass)
* Barney Kessel
Barney Kessel (October 17, 1923 – May 6, 2004) was an American jazz guitarist. Known in particular for his knowledge of chords and inversions and chord-based melodies, he was a member of many prominent jazz groups as well as a "first call" gu ...
(1961–1974) Barney Kessel
Barney Kessel (October 17, 1923 – May 6, 2004) was an American jazz guitarist. Known in particular for his knowledge of chords and inversions and chord-based melodies, he was a member of many prominent jazz groups as well as a "first call" gu ...
model. 3" deep, double florentine cutaway hollow-body (Two versions, Regular and Custom).
* Johnny Smith
Johnny Henry Smith II (June 25, 1922 – June 11, 2013) was an American cool jazz and mainstream jazz guitarist. He wrote " Walk, Don't Run" in 1954. In 1984, Smith was inducted into the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame.
Early life
During the Great ...
(1961–) Later renamed as '' Gibson LeGrande''.
Solid Formed
(2015) - new style archtop using 1/2 the wood by bending it instead of traditional carving. 17" full hollowbody with a venetian cutaway and floating Johnny Smith style humbucker.
* Blueshawk (1996–2006)
** Little Lucille (1996–2006) another Lucille endorsed by B.B. King
Riley B. King (September 16, 1925 – May 14, 2015), known professionally as B.B. King, was an American blues guitarist, singer, songwriter, and record producer. He introduced a sophisticated style of soloing based on fluid string bending, sh ...
.
Gallery
This section provides the photographs of the above mentioned models, to easily identify and grasp each one at a glance.
ES models (with signatures and derivations)
1956 Gibson ES-5 Switchmaster - Carl Perkins' - Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Cleveland, OH (2018-08-31 by Claude Humbert).jpg, ES-5
Gibson ES-120T.jpg, ES-120T
Gibson ES-125.jpg, ES-125
Gibson ES135.jpg, ES-135
Gibson ES-137 guitar.jpg, ES-137
Gibson ES-140.jpg, ES-140
Gibson ES-150.png, ES-150
The Gibson ES-150 is a pioneering electric guitar produced by Gibson Guitar Corporation.Hunter, Dave, The Rough Guide to Guitar, Penguin Books, 2011. Introduced in 1936, it is generally recognized as the world's first commercially successful ...
Gibson ES-165 Herb Ellis (1996).jpg, ES-165
Herb Ellis 1953 Gibson ES-175.jpg, Herb Ellis ES-175
Gibson ES-175 jl.png, ES-175
1955 Sunburst Gibson ES-225T.jpg, ES-225T
1957 Gibson ES-225TD.jpg, ES-225TD
GibsonEs250pair.gif, ES-250
Gibson ES-295, Sun Studio.jpg, ES-295
Gibson ES-325 - Kings of Leon 4.jpg, ES-325
Gibson ES-330TD.jpg, ES-330TD
Gibson - ES 333 (cropped).jpg, ES-333
Gibson DeLonge signature.jpg, Tom DeLonge ES-333
Gibson ES-335 sunburst.jpg, ES-335
Chris Cornell Soundgarden (253661679) (cropped).jpeg, Chris Cornell ES-335
FoosDublin210819-2 (48620472807) (cropped).jpg, Dave Grohl DG-335
Gibson Trini Ropez, played by Rusty Anderson.jpg, Trini Lopez
Gibson 335 S Deluxe.jpg, 335-S Deluxe
Gibson CS-336.jpg, CS-336
Gibson Johnny A.jpg, Johnny A
John Antonopoulos (born November 14, 1952, in Malden, Massachusetts, United States), known professionally as Johnny A., is an American guitarist, and songwriter.
Early life
Johnny A. was born in Malden, Massachusetts, of Greek heritage. Growing ...
Nova2013 Stereophonics Kelly Jones 0002.jpg, ES-339
Gibson ES-345 lefty.jpg, ES-345
Gibson ES-350T .png, ES-350
Jimmy Dawkins.jpg, ES-355
Gibson Lucille .jpg, Gibson Lucille
Related models
Gibson TG-50 Archtop Tenor (1955) & Gibson L-7 Archtop Guitar (1947) - 2012 Northwest Handmade Musical Instrument Exhibit.jpg, L-50 tenor version (TG-50) with L-7
Gibson Electro Spanish-150, Prototype Batch (1936), Museum of Making Music.jpg, (based on L-50)
Gibson L-4 CES (vert).jpg, L-4
Gibson L-5 (1928), Maybelle Carter, CMHF clip1.jpg, L-5
Gibson Byrdland.jpg, Byrdland
Gibson Super 400 CES.jpg, Gibson Super 400
The Gibson Super 400 is an archtop guitar. It is a highly influential guitar model that inspired many other master guitar builders (including Elmer Stromberg and John D'Angelico). It was first sold in 1934 and named for its $400 price (), like ...
Earlyal1.JPG, Tal Farlow
Fun Lovin Criminals -Sala Bikini, Barcelona, Spain-11May2010.jpg, Chet Atkins Country Gentleman
Gibson Johnny Smith.jpg, Johnny Smith
Johnny Henry Smith II (June 25, 1922 – June 11, 2013) was an American cool jazz and mainstream jazz guitarist. He wrote " Walk, Don't Run" in 1954. In 1984, Smith was inducted into the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame.
Early life
During the Great ...
Gibson Barney Kessel Custom prototype, made for Tal Farlow, owned by Jon Hines (1960), Museum of Making Music.jpg, Barney Kessel
StillsStephen1983.jpg, Double-12
1977 Gibson Howard Roberts Artist (2020-05-18 15.39 by YuWan Ker @ Flickr 49909187638).jpg, Howard Roberts Artist
Guitarist with Gibson Howard Roberts Fusion, Blues Jam at S-ta Clara Bierhaus, 2009-02-13.jpg, Howard Roberts Fusion
2015 Gibson Memphis ES Les Paul Lemon Burst Double Cream VOS.jpg, ES-Les Paul
GibsonMemphisBlackBeauty.jpg, ES-Les Paul Black Beauty
Florentine les paul.jpg, Les Paul Florentine
Epiphone Les Paul Signature (clip).jpg, Les Paul Signature
Gibson Little Lucille (vertical).jpg, Little Lucille
Gibson-Blueshawk.jpg, Blueshawk
Epiphone Jack Casady Bass.png, Les Paul Signature Bass
1964 Gibson EB-2.JPG, Gibson EB-2
The Gibson EB-2 is an electric bass guitar model produced by the Gibson Guitar Corporation from 1958 to 1972, with a hiatus from 1962 to 1963. When production ceased in 1972, a total of 8017 instruments had been built, with 2102 of them being EB- ...
Tree chart
References
;Bibliography
*
*
*
;Citations
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gibson Es Series
ES Series
Semi-acoustic guitars