2007 Gibson ES‑137 – Heritage Cherry Sunburst – Gibson Custom C.O.A. – Very Good Condition

Condition: We personally consider this guitar excellent, but because this is Reverb — and to avoid any renegotiation after the sale — we are officially listing it as Very Good.

Includes: Original Gibson hardshell case + Gibson Custom C.O.A. (Certificate of Authenticity)

Description

Up for sale is a beautiful 2007 Gibson ES‑137 in Heritage Cherry Sunburst, a fantastic blend of semi‑hollow warmth and solidbody stability. This one plays great, has good low action, and delivers a strong, full tone.

The guitar shows little to very little player wear — extremely clean for its age. Frets, finish, hardware, and electronics are all in solid shape.

This ES‑137 features the ’59 neck profile, 490R / 498T pickups, chrome hardware, and the distinctive “C” inlay on the fingerboard. That inlay has long been debated — some say it marks the Classic series, others say it indicates Custom Shop involvement. Gibson has told us this model was built in Memphis under the umbrella of the Gibson Custom Shop, and they consider it “Custom,” though collectors often debate the terminology.

For clarity: Gibson did make a higher‑trim Custom version with gold hardware and a Les Paul Custom‑style headstock — this guitar is not that model.

Features

• Heritage Cherry Sunburst finish
• ’59 neck profile
• 490R neck pickup / 498T bridge pickup
• Chrome hardware
• Semi‑hollow body with center block
• “C” fingerboard inlay (Classic vs. Custom debate)
• Original Gibson hardshell case
• Gibson Custom C.O.A. included

Condition Notes

• We consider it excellent, but listed as Very Good for Reverb standards
• Light to very light player wear only
• Plays great with comfortable low action
• Strong, solid tone — no issues

We called Gibson about this 2007 Gibson ES‑137 after finding a Gibson Custom C.O.A. in the case. The certificate does not say “Gibson Custom Shop” — it only says Gibson Custom.

Gibson told us the guitar was built in Memphis under the umbrella of the Gibson Custom Shop. Because of that, Gibson considers these to be Custom Shop instruments, but some players and collectors do not consider them true Custom Shop models. There’s definitely debate around it.

In an earlier YouTube video, we mentioned that the large “C” inlay on the fingerboard meant it was part of the Classic series ES‑137 — but now we’re not so sure. The information out there is inconsistent, and Gibson’s own explanation adds another layer to it.

If any of you have first‑hand knowledge, documentation, or experience with these ES‑137 models, please share. We’d love to get the most accurate info possible for everyone researching these guitars.