Vintage late-1940s Gibson ES-150 17" Archtop Electric Guitar - Sunburst (Player-Grade / Modern Gibson P-90 / Hard Case Included)

Manufactured in Kalamazoo, Michigan during the late 1940s post-war era, this Gibson ES-150 is a classic 17" non-cutaway archtop electric guitar. Built with a carved/arched spruce top, arched maple back and sides, unbound Brazilian rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays, and twin unbound f-holes, this instrument has been thoughtfully maintained as an exceptional gig-ready player guitar. Upgraded with modern premium electronics—including a genuine Gibson USA P-90 single-coil pickup, CTS potentiometers, and a Switchcraft output jack—it delivers authentic, warm vintage jazz, blues, and jump-swing tone with quiet, reliable performance.

Specifications & Technical Setup

Brand: Gibson.
Model: ES-150.
Era & Origin: Late 1940s (Kalamazoo, Michigan, USA).
Body Style: 17" Non-cutaway archtop electric.
Top Wood: Arched Spruce.
Back & Sides Wood: Arched Maple.
Finish: Original factory Sunburst nitrocellulose lacquer.
Binding: Single-ply cream top and back body binding.
Neck Wood: One-piece Mahogany, substantial vintage "C" profile.
Fingerboard: Brazilian Rosewood with pearloid dot position inlays.
Frets: 20 Frets (clean and crowned; appear replaced/refretted historically).
Scale Length: 25.5" (648 mm).
Nut Width: 1.6875" (43 mm).
Pickup: Replacement modern Gibson USA dogear P-90 single-coil pickup (neck position).
Electronics: Upgraded premium wiring harness featuring modern CTS audio taper potentiometers and a Switchcraft 1/4" endpin/side jack.
Controls: Master Volume, Master Tone with modern replacement gold top-hat knobs.
Bridge: Original vintage floating rosewood bridge with thumbwheel height adjustment.
Tailpiece: Period-style replacement nickel trapeze tailpiece with raised diamond emblem.
Tuners: Older vintage-style replacement 3-on-a-plate nickel tuning machines with white oval buttons (installed with no extra drill holes or headstock modifications).
Pickguard: Missing.
Additional Hardware: Added strap button professionally installed at the neck heel.
Hardware Finish: Nickel.
Strings: Freshly restrung with brand-new D'Addario EJ21 Nickel Wound Jazz Light (.012–.052 with wound 3rd) strings.
Action & Setup: Fully bench-tested and dialed in with comfortable medium-low jazz action; fully intonated.
Included Accessories: Modern aftermarket hardshell case.

Condition Note (Player-Grade)

The guitar is in very good vintage player-grade cosmetic condition, exhibiting honest age and playwear without structural defects or severe repairs:

• Finish & Body: The original sunburst nitrocellulose lacquer displays widespread, tight lacquer weather checking, superficial surface chips, and edge wear throughout. The soundboard shows localized playwear and finish wear where the original pickguard was mounted. The body is structurally sound, with no top cracks, back splits, rim separations, or loose internal tone bars.
• Neck & Headstock: The back of the mahogany neck shaft exhibits significant finish wear from decades of hand contact, with smooth, natural thumb wear down to the bare wood in several playing positions. The neck joint and headstock are structurally intact with no breaks, cracks, or repairs.
• Hardware & Alterations: The original pickguard is absent. The pickup, pots, knobs, jack, and trapeze tailpiece are clean replacements. The tuning machines are older replacements installed cleanly into factory post holes without modification. An added strap button is mounted at the neck heel.

Electronics & Playability: The modern Gibson P-90 pickup and updated CTS electronics function flawlessly, providing deep, warm cleans, dynamic string response, and zero potentiometer noise or interference. The frets are in very good shape with plenty of crown height remaining, seating cleanly with no dead spots or excessive wear. Restrung with D'Addario EJ21 (.012–.052) strings and set up with medium-low action, this ES-150 plays effortlessly and needs no major work.

Freshly restrung with D'Addario EJ21 jazz strings, fully set up with medium-low action, bench-tested, complete with aftermarket hardshell case, and ready to play.