Gibson ES-5 Model Arch Top Hollow Body Electric Guitar (1951), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, serial # A-6156, sunburst lacquer finish, laminated maple body and neck, rosewood fretboard and bridge, original brown hard shell case.

This is a really superb original example of an early ES-5 from early 1951, one of the all-time classic Gibson full body arch top electrics. This 17" fully hollow guitar was the most deluxe dedicated electric model Gibson offered when it was introduced in 1949. The *three* black covered P-90 pickups were a novel appointment at the time, something no other maker had yet tried. It was the direct inspiration for the even fancier Epiphone Zephyr Emperor Regent, and by extension the Fender Stratocaster.

The early ES-5 has no selector switch; the pickups are controlled by three individual volume knobs on the lower treble bout and one master tone knob on the cutaway. These are topped with 5/8" high barrel knobs, clear with numbers as used by Gibson from 1949 through early 1953. All the hardware is gold-plated.

The laminated maple body has a single rounded cutaway and two bound f-holes, with some subtle tiger grain on top. The pickguard is five-ply laminated plastic with a beveled edge; the trapeze tailpiece is the "L-7" style with pointed ends and three raised parallelograms. The maple neck is a three piece laminate, the center element being a narrow black stripe. The rosewood fretboard is five-ply bound and inlaid with pearl blocks.

The headstock is single-bound with a mother-of-pearl crown and Gibson logo inlaid in the peghead overlay. The back of the peghead is painted black, coming to a point just below the nut on the back of the neck. The enclosed Kluson Sealfast tuners (nicknamed "Wafflebacks") have plastic "tulip" single ring buttons.

Gibson records indicate this ES-5 was originally sold to Eddie Bell Guitar Headquarters here in NYC on Feb 5th, 1951, one of 88 sunburst examples shipped in 1951. The ES-5 was redesigned in 1955 with a large selector switch on the cutaway and dubbed the "Switchmaster", that version lasted into the early 1960's. Despite a 5+ year production history ES-5's were expensive instruments and produced in fairly small numbers.

Aside from its knockout looks, this ES-5 is a great-playing and sounding guitar, the most versatile of full-depth Gibson electrics due to the myriad extra tonal shadings offered by the center pickup. All three pickups can be blended in any combination and despite the lack of a switch it is easy to select a range of sounds by dialing in the individual volume controls. This model is most famous as the guitar of choice for T-Bone Walker in his heyday and remains well-suited to a variety of jazz, pop, blues, or early rock and roll styles, in addition to being a very imposing and collectible instrument.

Overall length is 42 in. (106.7 cm.), 17 in. (43.2 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 3 1/2 in. (8.9 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 25 1/2 in. (648 mm.). Width of nut is 1 11/16 in. (43 mm.).

This ES-5 has been around for 75 years now but has been very well cared for and remains completely original. Overall the guitar is quite clean with little fade, some moderately heavy checking (especially to the lower sides around the endpin) and small dings, dents and marks but no major loss. All hardware and fittings remain original with some typical gold plating wear, heaviest on the tailpiece. The only repair is a typical small split on the lower side running forward from the jack, solidly sealed up but visible. An old Gibson style strap button was added to the heel.

The original frets have just some very light wear in the lower positions, the guitar still plays very nicely and sounds great. This is a super vibey ES-5, we don't know who played it "back in the day" but it is cleaner than most and does the T-Bone thing in spades! The Gibson-style brown hard shell case it rests in is actually for a Epiphone guitar (it has the "E" marking under the lid) but appears to have been with this ES-5 for a long time. The handle is heavily worn but the rest is relatively clean and fully solid. Overall Excellent - Condition.