GIBSON ES-5 N, February 1951
Yes, another
gorgeous, ultra-flamed ES 5 with blond finish from Gibson's golden era. Built in
February 1951, this guitar is one of the all-time vintage classics: its three
P90s have a great sound and the typical circuitry with three individual volume
controls and one master-tone allows a wide range of voices: neck and middle
pickups perfectly suit jazz and blues, and the bridge pickup is really
aggressive yet warm like a good P90 should, and is great for rockabilly, jump
and blues hot solos. The ES 5 is one of the great blues guitars: Eddie
Taylor, Lowell Fulson, B.B. King, T-Bone Walker... are these names enough?
Especially T-Bone and Fulson often chose the sound of the three pickups
simultaneously selected, with the bridge unit out-of-phase with the other two:
it's the sound you hear on these great bluesmen recordings. And remember that
the only way to select pickups was via the volume controls, since there is no
selector switch: yes, non selector, and please note that the ES-5 was the FIRST
guitar ever with three pickups!
Top, back and sides made of flamed maple, rosewood bridge, multi-bound rosewood
fretboard with pearl-block inlays and pointed end (L-5 style), barrell knobs,
gold Super Kluson tuners. All original guitar in perfect conditions and reay for
the stage.
We have placed online pictures of all the spots where 50 years of music have
left more evident traces, apart from normal body and neck wear: one P90 cover
has two additional mounting-holes, probably it was mounted for some time without
the spacer; one hairline crack which does not go through the wood in the lower
part of the back, not a structural crack, only in the outer layer of
laminate maple; the trapeze tailpiece has re-soldered hinges, the work is very
solid and cosmetically very good; there is one plugged strap-button hole on the
heel, very well touched-up. As we said before, all these details are clearly
shown in the pictures. Finally, the case which comes with the guitar is a very
good-quality professional hardshell case, NOT original but beautiful, it is
pictured in the last page of the pictures. The brown case shown in a few pics
does not come with the guitar.
All in all a fantastic original guitar, with exceptional woods and a killer
sound, one of the best pieces we have ever offered!