Gibson ES-225
The Gibson ES-225 is a thinline hollowbody electric guitar model produced by the Gibson Guitar Corporation between 1955 and 1959. It is notable as the first thinline hollowbody guitar produced by Gibson.
Gibson ES-225 | |
---|---|
Period | 1955–1959 |
Construction | |
Body type | hollow |
Neck joint | Set |
Scale | 24.75" |
Woods | |
Body | maple (laminated) some have mahogany sides -- sunburst models not natural |
Neck | mahogany |
Fretboard | rosewood |
Hardware | |
Bridge | Les Paul combination bridge/tailpiece |
Pickup(s) | 1 or 2 P-90s |
Colors available | |
tobacco sunburst, natural |
History
The ES-225 was originally introduced in 1955 as the ES-225T, a thinline hollowbody guitar featuring a Florentine cutaway, the Les Paul combined bridge and tailpiece (also used on the Les Paul from 1952 to 1953 and on the ES-295), a laminated pickguard, and a single P-90 pickup mounted in an unusual position midway between the bridge and the end of the fingerboard. From 1956 the ES-225TD, a twin pickup model with conventional pickup positioning, was also available.Both models had a tobacco sunburst finish, with more expensive natural finish models (ES225TN and ES-225TDN) also available from 1956.[1][2]
Specifications
The specifications remained the same during the period the guitars were manufactured, with the exception that in 1959 a few guitars were made with separate trapeze-style tailpieces and floating Tune-o-matic bridges.[1]
When the guitar was initially marketed it was the first thinline hollowbody guitar Gibson had produced,[3] preceding the Byrdland and ES-350T models.[4] In 1959 the ES-225 was phased out in favour of the ES-330 and ES-125T models.[5]
Reception
Gibson shipped 5,220 of the single pickup ES-225 and 2,754 of the twin pickup models.[1]
References
- Duchossoir A R (1998). Gibson Electrics: The Classic Years. Milwaukee: Hal Leonard Corporation, p. 229
- Gibson Electric Guitars and Amplifiers, 1958 catalogue. Kalamazoo, Michigan: Gibson, Inc. p.9
- Wheeler T (1992). American Guitars: An Illustrated History. New York: HarperCollins Publishers, p. 139
- Duchossoir A R (1981). Gibson Electrics. Milwaukee: Hal Leonard Corporation, p. 112
- Duchossoir A R (1998). Gibson Electrics: The Classic Years. Milwaukee: Hal Leonard Corporation, p. 82