Gibson ES-137 Silver Top Thinline Archtop, 2002

This is a very nice condition and unusual early Gibson ES-137 Silver Top model dating to March 29, 2002 at Memphis Tennessee; this model was built from 2002 to 2015.

The Gibson ES-137 was launched in 2002 and combines the looks of the ES-175 and the performance practicalities of the ES-335 lineup. The body shape is very much like the ES-175, but the body is a thinline style with a solid center block.

There were two primary ES-137 variants – the Classic and the Custom – and some examples that have a few different features, like this ES-137 Silver Top. I can only find one other Silver Top, also built during 2002. The Classic was available with an all-Silver finish during 2002.

The Gibson ES-137 Silver Top differs from the Classic and Custom in two respects, the matte Silver top with Black for the sides, back and neck, and a different inlay set. This variant has small trapezoidal position markers, perhaps half the size of the standard trapezoidal markers on Les Paul and SG models. There’s also an unexplained, stylized ‘P’ inlay at the octave; the Classic models had a stylized ‘C’.

The ES-137 Custom added a bound ebony fingerboard with split-diamond mother of pearl position markers, bound headstock as on models like the ES-355 and Les Paul Custom, gold plated hardware, and a varitone. The Custom went out of production in 2011.

For materials, the Gibson ES-137 Silver Top is mostly Maple. The top, back and sides are Maple Laminate, nicely figured on this guitar, with a solid Mahogany center block and linings; the center block has upper and lower Spruce pads to match the top and back arches. The neck is Maple, in 3 sections for stability, and the bound fingerboard is Indian Rosewood with small acrylic trapezoidal position markers. The Gibson and ES-137 headstock logos are gold stenciled, and there is a logo on the back of the head with ‘Memphis’ above a laurel arch.

Hardware follows the usual Gibson pattern with Gibson Deluxe tuners with plastic keystone buttons, a 490R/498T pickup set, selector switch, individual volume and tone controls and a side-mounted output jack.

This Gibson ES-137 Silver Top example dates to March 22, 2002 and was built at the Gibson Memphis plant. It is in overall good shape with light wear to the finish; there is light finish separation at the heel which does not appear to be structural. The chromed hardware is in great shape with little tarnish or wear. Fret wear is also very light.

The original, very good condition brown Gibson hard shell case is included.