Gibson ES-225T Thinline Archtop Sunburst, 1956

Introduced in 1955 and built until 1959, the Gibson ES-225T was one of the first three new Thinline guitars with the Byrdland and the ES-350T. The ES-225T had the lowest price of the three and used the Les Paul trapeze tailpiece. Most models sported a single P-90 pickup in the middle position, though from 1956 to 1959 the ES-225TD – thinline and double pickup – was available. Both of these versions were discontinued shortly after the 1958 introduction of the very popular ES-335 and ES-355; the ES-345 appeared in 1959.

The cutaway Gibson ES-225T itself was replaced in 1960 by the newly cutaway ES-125TC and ES-125 TDC models at a similar price point.

The Gibson ES-225T uses a laminate Maple body with Florentine cutaway, paired with a one piece Mahogany neck, and has a bound Rosewood fingerboard. Visually, it can look like the ES-125T (introduced in 1956) but the ES125T had an unbound fingerboard, standard archtop style wooden bridge and tailpiece, and a single P90 pickup in the neck position.

Here we’re looking at a very lovely Gibson ES-225T dated to 1956 and in original, very good condition. It is complete and except for the addition of a strap pin on the upper bass side, unmodified with no repairs having been done.

The original Kluson Deluxe tuners are in place and while the celuloid buttons are wearing, the tuners themselves work well. If desired, replacements are available to ‘refresh’ the buttons or drop-in replacements for entire tuner set could be installed in moments.

The original combination Les Paul Trapeze bridge/tailpiece is in place and works well. There is plenty of neck angle to wrap the strings over top of the bar, as Les Paul intended.

The Gibson ES-225T finish is the original nitrocellulose lacquer Sunburst, and while it has expected lacquer checking is in very good condition. The frets are original, and wear is light and the guitar plays cleanly. There is some fingerboard wear particularly in the low positions.

We’ve dated this Gibson ES-225T example to 1956, and it has a FON (Factory Order Number) of V7401 30. There were no significant changes over the course of production, so there’s a great consistency between models.

An original Gibson hard shell case is included.