1959 Gibson ES-125TD for sale. Breaking down the model designation, “ES” stands for Electric Spanish, “125” is the model number, “T” indicates a thinline body, and “D” designates the desirable dual-pickup configuration.
The vast majority of ES-125 models were produced with a single pickup, making the factory double-pickup versions significantly more desirable and valuable today.
This example is especially noteworthy because it still retains all of its original electronic components, including the pickups, pots, capacitors, and complete 1959 wiring harness. Vintage Gibson harnesses from this era alone can sell for $2,500–3,000 for use in restorations and high-end vintage-spec upgrades. Thankfully, everything remains intact in its original guitar.
The plastics and hardware are also original and vintage correct. The knobs are the same style used on late-1950s Les Pauls and can easily bring $500 or more for a complete set by themselves.
The list of valuable original components goes on and on.
Being a 1959 model, it has that ideal medium-chunky neck profile. It is not an oversized baseball-bat neck, but instead feels substantial, comfortable, and extremely playable. The action is good up and down the neck, the frets are in great condition, and the guitar plays very nicely overall.
The only upgrade I would personally suggest would be installing an ABR-1 bridge in place of the original wooden bridge. That would provide improved sustain along with more precise adjustability.
I often describe these as a “poor man’s ES-330” because they share the same electronic components and pickup configurations. Obviously, this lacks the cutaway body style of the ES-330, but it can achieve many of the same fundamental tones. With clean 1959 ES-330s now reaching into the $15,000 range, this offers a far more affordable path into that late-1950s Gibson P-90 sound and feel. Then again, $5,000 is still a lot to spend on any guitar.
Cosmetically, I would rate the guitar as being in very good condition overall. It is quite clean for a guitar of this age. There are some scratches and wear marks throughout, along with a few nicks on the top, but nothing out of the ordinary for a well-preserved late-1950s Gibson. The neck joint is solid and stable. The binding has experienced some typical shrinkage over the years, which is visible near the neck joint area.
The guitar comes with an aftermarket hardshell case. It will be packed carefully and shipped securely.
I ship worldwide, but I do not falsify customs forms.