Gibson ES-225

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Gibson ES-225
1955 Sunburst Gibson ES-225T.jpg
1955 Sunburst Gibson ES-225T
Period1955–1959
Construction
Body typehollow
Neck jointSet
Scale 24.75"
Woods
Bodymaple (laminated) some have mahogany sides -- sunburst models not natural
Neckmahogany
Fretboardrosewood
Hardware
BridgeLes Paul combination bridge/tailpiece
Pickup(s) 1 or 2 P-90s
Colors available
tobacco sunburst, natural

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.

Contents

History

1957 Gibson ES-225TD - two pickup version 1957 Gibson ES-225TD.jpg
1957 Gibson ES-225TD - two pickup version

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]

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References

  1. 1 2 3 Duchossoir A R (1998). Gibson Electrics: The Classic Years. Milwaukee: Hal Leonard Corporation, p. 229
  2. Gibson Electric Guitars and Amplifiers, 1958 catalogue. Kalamazoo, Michigan: Gibson, Inc. p.9
  3. Wheeler T (1992). American Guitars: An Illustrated History. New York: HarperCollins Publishers, p. 139
  4. Duchossoir A R (1981). Gibson Electrics. Milwaukee: Hal Leonard Corporation, p. 112
  5. Duchossoir A R (1998). Gibson Electrics: The Classic Years. Milwaukee: Hal Leonard Corporation, p. 82