1940s Gibson ES-150 – Vintage P-90 Archtop

A very special post-war Gibson ES-150, dating from the 1940s and representing one of the great milestones in the history of the electric guitar.

We cannot stress enough just how nice this guitar is. It is an exceptionally enjoyable instrument to play, with a wonderfully mature acoustic voice and the unmistakable character of a properly aged Gibson archtop. For the serious guitar player, this is a guitar with genuine presence, history and musicality.

The ES-150 occupies a unique place in Gibson history. Originally introduced in 1936, it was Gibson’s first commercially successful Spanish-style electric guitar and became forever associated with Charlie Christian, whose playing helped establish the ES-150 as one of the defining instruments of early jazz guitar. The post-war ES-150 evolved into a larger-bodied instrument, with Gibson’s P-90 single-coil pickup providing the distinctive amplified voice that has made these guitars so desirable to players and collectors alike.

This particular guitar has that wonderful combination of acoustic warmth and amplified authority that makes a vintage Gibson archtop so compelling. Unplugged, the large archtop body produces a surprisingly full and resonant voice, with a woody fundamental, excellent projection and plenty of harmonic complexity. Plugged into a suitable valve amplifier, the P-90 delivers the classic Gibson sound: warm and rounded at the neck, with a beautifully vocal midrange, strong note separation and just enough edge and bite when pushed. It is an extremely expressive pickup and responds beautifully to the player's touch and dynamics.

The guitar is in very good condition and has clearly been cared for and, importantly, played. It has received some professional maintenance over the years, including a professional refret, reproduction machine heads and an antique bone nut and saddle blank. This work was undertaken by SF Guitarworks in San Francisco in 2011, and the original bill for the work is included with the guitar. The result is an instrument that is not simply a vintage piece to admire, but one that is genuinely ready to be played.

The setup is excellent, with a very comfortable and easy-playing action. The fretting feels clean and precise, and the guitar has the sort of playable, responsive character that encourages you to keep picking it up.

We can see a FON (Factory Order Number) on the instrument. As is often the case with Gibson instruments from this period, the presence of a FON does not in itself provide a straightforward modern serial-number-style dating system, and we would not attach undue significance to it beyond its place within Gibson's historical production system.

The ES-150 was an important instrument for generations of jazz and electric guitar players. Its most famous association is, of course, Charlie Christian, whose work with Benny Goodman helped establish the sound and possibilities of the electric archtop. The model has subsequently become an important reference point for players seeking that classic, open, woody jazz guitar sound.

This is not a guitar that needs to be over-sold. The combination of the large post-war Gibson archtop body, P-90, mature acoustic voice and excellent playing setup makes this a particularly compelling instrument for someone who intends to actually play and enjoy a serious vintage Gibson.

It is a fantastic representation of a post-war Gibson ES-150 and a wonderful example of why these guitars continue to be so highly regarded by serious players.

Included with the guitar is a vintage cardboard case. The case is very old and decidedly tatty, but it is included with the guitar and adds to the overall period character of the package.

Specifications:

Model: Gibson ES-150
Era: 1940s / post-war
Body: Large-bodied archtop
Pickup: Gibson P-90
Finish: Original vintage finish
Refret: Professional refret carried out by SF Guitarworks, San Francisco, 2011
Machine heads: Reproduction period-style tuners
Nut saddle: Antique bone cut blanks, floating
Documentation: Original SF Guitarworks bill for 2011 work
FON: Present
Setup: Excellent, with comfortable playing action
Case: Vintage cardboard case, very worn/tatty but included

A genuinely lovely vintage Gibson ES-150. A serious player's instrument with a great history, exceptional character and a wonderfully mature sound.

Gibson ES-150 1946 Sunburst