Gibson ES135 Semi-Hollow Electric Guitar with Humbuckers (With Case)

PAF '57 humbuckers. Chrome hardware.

Overall User Ratings

Overall:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Features:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10
Quality:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10
Value:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
I Want It:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10
Sound:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Ease of Use:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Support:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10

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"Best Gibson Guitar for the Money."

Overall:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Features:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Quality:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10
Value:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
I Want It:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Sound:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
 
 
 
Feature:
It has the typical three way pickup selector and the tone knobs seem to be of high quality. I was planning on trading in my 82 Flying V for the Line 6 Variax, but when I saw this guitar I nearly fell down. For a guitar under 1000 bucks, it looks like much more. It plays just as well as my LP Custom and honds it's own. The Grover tuners are the SAME as my Paul and the vintage sunburst finish is stunning.

Quality:
OK, there are MINOR cosmetical problems. The filler used on the Rosewood on the side of the neck does not match well in places, but the guitar played so well that I chose it over another one with a better finish on the neck.

Value:
I never give anything a 10 but I feel that this guitar is worth all of it's price and more. You just do not find guitars like this for under 1000 dollars. I heard that the F-Hole versions are not being made anymore- so pick on up while you can. They are selling like hotcakes.

Desirability:
From 10 feet away this guitar looks like a $2500 to $3000 guitar. No joke.

Sound:
Hey- this puppy has a GREAT sound. I play a Les Paul custom and this guitar has more tonality and flexibilty. It can get a real good jazz mellow tone and a good twangy bite. I have not played it live at loud volume- it does not seem like Metal guitar and did not buy it to play Metal. :)

Support:
It's a guitar... what do you do-- call up tech support to help you change strings or turn the knobs????

Overall:
This was an impulse buy- I was not planning on buying another Gibson (since I own three). I did not think that I could afford a semi hollow body of this quality. This is by far the best pound for pound guitar that Gibson makes (or made since it is a limited edition).

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"Like finding a brand new 57 Bel Air in the showroom..."

Overall:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Features:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10
Quality:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Value:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
I Want It:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Sound:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Support:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
 
 
 
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Feature:
Best feature: the PAF Humbuckers. Adequate tuners, frets could have used more attention at the factory, but then it would have cost a hell of a lot more than 999.00!! New Blue Burst finish is STUNNING, although I opted for the more traditional Vintage Sunburst.

Quality:
Put this one in perspective. For a guitar that cost 999.00 there are very few instruments that are comparable, with the possible exception of a few hollow-body Epiphones, but they don't say Gibson on them , do they? No. Gibson uses some less expensive materials here. The craftsmanship is very good, but not meticulous. The included case is adequate, but not awe-inspiring. The bindings - well, this is no Super 400, but it wasn't meant to be. I feel like I got a great value when compared to the purchase price.

Value:
I know of no better value in a semi-hollow electric than this.

Desirability:
I love this guitar. I'm seriously thinking about getting another, just to have the Blue Burst finish.

Sound:
Although there are variations from instrument to instrument, the sound of this guitar, and the lost sound of the PAF's was like a call from my early musician days. This was the guitar I had wanted in the late fifties but couldn't afford. By the tome I could afford it, it was gone. Finding it again was like walking into your local Chevy dealer and finding a brand-new 57 BelAir convertible on the showroom floor. It took less than five minutes from the moment I first saw it until I had the credit card out. It can bark if you really push it, but that's not what I bought it for. The sweetest jazz tones you ever heard played through my Fender Blond, along with wonderful nostalgia through my Vox Berkeley. Even some really exciting vintage country sounds when it's set up right. This is the guitar Chet would have played if he hadn't been rich.

Support:
My favorite kind of support. Build a great instrument, let me and my guitar tech sweat the details.

Overall:
There is nothing to dislike about this instrument, and much to love. My other guitars, three Gibsons, a Fender, a PRS, and a vintage Epiphone have been languishing in their cases since I brought this home. It talks to me. It gives me new song ideas just because it sounds so different. I've started digging for songs written in the Thirties and Forties just so I can play those gorgeous chords, now that they come so easily. Put this one in my coffin please.

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"Gibson ES135, What A Sweet Axe!"

Overall:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Features:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Quality:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Value:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
I Want It:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Sound:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Ease of Use:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
 
 
 
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Desirability:
My ES135 is black. The appearance is sleek, simple, elegant looking.

Sound:
Just the sound I've been looking for, the sound of Alman Brothers, Marshall Tucker, Charlie Daniels - I can nail it with this guitar. It's great for jazz sounds as well.

Ease of Use:
Very playable. Easy to get the sound I want.

Support:
N/A

Overall:
This guitar meets my needs for blues, jazz and Southern rock. I can't imagine needing another guitar for these genre of music.

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"How many times do you see a valuye bargain like this? NEVER"

Overall:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Features:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Value:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
I Want It:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Sound:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
 
 
 
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Value:
AT this discontinued model price, you cannot possibly beat this guitar.

Sound:
I've had 2 of these guitars and they were totally completely different, both good but not otherwise comparable. This is a very fun and inviting guitar that has some amazing sustain (particularly when distorted). Hit a D or E, set it down and come back an hour later and its still going, kind of sustain. It's hard to put down and when you do, you'll find yourself picking it up again and again.

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"I LOVE mine"

Overall:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Features:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Quality:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Value:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
I Want It:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
 
 
 
Just got it a few days ago and all I can say is WOW. Fit, finish, and workmanship, I can't find a single flaw. It's too bad it doesn't have the logo inlaid but you can't fault what is there. Playability, sweet. I have a Limited Edition Washburn that I absolutely love. It fits me perfectly. So does this. I don't know if it's because I learned on Gibson or if it is indeed more like the Washburn, but since I put it in my hands, it feels like an old friend. I don't miss a string, or a fret. I've been playing for 38 years and when I get on some, especially the thin necked axes, I have to think what I'm doing. Not with the Gibson. I'm going to start learning Blues just because this Guitar just screams to be played that way too. VERY high quality at a VERY reasonable price. I'd highly recomend it.
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"Unbelievable value!"

Overall:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Features:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Quality:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Value:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
I Want It:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Sound:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Support:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10
 
 
 
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Feature:
I knew it came with a case, but the fully lined hard case with
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"ES135 Warm Blues/Jazz dream"

Overall:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Features:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Quality:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Value:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
I Want It:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Sound:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Support:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
 
 
 
Feature:
It came set up almost just right ofr me with littl adjustment needed.

Quality:
Made very well. Lighter than Es175 or ES335. No problem with switches or any other peripherals.

Value:
Had this delivered to my door for unbelievable price...way below the typical $999

Desirability:
Fell in love with the blues burst. It's one of my guitars I own that is not a conventional natural, sunburst, traditonal color. Love it great stage presence.

Sound:
I like the sound my blues burst 135. Has a nice softer tone, thicker sound than my Les Paul. Crunches easier when distortion is barely cranked. I can find a nice balance in playing it very clean and just a matt of playing it harder to gain distortion. I'm thrilled to add it to my guitar arsenal.

Support:
No problems with Gibson.

Overall:
Rest of my life

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"Nice axe"

Overall:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Features:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Quality:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Value:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
 
 
 
The gibson es 135 plays so effortlessly. You can glide on the fretboard.
The tones range from a clean rich jazz sound to a screaming sustained magic. Its quite versitle to say the least. The best thing is the gibson es 135 will achieve this with no e-fx. Just guitar and amp. (I use a (2-12)(tube)fender blues-deville)
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"I love this thang!"

Overall:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Features:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10
Quality:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10
Value:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
I Want It:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
 
 
 
zZounds has verified that this customer bought this product from us.
this is the first gibson i've ever owned...been a rickenbacker player all my life, and have fallen in love with the way this 135 sounds, the way it feels...just one very fine little guitar! It has that big 175 sound, can really smooth out and get mellow, or can really bite and jangle like my Rick's! Very versatile, playable...and nice to look at, too!
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"Awesome"

Overall:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Features:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10
Quality:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Value:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
 
 
 
Has some of the best tone I have heard come out of a guitar. With this you can get everything from a warm bluesy tone to a screeching metal solo guitar. one of the best investments I have made for my studio. The only problem I have is, whoever plays it (especially my lead guitarist) keeps asking to buy it off me!!!
the only way to make this baby better is to add a Bigsby Tremelo bar.
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