Es 125 tcd Owners club...

Anyone else own or play a vintage Es 125tcd , or Es 125tc ??? post pics, year, color !!! Mine is a very early 19591/2 ( gibson officially launched the Es 125tcd in 1960, but according to Duchossior's Book, a few were produced in late 1959) Mine has the 1959 features: bell knobs ( not the reflectors that were on the 1960 models) , that wonderful WIDE '59 neck, dark burst ( very similar in color to Duane's Hot 'Lanta LP !!!) - and, 2 smokin hot p 90's- 99% bone stock, except for the addition of an extra strap button and grover tuners installed by the previous owner ( i've owned "brownie" since 1980) will post pics later, but pics of her are on the reranch website, under a post I put on there about a custom 8/4 build. ( same user Id on the reranch board. )

Hey, it only took about about 18 months, but you've got another member! I've got a 1964 ES-125 TCD, sunburst, original except for Grover tuners and a tune-o-matic, which I think are upgrades for the player anyways. The store that had it thought it was a 1967. Researched the serial number and found it was a 64, which means Brazilian Rosewood fingerboard (pre-65). Was pretty happy about that. I played it and couldn't stop playing it. The tone from the P90s was incredible. Has that special patina you just can't fake. I really love it, but there is an annoying buzz that I think is coming from the trapeze tailpiece on the G string. Gotta get that sorted, and I'm good-

http://i372.photobucket.com/albums/oo169/soulstealer_photo/gibsones-125tcd001.jpg

http://i372.photobucket.com/albums/oo169/soulstealer_photo/gibsones-125tcd005.jpg

Call me "Member No. 3!"

As a child, I worshiped the 125TCD hanging from the wall at the local music store. But it was not going to be mine...at least not for another 40 years.

I rescued a 1965 ES-125TC from a small music store, just before they closed their doors. One of the guitar's former owners had replaced the single P-90 with an off-brand humbucker (really butchered the cut-out), added a coil selector switch, and installed new tuners. The corners at the top of the headstock may have been chewed by a dog (or a teething baby!), and the pots passed more noise than signal.

As a player, I made the decision to upgrade hardware and electronics for me and my playing needs:

• Gold Genuine Gibson "Vintage Style" tuners with pearloid buttons
• Gold Bigsby B7 vibrato tailpiece (made in USA)
• Gold roller bridge
• Black GFS P-90 bridge and neck pickups (may end up with Gibson humbuckers, so bought cheap here)
• Gold Switchcraft pickup selector switch
• Gold Switchcraft 1/4" signal jack
• Gold Genuine Gibson USA top hat knobs
• CTS tone and volume pots
• Gold "Allparts" pickguard bracket

Now begins a good amount of restoration/modification work! In this photo, I've measured and marked the body (in wipable wax pen) for most of the add-ons and replacements, and have just temporarily installed the Bigsby (thanks to Gibson USA for sending me templates).http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/uploads/33647/Finally_the_Bigsby.jpg

The frets need to be re-crowned and dressed, but they are still very playable. When it's time to re-fret, I'll use EVO's Ni-Free Gold, in jumbo.

Then there's the wood repair and (possible) finish retouching. I'm hoping I can make it presentable without stripping and re-spraying because I don't have access to a lacquer booth anymore.

Lots of fun ahead, and a truly great instrument for having fun!

Thanks for creating this forum and Owners Club!