All user reviews for the Gibson ES-137 Classic Chrome Hardware

Here is technical specification for Howard Roberts Fussion III and ES-137 CC

http://www.bluesfinger.com/GIBSON%20ELEMENTS%20CHART2.pdf

I use Fender Pro Junior tube Amp, Blues and Jazz, excellent workmanship, finish, neck etc. are superb.
Clean sound excellent as well as over driven sound.

I will replace stock tailpiece with ABM 1501g as Howard Roberts Fusion III model . Otherwise, the are approx. same models.
Overall, fantastic guitar.

Manufactured in 2006. Model 137 are classic.
Channel end app. Very pleasant.
Half body, thin line in one cutaway. Different from 335 are for sounds.
Mecha Grover, 3 position switch, 2 humbuckers 490 R and 498 T (originally), multi-ply pickguard, inlays Perloid with the letter "c" at the twelfth fret.
Guitar successor to the ES 125.

UTILIZATION

Heavy guitar (more than my GB10) because it is a semi hollow
Handle very fast and easy to play
Access to acute is average
The pickups have been changed by its owner, he asked Gibson classic 57, therefore it has the sound I expect, and fits me perfectly in a jazz and blues record.

SOUNDS

Mellow jazz sounds obviously lowering the tone, and neck position in a tube amp (Vox AC 15 great couple), it is mounted flat wound chrome (spun flat) but versatile and quite interesting rhythmic pop, rock etc ...

OVERALL OPINION

Tremendous opportunity for an interesting mega price a few months ago.
I dreamed of this guitar for several years, since I tried a friend's jazz.
Mine has a sort burst a little special, less dark around the edges, more dark red brown. The table is beautiful with wavy patterns.
The only drawback is its weight, which in this case is consistent with the manufacturing quality and durability. No cosmetic defects, binding the beautiful sleeve that covers the frets (fret not too low or too high).
High quality for this very successful Gibson.
My luthier has set properly, cleaned the pickguard, given the micro bridge in place ...
The state was mint.
A purchase as a result after 10 years of guitar (jazz mainly) long coveted, no regrets, especially at this price!
I keep the rest of my life. (Especially since we do not often find)

Half box guitar single cutaway, made in the U.S. by the "custom shop" (for the Classic as for model Custom).
Table, back, maple neck.
Easel Nashville Tune-O-Matic.
2 humbucker pickups 490 R and 498 T 3-position selector, volume and tone micro.

UTILIZATION

Despite its size than an LP or a Strat, this guitar is light, half-case requires. Unable to remove the back with. It is also well balanced.
The handle rather large (round profile) offers a beautiful playing comfort, however, due to the thickness of the body and the handle does not seem that the paradise shred (anyway it is not his public), or for access to acute despite the cutaway.

SOUNDS

Its sounds are beautiful. The bass and mids are large and deep, the treble never garish, this guitar sounds offer a dynamic upscale.
I played with a Brunetti Singleman that faithfully reproduces the dynamic and clearly reveals its versatility. I play blues, rock, and I try a little jazz. As written another AFien by prejudice you want to start by playing jazz with this guitar, and indeed it is excellent, with very velvety tones tone down once. But it turns blues or rock tone by adding, it is also great, with beautiful attacks again very dynamic.

OVERALL OPINION

I use it for almost ten years. I found it used in accompanying a friend who was looking for a strat, and finally it's me following part with an instrument. I had no retreat, never having tried electric before, but I have never regretted this purchase despite the material tested after. At the time I was almost beginner and play with this guitar allowed me to sound good even for quite simple things.
I still do not get bored. I especially love the sounds described above. What I like least? Nothing!

Given the build quality (well, some traces of glue I just noticed at the junction of the handle, but it's not quibble?), Aesthetics beautiful despite - or because of - side retro and sounds, the quality seems top prices, despite a high price. Since he tried with me, one of my friend wants to get back to power and chose ... ES 137. This is a guitar that is complicated to find, so if you see one, go ahead and try it!

Victor's Music, Paramus, NJ
Price paid: $1,299.90

No instrument can be all things to all players, however, for me this comes close and is a very versatile, semi-hollow body electric guitar at a good value. Wasn't looking for an archtop/florentine cutaway (which is what the ES-137 is) but rather something more along the line of the ES-335. After shopping around and then trying a number of semi-hollow's, including several 335's at Victor's, the manager of the guitar department suggested I plug in this ES-137 Classic. I quickly learned that it had a voice and body for a number of different styles, and I had trouble putting it down. You can hear the character and depth of the instrument coming through, and you can also run it through effects processors, pedals or stomp boxes and get a wide range of great electronic sounds. Construction is high quality, finish is great, electronics good, intonation terrific. The fretboard has excellent action. Sounds range from warm, resonant, earthy to hard biting crunch. Good for playing everything from mellow jazz to classic/hard rock to blues, country, fingerpicking and more (although, if you lean more toward heavy metal, this is not your axe). Also, nice sustain when you want it. It's got balls and can take and give a good beating almost as good as the toughest Les Paul, can scream like a banshee, and also responds beautifully to a light sensitive touch.

After shopping around a while for something different from the several acoustics and electric Lone Star Strat and Ibanez Artist I own, I played this for some time plugged into a Fender Hot Rod De Ville in the store. Didn't notice until after playing it a couple of days at home and then trying it sans amp (which is another plus--you can practice, though not perform, acoustic w/ this instrument) that there was a bit of a buzz at the 3rd fret, especially on the B string. Brought it back to the guitar tech at Victor's, where I bought it and he did a little tweaking and fret filing to get it near perfect. Probably wouldn't make any difference when playing it amplified--after all it is an electric guitar and meant to be played as such--but I'm anal about details and prefer to have everything be, if not perfect, approaching perfection. Also, through some of my amps when playing certain rock songs I wish it could get more treble...but then I remember that's one of the reasons I own a Strat.

As noted above, very good quality. For the money, you cannot beat it. To get any better in a semi-hollow electric you'd probably be looking at one of the Custom Shop models and spending at least $1,000 more.

For versatility, tonal character, and great playability the Gibson ES-137 Classic semi-hollow electric guitar is an outstanding value. You can take this baby out in an evening gown to a fancy night club accompanied by strings and clarinets or you can go down and dirty in the back of a raunchy saloon and set the town afire. It's against my nature to give anything a perfect score but I'm giving this a "5" on the rating scale because a “4 plus high decimals” rounds out to “5.”

This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

I bought this site unseen through Haworths Guitars Kiama Downs NSW Australia.
I read a review of the guitar in a magazine and as I was looking for a semi-acoustic I back traded a Taylor 710 (not pickup) and a Fender American Stratocaster.
I wanted something with humbuckers and found the Les Paul's and Maton MS-2000's to be too heavy for me. This guitar has the right pick -ups and is as described in the Gibson website. Retail is around $4100.

The sound is great just what an old rocker would like. From Beatles to Rolling Stones and Led Zepplin and Eric Clapton & John Fogerty. Also sounds great when playing the more ballad influenced songs of Metalica and R.E.M. It can carry Jazz and improvisation as well. I like Country Rock and blues styles and find it easy to fingerpick. The blue burst finish is beautiful. The guitar is a delight to play and can be used for long sessions at a time.

The action and intonation had to be adjusted as the G strings played sharp anywhere other than open. The action was too high for my old fingers and I had S.I.T strings with a wound G string fitted. The difference is amazing. You can still bend them even though they are 11 to 50. There are no rattles or Demons in this guitar as yet. Maybe I have a great Luthier in Phil Haworth.

Construction and quality was first class and has no faults in build quality as far as I can tell.

This is a beautiful guitar to look at. It is definately a cross between the Les Paul Classic and the ES-335 with which I compared it when I picked it up. It can be very agressive or mellow depends on what you want. You can't play thrash on this thing as it just doesn't work(as if you'd want to). I have a young teacher who is a Metalica fan. You can play anything else though.
I have a Fender Deluxe 90 amp with effects and if you know what to dial in you sound like that. I have been playing since 1972 and have owned and played 100's of guitars in my lifetime so far. Set up IS important.

This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

I leave you to go to the website of Gibson

UTILIZATION

Channel pleasant

Guitar not too heavy but impressive

For sound, I am speechless as on the clean than on the disto ...

For leads, you can really scream your guitar, the sustain is not standard lol!

SOUNDS

I play all styles from jazz to rock

With a tube amp it rocks

Connected via an Avalon U5, the sound is perfect

OVERALL OPINION

I use it for at least 5 years

But what do you expect? Buy this guitar!!

CUSTOM SHOP United States
22 frets, humbucker 490T, 498T
1959 round profile
2 Volume and 2 Tone

UTILIZATION

The neck is very very good
Access in acute and very correct (it is not an ES SG)
Still the same problem as the weight and balance autrers gibson but improved on this model.
One branch, and it sounds now.

SOUNDS

I use it for blues and rock it regale. The sustain is much better now than huge Les Paul.
I play on a Marshall TSL 602 with a Proco Rat and a dunlop 545q Wha.
The sound is bold and very bluesy in the clear. For me that's really what I wanted.

OVERALL OPINION

I use it recently and it is what I want.
I tried a les paul standard and an ES 335. The 137 and a balance between these two guitars.
report quality price qu'exellent.
I refer this choice without problem

- Hollow Body, semi-hollow with a central block of ES335 as ensuring a good sustain.
- Made in America. MODEL 2003. Finish on Honeyburst flametop (beautiful)
- A Hollow Body which takes a lot of hardware components of the solid body of the brand
- Channel 22 frets inlaid with type trapzes as the solid-body with standard finish. A "C" at the 12th box to remember that this is the finish "Classic". - The dcalques at the head that make a little cheap for a guitar of this price. They could have at least the Gibson logo and can be like a tulip or an ES335 SG pop pearl. Must find a CRITERIA to push people to the custom.
- Mcaniques Groover.
- Micro 490 & 498 (same as in SG) rglages usual with Gibson pickups each with 2 levels of volume and tonal and a slecteur to the same location as on a Les Paul
- Supplied with a safe home Gibson (robust and well finished) which is essential for the beautiful being protected

UTILIZATION

- The handle is a little less comfortable than a SG above the nearest part of the head of the handle. At this point, its shape tends to lgrement a "U" ... However, it remains enjoyable and the handling is almost a regular for IMMEDIATE Gibson.
- When I rcupr this guitar, silent action trs high. I lowered to allow better VLOC for solo parts. I'm not a great soloist, but I occasionally let go of the small bends or pentatonic runs.
- Access in is not the most acute ais. It is easy soloing until the 17th. Beyond this requires some effort and I am almost unable to reach 2 dernires boxes ... without a superhuman effort to close a Houdini out of a box of matches.
- This is a guitar with the volume of cash and impressive body shall adopt free. Not like an SG or a Start which is well stall in the body. It plays easily sit or stand. I have not tried couch ... . Though imposing is not specially heavy. I think it is a little more lgre a Les Paul. She has no problem of SG or Flying V, which tend nosedive.
- Trs pretty sound as clear as in the saturated two microphones. The characters Rock / Jazz / Blues are well marked ... is more frank than a solid-body

SOUNDS

- I play Rock and amps I use lamps (Laney and Marshall). The sound is typical Gibson. I play mainly Rock (ACDC Fawn) provides acute and micro dynamics near a solid body. The sustain is long and trs sound is fuller. I tried a bit of Jazz, from the clear sound of Laney (who has a clear sound pretty close to a Fender) using the neck pickup. I think it's a convincing jazz trs. For cons, the metal shall go their way because if you put too much drive or distortion, the sound from a feedback IMMEDIATE impressive. Not a very nice little feedback and contrlable that obtained vicinity of the amp but Dante ingrable close enough to the bustle of a supersonic dcollage. We must therefore spend a few minutes to assay the rglage drive / preamp / master. Once obtained, Rock ca crunch really well and the sound is more (I ATPS) wide on a solid body.

OVERALL OPINION

- 2 weeks of use.
- This is buy a "favorite" for the form table and the superb flame guitar. The purchase has got a price for this guitar trs INTERESTED who manipulates and uses t with great care by his Previous Owner ' . It virtually silent new.
- Because it's an opportunity, the ratio quality price is excellent because I got it 60% of its price gnralement finding in stores. I do not think I would have bought new for 1800 euros is an amount too large for someone of my level (although this remains enthusiast first and foremost a hobby).
- Z'auraient when even been able to pretty embedded in the head and there are some small dtails finishes that are not perfect at the binding. Prices are not donns Gibson and seem excessive.
- I would do the same choice ... under the same conditions of price

ES 137, made in United States
Channel 22 frets
2 alnico humbuckers 490R and 498T (those of the Les Paul Standard before 2002).
2 volume 2 tone, 1 3-position selector
Grover Mcaniques
Channel 50's
Good finishes.

UTILIZATION

The handle is a 50, I like. Good grip and feel lgret from a solid body.
Access in acute is correct (as Les Paul).
Sitting or standing, she breathes the balance.
About the sounds (see below), the range is wide, and microphones are DEFINITIONS approach to addressing many styles, without contone to jazz or blues, as suggested by the shape of the guitar .
One branch has rings.

SOUNDS

I am a regular Les Paul, and this is my Premire "half box".
The grip is natural. The weight seems to have t divided by 10.
I expected a round typ jazz, and when I plugged the guitar, I let myself go and play with fingers and then to an amp on mdiator lamps, clear sound, then the grement crunch. Until the image reflected the Ralite ...
In deuxime time I tried the unthinkable: It took me a boost and the distortion, the guitar seemed perfectly in lment I continuously increase the level of saturation. The beautiful does not s'meut and rpond like clockwork. I forget all my pictures of semi-hollow guitar wise and polishes, and I loose the big sound hard. I think she will cry for mercy, but instead, it returns its a bold and beautifully Dfine, with an extraordinary sustain .... I imagine playing with BB King Highway to Hell.
This is an es 137 Les Paul without the weight, and with and sustain DEFINITIONS madness.

OVERALL OPINION

I have this guitar for a year, and I do not regret m'tre of adventure on the uncharted territory of the semi-boxes.
In del clichés, it's a guitar rpond Submitted all situations.
It does not shred the look or size mannequin of some of his comrades, but it has sound and is carrment endearing.
Surprisingly Gibson, who hides his game
Premire Derrire its pace of the class, it is all ready-eccentricity, if you accptez his overweight (over a les paul, largely compensated by the loss of weight) its discrtion.
A scraper to play all through the night.

Custom Shop-Fabriquéee in Memphis
-Crate "Mapple laminated curly" (moderately flamed maple), 3-piece neck maple and affects ébène.Finition "custom" split diamond mother of pearl on the head, marks on the handle composed of two triangles pearl, Mechanical oil bath and nitro-cellulose acastillage doré.Vernis like all Gibson.
CLASSIC -2 57 microphones, a Varitone (dial tone), 2 volume knobs and 2 tone
Channel with the "rounded profile"
Mahogany-Central Block
-In terms of quality finish, hard to say mine has many unacceptable flaws, such as shots of the unfortunate cutter bending, traces of glue on the diamond inlay on the head, small defects varnish ... but it is true that the other 2 I have tried in moins.Cependant included, the bad reputation of Gibson on the finish is well justified (the observation of tens of models that I have be confirmed by the hands). But the guitar is beautiful in the aesthetic.

UTILIZATION

-The profile of the handle is confusing for a regular at one of the strata: it is really impressive, thicker than the "Slim Tapper 60" of 335/345.C is the jazz guitar of the brand (L5, L4) . However it is done quickly, and he is perfect for jazz in line and even for fast solos, the ebony fingerboard provides the perfect glide.
-Access to acute demand an adjustment period but the last boxes are available without a disproportionate effort.
-The guitar is very heavy (5kg) because of the block that runs through the mahogany guitar.
-Note that the varnish Gibson owns the particularity to show a bit sticky when it is new and it is relatively désagréable.Mais fortunately it develops a patina over time and eventually becomes "normal"

SOUNDS

Then there is the foot total.Cette guitar is a hybrid between the ES-345 and ES-175: it adopts the method of internal beam-specific ES-345 (but this is mahogany on the 137 against the maple for the latter) which allows the back to increase the feedback and sustain.De the 175, it takes the form of cash caisse.La depth is midway between the two (it's a semi-hollow, while the 335 is a quarter-box and the 175 is a three-quarters). These structural features explain those in terms of sound: it is a sound 335 with a more woody and deep, more suited to jazz, but can adapt to any style (I even saw the guitarist from No One is Innocent, François Maigret, oriented "hard" to use ). Compared to a 175, it has an acoustic sound less but better sustain.
In short, it sounds very close to the 345 (because of Varitone that provides additional sonic possibilities, closer to a single coil), but deeper, which allows for a jazz sound that the 335 can less . The against-it must be part of a sensitivity to feedback a little bigger (the box is deeper). In my opinion this is the gibson hollow body the most versatile: clean sound excellent, supporting many large saturations and possédantune wide range of sounds thanks to Varitone.

OVERALL OPINION

"I tried lots of 335/345 and a 175 in my opinion comparaison.A is the perfect compromise for those who want to play jazz, blues, funk, rock.La 335 will suit even styles but with a side more rock, less jazz and 175 will be almost exclusively to jazz.
In-line Gibson, it seems to be one of the best value for money and it appears to eur 300 less than the 335 and 1000euros separates a 345 while it has an ebony fingerboard when the 345 palissandre.Seul simply lack of awareness seems to explain this price difference.
In conclusion, I would say if finish defects are annoying, the sound of this guitar makes them quickly forget

Gibson custom shop -> United States
22 frets, neck, type 1959 with binding
- The pitch is 24.75
-2 Humbucking pickups Gibson 490R + 498T
-The bridge is a Tune-o-matic, the tailpiece is Stopbar
He is the bridge pickup volume knob and one tone, like the neck pickup. And there's a 3 position selector, to select the pickups.

UTILIZATION

So the stick-type is 1959, ie a sleeve Assé large (about 4.2 cm at the head / neck). Me what type of profile suits me perfectly, I find that the handle is very pleasant to RAPORT by many other guitar in the same price range.
So, access to acute depands on several factors: the first is already so we have long fingers over it tjrs fascile. 2nd factor is the height to which it is played (mostly standing). If it's two factors are optimal, then the access is fascil, but I agree that it is not always given me a whole monde.Pour RAS.
"It's a guitar relatively large but, oh surprise, when the door is rather small and great balance.
-Sounds ... ah sounds ...
I put 9 because access to acute is not given to everyone, although for me it's not disturbing.

SOUNDS

Jazz, Blues, Rock, Pop, where does you it? well I would say wherever you want, except for death metal. Good thing it's not my style, so she fits perfectly.
-I play a marshall transition, and ca MG100HDFX form is surprisingly good set, even if the tube amp this wait ...
I was saying that it is very versatile, with the neck pickup and a clear sound on the amp is obtained jazz sounds closer to its big sister, even if not yet the c legrand. with two microphones (selector center) was sound and even more blues rock already, and when we go on the bridge pickup is perfect for rock. That's basically ...
10 -> perfect.

OVERALL OPINION

-Ca is barely one month that I ais
-I like its shape, its handle very pleasant. I believe there is anything that displeases me on this instrument.
"I first tried the low-end model, I remember the models, but it was an Ibanez and a half box as Cort, and it is useless to say but it has nothing to see. Then I tried the new model of es-339, more than the first version, and I was on it. Then I came across it. I have not looked further.
- It's expensive, it is Gibson custom shop more. But the quality is at the appointment. I honestly looked for default, finishes rotten, the only one I found was dériere the shield: there a pe avai avai glue that sank below, I sanded, there is nothing voi .
-If I lose, I do it again this choice, but if I had venai buy a new guitar, I will still not the same ...

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UTILIZATION

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SOUNDS

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OVERALL OPINION

1 Posted on 28/01/2011 at 10:25:31
Hello,

That's my problem:

I bought a Gibson ES 137 Custom 2003 has an individual for 1600 €.
With the guitar in my possession, I take it to my luthier (violin maker usual very good).
And he tells me that the frets were very badly changed (frets higher than others and protruding ends) and there are for about 200 to 250 €.
I recontacted the person who sold me the guitar, and being last does not believe a word and I support that the frets were not altered.
So € 1,600 guitar that sounds wrong, verging, therefore unusable for my recording project.

Here I am appealing to Zicos who has it happened and the opinions of others to know what I can do to convince the person to go against the 1600 € guitar.
In fact, small clarification, I've since 07/01/2011, so 20 days.

I am frustrated that the woman who sold me the guitar does not want her back.

Thank you for your support

Oliv