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.

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

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)