Gibson ES165 Herb Ellis Vintage Sunburst 2002

The Gibson ES165 Herb Ellis is an archtop developed as a tribute to the legendary jazz guitarist Herb Ellis, known for his work with the Oscar Peterson Trio, among others. The model is based on the classic Gibson jazz guitars from the 1950s and 1960s, but distinguishes itself through its simple and purposeful design. 

The fully hollow body with laminated maple top, sides, and back delivers a warm, open sound with plenty of acoustic resonance, while the single humbucker in the neck position provides the round and rich jazz tone with which Herb Ellis established his name. The control knobs are located under the pickguard, but were once mounted in the pickguard itself. The holes have since been covered with tape. 

This 2002 example dates from a period when Gibson's Memphis archtops were highly regarded for their build quality and playing comfort. The combination of the comfortable mahogany neck, rosewood fingerboard, and large 16-inch body gives the guitar a relaxed playing feel and a full, balanced projection. 

Thanks to the single pickup, the natural sound of the hollowbody remains central, with warm midtones, a soft attack, and beautiful definition for chord playing and melodic lines. The result is a stylish jazz guitar that convincingly brings together tradition, simplicity, and musicality. 

This Gibson Herb Ellis is in excellent condition. Naturally, the guitar has been played over the years, retaining subtle and honest signs of use on the body and top. This is, of course, proof of a guitar that plays and sounds great!