Gibson ES150D Walnut 1972

We regularly see vintage Gibsons pass by here at The Fellowship of Acoustics, but we certainly don't see an ES150D from the 70s every day!

The ES150D has an interesting history that goes back to Gibson's earliest electric guitars. The original ES150 was introduced in 1936 as one of the first commercial electric guitars, made famous by Charlie Christian and his revolutionary jazz playing. At the start of the Norlin era in 1969, Gibson reintroduced this name with the ES150D, but with a completely new concept featuring hollow body construction and the familiar double-cutaway body shape that was identical to the ES335 in the front view. However, the model was not a commercial success and disappeared from the scene as early as 1974, making examples like this one quite rare.

The hollow body construction delivers a warm, resonant sound that lies somewhere between a semi-acoustic and a fully acoustic guitar. Gibson offered the ES150D in three different finishes: Cherry, Blonde, and Walnut, as seen on this guitar. As the 'D' in the model name indicates, the guitar is equipped with two pickups, featuring the familiar dual volume and tone controls, supplemented by a master volume.

The Patent No. Humbucker in the neck position gives the ES150D that classic Gibson warmth with beautiful definition, perfect for jazz, blues, and rock. In the bridge position is a Seymour Duncan SH14 humbucker which, despite its higher output, forms a balanced combination with the neck pickup.

The C-profile of the three-piece mahogany neck sits comfortably in the hand, while the rosewood fingerboard with mother-of-pearl inlays ensures smooth playability. Gibson did not equip the neck with a volute, and as a result, this ES150D suffered a neck crack that has been repaired.

This Gibson was built in 1972 and is in very good condition. The walnut finish was already a less common option at the time, which further increases its rarity. The tuning machines have been replaced with Grover Rotomatics, and a refret has been performed. Additionally, the guitar has naturally collected various signs of play and dings, but for an instrument over half a century old, it still looks more than fine!