ES-135 - Identity Crisis? - Page 4

gibson guy · August 9th, 2009, 12:18 PM

Well, I looked it up, and it was the ES 135 Swingmaster made for one year in 1999. Supposed to have come in some cool colours. Love to try one, if I could ever find one!

Redtop_58 · October 11th, 2009, 05:10 PM

I have had a Swingmaster since about the time they were introduced. Cool looking guitar, but not as playable as my 5th Ave Kingpin, because I like a short scale, and love the old school sound.

G-Man54 · June 15th, 2010, 12:37 PM

Wow! returned to this forum after a considerable absence and was amazed to see that this 7 year old thread was active as recently as a year ago. Anyway, great catching up on the perspectives. I never did land a 135... and regretably sold my 137C a couple years back. That 137 was a Les Paul in hollowbody's clothing imho. Having owned one of each for a number of years, when crunch time came (Michigan economy) I figured I couldn't keep them both and the Les Paul stayed. Since that time I've passed the LP onto one of my sons and now I wish I had the 137C back... rarely see them in the tri-burst that mine had... plus the price has went up about $600 since then.
Since the time of that original post my collection ballooned (along with my debt) from around 15 to 51 guitars. I'm currently back down to a sane(r) number (under 10!) and although the economy is still in the tank, and my house is worth about 45k less than my mortgage (in large part due to GAS), the Gibson's have been calling to me after years obsessing about Fenders, Taylors, and Guilds.

indianation66 · June 24th, 2010, 01:13 PM

Here are some new photos of my '95 ES135. I took out the P100s and replaced with Dimarzio humbuckers that are a P90 size/shape. I bought the replacement pickups a couple of years ago. Had I waited, I probably would have opted for minibuckers, but maybe one day. The Dimarzios are quality!

...wisdom

Wally · June 24th, 2010, 04:14 PM

Tres Elegant, INdiannation 66. Put on the Tux....play that ZZ thing....
"every girl crazy 'bout that sharp dressed man."
Jump in that black chopped Merc..and let that beautician drive you 'round town, my man!

Oh, excuse me!...Fantasy time came early today......
Nice guitar, though.

Quietly · June 24th, 2010, 04:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by indianation66

Here are some new photos of my '95 ES135. I took out the P100s and replaced with Dimarzio humbuckers that are a P90 size/shape. I bought the replacement pickups a couple of years ago. Had I waited, I probably would have opted for minibuckers, but maybe one day. The Dimarzios are quality!

...wisdom

Now that does look nice and I'm looking forward to getting mine and giving it a try. Hate waiting for a guitar to arrive it always appears to go so slow

Citizenx22 · August 21st, 2010, 01:44 AM

On reply to who asked about the 135 with p-90's and the bigsby.... It is a swingmaster. It came out during the swing dancing resurgence ... Like jump jive and wail and all Brian sester orchestra era. I have one and I love it... It is all maple unlike my 2007 137c... But the 137 is still my main guitar... I never even touch my lp or sg or v anymore with these two around. The swingmaster is very very collectable so if you see one cheap buy it. It is as close to a gretsch any Gibson will ever be. I got it for a steal at 1300 from my friend that owns a vintage guitar store which houses the largest gretsch store in the world.... I even got to meet Kim falcon... Yumyumyum... I have been offered2500 for her but she isn't for sale.