HISTORIC HARDWARE
We recently observed that the ES-225 is to a pre-1956 Les Paul Goldtop what a ES-335 is to a ’Burst. If you compare an ES-225 from 1956 with any pre-1956 Goldtop, you’ll notice identical pickups, potentiometers, tone capacitors, control knobs and switches. Assuming the guitar in question is original, even the truss rod cover and nylon nut are the same.
ES-225 neck profiles and frets evolved throughout the 1950s, and they tracked the Les Paul models very closely. Besides the buttons, the Kluson tuners are identical, too, so that leaves the thinline body as the only significant point of difference. Even the trapeze bridge is a throwback to the earliest Les Pauls and it actually enhances the ES-225 – but more on that later.
The Skinny
During the 50s, players were beginning to appreciate smaller and more comfortable guitars with extra feedback resistance, and Gibson was facing stiff competition. In those days, Gibson was a fairly traditional guitar manufacturer, and it hit on an
