Here’s a truly stunning and exceptional vintage Gibson ES-5. Compared to many other ES-5s we’ve seen or tried, whether at collector shows or in top-tier shops, this 1951 Gibson ES-5 stands out as a beauty. Clearly, it’s only ever been in the hands of very careful players — and when you remember that only 77 ES-5 Natural models were produced in 1951, you get just how rare this one is.

The guitar is almost entirely original, with only light traces of play visible as a gorgeous natural finish and a beautiful weather check on the lacquer. Apart from one or two tiny dings — one visible on the lower back of the body — these are the only marks you’ll find. The original frets are still high, with no grooves or heavy wear. A few faint playing marks and fine lines here and there, but overall, the condition is simply exceptional, almost unheard of for a guitar from the 1950s. The only changes? One replaced pot — the middle pickup’s, dated 1377921 — and the tuners, which are currently waffle repros. At one point it had Schallers, with the screw holes neatly filled and touched up in black, practically invisible. Finding an original set of gold waffle tuners isn’t too hard, but to keep this guitar at such an attractive price, we’ve left it as is.

Introduced in 1949, the ES-5 comes with a rosewood bridge and base, and of course the P90 pickups. Unlike the ES-175, the laminated maple body is built from figured maple. The flames and figuring on this guitar are absolutely beautiful, deep and consistent throughout. The gold hardware has aged very little and still shines brilliantly. Tailpiece and tuners are fully functional. Electronics are original — except for that one 1979 pot on the middle pickup — and the P90s are in excellent condition, strong and noise-free, delivering a perfectly balanced tone. Output is spot-on, and the sound is exactly what you’d expect: wide and round, with that woody midrange focus. Jazz is right there in the tone, of course, but this model has always been beloved by a wide range of players, and the ES-5 fits just as well in Jazz as it does in Rockabilly or straight-up Rock.

This exceptional piece comes with its original pickguard and a 1960s Gibson case, also in excellent condition.