Gibson Custom ES165 Herb Ellis Satin Vintage Sunburst 2011

The guitar's Vintage Sunburst finish is matte sanded, as are the pickguard, tailpiece, and pickup. The model normally features gold-colored hardware, but this particular example has nickel-colored hardware. 

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 fifties and sixties, 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 Lollar Imperial humbucker in the neck position provides the round and rich jazz tone that Herb Ellis made his name with. The Imperial is Lollar's version of the 1950 Gibson PAF, with better frequency balance and slightly more output. 

As mentioned earlier, the guitar has been customised and therefore has a distinctive appearance compared to other Herb Ellis signatures. Of course, it remains simply a top-quality guitar, just as we have come to expect from the Gibson Custom Shop!