Gibson 1940 ES-100
1940 ES-100 and my chubby, little Muffin! He never misses a photo-op!
1940 (FON 813 F-2) ES-100 with original purple-lined felt case.
1942 ES-125 and 1940 ES-100.
The above photo compares my 1940 ES-100 and 1942 ES-125. There are several differences that can be noted right away and a few that take a little bit of looking to see. Click Gibson 1942 ES-125 to see more info on the actual model that was derived from the ES-100. This tab is mainly dedicated to the first appearance of the ES-100.
*Although a budget model, the ES-100 contained the same pickup unit as the ES-150 from the late 1930's. The only real difference to the naked eye was the body size, 14 3/4" wide at the lower bout (16" for the ES-150), and the rectangular white bobbin. Click 1938 ES-150 to see more of the ES-150.
Both ES-100 and ES-125 were derived from the late '30's acoustic L-38 which was identical, but lacking in electronics. The ES-100 has slimmer f-holes, a large 2-bar magnet which gave-way to the more compact metal covered P-13 in late 1940, and a nickel-plated tail-piece which was thinner at the top.
Both guitars share the same square-ended bakelite knobs, dark rosewood bridge that is wide at the base and body size.
As you look at these photos, take a second to view the 1942 ES-125 tab in order to compare the two guitars.
1st Appearance of ES-100 in 1938 Catalog Z
1938 Catalog Z
1938's Catalog Z (top) and insert to Catalog Z (bottom).
1940 ES-100 pictured with 1935 1st series EH-150 amp.
Excerpt from 1939 Catalog AA.
Cream colored bobbin. Same exact pickup unit as the Charlie Christian, just a different squared bobbin and non-outlined, white pick-guard.
1st appearance in 1938 Catalog Z. The ES-100 was made from 1938-1940. In 1940, the ES-100 stayed about the same until after October's Supplement to Catalog AA. It then underwent a pickup and name change and evolved into the ES-125.
Note the dark rosewood bridge has a very large base. The pickup is mounted with 3 screws which attach to 2 large magnets below the surface of the spruce top.
The ES100 pickgaurd. Note the notch on the upper left is to accommodate the pickup. This model was designed with the exact bar pickup as the ES150 except the bobbin was white and rectangular.
Model specs.
Kluson strip tuners, a flat back and a small 'clubby' neck.
1938 Catalog Z and supplement (tp & bttm lft) 1939 Catalog AA (tp rt) and Oct. 1, 1940 Supplement to Catalog AA (bttm rt). This instrument remains named the ES-100 throughout these catalogs!
Thick, mild V-shaped mohogany neck.
Kluson strip tuners with amber knobs(these amber knobs were only used around 1940). Kluson strip tuners appeared in 1938 and used white buttons on introduction.
Screen-printed 'Gibson' logo. Gibson did not use pearl inlay for the logo on its 'lower-end' models.
Oct. 1, 1940's Supplement to Catalog AA shows the new P-13 metal covered pickup for the first time, yet still calls the model by the old name ES-100. Read the description above.
Note the ES-100 (rt) has a 'clubby' V-shaped neck as compared to the 'smoother' neck of the ES-125. Note the '30's ES-150 has the same 'clubby' feel.
Compare the f-holes, tail-pieces, pickups and pick-guards. Note the bridges and knobs stay the same.
Flat backs of the 1942 ES125 (lft) and 1940 ES-100 (rt).
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