The Gibson ES-235 in Ebony is a distinctive compact semi-hollow electric that blends elements of Gibson's classic ES family with the familiar single-cut proportions and 24.75" scale associated with a Les Paul.

Built around a 3-ply maple/poplar/maple body, maple centre block, spruce bracing and set maple neck, the ES-235 provides genuine semi-hollow resonance while remaining compact and manageable on stage.

This particular guitar has been upgraded with a pair of Fralin pickups, replacing the original Gibson Burstbucker Pro humbuckers and giving this individual ES-235 its own modified electronics specification.

Presented in Very Good Condition, it weighs a particularly manageable 6.58 lbs and is supplied with a hardcase.

At A Glance

Detail	Specification
Brand	Gibson
Model	ES-235
Finish	Ebony
Type	Semi-Hollow Electric Guitar
Body	3-Ply Maple / Poplar / Maple
Centre Block	Maple
Bracing	Spruce
Neck	Maple
Fingerboard	Rosewood
Scale Length	24.75"
Current Pickups	Fralin Humbuckers – Aftermarket
Factory Pickups	Gibson Burstbucker Pro Rhythm / Lead
Weight	6.58 lbs
Condition	Very Good
Included	Hardcase
Main Appeal	Lightweight compact Gibson semi-hollow with upgraded pickups

Condition Overview

Very Good Condition – Modified

This Gibson ES-235 is presented in Very Good Condition.

Under the Fair Deal Music grading system, Very Good Condition means the guitar shows some cosmetic wear consistent with careful previous ownership while remaining fully functional and well presented.

Pickup Modification

The original Gibson pickups have been replaced with Fralin pickups.

The precise Fralin models have not been identified, so this listing does not make unsupported claims regarding their:

• Model designation
• Magnet type
• DC resistance
• Output level
• Winding specification

They are clearly represented as aftermarket replacements rather than original Gibson pickups.

What's Included?

✔ Gibson ES-235 Ebony
✔ Hardcase

✘ Original Gibson Burstbucker Pro Pickups Not Included
✘ No Additional Accessories Included

Modification Overview

Fralin Pickups

This ES-235 has been upgraded with Fralin pickups in both the neck and bridge positions.

Fralin is well known for producing aftermarket pickups aimed at players looking for carefully voiced replacements and alternatives to factory electronics.

What is clear is that they replace the ES-235's original factory pickup pairing of:

• Gibson Burstbucker Pro Rhythm – Neck
• Gibson Burstbucker Pro Lead – Bridge

This makes the guitar better viewed as an individual player's ES-235 rather than a completely factory-original example.

Fair Deal Quality Control Assessment

This pre-owned Gibson has been assessed for general operation and playability.

Checks include:

• Fralin neck pickup operation
• Fralin bridge pickup operation
• 3-way pickup selector
• Both volume controls
• Both tone controls
• Output jack
• Neck condition
• Rosewood fingerboard
• Frets
• Nut
• Tuning machines
• ABR-1 bridge
• Stopbar tailpiece
• General hardware
• Semi-hollow body condition
• Overall playability
• Hardcase checked for general usability

Service / Setup Work

All pre-owned guitars at Fair Deal Music are checked for general setup and playability before leaving the shop.

Key areas assessed include:

• Action
• Neck relief
• Fret condition
• Intonation
• Tuning stability
• Pickup operation
• Electronics
• Bridge adjustment
• Hardware
• General playing feel

Minor setup movement can naturally occur during transport as wooden instruments respond to changes in temperature and humidity.

What Makes The Gibson ES-235 Special?

The ES-235 was one of Gibson Memphis' more unusual modern designs.

Rather than using the larger double-cut body of an ES-335, Gibson developed a compact single-cut semi-hollow platform influenced by both the historic ES-125 and the solidbody Les Paul.

The result is a guitar that retains genuine ES construction principles while feeling physically much closer to a compact solidbody.

Its maple centre block helps control feedback and adds sustain, while hollow body chambers add resonance and openness to the amplified response.

Compact Semi-Hollow Construction

The ES-235 uses:

• 3-ply maple/poplar/maple top
• 3-ply maple/poplar/maple back
• Laminated maple/poplar/maple sides
• Maple centre block
• Spruce bracing

This gives the guitar the basic structural concept of Gibson's ES centre-block instruments in a much smaller single-cut package.

Why Use A Centre Block?

The solid maple centre section provides a stable mounting platform for the:

• Pickups
• Bridge
• Tailpiece

Compared with a fully hollow electric, this helps provide:

• Greater sustain
• Stronger attack
• Improved feedback resistance
• Better high-gain compatibility

while retaining more acoustic resonance than a conventional solidbody.

Maple Rounded “C” Neck

The ES-235 uses a single-piece maple neck with a Rounded “C” profile.

This gives the guitar a substantial but approachable Gibson-style neck feel while providing additional rigidity through the maple construction.

Rosewood Fingerboard

The rosewood fingerboard features:

• 22 frets
• Pearloid dot inlays
• 24.75" scale length
• Traditional Gibson playing proportions

The short Gibson scale provides slightly softer string tension than a typical 25.5" Fender-scale instrument.

Traditional Four-Control Electronics

Despite its compact body, the ES-235 retains the familiar Gibson control arrangement:

• Neck Pickup Volume
• Bridge Pickup Volume
• Neck Pickup Tone
• Bridge Pickup Tone
• 3-Way Pickup Selector

This allows each pickup to be set independently and provides plenty of scope for balancing contrasting clean and overdriven sounds.

ABR-1 Tune-O-Matic Bridge

The guitar uses a traditional ABR-1 Tune-O-Matic bridge with individual saddle adjustment for accurate intonation.

A stopbar tailpiece provides secure string anchoring and the familiar feel associated with Gibson electric guitars.

Ebony Finish

The gloss Ebony finish gives the ES-235 a particularly clean, understated appearance.

Combined with:

• Cream/tan body binding
• Nickel hardware
• Black control knobs
• Dot fingerboard inlays

it creates a restrained look that places the focus firmly on the unusual body shape.

Lightweight Semi-Hollow Design

This individual guitar weighs:

6.58 lb

That makes it noticeably lighter than many conventional solidbody Gibsons and particularly attractive for players who:

• Perform long sets
• Prefer lighter instruments
• Experience discomfort with heavier guitars
• Want a semi-hollow without a large body

Comparison Against Popular Alternatives

ES-235 vs ES-335

The ES-335 uses a substantially larger double-cutaway body.

The ES-235 offers the same broad centre-block semi-hollow concept in a much more compact single-cut format.

ES-235 vs Les Paul

A Les Paul is a solidbody design with considerably more body mass and typically greater weight.

The ES-235 offers a familiar Gibson scale length and twin-humbucker control layout but adds semi-hollow resonance and a dramatically lighter physical feel.

ES-235 vs Fully Hollow Guitar

A fully hollow instrument generally produces more acoustic resonance but can be more prone to feedback at high gain.

The ES-235's maple centre block provides greater control at amplified stage volumes.

Who Is It For?

Blues players – Semi-hollow resonance and twin humbuckers provide warm, expressive lead tones.

Rock guitarists – The centre block makes it capable of handling substantially more gain than many fully hollow designs.

Indie players – Compact ergonomics and semi-hollow character work extremely well with delay, modulation and reverb.

Studio guitarists – Its unusual construction provides a useful alternative to both solidbody and traditional large semi-hollow tones.

Players who prefer lightweight guitars – At only 6.58 lb, this is particularly manageable.

Players interested in modified Gibsons – The Fralin pickups give this guitar a different electronics specification from a factory ES-235.

Suitable Genres & Applications

Particularly well suited to:

• Blues
• Blues rock
• Rock
• Indie
• Alternative
• Classic rock
• Pop
• Americana
• Singer-songwriter
• Jazz-influenced styles
• Studio recording
• Live performance
• Effects-based rigs

Technical Specifications

Specification	Details
Product Type	Semi-Hollow Electric Guitar
Brand	Gibson
Series	Gibson Memphis
Model	ES-235
Finish	Gloss Ebony
Body Shape	ES-235 Single Cutaway
Body Construction	Semi-Hollow
Top	3-Ply Maple / Poplar / Maple
Back	3-Ply Maple / Poplar / Maple
Sides	3-Ply Maple / Poplar / Maple
Centre Block	Maple
Bracing	Spruce
Body Binding	Single-Ply Tan
Neck Material	Single-Piece Maple
Neck Construction	Set Neck
Neck Profile	Rounded “C”
Fingerboard	Rosewood
Scale Length	24.75" / 628.65mm
Number of Frets	22
Fingerboard Inlays	Pearloid Dots
Nut Material	Bone – Factory Specification
Nut Width	1.687"
Pickup Configuration	HH
Current Neck Pickup	Fralin – Aftermarket
Current Bridge Pickup	Fralin – Aftermarket
Factory Neck Pickup	Gibson Burstbucker Pro Rhythm
Factory Bridge Pickup	Gibson Burstbucker Pro Lead
Controls	2 Volume, 2 Tone
Switching	3-Way Toggle
Bridge	ABR-1 Tune-O-Matic
Tailpiece	Stopbar
Factory Tuners	White Oval Button
Hardware Finish	Nickel
Weight	6.58 lb
Included	Hardcase
Condition	Pre-Owned, Very Good

Original Factory Electronics Note

The Gibson ES-235 originally used:

• Burstbucker Pro Rhythm neck pickup
• Burstbucker Pro Lead bridge pickup
• 2 volume controls
• 2 tone controls
• 3-way toggle
• Hand-wired 500K potentiometers
• Orange Drop capacitors

This individual guitar now uses Fralin replacement pickups.

No claim is made that the remainder of the wiring or electronics has been changed unless specifically identified.

Model History

The ES-235 was introduced during the final period of Gibson Memphis production and appeared around the 2018–2019 model years.

Its combination of:

• Compact single-cut body
• Semi-hollow construction
• Maple centre block
• Les Paul-like proportions
• Traditional ES electronics

made it one of Gibson's more distinctive short-lived modern semi-hollow designs.

Its relatively brief production life means it is much less commonly encountered than an ES-335, ES-339 or Les Paul.

Hardcase Note

A hardcase is included.

The case has not been confirmed as the original factory-supplied Gibson case, so no claim of originality is made.

Weight

6.58 lb

The actual weight of this individual guitar is stated rather than relying on a generic manufacturer's estimate.

Its low weight is one of the ES-235's most attractive practical qualities, particularly for players accustomed to heavier Gibson solidbody instruments.

Power Requirements

None.

The Fralin pickups and traditional Gibson electronics are passive.

No battery or external power supply is required.

Fair Deal Music Verdict

★★★★★ 4.5/5

The Gibson ES-235 in Ebony is a particularly interesting modern Gibson for anyone who finds an ES-335 physically too large but still wants genuine centre-block semi-hollow construction.

Its laminated maple/poplar/maple body, maple centre block, spruce bracing, Rounded “C” maple neck and rosewood fingerboard provide a distinctive combination of Gibson feel and semi-hollow response.

This example has additional individuality through its Fralin pickup upgrade. The exact pickup models have not been identified, so the modification is represented accurately without assigning unsupported specifications.

At just 6.58 lb, it is exceptionally manageable for a full-scale professional electric guitar.

Presented in Very Good Condition and supplied with a hardcase, this is a compelling player's ES-235 for blues, rock, indie, studio work and anyone wanting a less conventional Gibson semi-hollow.

Why Buy Pre-Owned From Fair Deal Music?

Modified guitars should be represented as the individual instruments they have become rather than simply described from their original factory specification.

Every pre-owned guitar at Fair Deal Music is individually assessed, with significant upgrades and changes clearly identified.

On this ES-235, the Fralin pickup modification, actual 6.58 lb weight and included hardcase are all clearly represented.

Why Buy From Fair Deal Music?

When you buy from Fair Deal Music, you're choosing one of the UK's most established, independent family run music retailers since 1987.

Fair Deal Music is Birmingham's largest independent music store, combining a major showroom with nationwide ecommerce and decades of experience buying, selling and part-exchanging new and pre-owned musical equipment.

When you buy from us, you benefit from:

• Family-run independent retailer established in 1987
• Birmingham's largest independent music store
• 6,000+ Trustpilot reviews
• Expert musician-led advice
• Extensive experience with Gibson and pre-owned guitars
• Pre-owned instruments individually assessed
• Modifications clearly disclosed
• Clear condition grading
• Secure ordering
• Fast UK delivery
• Large Birmingham showroom
• Friendly support before and after purchase

Trade In. Trade Up. Save More.

Your existing guitar could help towards the cost of this Gibson.

Fair Deal Music buys and part-exchanges guitars, basses, amplifiers, effects, keyboards and other musical equipment.

Contact our team for a no-obligation valuation and find out what your current equipment could be worth towards this Gibson ES-235.

Frequently Asked Questions

What condition is this Gibson ES-235 in?

It is presented in Very Good Condition, showing some cosmetic wear consistent with careful previous ownership while remaining fully functional.

What finish is it?

It is finished in Gloss Ebony.

Is the ES-235 fully hollow?

No. It is a centre-block semi-hollow guitar.

What is the body made from?

The body uses 3-ply maple/poplar/maple laminated construction.

Does it have a centre block?

Yes. It uses a maple centre block with spruce bracing.

What is the neck made from?

The factory specification uses a single-piece maple neck.

What neck profile does it have?

It uses Gibson's Rounded “C” profile.

What fingerboard does it have?

It has a rosewood fingerboard.

What is the scale length?

It uses Gibson's familiar 24.75" scale length.

How many frets does it have?

It has 22 frets.

Has this guitar been modified?

Yes. The original Gibson pickups have been replaced with Fralin pickups.

What exact Fralin pickups are fitted?

The exact models have not been identified, so their model names and electrical specifications have not been guessed.

What pickups did the ES-235 originally have?

Factory specification used a Burstbucker Pro Rhythm neck pickup and Burstbucker Pro Lead bridge pickup.

Are the original Gibson pickups included?

No original pickups have been listed as included, so they should not be assumed to accompany the guitar.

What controls does it have?

It uses the classic Gibson arrangement of two volume controls, two tone controls and a 3-way pickup selector.

What bridge does it use?

It has an ABR-1 Tune-O-Matic bridge with stopbar tailpiece.

How much does it weigh?

This individual guitar weighs just 6.58 lb.

Is an ES-235 smaller than an ES-335?

Yes. The ES-235 has a considerably more compact single-cut body.

Is it similar to a Les Paul?

It shares the shorter Gibson scale, single-cut concept and twin-humbucker control layout, but the ES-235 uses genuine semi-hollow centre-block construction rather than a conventional solidbody.

Is it suitable for high-gain playing?

Yes. The centre block gives it substantially better feedback resistance than a fully hollow guitar, although very high stage volumes can still interact with any semi-hollow instrument.

Does it require a battery?

No. The electronics are passive.

Does it come with a hardcase?

Yes. A hardcase is included.

Is the hardcase original?

The case has not been confirmed as the original Gibson case, so it is described simply as a hardcase.

Can I request a video demo?

Yes. Our Request a Video Demo service is ideal if you would like to see the Ebony finish and individual condition or hear the fitted Fralin pickups before purchasing.

Can I part-exchange another guitar against it?

Yes. Fair Deal Music considers trade-ins and part exchanges across a wide range of guitars and other musical equipment.