Gibson ES -140T

This is a 3/4 scale, thinline guitar that was introduced in the Mid Fifties. (They also made deep body versions called the ES140).Mine is a '56 in blonde with a brown 'California Girl" case. Laminate maple body, mahogany neck with rosewood fingerboard, 20 frets, single P-90 at the neck position. Nice neck profile, like a Les paul of the era.

I play Jazz and Blues. This single P-90 sounds clear and well defined as long as you don't roll-off the highs too much with the tone control. You can sound like Joe Pass with the volume on 8; crank the volume knob up to 10 and you get more of a T-Bone Walker sound.
Both sounds are just what I was after.
For best balance, I use light top heavy bottom stings; 10-52
the low E is muddy with lighter strings and being a short scale, they are still easy to bend.

At over 50 years old, the guitar is still ready to go to 100.
Fit and finish on 50's Gibsons (of any price range) was excellent.
I had to do a refret and 'massage' the rosewood on the bridge to get the B string to intonate (it is a non-adjustable, except height, rosewood bridge like most 50's archtops) other than that 50 year tune-up I am pleased.

This guitar is sturdy like all old Gibsons, I'd gig with it without a backup but would be worried about theft. the brown case looks like a case for a $300,000 LesPaul.

Who owns/runs Gibson now?

Playing since 1965. I change rigs now and then. I am currently using boutique built, 6V6 single ended amps into Weber alnico speakers. I have owned before the 140t: L5CES, Johnny Smith, L7C, L5C, Guild CE100, '56 ES175, ES175CC.
My favorite thing about the 140 is that it is the size of a Les Paul and weighs about a third as much. It will feedback if you crank up the bass and the guitar doesn't sound good with an amp that has scooped mids - stay away from blackface Fenders.
If stolen I would find another though, the blondes were only built for two years, meaning that I probably have to settle for a 'burst.