The Gibson ES-250 is a Gibson electric guitar. Close alternatives include the Gibson L-7 and the Gibson ES-150. It pairs well with the Vox AC30 Guitar Combo Amp and the Vox AC15CH Custom 15W Head.
Gibson ES-250
Gibson · electric guitar
The Gibson ES-250 was an upscale full-depth hollowbody electric archtop from around 1939-1940, an early Electric Spanish model associated with the dawn of amplified lead guitar. With a large carved body and a bar or blade pickup, it produces a warm, woody, mellow archtop voice with a smooth attack suited to early jazz and blues. T-Bone Walker used one in his early electric years, helping establish single-note electric lead playing alongside Charlie Christian's similar instruments. It leans warm and dark, excelling at clean jazz comping and pioneering electric blues lead, but as a big vintage hollowbody it feeds back easily and is now extremely rare.
- jazz
- blues
- dark
- mellow
- woody
- lead
- smooth
- attack
Genres the Gibson ES-250 is commonly used in
- Jazz
- Blues
Amps that pair well with the Gibson ES-250
Vox AC30 Guitar Combo Amp
Vox
27% matchVox AC30 Guitar Combo Amp leans bright right where the dark tone needs it
Vox AC15CH Custom 15W Head
Vox
26% matchVox AC15CH Custom 15W Head's bright balances out the dark tone
Matchless DC-30
Matchless
25% matchWhere this leans dark, Matchless DC-30 answers back glassy
Vox MSB25 Mini SuperBeetle
Vox
tonal matchVox MSB25 Mini SuperBeetle leans glassy right where the dark tone needs it
Ceriatone Dizzy 30
Ceriatone
tonal matchCeriatone Dizzy 30's bright balances out the dark tone
Bad Cat Cub V EL84
Bad Cat
tonal matchWhere this leans dark, Bad Cat Cub V EL84 answers back glassy
Vox Ac30 1960s
Vox
tonal matchVox Ac30 1960s's glassy balances out the dark tone
Boss Waza-Air
Boss
tonal matchRun Boss Waza-Air after it and the dark edge settles into something more bright
Pedals that stack with the Gibson ES-250
Catalinbread Galileo
Catalinbread
23% matchWhere this leans dark, Catalinbread Galileo answers back bright
Catalinbread Formula 55
Catalinbread
19% matchCatalinbread Formula 55 leans bright right where the dark tone needs it
Tech 21 SansAmp Character Plus Mop Top Liverpool
Tech 21
tonal matchTech 21 SansAmp Character Plus Mop Top Liverpool's bright balances out the dark tone
Aguilar DB 925
Aguilar
tonal matchRun Aguilar DB 925 after it and the dark edge settles into something more bright
JHS Pedals JHS AC+
JHS Pedals
tonal matchWhere this leans dark, JHS Pedals JHS AC+ answers back glassy
One Control Sonic Blue Twanger
One Control
tonal matchOne Control Sonic Blue Twanger's glassy balances out the dark tone
Knight Audio Technologies Kat-STB
pedal
tonal matchKnight Audio Technologies Kat-STB leans bright right where the dark tone needs it
Suhr Brighton Treble Booster
Suhr
tonal matchWhere this leans dark, Suhr Brighton Treble Booster answers back bright
Alternativessee all similar tone character →
Gibson L-7
Gibson
63% similarityShared character: guitar, volume, woody
Gibson ES-150
Gibson
63% similarityShared character: woody, jazz, guitar
Fender Rosewood Telecaster
Fender
93% similaritysimilar tone character
D'Aquisto Archtop
Daquisto
92% similaritysimilar tone character
Gibson L-5
Gibson
91% similaritysimilar tone character
1955 Gibson Les Paul Goldtop
Gibson
91% similaritysimilar tone character
Epiphone 1961 50th Anniversary Casino Reissue
Epiphone
91% similaritysimilar tone character
Fender Johnny Marr Jaguar
Fender
91% similaritysimilar tone character
Ibanez Joe Pass JP-20
Ibanez
90% similaritysimilar tone character
Gibson "Old Black" 1953 Les Paul
Gibson
90% similaritysimilar tone character
Gibson ES-350T
Gibson
90% similaritysimilar tone character
ESP Iron Cross
Esp
90% similaritysimilar tone character
See all alternatives to the Gibson ES-250 (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Gibson ES-250?+
The closest matches in character are the Gibson L-7, the Gibson ES-150, the Fender Rosewood Telecaster.
What pairs well with the Gibson ES-250?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Vox AC30 Guitar Combo Amp, Vox AC15CH Custom 15W Head, Matchless DC-30 — Vox AC30 Guitar Combo Amp leans bright right where the dark tone needs it.