I'm in the market for such a guitar. I know the upgraded newer ES models are sort of the same thing, but I read that 'soapbar' pick ups are a totally different sound than other ES pickups-is that right? Basically, I don't want to buy used and don't want to spend more than $600, but maybe I'll spend up to $1,000 if that's what it takes. Thanks.

if you can dig a solid body i would suggest a Godin LGsp90.
solid mahogany and Seymour Duncan p90's.

Well I'm basically looking to get the closest sound to what I mentioned, so I doubt a solid body to be a good match.
Does anyone know wheather an ES-135 is a hollow-body or semi-hollow? Google searches are showing both, so either someone is misinformed or they made it in both.?

I know they've been changing things about them in the past few years, including the type of wood used for the center block, but the ones I've seen have all been semi-hollowbody.

Personally I like the old 60's Es-125 TCD model (Thinline, Cutaway, Dual pickups), which the the Es-135s very much resemble. the ES-125 is a hollowbody BTW.

Those ES-125s will cost more'n $1000 though and the Es-135 does have the advantage of the neck pickup residing in a better (IMO), more standard position.

And yep the soapbars are single coil, as opposed to the dual coils found in standard Gibson humbuckers, and they have that special sound. Just watch out for which model of soapbar a particular ES-135 is sporting, as credible sources here have said that some of the hum cancelling Gibson soapbars sound like blech.