ES-175 Alternatives

AZanshin · #1 08-22-2010, 05:30 PM

Can Anyone recommend any ES-175 alternatives in the price range of £200-£700

Little Jay · #2 08-23-2010, 03:55 AM

The Epiphone ES-175?

I've heared good things about it and played someone's briefly at a jamsession. Fine guitar, nothing wrong with it. Good usable sounds. It's not a Gibson ES-175 of course.

Or - if you are lucky - one of the many Japanese copies from the 70ies (Ibanez, El Maya, Condor, Aria). Although low budget at the time, I find them better then the modern low budget copies.

gianluca · #3 08-23-2010, 04:30 AM

i own a 175 but i tried a greg bennett jz/1 and i loved it. and i believe i will buy it as second guitar.
it's 400 €.
but is more similar to a L5 than to an 175...

henry b · #4 08-23-2010, 06:15 AM

Look at the Vintage vsa 575 model on J H Skewes web site. Sell about £ 300+.

AZanshin · #5 09-05-2010, 01:14 PM

I have heard real bad things about vintage, and have been told to stay away from them.

Scolohofo · #6 09-05-2010, 01:59 PM

An alternative for theES175 Gibson should have the same specification like this Specifications
Gibson ES-175 * 1 11/16" wide nut
* bound rosewood fingerboard
* mother-of-pearl split parallelogram inlays
* adjustable truss rod
* Schaller vintage-style tuners
* 24 3/4" scale length
* tropical mahogany neck with dovetail neck joint
* 16" lower bout dimension
* 3 3/8" deep sides
* fully hollow body with Florentine cutaway
* suspended fingerboard extension
* suspended finger rest
* floating rosewood bridge with tunematic
* Gibson '57 Classic pickups

Now,what are those you need in this guitar?Wel,now,you know how to look at other brands.

pierre richard · #7 09-05-2010, 02:07 PM

Ibanez has some great ones ! ! IMO...2 of my students have them...

I have and play everyday a 1977 2355...014 flatwounds...medium action...through a Polytone Mini Brute II...

The other ones listed above make some real nice copies...try to play as many as you can...check the action...how would it sound with better strings...through a different amp...and such..do not hurry...it's what you like..

time on the instrument..pierre

henry b · #8 09-05-2010, 05:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AZanshin

I have heard real bad things about vintage, and have been told to stay away from them.

Maybe I,m biased as I already own one ,I felt it handled much nicer than the Ibanez on offer. You really have to try [any] guitar before purchase.

SamBooka · #9 09-05-2010, 06:15 PM

I have played too many "Vintage" guitars. I find them overpriced but nothing really wrong with them. That said.. I only tried solidbodies and that was in a "boutique" whos sticker price was MSLP (they have never heard of "street price"). If you are looking for something like a 175 I suggest the Epi. Maybe it was the superior setup and QC but it blew the gibson 175 I tried at the same time out of the water (the Gibby had MANY setup issues).

If I had to buy another 16in 24 3/4 guitar I would look very closely at the Loars. Chinese L4s. I would have bought one if I could have played one first (unless they are real dogs).

Olric · #10 09-06-2010, 03:42 AM

If you are not in a hurry, you can look at the used MIJ ES175 copies of the 70's and 80's.
I recently got myself a GRECO FA67-70 which is just lovely :

They would be on the upper side of your price range though. But the quality is definitely there.

RoyaleT · #11 09-06-2010, 04:08 AM

Also a Peerless Gigmaster or Journeyman each about $900-1000 US new, and used more reasonably priced.