Epiphone ES175

Retroman1969 · #1 07-23-2011, 08:12 PM

Hey guys,
I was bored and did my usual meandering through Guitar Center to kill some time. They had an Epiphone ES175 on display for $499.
Looked beautiful, played really nice, felt great. It seems bigger and slightly better equipped than my Joe Pass Epi.
Really gives that Wes vibe.
I thought it was a good price for what you get. Any experience or opinions on this guitar?
Thanks!

bigdaddyguitar · #2 07-23-2011, 10:01 PM

Enjoy . Good looking axe !!!

max chill · #3 07-23-2011, 10:43 PM

Looks like a lot of fun for $499. I was drooling over an Epi Broadway at GC for $799.

Retroman1969 · #4 07-23-2011, 11:07 PM

Actually I haven't bought it (yet, at least). It was a typical GC Saturday with lots of noise, so I'm going back on Monday morning to really check it out.

That Broadway looks great too.

billkath · #5 07-24-2011, 03:49 AM

I love mine. I did change the nut to a graphtech-the Epi one was badly cut and poorly fitted. I also changed the saddles to resomax graphtech ones, but have since gone back to the original Epi ones. Don't know why, but it sounds better with the original saddles. After a good setup I found this guitar was a hidden gem- a bargain.

barrymclark · #6 07-24-2011, 07:43 AM

I had been looking at getting one for a beater, but I don't honestly have a need for a beater as it stands. But.. I'd get one, set it up, and not be too concerned about it.

Retroman1969 · #7 07-24-2011, 09:56 AM

Thanks for the input!

Yes, it's tempting, and getting nothing but rave reviews that I'm seeing.
If I decide to get it, then I'll have to jettison a guitar or two. I just don't want to start needlessly accumulating things, especially since I'm not a pro player.
I'll have to go check it out more thoroughly (hopefully when it's QUIET in there) and see how badly I want it.
Of course, we all know how that goes! Sometimes I wish I was banned from entering guitar stores, LOL!

guitar1303 · #8 07-24-2011, 10:03 AM

Let me add my two cents: I've had my ES-175 for close to a year and I still love it. I also own a Joe Pass (I've had for about 10 years) and a Broadway (about two years) and it certainly holds its own against them. As you might be able to tell, I have a thing for Epi archtops and I think the 175 represents the best value of them all.

My advice? Go for it!

Retroman1969 · #9 07-24-2011, 11:43 AM

Ha, I know what you mean. So far I haven't strummed an Epi archie I didn't like. They seem to have a look, feel, sound, and quality that goes way beyond their price.

Elias Graves · #10 07-25-2011, 08:49 AM

I like them and am considering getting one myself.
The one at GC right now sounds good but does have a couple of issues.
The pots feel pretty wiggly and the neck pickup mounting ring is backwards.

EG

ronjazz · #11 07-25-2011, 09:36 AM

Any new guitar for $500 should probably be considered as "unfinished furniture" that will need a little TLC to bring it home. Certainly new pots and some setup work will be worthwhile investments.

barrymclark · #12 07-25-2011, 09:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elias Graves

I like them and am considering getting one myself.
The one at GC right now sounds good but does have a couple of issues.
The pots feel pretty wiggly and the neck pickup mounting ring is backwards.

EG

Wiggly like they shafts are loose in the pot or the nut just needs a tightening?

A few minutes with a cresent wrench and a phillips head and you are off to the races.

GC has, in the past, been pretty good about addressing issues like this in-store before purchase.

I'd say bring that up with them and let them fix it then buy.

That's what I'd do anyways.

Elias Graves · #13 07-25-2011, 10:05 AM

I think they just needed tightening and the pup ring is an easy fix. I wouldn't hesitate to buy it...it's a good player and even the stock guts sounded nice and clear. Not muddy at all.
The finish on it is glorious.

EG

SamBooka · #14 07-25-2011, 10:15 AM

you sure the pickup ring is backwards?

Elias Graves · #15 07-25-2011, 10:38 AM

Normally the thicker side sits toward the bridge so it follows the slope of the strings. I've never seen one installed this way.

EG

Retroman1969 · #16 07-25-2011, 10:46 AM

I'm on my way to look it over here in an hour or two and I'll check those issues out, thanks EG!
Most of the archtops I try out at GC seem to have loose pots for some reason. I put the socket wrench on those and the input jack of any guitar I bring home.

This one did have a nice clear tone with excellent note separation (from what I could hear the other day anyway) but had rusty, scratchy strings. Must have been in stock awhile, though I never noticed it before.

Elias Graves · #17 07-25-2011, 10:56 AM

I saw that one first about three, four weeks ago. Hasn't been there too long, but GC guitars see a lot of use.
The sound on it was real nice. It was good and clear sounding (even with the foam under the bridge,) like you said and I didn't notice any issues with the neck or frets or anything.

Make em discount it because of the funky pup ring.

Then go home and fix it in two minutes.

EG

mongrel · #18 07-25-2011, 12:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Retroman1969

I'm on my way to look it over here in an hour or two and I'll check those issues out, thanks EG!
Most of the archtops I try out at GC seem to have loose pots for some reason. I put the socket wrench on those and the input jack of any guitar I bring home.

This one did have a nice clear tone with excellent note separation (from what I could hear the other day anyway) but had rusty, scratchy strings. Must have been in stock awhile, though I never noticed it before.

A couple of years ago I had just sold an old Les Paul for a decent small boat load of cash and immediately after the transaction was consummated, I set off to buy my first fully hollow archtop for a percentage of the LP proceeds. My first stop was the local guitar center where my choices consisted of a few Ibanez models including the 105 with just a neck pickup, and one with more bling than a Las Vegas pimp, the Asomething 95. The Epi's were two Joe Pass' made in Indonesia that both played and sounded like crap, and a really nice Regent in antique sunburst that had been discounted under $600. I played it unplugged for a few minutes and was about over the edge of deciding to buy it when I noticed that the jack had disappeared into the body of the guitar. I took it to the nearest salesman (all of them had been ignoring me) and asked him if there was someone on the premises who could fish out the jack and reconnect the nut so that I could plug it in. He told me that they would have to send it out for repair and that it would take 30 days. He offered no discount for an "as is out the door deal right now." Several years later I started to see a Craigslist poster selling some nice guitars and amps that I swear I had seen on that Guitar Center showroom floor. You know, the ones that are there on display for months and months and suddenly gone. I suspect that the seller might be employed at the GC and that employees get discounts or first shots at blemished gear or that in need of repair. So I wouldn't be suprised if some of those knob nuts were helped off by the help.

Retroman1969 · #19 07-25-2011, 01:15 PM

That's not out of the realm of possibility. I wouldn't put anything past anyone these days. Oddly with this one...
Someone must have tinkered on it since Saturday because the pots and jack were tight as a drum and the tuning and intonation were spot on.
You're right about the pickup ring... Actually, they're both reversed. Looks funky.
I wanted to see how it sounded acoustically and I was surprised at how loud and balanced it sounded compared to the typical dead muffled tone from hollow set-in pickup electrics.

barrymclark · #20 07-25-2011, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mongrel

A couple of years ago I had just sold an old Les Paul for a decent small boat load of cash and immediately after the transaction was consummated, I set off to buy my first fully hollow archtop for a percentage of the LP proceeds. My first stop was the local guitar center where my choices consisted of a few Ibanez models including the 105 with just a neck pickup, and one with more bling than a Las Vegas pimp, the Asomething 95. The Epi's were two Joe Pass' made in Indonesia that both played and sounded like crap, and a really nice Regent in antique sunburst that had been discounted under $600. I played it unplugged for a few minutes and was about over the edge of deciding to buy it when I noticed that the jack had disappeared into the body of the guitar. I took it to the nearest salesman (all of them had been ignoring me) and asked him if there was someone on the premises who could fish out the jack and reconnect the nut so that I could plug it in. He told me that they would have to send it out for repair and that it would take 30 days. He offered no discount for an "as is out the door deal right now." Several years later I started to see a Craigslist poster selling some nice guitars and amps that I swear I had seen on that Guitar Center showroom floor. You know, the ones that are there on display for months and months and suddenly gone. I suspect that the seller might be employed at the GC and that employees get discounts or first shots at blemished gear or that in need of repair. So I wouldn't be suprised if some of those knob nuts were helped off by the help.

Not to be contrary, as things may have changed since I was there, but, when I worked there, it was just easier and, at times, a better deal, to just buy the thing new as an employee.

Reason being is that used gear didn't get the employee discount that new did. For whatever reason, they sold used gear to employees at 'fair market value' which was honestly no less than what a customer would pay for it. Sometimes, even when it had been devalued like that, they would still keep it high for the employees. Kinda stank. ... but maybe that was to keep just this sort of thing from going on and not lose the markup of selling used gear.

On the flip side, used gear tended to sit FOREVER.

mongrel · #21 07-25-2011, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by barrymclark

Not to be contrary, as things may have changed since I was there, but, when I worked there, it was just easier and, at times, a better deal, to just buy the thing new as an employee.

Reason being is that used gear didn't get the employee discount that new did. For whatever reason, they sold used gear to employees at 'fair market value' which was honestly no less than what a customer would pay for it. Sometimes, even when it had been devalued like that, they would still keep it high for the employees. Kinda stank. ... but maybe that was to keep just this sort of thing from going on and not lose the markup of selling used gear.

On the flip side, used gear tended to sit FOREVER.

The Regent I was interested in was new and the only one in the store. That's why I thought it was strange that they would leave it on the wall with the jack inside the body so that no one could plug it in. If it was used, I could understand although if I were running a shop every instrument, new or used, would be tuned, shined and working perfectly or else heavily discounted. And it sucks not to offer employees discounts on all merchandise. The GC near me has a Gibson ES 125 hanging on the back wall in the used section. It is an oddball model with a pickup that looks like a single coil with bakelite cover. It is priced at $1,350. Five years ago it hung on the same wall...I remember the weekend it came in...and was priced at $1.360. Something smells fishy with this company sometimes.

Retroman1969 · #22 07-25-2011, 09:04 PM

Well, I went ahead and gave them $300 to hold it for me a couple of weeks. Added a new hard case to it too on which they gave me a discount, so with tax and all I'll be out the door for a little over $600.
Hard to beat. It's got great hardware, a beautiful finish with nice grain, binding galore, and it just sounded so nice, both plugged and unplugged. It even has real Grover tuners and not cheap copies.

rio · #23 07-25-2011, 11:23 PM

Someone did a teardown/rebuild of one of these a year or two back, it was pretty interesting to see what all is inside the guitar as well as what they used to build it. Don't have the link but it is a search away.

Elias Graves · #24 07-26-2011, 08:11 AM

Hope you enjoy it!

EG

barrymclark · #25 07-26-2011, 08:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mongrel

The Regent I was interested in was new and the only one in the store. That's why I thought it was strange that they would leave it on the wall with the jack inside the body so that no one could plug it in. If it was used, I could understand although if I were running a shop every instrument, new or used, would be tuned, shined and working perfectly or else heavily discounted. And it sucks not to offer employees discounts on all merchandise. The GC near me has a Gibson ES 125 hanging on the back wall in the used section. It is an oddball model with a pickup that looks like a single coil with bakelite cover. It is priced at $1,350. Five years ago it hung on the same wall...I remember the weekend it came in...and was priced at $1.360. Something smells fishy with this company sometimes.

you'll get a batch of employees that really don't care more often than otherwise in my experience. When I was promoted to running the guitar department I made it my mission to ensure every guitar was properly marked and was in working order and every amp was ready to be tried out. GC and I differed here. I raised overall sales but my personal sales suffered due to helping my subordinates be able to sell easier. GC wanted managers to be sales superstars. We parted ways.

Retroman1969 · #26 07-26-2011, 09:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elias Graves

Hope you enjoy it!

EG

Thank you EG!
I did mention the pup rings and asked if they could take care of that before I pick it up and they looked at it like it was going to bite them. I said, Actually never mind I'll fix it myself, no biggie. That's when they offered me the $160 hard case for $80.

Rio, that sounds like a cool article. I couldn't find it either though.

BMC, I wonder if Guitar Center hired Dogbert as a sales consultant?

Elias Graves · #27 07-26-2011, 10:25 AM

I think I saw Dogbert there the other day.
He was flogging people in the back of the store.

EG

bmw2002 · #28 07-26-2011, 12:29 PM

I happened to be in NYC today on business, so I stopped by Rudy's on 48th street to look at archtops. The Epiphone ES-175 did look awfully nice for the money, although I didn't get a chance to play it. (I did play a natural Gibson ES-175 which had a tag price of $4k+.) The salesperson was attentive, but not overly so, and left me in a quiet room with the Gibson and an amp for about 20 minutes before coming to check on me. I didn't find the prices to be any higher than GC and would definitely consider coming back to buy (as soon as I put my hands on that kind of dough).

barrymclark · #29 07-26-2011, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Retroman1969

Thank you EG!
I did mention the pup rings and asked if they could take care of that before I pick it up and they looked at it like it was going to bite them. I said, Actually never mind I'll fix it myself, no biggie. That's when they offered me the $160 hard case for $80.

Rio, that sounds like a cool article. I couldn't find it either though.

BMC, I wonder if Guitar Center hired Dogbert as a sales consultant?

haha. Well, as much as we couldn't get our two ways of thinking to work together at the time, in the end, they are a seemingly successful company regardless of what I think they should've been doing at the time I was working there. Honestly, that may not have been a company thing but a regional issue and may not be the case now.

I did enjoy making sure all the guitars were strung with decent strings, cleaned and ready to go. That was a lot of fun. It was a real shame we couldn't reconcile our differences.

Retroman1969 · #30 07-26-2011, 06:35 PM

Well I like your way of thinking better. I would probably be all over that stock too, stringing, setting-up and polishing until someone forced me to stop. They'd have a hard time convincing me that a floor full of clean, easy-playing, well set up instruments wouldn't reflect more positively on the store and increase sales.
I once left a photography/graphic design studio over a similar argument in business practices where they had the most haphazard system of digital image filing I had ever seen. Took days to complete simple projects and got constant complaints from customers for long wait times. I offered to organize their thousands of files into one well marked standardized system. I was basically told to mind my own business. Made no sense.