CME Gibson ES-175 Natural Memphis, Flawless?

[TedBPhx]

I feel like I won the lottery.
This my 175.
There are many like it
but this one is mine

[Marty Grass]

That is definitely a fine looking instrument. Congrats.

[Doctor Jeff]

Beautiful!

That is special with the figured maple. I had a mahogany body 175 a long time ago, which I foolishly sold. I don't care what anyone says about Gibson--I still have a thing for this guitar, and my dream guitar is probably a blonde 175.

I've not seen a truss rod cover like that. What year is the guitar? And, of course, how does she sound?

[TedBPhx]

The guitar appears to have been at least partially setup. The intonation is good. The action is higher than it could be but I’ll let the instrument settle in to it’s new home before I put on a set of flats and check the relief and adjust the action a couple of days after that.

initial playing impression:

Where have you been all my life!

[citizenk74]

A nice 175 is an absolute joy. Congratulations, and play it in good health!

[TedBPhx]

It’s a 2016 from the CME sale. There are more left.

Should the neck pickup be parallel to the strings? This one isn’t. It slopes down toward the bridge.

[rio]

It’s a 2016 from the CME sale. There are more left.

Should the neck pickup be parallel to the strings? This one isn’t. It slopes down toward the bridge.

That isn’t uncommon. A quick fix I have found sometimes is flipping the pickup ring. Ultimately there isn’t a huge sound difference with it tilted. Congrats - that is a nice looking 175!


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[LtKojak]

Should the neck pickup be parallel to the strings? This one isn’t. It slopes down toward the bridge.

It's a common flaw of many archtops by Gibson. Just flip 180° the p'up ring and be happy ever after.

HTH,

[TOMMO]

Happy New Guitar Day!

[skittles]

Lovely. Do these 175s have a floating or pinned bridge?


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[Max405]

A 175 is the icon for a reason.
Your guitar is a great guitar and it is going to get even better!
And I've learned this with my Tal Farlow. Even a laminate top can open up over time. And when it does, it projects beautifully.
I went to an Open Mic one night with my Tal. I played a lot of RnB rhythm which made me loosen up the top a bit. The next day I played the guitar on my usual couch and I couldn't believe how much better it sounded. Much more vibrant on my lap.

Don't be an idiot like me and go on a whirlwind tour trying to find the best guitar. You can stop right now, because your 175 is the one guitar that can and will do it all. Enjoy it. It is beautiful.
Joe D.

[TedBPhx]

Lovely. Do these 175s have a floating or pinned bridge?

It’s a floating ABR bridge

[vinnyv1k]

FYI the bridge is pinned. If you want to center the strings better over the fretboard your only option is to reverse the bridge base. Mine was a tad off center. When I flipped the base 180 it was spot on. Intonation too.
Sweet 175 ! Check the trussrod immediately. Trust me on that. Make sure it works. Nothing like a good 175.

[vinnyv1k]

It’s a floating ABR bridge

ABR bridge with a pinned bridge base.

[TedBPhx]

FYI the bridge is pinned. If you want to center the strings better over the fretboard your only option is to reverse the bridge base. Mine was a tad off center. When I flipped the base 180 it was spot on. Intonation too.
Sweet 175 ! Check the trussrod immediately. Trust me on that. Make sure it works. Nothing like a good 175.

Did not know the bridge is pinned. The intonation came dead on. In a couple of days when I take off the round 10s and put on a set of TIJazz12s I’ll check the relief and truss rod. Be very surprised if there’s an issue.

[vinnyv1k]

You have a 48 hour approval period. Check the trussrod today. Mine was maxed out but it works. Had to use a thick washer. Don't let the beauty blind you. It's a Gibson. 50/50 the trussrod works.

[skittles]

Anyone have a data point for what these typically weigh in at currently?


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[vinnyv1k]

Anyone have a data point for what these typically weigh in at currently?


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Low 7's for the regulars low 6's for the VOS.

[2bornot2bop]

Congrat's Ted, she's a keeper!

Question to forum: What year did Gibson begin pinning the bridge base of 175's?

[vinnyv1k]

I like the F-hole on the trussrod cover but most probably don't. They started that in 2016.

[vinnyv1k]

Congrat's Ted, she's a keeper!

Question to forum: What year did Gibson begin pinning the bridge base of 175's?

2016 but not the VOS's.

[2bornot2bop]

2016 but not the VOS's.

Seriously! After all those years of producing '175's, why now?

I believe the 2014 Peerless knockoff '175 had a pinned bridge base too.

[vinnyv1k]

I was actually very upset when I first discovered they were pinning the bridges till I found the intonation was spot on.
They obviously have some type of system that really gets it dead on.

[TedBPhx]

Truss rod is fine. Weird size nut? My 11/32 is too big and the 5/16 too small. Ran the guitar over to the local GC and had him use his Gibson wrench to make sure it works. Initially tight but then moved in both directions.

[Cunamara]

ABR bridge with a pinned bridge base.

The bridge on these is pinned to the top? That seems weird.