Gibson ES-175 Different pickup switch position

[garybaldy]

I visited Denmark St in London this week. There was an ES175 ( 62 or 63 sorry can't remember). It wasn't priced as you would expect and so talking to the guy, I found out it didn't have the original pickups.
Also the selector switch was by the cutaway. Other than that he wasn't particularly helpful.
I'm wondering if it was originally a one pickup guitar and been modded.
Does anyone know if Gibson ever factory fitted the switch by the cutaway?

[deacon Mark]

Wintermoon will know for sure. But I would no just as a guess.

[jazzshrink]

Here's a 1951 ES-175 posted in a previous JGO thread.



Is it possible that this was modified from a single-pickup to two-pickup, with the selector switch installed in this different location?

[Woody Sound]

Here's a 1951 ES-175 posted in a previous JGO thread.



Is it possible that this was modified from a single-pickup to two-pickup, with the selector switch installed in this different location?

Sure looks that way.

[jazzshrink]

Apologies to the OP who had already posited the 1-2 p/u mod theory.

[garybaldy]

Here's a 1951 ES-175 posted in a previous JGO thread.



Is it possible that this was modified from a single-pickup to two-pickup, with the selector switch installed in this different location?

Interesting. That was my thought in my OP.

[garybaldy]

Apologies to the OP who had already posited the 1-2 p/u mod theory.

And sorry! Saw this too late!!

[Woody Sound]

Here's a 1951 ES-175 posted in a previous JGO thread.



Is it possible that this was modified from a single-pickup to two-pickup, with the selector switch installed in this different location?

But it looks like a third knob, not a switch. Maybe it's a balance control.

[garybaldy]

But it looks like a third knob, not a switch. Maybe it's a balance control.

Plus I've just noticed it only has 2 regular knobs. The one I saw in London had 4 knobs in that location.

[wintermoon]

Here's a 1951 ES-175 posted in a previous JGO thread.



Is it possible that this was modified from a single-pickup to two-pickup, with the selector switch installed in this different location?

unless it was a special order this one has been modified as the twin pickup 175 was introduced in '53

[wintermoon]

I visited Denmark St in London this week. There was an ES175 ( 62 or 63 sorry can't remember). It wasn't priced as you would expect and so talking to the guy, I found out it didn't have the original pickups.
Also the selector switch was by the cutaway. Other than that he wasn't particularly helpful.
I'm wondering if it was originally a one pickup guitar and been modded.
Does anyone know if Gibson ever factory fitted the switch by the cutaway?

I'm not seeing it on their website but as Deacon Mark said it's not a standard feature on 175's