Any of you seen an ES-175 JS?

[ThatRhythmMan]

So this is one that’s new to me. Gibson made this one in 1986. It may be a one off, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it was one of a small run. The neck has all Johnny Smith specs and originally had Kluson Sealfasts like a GJS. The body is standard ES-175 but with all gold hardware. Pickups are original and are Shaws. The case had a paper tag on it that said “Steve’s Custom Shop Gibson ES-175/Super 400”. The neck has the 25” scale and 1 3/4” nut, so clearly GJS rather than Super 400

Anyone seen another?










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[Cunamara]

Just when you think you've got Gibson figured out.

[andrew]

Wow, that's really something! Never heard of that one before.

As you're probably aware, "Custom Shop Edition" was Gibson's nomenclature at the time for small, limited runs. "Custom Shop Original" was used for true one-offs. So there probably are more of them out there somewhere.

[deacon Mark]

Never have seen or heard of anything like this before from Gibson. It is a cool concept and the guitar probably is quite nice. The only thing I might say is that for me the peghead size does not match the body so I simply looks off to me at least in proper proportion. How does it sound?

[mr. beaumont]

Ah, fuck. Why did I look at this? Now it's my dream guitar.

[Dennis D]

I'll always take TRM's word for most anything, but I'm tending to believe this was ' assembled' for that customer who somehow came by those pieces which Gibson once made. Maybe a longtime Gibson employee who was finally retiring, and got permission to have these pieces assembled.

But man if ever there were a guitar won in a card-game that's it. ( ? ) It reminds me of that Johnny Cash song - : )

: )

[Gitfiddler]

I'd bet that Gibson had JS necks completed, and little market demand for the expensive high end JS model, and simply used them on plentiful and inexpensive ES-175 bodies. The finished product does look classy in my view, whatever their motivation was.

[icr]

Didn't we just have a thread pointing out the Gibson tailpiece looks like this:

[wintermoon]

Interesting! Haven't seen that one but this oddball custom 175 w L-5 bling and Byrdland scale passed through our own member customxke's hands and then mine at one time.

[ThatRhythmMan]

Never have seen or heard of anything like this before from Gibson. It is a cool concept and the guitar probably is quite nice. The only thing I might say is that for me the peghead size does not match the body so I simply looks off to me at least in proper proportion. How does it sound?

It was hard to tell as it was when it came to my hands, but I just finished a rough set up with some TI JS112 strings. I was able to bring the action down pretty darn low and it’s a very fast player. I haven’t dialed the Shaws in, but I’m already impressed.


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[Hammertone]

Gotta love the cheap-o third set of tuners. Some folks really are idjits.

[garybaldy]

From the thread title I thought it would have minis.

[garybaldy]

Didn't we just have a thread pointing out the Gibson tailpiece looks like this:

My '63 is like that but it seems Gibson used all sorts.
The one you've pictured is the most difficult to source.

[Bluedawg]

I worked for a Gibson dealer in the 80s.

One of my favorite memories were all of the unexpected Gibbies that showed up. Mostly small variations on standard models that never showed up in any catalog or ad, but occasionally something really different like this.

This thing could be real ... but probably need a more knowledgeable person to examine it in person.

[ThatRhythmMan]

I worked for a Gibson dealer in the 80s.

One of my favorite memories were all of the unexpected Gibbies that showed up. Mostly small variations on standard models that never showed up in any catalog or ad, but occasionally something really different like this.

This thing could be real ... but probably need a more knowledgeable person to examine it in person.

I can assure you, it’s the real deal.


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[JSanta]

I can assure you, it’s the real deal.


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For everyone that doesn't know, this is how TRM makes a living (at least in part, I don't know him personally). If he says that a guitar is authentic, that word is certainly enough for me and, I would venture a guess that it's the same for most long-time members here.

[Mick-7]

I can assure you, it’s the real deal.

Call me skeptical. Surely someone could have switched the neck on this guitar? The headstock logos look shipshod (especially the diamond on the back of the headstock), and who would butcher a "custom shop" guitar like that to replace the tuning pegs? What was wrong with the "custom shop" pegs? What makes you think it's a 1986 production?

[ThatRhythmMan]

Call me skeptical. Surely someone could have switched the neck on this guitar? The headstock logos look shipshod (especially the diamond on the back of the headstock), and who would butcher a "custom shop" guitar like that to replace the tuning pegs? What was wrong with the "custom shop" pegs? What makes you think it's a 1986 production?

I’m not going to break it down in great detail here, but I know a bit more about the guitar’s provenance that I have not shared, the serial number is consistent with 1986 (and the work which is not “shipshod” is consistent with that era), and this guitar shows absolutely no signs of alterations beyond those replaced tuners. The original tuners were clearly Kluson Sealfasts. I don’t know if you know how heavy a set of those is, but that alone would be enough for many to change them out.


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[skykomishone]

Very cool guitar. I haven't seen one like it.

[Mick-7]

I’m not going to break it down in great detail here, but I know a bit more about the guitar’s provenance that I have not shared, the serial number is consistent with 1986 (and the work which is not “shipshod” is consistent with that era), and this guitar shows absolutely no signs of alterations beyond those replaced tuners. The original tuners were clearly Kluson Sealfasts. I don’t know if you know how heavy a set of those is, but that alone would be enough for many to change them out.

To play devil's advocate.... If a skilled luthier replaces a neck, it will not show signs of "alteration." (but it's more likely to be a copy of a Gibson guitar). Those tuners were certainly not installed by a skilled luthier. Many experts cannot spot a really high quality fake (they've often been fooled by them), only a Gibson custom shop luthier could. I said the logos on the neck looked ship-shod, not the neck itself.

Re: the serial number, it matches the Gibson protocol?

From their website:
Custom Shop regular production models:
CSYRRRR
CS stands for "Custom Shop"
Y indicates the production year
RRRR indicates the guitar's place in the sequence of production

Example: CS10845 is the 845th reg. production CS model produced in 2001.

[ThatRhythmMan]

To play devil's advocate.... If a skilled luthier replaces a neck, it will not show signs of "alteration." (but it's more likely to be a copy of a Gibson guitar). Those tuners were certainly not installed by a skilled luthier. Many experts cannot spot a really high quality fake (they've often been fooled by them), only a Gibson custom shop luthier could. I said the logos on the neck looked ship-shod, not the neck itself.

Re: the serial number, it matches the Gibson protocol?

From their website:
Custom Shop regular production models:
CSYRRRR
CS stands for "Custom Shop"
Y indicates the production year
RRRR indicates the guitar's place in the sequence of production

Example: CS10845 is the 845th reg. production CS model produced in 2001.

There was no separate custom shop in 1986. All guitars at that time had standard YDDDYXXX serial numbers.

It’s legit. I’m not here to debate that fact.


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[Woody Sound]

I love the look. As far as authenticity/originality, it almost looks like a JS sunburst color, doesn't it, albeit on maple instead of spruce. But the JS headstock did not have the diamond inlay on the back. Correct?

[Woody Sound]

Interesting! Haven't seen that one but this oddball custom 175 w L-5 bling and Byrdland scale passed through our own member customxke's hands and then mine at one time.

What does that tp badge say?

[Mick-7]

There was no separate custom shop in 1986.

Quite convenient if you want to fabricate a fake "Gibson custom shop" copy. I think the company was near bankruptcy in 1986.

But the JS headstock did not have the diamond inlay on the back. Correct?

No but there's a Japanese "lawsuit" brand logo that looks exactly like that, I don't recall their name and don't feel like looking it up now.

I'm just saying I would want to check with Gibson before I'd buy an odd duckling like that, too many features that seem amiss.

[wintermoon]

What does that tp badge say?

Its a Johnny Smith t.p. w Custom Made instead of Johnny's name.