A matching pair of VOS Gibsons

[Mark M.]

I have always been a fan of the Gibson Memphis VOS guitars. I had a blonde ES-175 ‘59 RI VOS a few years ago and sold it to a forum member. Soon after I realized how much I missed having an ES-175 around and began to search for the right replacement. I knew it had to be a VOS or a reasonably priced vintage model. I came across this one on Reverb. The owner had swapped a set of Kluson locking tuners on it and was a little careless in the installation, drilling a small hole all the way through the headstock. Otherwise, it is in very good shape with low action and, as I expected, great sounding MHS Humbuckers. Re-installation of the original tuners was easy.

In addition, I have always wanted an ES-330 VOS. I have played a few of the ‘59 RI’s and loved them. I found this ‘61 RI VOS on Reverb at a nice price. I wasn’t sure if I’d like the thinner neck but it feels great. The MHS P90’s are fantastic as well. This may be my favorite guitar right now.

I didn’t set out to find them in a matching vintage burst, but it’s cool that they are sort of a set.

[Woody Sound]

I came across this one on Reverb. The owner had swapped a set of Kluson locking tuners on it and was a little careless in the installation, drilling a small hole all the way through the headstock. Otherwise, it is in very good shape

That's classic.

[Baldoza]

Very fine examples indeed! Congrats!

[vinnyv1k]

I wish Gibson would bring back the classic 175. Hard to believe it’s been discontinued now for 8 years. 1949 - 2017.

[yebdox]

I wish Gibson would bring back the classic 175. Hard to believe it’s been discontinued now for 8 years. 1949 - 2017.

Yikes! Didn't realize it had been so long. Grateful to have mine, along with my Sadowsky JH, now also discontinued. If more of my favorite things get axed, I'm going to start thinking I'm being targeted.

Walnettos have been out of production for a while now, my Toyota FJ was discontinued in 2016.... definitely being targeted, as I think about it.

[Jabberwocky]

...Snip... The owner had swapped a set of Kluson locking tuners on it and was a little careless in the installation, drilling a small hole all the way through the headstock.

I choked on my doufu milk and spurted soyboy streams of white liquid through my nostrils when I saw this. Who the FCUK puts a wormhole in a nice Gibson? Still, a toothpick followed by a dab of Reranch black lacquer stick should set that right.

Beautiful ASB. I regret not picking them up when Chicago Music was clearing them out.

Yeah, I'm a soyboy-lactose intolerant, see.

[Mark M.]

I choked on my doufu milk and spurted soyboy streams of white liquid through my nostrils when I saw this. Who the FCUK puts a wormhole in a nice Gibson? Still, a toothpick followed by a dab of Reranch black lacquer stick should set that right.

Beautiful ASB. I regret not picking them up when Chicago Music was clearing them out.

Yeah, I'm a soyboy-lactose intolerant, see.

That little worm hole saved me $1.5k or more. Great suggestion on repairing it!

[lawson-stone]

I have a 2015 VOS ES175 that I paid $2000 for in 2016 from CME. It is easily tied with my L5ces as my favorite guitar. It is just perfect. That was the year before the MHS pickups started being installed, and I have always wondered how different those sound from the 57 Classics on mine. But it actually sounds and plays so great right now, I doubt I'd change even if I could. This is a fantastic tribute to the ES175. I also had 2 "new" ES175s (not VOS) during the CME blowout sale and I got each of those for about $2000 each and ended up selling both. I loved them. Sounded different from the VOS, but played and sounded their own kind of wonderful.

[wintermoon]

I choked on my doufu milk and spurted soyboy streams of white liquid through my nostrils when I saw this. Who the FCUK puts a wormhole in a nice Gibson? Still, a toothpick followed by a dab of Reranch black lacquer stick should set that right.

Beautiful ASB. I regret not picking them up when Chicago Music was clearing them out.

Yeah, I'm a soyboy-lactose intolerant, see.

This place is so much more fun w Jabs around

[Sleeko]

I'll bite, what's VOS?

[Stringswinger]

Vintage Original Spec

[Archie]

I'll bite, what's VOS?

VOS means,

- Nearly Original Spec (but not quite, for reasons unknown)

Anyway, I had the VOS 330 some years back. Really nice guitar; light and resonant.
Very cool to have the pair, congrats!
I’d leave the hole.

[Mark M.]

I’d leave the hole.

Agreed. The odds of me making it worse are much greater than any chance of improvement.