Gibson Archtops returning 2026?

[Doug B]

he said that their Gibson rep had told them that "Archtops" were coming back in 2026.

If and when might well be at NAMM 2026.

[andrew]

I guess the real question aside from resale value. Would anyone buy a 2026 Gibson carved Archtop at a higher price than say a bespoke luthier like Mark Campellone, or John Buscarino.
I say that since these luthiers build the entire instrument as opposed to a team.

Dont get me wrong, I love the more recent Phillip Wharton and Jamie Culbertson builds.And feel they are up there with some of the best. But who knows who is still at Gibson is capable,or has any track record of carving skills needed?
Sure will be interesting that’s for sure!

I am firmly in the "buy used" camp for myself for multiple reasons. But I could see the logic in why others might want to buy new:

• Warranty
• Gibson may have a much shorter lead time than the Campellone-types. I know Heritage told me earlier this year they have about a 2 month lead time on new 575 and Eagle orders. I imagine Gibson could be similar if they're going to have "standard" catalog models instead of only offering them made-to-measure.
• A standard model could potentially be available to try-before-you-buy in a store.
• A brand-new Gibson is even more of a status symbol than a used one. I saw a YouTube video from a big guitar collector from India. He said that when he was growing up, everything in his environment was old, often thousands of years old. So 60 or 70 year old "golden era" guitars didn't seem that old to him. And when you're in an environment like that, having something new makes it special and desirable. Again, not my own experience or perspective, but I found it interesting to see the topic from someone else's vantage point.

[GuyBoden]

I had a 1949 Gibson L4C (cutaway) it was so incredibly light weight. It had a good acoustic tone, considering it was a small 16 inch lower bout guitar.

[Sigmund451]

I personally buy used due to depreciation. Also, if something is gonna go south on the build (since its wood) it is likey that it has already happened.

I also dont want to put the first scratch on it!

[WillsJazz]

I had a 2019 ES-175 that I bought used in 2022. When I called Gibson for verification they told me it was in the last batch produced. Really nice guitar.

[John A.]

I guess the real question aside from resale value. Would anyone buy a 2026 Gibson carved Archtop at a higher price than say a bespoke luthier like Mark Campellone, or John Buscarino.
I say that since these luthiers build the entire instrument as opposed to a team.

Dont get me wrong, I love the more recent Phillip Wharton and Jamie Culbertson builds.And feel they are up there with some of the best. But who knows who is still at Gibson is capable,or has any track record of carving skills needed?
Sure will be interesting that’s for sure!

I buy actual guitars, not ideas about how to build them. Built by one person vs built in a factory would not factor in my decision. Plus I wouldn’t have a guitar custom built for me, I’d only buy one already built.

So if there’s a new L5, a used L5, and a used Campellone hanging on the wall, which would I buy? It’s conceivable I’d buy the new L5 if I liked it best, but it would come down to the specific guitars. New per se has no appeal one way or the other to me, nor does used per se. But used is usually where I wind up for practical reasons.

[Stringswinger]

@Willsjazz: I am certain that your guitar is a 2017, the last year Gibson made the ES-175. I have one from that year myself.

[Bflat233]

I had a 2019 ES-175 that I bought used in 2022. When I called Gibson for verification they told me it was in the last batch produced. Really nice guitar.

Interesting. The Memphis factory closed and shipped its last 175s in 2016. I have one, shipped directly from the plant to my home. I know they moved production of the 335s to Nashville at that time. I wasn't aware they produced any 175s after the plant closed. Did you confirm the manufacture date with Gibson when you bought the guitar in 2022?

[lawson-stone]

Sure it was supply and demand, but it was also Gibson saying let's price this L5 $5000 more in relative terms than we used to charge because there's an old fart out there with minimal skills but a lot of $$$ who wants to pretend he's Wes Montgomery.

As one of those minimally skilled old farts who want to pretend to be Wes Montgomery, I resemble that remark!

[vinnyv1k]

@Willsjazz: I am certain that your guitar is a 2017, the last year Gibson made the ES-175. I have one from that year myself.

one can only hope it goes back into production

[garybaldy]

I had a 2019 ES-175 that I bought used in 2022. When I called Gibson for verification they told me it was in the last batch produced. Really nice guitar.

Had? Nice guitar BTW.

[bluejaybill]

If they did a Murphy Lab without the cracking, I'd buy that. Equivalent of fender customer shop NOS. Unfortunately they don't offer that.

Sure they do, I think it's called "Ultra Light"aging or something like that. As far as I can tell, it just means the metal is burnished. I see no lacquer checking in mine ('64 Custom Shop ES335).

BTW there is a note in the papers that says that the Murphy finishes are a special type that is susceptible to lacquer checking. It makes me wonder if they use a different nitro formula on those.

EDIT: I see this has already been discussed, nonetheless, no lacquer checks on mine.

[Archie]

Several years ago the factory was showing off a CNC carved top, as part of their 1957 L5 're-issue' series. Not sure why 1957 exactly, if anyone has an idea, I'd be interested in hearing it. I expect them to offer an aged version.

Posted 2023

Gibson 1957 L-5s & Byrdlands Back In Production

57:15

[Bill C]

I’m intrigued by the fact that “there’s nothing like a 175” (which I’d personally agree with), but does any other manufacturer currently make a similar off-the-shelf guitar, ie same dimensions, same woods/laminates? I’m not aware of one, or would this be a copyright infringement? This seems odd, given the proliferation of high end clones of say teles and strats, which I guess there is more demand for.

[lesyeuxnoirs]

I’m intrigued by the fact that “there’s nothing like a 175” (which I’d personally agree with), but does any other manufacturer currently make a similar off-the-shelf guitar, ie same dimensions, same woods/laminates? I’m not aware of one, or would this be a copyright infringement? This seems odd, given the proliferation of high end clones of say teles and strats, which I guess there is more demand for.

Archtop Tribute Custom (Westville) in Japan comes very, very close

[GuitarJay]

I’m intrigued by the fact that “there’s nothing like a 175” (which I’d personally agree with), but does any other manufacturer currently make a similar off-the-shelf guitar, ie same dimensions, same woods/laminates? I’m not aware of one, or would this be a copyright infringement? This seems odd, given the proliferation of high end clones of say teles and strats, which I guess there is more demand for.

AR372CE - Eastman Guitars

Seems very close, aside from the headstock shape.

[Archie]

I’m intrigued by the fact that “there’s nothing like a 175” (which I’d personally agree with), but has any other manufacturer made a similar guitar, ie same dimensions, same woods/laminates? I’m not aware of one, or would this be a copyright infringement?

It likely wouldn’t be an infringement but that wouldn't stop KKR & Co threatening you with action. The threat alone is their patent.

Many Japanese companies have made ES-175 types. There’s no real magic sauce to a 175. The body depth is what gives it a lot of its unique tone. That is because most asian manufactures prefer the thinned down D’Aquisto style for comfort and so do most players in the modern era.

[Stringswinger]

Archtop Tribute Custom (Westville) in Japan comes very, very close

Agreed, but there still ain't nothing like the real thing.

[Litterick]

$10,000 for a guitar isn’t luxury to you?

But you can also buy an ordinary ES-335 at Guitar Center for $2,999. You could go to a store with $10,000 and buy three Gibsons, or one. Most Gibson guitars are midrange.

[Bill C]

AR372CE - Eastman Guitars

Seems very close, aside from the headstock shape.

maple neck and ebony fingerboard though - probably brighter?

[WillsJazz]

@Willsjazz: I am certain that your guitar is a 2017, the last year Gibson made the ES-175. I have one from that year myself.

Yes, that’s correct. It was a 2017. I misspoke.

[Arnesto]

In my case, I prefer Epiphone archtops. Gibsons were never an option for a player or a professional with a family to support. A Zephyr Regent and a reissue of the ES175 Premium would be good.

[andrew]

…Not sure why 1957 exactly, if anyone has an idea, I'd be interested in hearing it….

1957 was the introduction of PAF humbucking pickup. That would be my guess. But I’m a little surprised too because it seems like 1959 is THE year in Gibson history.

[Litterick]

It likely wouldn’t be an infringement but that wouldn't stop KKR & Co threatening you with action. The threat alone is their patent.

Copyright applies only to creative works, not manufactured items. Patents apply only to inventions. Trademarks apply to manufactured designs. Gibson could take action against an imitator for infringement of a trademark it owns. Earlier this year, Gibson successfully sued Armadillo, the owner of Dean, for infringement of its trademarks for the Flying V, Explorer and SG shapes. Twenty years ago, Gibson failed, on appeal, in its suit against PRS for alleged infringement of Les Paul shape, because the PRS single-cutaway guitar was sufficiently distinct from the Gibson Les Paul to avoid confusion.

Gibson does not hold a trademark for the ES-175 shape (here are Gibson's trademarks). I doubt whether Gibson could have obtained a trademark of the ES-175 shape, since the shape is generic, not a design created by Gibson.

[RyanM]

AR372CE - Eastman Guitars

Seems very close, aside from the headstock shape.

looks like a Gibson, doesn’t sound like one