Dilemma - Which guitar do I keep?

[MiniMerckx.22]

Everybody thinks their guitar is an investment, it isn't, at least it isn't a good investment. it's a guitar. If you buy a 175 for 4k and sell it 18 months later at that point you OWN a used guitar. Also, a) you bought the wrong guitar and b) you got $800 use from it. Next time wait until you find "your guitar", buy it and be done with shopping. I have a particularly fine Les Paul jazz guitar, have had it 11 years and I'll never get a penny back for it because my ashes will be scattered before it leaves my house. Should I sell it when I get the flu or leukemia? Will not happen. If one is worried about $800. I would worry they've never made a real investment, contributed to an ira or have a portfolio of stocks, bonds etc.
I bought an electric lawn mower 7 years ago. It still works good as new but probably would not sell for 25% of what I paid. That was a good buy, still doing the job I bought it for, it gets cheaper and cheaper every passing year but I can't get back the $250 I spent on it. It saves me $45 a month 9 times a year x 7 years ($11,025) and still counting. My lawn mower most likely beats the pulp out of 99% of "investments" in factory instruments. Buy the guitar you want, accept the cost and be happy.

[deacon Mark]

Everybody thinks their guitar is an investment, it isn't, at least it isn't a good investment. it's a guitar. If you buy a 175 for 4k and sell it 18 months later at that point you OWN a used guitar. Also, a) you bought the wrong guitar and b) you got $800 use from it. Next time wait until you find "your guitar", buy it and be done with shopping. I have a particularly fine Les Paul jazz guitar, have had it 11 years and I'll never get a penny back for it because my ashes will be scattered before it leaves my house. Should I sell it when I get the flu or leukemia? Will not happen. If one is worried about $800. I would worry they've never made a real investment, contributed to an ira or have a portfolio of stocks, bonds etc.
I bought an electric lawn mower 7 years ago. It still works good as new but probably would not sell for 25% of what I paid. That was a good buy, still doing the job I bought it for, it gets cheaper and cheaper every passing year but I can't get back the $250 I spent on it. It saves me $45 a month 9 times a year x 7 years ($2830) and still counting. My lawn mower most likely beats the pulp out of 99% of "investments" in factory instruments. Buy the guitar you want, accept the cost and be happy.

Personally, no one suggested guitars are investments they are not at all. Historically in my posting I point this out repeatedly because they are simply instruments to play. However, if you look at the " out clause" at least that is what I call it, some guitars are better at out...... A Gibson will generally sell faster than other guitars. There is no question though that one should buy the guitar they are happy with whatever that happens to be. Your Les Paul is prime example; it is a known quantity and not much mystery. Unlike your lawnmower my guess a decent Les Paul will have a much wider audience for selling and hold is value a lot better. But you bought to play the out clause is on someone else as long as you want and if you don't want it anymore, that is easier on you.

[jzucker]

sold the 175

[jads57]

Well you have a thing for Ibanez guitars from what I remember. This way you made more $$ from selling the 175. And if it’s good enough for Pat Metheny to switch………..

[Marty Grass]

My general advice is to wait a month before committing an action. If you don't waiver in your decision once, do it. If you do waiver, go another month and repeat if necessary.

My dad was a wheeler-dealer. He loved transactions. Some people enjoy the action. If that's you, own it and enjoy it. I learned that later in life and stopped blaming my guitars.

[jim777]

sold the 175

There are mountains of 175s out there, the PM120 was the way to go And they are cool as can be, so there's that as well

[Stringswinger]

sold the 175

I'm gonna predict that up the road, you will have another 175.

[mr. beaumont]

If I've figured out ANYTHING about jazz guitar, it's that only an ES-175 sounds exactly like an ES-175.

[jim777]

If I've figured out ANYTHING about jazz guitar, it's that only an ES-175 sounds exactly like an ES-175.

True, but what makes it so exciting is that sometimes a 175 sounds nothing like another 175. 76 years of 175s and counting, they are plentiful. 14 years of the PM-120 and gone for over a decade now, and possibly several thousand made and sold. I would hold onto the Ibby and grab another 175 in the future if I felt that itch.

[jzucker]

True, but what makes it so exciting is that sometimes a 175 sounds nothing like another 175. 76 years of 175s and counting, they are plentiful. 14 years of the PM-120 and gone for over a decade now, and possibly several thousand made and sold. I would hold onto the Ibby and grab another 175 in the future if I felt that itch.

if I ever jump back into the 175 camp it would have to be something from the '60s, '70s or '88/'89

[Cunamara]

If I've figured out ANYTHING about jazz guitar, it's that only an ES-175 sounds exactly like an ES-175.

Not even ES-175s sound like an ES-175.

[DawgBone]

I'm gonna predict that up the road, you will have another 175.

It's like the jazzman's version of a bluesman's 335. It just works.

[Christian Miller]

Ha - this jazzman's version of a 335 IS a 335.

175 is great for straightahead, but you'll usually have it set up so that it's only good for that.

[Christian Miller]

Not even ES-175s sound like an ES-175.

This is actually not a joke lol.

[jzucker]

If I've figured out ANYTHING about jazz guitar, it's that only an ES-175 sounds exactly like an ES-175.

I've owned a dozen 175s. They are probably the most inconsistent guitar Gibson has ever made. Variations in glues, plywood thickness, pickups (i hated the shaw variation), plywood forming, neck thickness, even arch can vary tremendously. I think each era of Gibson has a correspondingly different sound and subjectively gets more and more electric.

I've owned a couple from the '60s, '70s, '80s,'90s, '00s

[Stringswinger]

I've owned a dozen 175s. They are probably the most inconsistent guitar Gibson has ever made. Variations in glues, plywood thickness, pickups (i hated the shaw variation), plywood forming, neck thickness, even arch can vary tremendously. I think each era of Gibson has a correspondingly different sound and subjectively gets more and more electric.

I've owned a couple from the '60s, '70s, '80s,'90s, '00s

I have owned 175's from the following years:

Kalamazoo made:

1963
1967 (this one was a 1 pickup example)
1970
1977
1982

Nashville Made:

1997
2008

Memphis made:

2017
2017 59RI

My experience is that over time, they have gotten more electric with the exception of the 90's where they went back to more of a late 60's vibe (but not exactly). The late 50's ones (including the reissues) are not as acoustic as the ones from 49 and the early 50's. And they do vary a great deal. Some are good, some are great and some are lousy. And they do sound and feel a bit different from the different eras and different factories. My advice to anyone looking to buy one is to shop carefully and choose wisely.

[jads57]

Different recipes from different owners of Gibson. Weirdly I had a ES-775 from 1991? Even thought it was a bit different from the std 175. And heavy as well, I liked that the best!

[garybaldy]

I have owned 175's from the following years:

Kalamazoo made:

1963
1967 (this one was a 1 pickup example)
1970
1977
1982

Nashville Made:

1997
2008

Memphis made:

2017
2017 59RI

My experience is that over time, they have gotten more electric with the exception of the 90's where they went back to more of a late 60's vibe (but not exactly). The late 50's ones (including the reissues) are not as acoustic as the ones from 49 and the early 50's. And they do vary a great deal. Some are good, some are great and some are lousy. And they do sound and feel a bit different from the different eras and different factories. My advice to anyone looking to buy one is to shop carefully and choose wisely.

What did you think of your 63?
I have one and really, I've not had much of a chance to compare it to others.
But I'm more than happy with what I have.
Thanks.

[Stringswinger]

What did you think of your 63?
I have one and really, I've not had much of a chance to compare it to others.
But I'm more than happy with what I have.
Thanks.

My 63 came to me with many issues and the luthier that did the restoration work for me did not do things the way I liked, so I sold that guitar. But overall, I think 175's from the early 60's are superb and they are among the best jazz guitars out there.

[garybaldy]

My 63 came to me with many issues and the luthier that did the restoration work for me did not do things the way I liked, so I sold that guitar. But overall, I think 175's from the early 60's are superb and they are among the best jazz guitars out there.

Thank you.

[Jx30510]

Nowadays I tend to keep the guitar that I'm the most comfortable with.. you know, when you play it, you feel instantly at home and just fly with it, nothing gets between your mind, your hands and the instrument. That's it!

[Jabberwocky]

Everybody thinks their guitar is an investment, it isn't, at least it isn't a good investment. it's a guitar. If you buy a 175 for 4k and sell it 18 months later at that point you OWN a used guitar. Also, a) you bought the wrong guitar and b) you got $800 use from it. Next time wait until you find "your guitar", buy it and be done with shopping. I have a particularly fine Les Paul jazz guitar, have had it 11 years and I'll never get a penny back for it because my ashes will be scattered before it leaves my house. Should I sell it when I get the flu or leukemia? Will not happen. If one is worried about $800. I would worry they've never made a real investment, contributed to an ira or have a portfolio of stocks, bonds etc.
I bought an electric lawn mower 7 years ago. It still works good as new but probably would not sell for 25% of what I paid. That was a good buy, still doing the job I bought it for, it gets cheaper and cheaper every passing year but I can't get back the $250 I spent on it. It saves me $45 a month 9 times a year x 7 years ($11,025) and still counting. My lawn mower most likely beats the pulp out of 99% of "investments" in factory instruments. Buy the guitar you want, accept the cost and be happy.

Take a long bike ride on a short pier, buddy. You're badgering the good folk here about attachment to their guitars? The good deacon doesn't spout Bullsh$t. Lube your chain and get them wheels in your amateur mind balanced.

Learn you some manners. Oh boy, what's happened to the neighbourhood?

[garybaldy]

Take a long bike ride on a short pier, buddy. You're badgering the good folk here about attachment to their guitars? The good deacon doesn't spout Bullsh$t. Lube your chain and get them wheels in your amateur mind balanced.

Learn you some manners. Oh boy, what's happened to the neighbourhood?

Well said. I undeservedly got told to STFU by this person in a light-hearted thread I started which everyone except one played along with. I reported it and Dirk removed the post. Totally unnecessary behaviour.