Epiphone ES-175 Premium - holy freaking cow

[Mr Christopher]

I had read up on the Premium ES175 for a good while and finally bought one a couple of months ago, the black satin version. My main guitar is a Gretsch Smoke and I play a lot of hillbilly and blues stuff with a casual interest in jazz, more like I enjoy jazzing things up versus playing straight up jazz. But I still wanted a proper jazz box so I got the Epi.

When I unpacked it the first thing I did was take off the strings (flatwounds, and without even playing it) and put on a set of D'Addario Electric Guitar Strings, XL Nickel, which are my go to strings on all my guitars. I also put lemon oil on the fretboard. When I tuned it up I plugged it in my Fender 65 Deluxe reissue and dang if it didn't sound awful. Thin and gritty. Then I realized some of the oil had gotten on the strings, so after playing it an hour or two the thin, gritty sound was reduced but I was still left wondering why everyone raves about the tone on this guitar, and the Gibson pickups. I assumed I would need to learn what Treble/Bass combination was best for tone, and promptly set it aside and only played it ocassionally.

Later I decided to take it to my guitar guy for a good looking over, I'm not savvy about uneven frets and such and I always have my guy look over a new guitar. He made some minor adjustments and put a fresh set of the same strings on there. And once again I was underwhelmed by the tone and curious why everyone loved the sound but me.

Determined to get to the bottom of the tone disappointment I got a set of Thomastik-Infeld (44-10) put them on and holy freaking cow. It was like a different guitar. I get it. With the flatwounds this might be the nicest tone of any of my guitars. It is so rich and also forgiving, I can play hard and the strings don't "bottom out". And it really comes to life when I add some volume on the amp.

I can't express how much I love this guitar and I'm amazed at how a different a set of strings can make such a difference. I went from "meh" to "I'll never sell this guitar" in the time it took to restring it.

Anyhow, I have nothing of real value to put here, other than I am happy to be a member of the ES175 Premium club!

[Stringswinger]

I had read up on the Premium ES175 for a good while and finally bought one a couple of months ago, the black satin version. My main guitar is a Gretsch Smoke and I play a lot of hillbilly and blues stuff with a casual interest in jazz, more like I enjoy jazzing things up versus playing straight up jazz. But I still wanted a proper jazz box so I got the Epi.

When I unpacked it the first thing I did was take off the strings (flatwounds, and without even playing it) and put on a set of D'Addario Electric Guitar Strings, XL Nickel, which are my go to strings on all my guitars. I also put lemon oil on the fretboard. When I tuned it up I plugged it in my Fender 65 Deluxe reissue and dang if it didn't sound awful. Thin and gritty. Then I realized some of the oil had gotten on the strings, so after playing it an hour or two the thin, gritty sound was reduced but I was still left wondering why everyone raves about the tone on this guitar, and the Gibson pickups. I assumed I would need to learn what Treble/Bass combination was best for tone, and promptly set it aside and only played it ocassionally.

Later I decided to take it to my guitar guy for a good looking over, I'm not savvy about uneven frets and such and I always have my guy look over a new guitar. He made some minor adjustments and put a fresh set of the same strings on there. And once again I was underwhelmed by the tone and curious why everyone loved the sound but me.

Determined to get to the bottom of the tone disappointment I got a set of Thomastik-Infeld (44-10) put them on and holy freaking cow. It was like a different guitar. I get it. With the flatwounds this might be the nicest tone of any of my guitars. It is so rich and also forgiving, I can play hard and the strings don't "bottom out". And it really comes to life when I add some volume on the amp.

I can't express how much I love this guitar and I'm amazed at how a different a set of strings can make such a difference. I went from "meh" to "I'll never sell this guitar" in the time it took to restring it.

Anyhow, I have nothing of real value to put here, other than I am happy to be a member of the ES175 Premium club!

TI roundwounds work on a 175 as well, though you have to use a metal bridge as the TI rounds come with a plain third.

TI flats with a wooden bridge on a 175 works best IMO, regardless if you are using a Fender type amp or a Polytone type amp.

[lawson-stone]

I got one back when they were on sale ridiculously cheap. It was astonishingly good and I regret selling it every day. BTW are you sure you got the original pickups? Lots of folks were buying these during a steep discount period, replacing the Gibson Classic 57 pickups, and reselling the guitar.

[2bornot2bop]

Oh, the Epi!

[Spook410]

Glad you're liking your new (to you) guitar. Personally I can't get anything in a hollow body guitar to sound good with skinny strings. Seems like .012 is a minimum. Probably has something to do with how I play and what I'm expecting to hear. As for Thomastik-Infeld strings, I've not found anything better in flats or rounds. Too bad they have gotten so expensive in the US.

[2bornot2bop]

I bought this natural with Lollar pickups and a new wiring harness for $550. I guess the previous owner didn’t like it.

I don’t even play it because I’ve too many others that get all of the attention.

[nyc chaz]

I've been playing mine a lot lately and still get blown away how great it sounds for how little money i paid.I have it in wine red and it surprises me they didn't make more in that color.To the OP,i would try the Thomastik's in a thicker gauge and you might like the sound even more.

[Mr Christopher]

I got one back when they were on sale ridiculously cheap. It was astonishingly good and I regret selling it every day. BTW are you sure you got the original pickups? Lots of folks were buying these during a steep discount period, replacing the Gibson Classic 57 pickups, and reselling the guitar.

I had the seller pull the pickups and take a photo, to confirm they were the real deal. I also used a mirror to look at the backside of them when I got it, to double confirm they were the right ones.

[medblues]

I've been playing mine a lot lately and still get blown away how great it sounds for how little money i paid.I have it in wine red and it surprises me they didn't make more in that color.To the OP,i would try the Thomastik's in a thicker gauge and you might like the sound even more.

I have a wine red one too. I have compared it to three Gibson ES-175s that friends had and it was not inferior to the Gibsons at all.

[nyc chaz]

I have a wine red one too. I have compared it to three Gibson ES-175s that friends had and it was not inferior to the Gibsons at all.

I sold my Gibson 175 after i got the Epiphone,it sounded just as good and the thinner neck on the Epi was more comfortable to me.

[Gustavo Eiriz]

I had it for a while. It was lighter than a Gibson, great acoustic and electrified tone. It was a keeper, lovely. You just had to upgrade the tuners for an improved stability.

You could make the best music in the world with such a guitar, you dont need anything else really, only your talent.

Asia is making incredible guitars.

[lawson-stone]

I had the seller pull the pickups and take a photo, to confirm they were the real deal. I also used a mirror to look at the backside of them when I got it, to double confirm they were the right ones.

Smart move. I'm so glad you like it. I wish I'd not sold mine.

[Cunamara]

The brand name on the headstock is less important than the individual guitar, in terms of tone and feel and the music we can make. There are mediocre to lousy instruments from just about any brand, and also great to superb ones. And what might be a brilliant guitar for me might not be for you.