Sadowsky Jim Hall vs. Gibson ES-175

[kambor]

I would never buy a new 175. Maybe a used one that was exceptional, but not anything else.

I've compared a cheap ibanez and a herb ellis model from other guitar player live, through the same amp and the same settings, and there wasn't 1,5k difference.

If you're after that electric archtop tone, I would recommend trying the ibanez pat metheny model, or the peerless guitars (those are amazing, and they still cost half what a gibson does, so you can basically buy the best electronics and tuners on earth).

My .02

[jazzfan13]

Also ... for whatever it may be worth, I want to offer two other points:
* A great player will sound like him/herself no matter which instrument they play.

That's terribly true, when you have find the guitar of your dream, make it setup fine... you're face with yourself and sometimes it's hard

or if your audience tells you your guitar sound (and not your playing) is terrible, that's another thing entirely, right?

yes again

[burchyk]

I had a 175 reissue and although i didnt own a JH i had tried it a lot times because i was in search of an upgrade and i was pretty close buying it but then.....i tried a Heritage 575 custom which ended to be my ''upgrade'' finally.Trust me....but more trust your hands and do yourself a favour just go and try a Heritage 575 and then try a 175 and you will see the light i believe.175 cant stand for a minute side by side with the Heritage (sorry to all gibson fans out there ).Im a Heritage fan but more than this im a guy who loves wellcrafted instruments.

Can not agree more!
I was on a guitar hunt recently, tried many, ended up with one pickup 575, that solid maple just spoke to me, the craftsmanship is at least as good as better Gibbo samples and the price is right for used ones. Still do not care about the 575 looks but it does sound great to me. The current 175 will sound substantially different though - darker, warmer and less lively. 575 can be made to sound closer to 175 by damping, with "plugs" or stuffing with disposable materials of your choice.

[Klatu]

Guitars are a lot like cars. Twenty five years ago, if you wanted a cheap economy car, you were looking at a real piece of crap Yugo or Geo Metro made in Yugoslavia. Nowadays, the cheapest cars on the market are solid machines that won't leave you stranded on the highway, and the slightly more upscale models can actually be fun cars.

Cheap student guitars were unplayable pieces of driftwood back in the day. Today's student guitars that come out of Korea or China are really fine instruments that can be played quite well on any bandstand without the fear that a pickup will fall off or that the neck will warp beyond recognition.

I haven't seen any Sadowsky Jim Hall's down here in Miami, but I have a Heritage 575 and would highly recommend it. What it lacks in flash it makes up in tone. It's a versatile instrument that thrives in a clean jazz setting but can hold it's own in an overdriven rock environment.