New Gibson ES-175 - Quality?

[jlc]

As we know the ES 175 is an iconic model. And when it first came out there were far lesser choices than there are today.

Most of us would love to own a good one, new or old, as long as it was more than an icon. It has to feel good, fit you, have the tone, playability etc.

Buying on the internet, which i have done, is a crap shoot. Most people today buy based on Looks, great top oh wow, blah blah blah.

Now Dave's guitar shop was mentioned, about 10 years ago i think he had a falling out with Gibson and was going to drop the line (that is a big deal), i purchased two guitars from him that year, excellent prices, and he has a great reputation and sets the guitars up the way you describe what you want. Dave is a collector of vintage and if you discuss your preferences with a model or objective he would be a good person to talk to, you don't have buy anything from him. But if you do, you will receive a quality instrument with a professional setup. I have no affiliation with him or his shop, and have never purchased anything since those to amazing buys, i'm done buying guitars, hmmmmmmmmmmm.

Now having said that, Is a 175 right for you? You have to play it or take a chance. I have several Gibson guitars, my oldest is a ES 345 that i bought new in '62 a great guitar. I played in a 16 piece orchestra, blues bars, jazz 3, 4, 5, 7 piece groups and the thin ES guitars cover the waterfront. A good ES 335 would be a reccomendation, my main guitar today is a John Scofield Ibanez that i bought when they first came out in 2000, or around there, dare i say as good as my 345, yes it is, and it is again and has been for the last 14 years my number 1.

In the early 80's i wanted a 175, played 4 of them at Washington Music Center, Chuck Levin's, and i made a few adjustments to each, something about each one didn't feel or the ones that felt right didn't sound right. I think an ES 175 was about 900 dollars back then. I didn't buy any of them.

I did leave with a big jazz box, a Guild EX 175, blond. It felt, sounded and played beautifully, and it still does. Big box guitars are prone to feedback so great an intimate setting, but is limited because of that, but a great fat tone.

Has all the normal controls, but also a master volume, get your settings right and just increase or decrease the volume, also spruce top and meticulous workmanship, came from the New England mfg, Rhode Island?? And it was 826 dollars.

The Gibsons i passed on are probably worth 4K today while the Guild is probably 2K. But that Guild is perfect for me and was and is a superior guitar to the Gibson's i played that day. Name, brand, older Gibson's are worth more even tho some really don't compare in playability, tone etc.

Bottom line, you can't just play an example unless your luthier has a few you can sample, if I were going to invest 4500 dollars i'd have to play the one i was buying.

Hard to do, but i think you can do better than the 175, if your luthier uses choice wood, will make you one for your exact fit, tweak it, adjust it etc. etc. I think you will be much better off as a working/player with that guitar, you want it to enhance your playing, forget about the name on the headstock. But don't be surprised if 10 years from now the Gibson is worth more than your custom made.

[KEOKI]

Great post jlc. Thanks for taking the time. I am sure it will benefit others as well.

[Bluedawg]

Hmmm

standard wooden bridge ..... baseball bat neck ..... these new 175 reissues sound better all the time ...

But I'm quite happy with my '86 175D so ...



In the end if the Gibson doesn't do it for you there's a lot of other great archtops choices out there

Happy hunting

[Al Br.]

Check out the Peerless line. Lot less cash and excellent quality.

[KEOKI]

Thanks Al. Beautiful guitars and I see there is a dealer on Florida's West coast. Definitely worth a phone call and a drive.

[artcore]

where is that dealer?....I'm on the east coast of Florida

[Al Br.]

Keoki,

The ones I looked at were all excellent. I was originally thinking about a Jazz City but prefered the softer tones of the carved wood tops versus laminates. would have liked the floating pick-up arrangement of the Monarch but decided on the Cremona. The Tea sunburst finish won out. Beautiful guitar to play and the notes just ring out. Excellent playability for my hand and just a stunning piece overall. A second one with the floater may be in my future.
Good luck

Al

[snoskier63]

where is that dealer?....I'm on the east coast of Florida

I believe the reference is for Jerry' Lefty Guitars in Sarasota, and they only sell left-handed guitars. Hey, if Paul McCartney can take a right-handed guitar and play it lefty shouldn't we all be able to do the opposite with a lefty? Of course if you are a lefty it's a mute point.

[Dennis D]

..I agree w/ all those who replied and said to try other 175's.
I'd also add that - MHO - a ' baseball bat ' neck complaint on a re-issue 175 could be mistaken. If you were talking about a vintage Nick Lucas L-4 , or certain pre-fifties Gibson archtops, then yes you could get a baseball bat neck.
And shaving a neck is a last - last - resort. Meaning look for another guitar w/a more playable neck.
But I think it's doubtful Gibson did a recent 175 re-issue and saw fit to give a '40's Louisville Slugger neck.

MHO and good luck w/ your search.

[Beanctr]

I love the neck on the 59' reissue, I think its perfect. Rick

[jads57]

I agree Gibson prices for their Historic line are a bit much! But in their favor at least it's possible to buy a mint reproduction of these as wel las other models from Gibson again. I love the big necks as well!

[GNAPPI]

I wrote in another thread:

"I played dozens of 175's (fortunately many side by side) before buying the 1995 I now have. IMO the range of sound from guitar to guitar is stunning, even those made in the same decade or same year. The 175 has (again IMO) the widest playability and sound envelope than any other Gibson I know of.

Maybe it's the finish, wood selection, wood thickness, pups, bridge... I don't know, but I did know when I got my hands on mine that it was made for me. Funny thing about it, someone (the Previous Owner) must have felt completely different about it... or they would still have it! :-) "

I have also played a bunch of Ibanez, and Heritage (to name a couple) and in my experience their sound and playability have been (to me) much more consistently uniform.

That said I would have no problem buying an Ibanez or Heritage over the net, but NO WAY would I buy a 175 this way unless I had a decent inspection period. The return shipping is a small price to pay for not having to live with a guitar I couldn't bond with.

But the variability in 175's I think is part of their charm and allure, making finding the one (like mine) a special treat!

[KEOKI]

Good information. Thanks Gary.

[Dennis D]

And while you're in the search mode, if you haven't already found one, find a luthier ! Not the string changer guy at the dealer, but a luthier. Then when you find that guitar that may be just a little off, he can make it right. Those things won't scare you so much, 'cause you'll already have a guy who can correct them.
I'd try to ask every pro you see on a gig things like : " Where do you take your guitars, or who does you set-ups, or repairs ? ".
I'm guessing wherever you are, if you ask enough professional guitarists these sorts of questions, the same couple names will start to get repeated.

MHO, and good luck !!

[JPMike]

All I know is that I got 59 ES-335 Rusty Anderson, which is made in Memphis and it's one of the nicest "new" made Gibsons I have played yet.

So, I guess it might just be a lemon.