Best Joe Pass Tone: his custom Gibson ES-175

**vinnyv1k** · 10-26-2015, 10:45 AM

JP is playing that same 175 on the DVD I sent you JD and it sounded fantastic though the house PA also at that gig.

**Max405** · 10-26-2015, 10:58 AM

Originally Posted by vinnyv1k

JP is playing that same 175 on the DVD I sent you JD and it sounded fantastic though the house PA also at that gig.

Good Point Vinny.
I have to watch the whole video. I only watched the beginning. I saw that video several months ago. I need to find the time to sit watch a video. Its easier for me to listen to the CD's you sent me (which were great, thanks bro) because I drive so much.

Gibson is crazy not to take advantage of doing a tribute Guitar for both Joe Pass, and Johnny Smith for that matter. Heck they just put out another Epi Joe Pass (you know the one with split coils) so they are paying attention. We need a Gibson Joe and Johnny reproduction. Exactly the way the masters wanted them.

Hopefully in my lifetime..

**Doctor Jeff** · 10-26-2015, 10:58 AM

I agree that is his best tone ever. Much as I love the Virtuoso stuff, I find that too often I have to listen past the tone to get at the music--Stella by Starlight and Round Midnight for instance. Here's That Rainy Day has that nice full "plugged in" sound.

However, I will say that the thin acoustic sound of many of the Virtuoso songs lets his technique show to better effect, if that's what you want to listen for.

That picture with JP and FZ above is priceless. Just a bunch of Italian guitar pickers, every one with a vowel at the end of his name. I bet the pasta that night was outstanding, as was the impromptu picking.

**vinlander** · 10-26-2015, 06:05 PM

Regarding Joe's tone, I am also partial to the 60s like Joy Spring, but I agree he sounds great on that 1992 concert too.
Regarding the guitar, Gibson could issue a thinner version of their ES 775 with a single pup and that would not be too far from what Joe was playing I guess.

**Archie** · 10-26-2015, 06:06 PM

Originally Posted by Dutchbopper

I agree with Jack. I like the sound on "Joy Spring", "For Django", "Intercontinental" and "Simplicity" way, way better than on the OP's track. His sound in the 60s was the best ever IMHO. But I have been saying that for decades.

DB

This threads getting a serious case of De Ja Vu lol

**Archie** · 10-26-2015, 06:10 PM

Originally Posted by vinlander

Regarding Joe's tone, I am also partial to the 60s like Joy Spring, but I agree he sounds great on that 1992 concert too.
Regarding the guitar, Gibson could issue a thinner version of their ES 775 with a single pup and that would not be too far from what Joe was playing I guess.

Actually the guitar closest to Joe's is the odd one they came out with last year, that had a fender headstock on a 175 body and came with a bigsby. Under all that muck is actually a thin line Es-175. I think they priced it at about $1899 new?

I forget the model number and seems the Gibson website has forgotten it too.

Just like the 2015 line up lol.