Gibson ES-275 MB

[QAman]

The mahogany neck is AWESOME. A nice full C. That was a PLEASANT surprise. I was worried about the neck being too thin because they say it is a LP neck. And I have no problem at all with the Richlite - if I don't look, I can't even tell the difference.

I've been telling everyone the same thing about Richlite. It's 80-85% wood fiber with a resin carrier and almost indistinguishable from ebony. Most of the negative chatter is just that - uniformed conjecture.

Glad you feel the same way. This is one awesome guitar - do enjoy it.

[vinnyv1k]

I think a pinned bridge is a good idea as long as it is pinned in the correct spot. Especially if playing rhythm like
Freddie Green.

Woody why not just die the rosewood base black and put a ebony saddle on it. Their may be less string tension on the top due to the smaller design and Gibson pinned the bridge for a reason ? It is the smallest Archtop Gibson has ever made.
The Lee Rit model has a 15 inch body but a long scale neck.

Woody if you are dead set on a ebony base I would think about pinning it also unless you have a very light touch or you are a finger style guy. When a bridge moves it always gouges the top. Just my .02

[Hammertone]

... This is an amazing new kind of guitar, and the neck joint has more in common with a LP or 335 than an archtop. ...

Glad you like it. I like these guitars too, but this design has been around for awhile. Gibson introduced it on the thinline, double-cutaway, hollow, laminated, archtop, trapeze-tailpiece ES-330 in 1959. Other makers have offered 16th fret-joint, single-cutaway, hollow, laminated, archtop, trapeze-tailpiece guitars since 1989. Gibson subsequently introduced the ES-135 in 1991 - a 16th fret-joint, single-cutaway, laminated, archtop, trapeze-tailpiece guitar. Almost hollow - that guitar had a balsa-wood block. FWIW, balsa essentially has more in common with air than it does with any other type of wood.

...It is the smallest Archtop Gibson has ever made….

Not counting the guitars like the 3/4 short-scale ES-140/ES-140T (@12 3/4" wide), I believe the Gibson ES-446, introduced in @2000 is smaller - @13 3/4" wide, 16th fret-joint, thinline, single-cutaway, hollow, carved spruce top archtop, trapeze-tailpiece guitar.

[Bluedawg]

I messed with a 275 recently at the Gibson factory store in Memphis.

These are cool little guitars ..... a little bigger than my ES-446 ... which I hope to keep for the duration

Maybe I can bring home a 275 some day

[silverfoxx]

The mahogany neck is AWESOME. A nice full C. That was a PLEASANT surprise. I was worried about the neck being too thin because they say it is a LP neck. And I have no problem at all with the Richlite - if I don't look, I can't even tell the difference.

I confess that I was a doubter about Richlite. It is indistinguishable from Ebony, i thought I could feel a difference
but was wrong , as mentioned in an earlier post I was so pleased with mine ( Montreaux Burst ) that I acquired
it's brother , the , Natural Dark burst. They are very addictive ,so easy to play. I use them very frequently
even deferring from a Byrdland. The pinned bridge is not a problem, some of our friends here have suggested
alternatives should you wish to change. Hope that you're happy with the Es275 , it's a revelation.

[Herbie]

These are made for Japan and seem to be a rarity even in US. So I was astonished to see one in a guitar store here in Finland! Played it a bit thru Princeton. Sounded wonderful even with roundwounds! Felt like home and looked like a classic!

Now I am restless. What about my ES175 VOS which I like a lot? Would the ES275 do the job of that classic work horse?

Hmm... my ES175 does not have a pinned base... Could this be the reason to decide on...?

[Bluedawg]

These are made for Japan and seem to be a rarity even in US. So I was astonished to see one in a guitar store here in Finland! Played it a bit thru Princeton. Sounded wonderful even with roundwounds! Felt like home and looked like a classic!

Now I am restless. What about my ES175 VOS which I like a lot? Would the ES275 do the job of that classic work horse?

Hmm... my ES175 does not have a pinned base... Could this be the reason to decide on...?

Interesting thing about the Japan angle

During my Memphis factory tour the guide stated that Gibson was working to fil an order for 1600 guitars for Japan ... and by the way she talked that order had recently been doubled ....

[Herbie]

Interesting thing about the Japan angle

During my Memphis factory tour the guide stated that Gibson was working to fil an order for 1600 guitars for Japan ... and by the way she talked that order had recently been doubled ....

When Gibson published ES275 I understood that it would be a limited edition model, but this sounds like not-so-limited any more!

[oldane]

When Gibson published ES275 I understood that it would be a limited edition model, but this sounds like not-so-limited any more!

I don't know what Gibson had in mind, but if a guitar sells well, it makes sense to produce more of them if the factory capacity is there.

[Bluedawg]

When Gibson published ES275 I understood that it would be a limited edition model, but this sounds like not-so-limited any more!

I'm sure the order covered more than just 275s .... they were busy making all kinds of ES guitars there


I'm hoping the 275 has staying power in Gibson's line up

If so ... get one now before they jack up the price to crazy levels