2000 Gibson ES-175

**Elamberth** · 05-20-2016, 08:33 PM

Well, after thinking about it for a while, a nice 2000 Gibson ES-175 arrived today.
Plays very, very well and even sounds pretty good acoustically. Kind of a surprise.

Needs some new strings and a pick guard, but I think it's a keeper.

2000 Gibson ES-175-img_2222-jpg

Sorry for the sideways pic, but the uploader seems to have turned it.

So now I guess I'll put my Peerless Gigmaster Jazz up for sale. Nice guitar, but can't keep both.

**Archie** · 05-20-2016, 09:10 PM

I had a 2006 that sounded fantastic! Very good acoustically. There are some real gems in that decade for sure.

**citizenk74** · 05-20-2016, 09:44 PM

Beautiful guitar! Has the tailpiece got some kind of etching or milling? Looks cool. Congratulations, and play it in good health!

**vinnyv1k** · 05-20-2016, 09:53 PM

Why is the bridge against the pickup ? Do a trussrod adjust and check the intonation. If the neck set is right and trussrod is properly adjusted the bridge should be,further back. Beautiful axe !

**Elamberth** · 05-20-2016, 09:53 PM

Thanks!

The tailpiece is just shiny & reflecting the texture on the carpet.

Still doing some polishing/ cleaning and changed strings tonight. Need to get some proper jazz strings on this. I like the TI Swings, but have never tried the TI GB's. I think I might spring for them. Anybody here use them on an ES-175?

**Elamberth** · 05-20-2016, 09:55 PM

Vinnyv1k,

Thanks! Intonation is pretty good & no dead spots. Needs a bit of an adjust, but not bad at all.

Hmm, not sure why the bridge is so close. Good question!

**999369** · 05-20-2016, 10:05 PM

My is 2004

Bridge is A little to close to me
2000 Gibson ES-175-image-jpg

**999369** · 05-20-2016, 10:21 PM

**Elamberth** · 05-20-2016, 10:34 PM

Thanks!

**Greentone** · 05-20-2016, 11:38 PM

Measure the distance from nut to twelfth fret. Should be 12.375". The distance from the twelfth fret to the bridge should be the same.

if you put TI Swing 12s or greater on, note that they have a wound third. Your third string saddle is currently set for an unwound third. It will need to come forward, almost to the limit of travel with a wound third.

**fritz jones** · 05-20-2016, 11:39 PM

the shadow of the pickup makes it look like the bridge is right up against it, but I bet there is space.

**Greentone** · 05-20-2016, 11:43 PM

The bridge looks correct relative to the f-holes.

**Jabberwocky** · 05-21-2016, 02:24 AM

Congrats. Nice jazzbox. The bridge looks about right to me. It is in the shadow of the pickup. It is a TOM bridge so you could slide back the base where it is not so close to the pickup and move the saddles for intonation. Guess the previous owner liked it closer to the pickup. With a TOM, I like to start with the treble side bridge screw post just a little south of the plane of the inside carêt of the treble side f-hole, set the bridge base horizontal and intonate the strings from there.

Get it intonated for your new T-I strings. The Gibson 24.75" scale length is not truly 24.75". It is more like 24.625" due to the Rule of 18 that Gibson used. Perhaps that is why 50s ES-175s sound the way they do. I don't know if Gibson used the more accurate 12th root of 2 later on.

The best way to find out is just to slide the bridge about and then adjusting the saddles for fine intonation.

P.S. Does anybody think that the TOM is upside down? I like the TOM with the screwheads, and the ramp of the saddle pieces pointing southwards. I know that the Les Paul planker-spankers like it with them pointing northwards. My hypothesis is that with the ramp pointing southwards, the speaking length of the strings is more cleanly defined. Easier to adjust for intonation with the screwheads pointing southwards too.

**Jabberwocky** · 05-21-2016, 02:57 AM

Originally Posted by 999369

My is 2004

...

You have TONE-SAPPING BLACK TAPE under the bridge, on the top on your 2004 ES-175. Gotta get over the neurosis of scratching the top, man. It is meant to get scuffed up by the bridge.

I know guys who don't remove that foam plastic sheet from under the bridge of their new Ibanezes. Gives it THUNK, they say.

After all the bridge talk, it is very tempting to brand me a TROLL. I have Rob Taft to thank for that.

**Herbie** · 05-21-2016, 03:33 AM

Originally Posted by Jabberwocky

P.S. Does anybody think that the TOM is upside down? I like the TOM with the screwheads, and the ramp of the saddle pieces pointing southwards. I know that the Les Paul planker-spankers like it with them pointing northwards. My hypothesis is that with the ramp pointing southwards, the speaking length of the strings is more cleanly defined. Easier to adjust for intonation with the screwheads pointing southwards too.

Interesting post, I did not know this about the scale. I have some study to do about the "rule of 18".

Should the screws of the bridge be to the pickups or to the tailpiece has historical background in the early Les Pauls. If the screws of the early ABR-1 bridges were turned to the tailpiece, the strings touched the screws on the way to the tailpiece and rattled.

After those days the neck angle has changed, the bridges has changed and nowadays people can lift the tailpiece higher so that the strings don't touch the backside of the bridge.

I don't think it affects the sound any how if the bridge is flipped in "southside" or "northside". As long as You don't flip it upside down!

Happy NGD, Elamberth! The ES175 is quite perfect jazz guitar in many ways. I played long time with TI GB .012's in my ES175 VOS and loved the sound. Now I tried TI Swing .013's and love the new 'stiffer' feeling. I think that they are easier to play than .012's! And they have MORE sound in them! But GB's are fantastic strings, worth trying.

**Groyniad** · 05-21-2016, 04:01 AM

'caret' - jabber

you keep introducing me to brand new words

thank you

**silverfoxx** · 05-21-2016, 04:22 AM

Originally Posted by Groyniad

'caret' - jabber

you keep introducing me to brand new words

thank you

I also acknowledge Jabber as a wordsmith, My new Guitar is 'Frabjous '

**GNAPPI** · 05-21-2016, 08:37 AM

Elamberth,

Conrats+1

You did not buy a guitar... you bought an icon, one that so many other gits unsuccessfully compare themselves to.

Gibson (and Fender for all the "F" lovers ) holds the enviable position of having some of the most copied instruments, the 175, 335, and the Les Paul.

**Elamberth** · 05-21-2016, 08:58 AM

Originally Posted by Greentone

Measure the distance from nut to twelfth fret. Should be 12.375". The distance from the twelfth fret to the bridge should be the same.

if you put TI Swing 12s or greater on, note that they have a wound third. Your third string saddle is currently set for an unwound third. It will need to come forward, almost to the limit of travel with a wound third.

Makes sense. I just had time before work to measure the distance from the nut to the 12th fret and compare it to the distance from the 12th fret to the bridge. They are the same. I can do a careful measurement later.

**999369** · 05-21-2016, 10:15 AM

That is masking tape , last time I do some work on guitar I put the tape there is easy for me put it Back to its original position for the bridge ,And I forget to remove

**Elamberth** · 05-21-2016, 01:43 PM

My jazz trio has a gig tomorrow at an upscale hotel/ conference center for an organizations yearly meeting/ fashion show. I think I'll bring the new guitar & give it a try!

**citizenk74** · 05-21-2016, 08:24 PM

Good luck with the gig. There's nothing like a new axe to inspire your swing!

**Max405** · 05-21-2016, 08:33 PM

Elamberth,
there is nothing that greets the eye better than the shape of a 175 and having it dressed in sunburst. Beautiful guitar.
Joe D

**Elamberth** · 05-21-2016, 09:35 PM

Thanks, guys!

I surprised the rest of the group when I brought the new 175 to rehearsal today.

They liked.

**Elamberth** · 05-21-2016, 10:11 PM

So, I was practicing tonight & noticed that the archtop has a bit of an "S" shape to it. Whoa! So, I did a quick search, and saw a thread about this on this forum. I think they chalked it up to variability in production. One person said they saw a bunch of newer ones like this. The thing is, the action & playability are excellent. The top seems very solid/ sturdy. I can still return it - should I be concerned?
Thanks!