Is peerless the closest we have to a Gibson ES-175 clone?

**lawson-stone** · 08-12-2016, 05:51 PM

Originally Posted by agentsmith

I'm going to disagree with you on several counts. The greco and ibanez 175 copies are mediocre with their spliced together neck heels and such. Definitely a step or two down the rung. Bradley is junk. They were authorized for Veneman music in the DC area (i'm in herndon VA) and were crap guitars. The epiphone copies weren't even copies until recently. They had maple necks until the premium series.

The heritage 575 is a solid top and has no thunk and sounds nothing like a 175. And the early '70s gibsons were already copies with their 3pc necks. The late '80s 175s as in one of the videos I posted sounds very good but I agree it's not as resonant as the early '70s which were not as resonant as even a late '60s 175 which wasn't as resonant as a '50s 175, some of which had solid tops.

Actually you might be making a mistake here about the Greco at least. If it's a 1970's Matsumoku Japan made copy, it's likely not got heel-spliced or scarf-jointed necks. Those guitars are quite well made, especially compared to the Gibsons of the same era.

**mr. beaumont** · 08-12-2016, 05:52 PM

I think you're answering your own question here. Save up and wait.

**agentsmith** · 08-12-2016, 06:14 PM

Originally Posted by lawson-stone

Actually you might be making a mistake here about the Greco at least. If it's a 1970's Matsumoku Japan made copy, it's likely not got heel-spliced or scarf-jointed necks. Those guitars are quite well made, especially compared to the Gibsons of the same era.

all the grecos have spliced neck heels.

Vintage Aria ES175 2312 Matsumoku 70s Made in Japan Aria Pro Super RARE | eBay

**agentsmith** · 08-12-2016, 06:14 PM

Originally Posted by mr. beaumont

I think you're answering your own question here. Save up and wait.

you might have missed it. I already have a real, vintage 175. Looking for a cheaper guitar in the $1k range to use for air travel.

**mr. beaumont** · 08-12-2016, 06:22 PM

Missed it or not, you're proving what you want doesn't exist.

gotta have a bridge pickup? I've seen 165's for $1500.

**lawson-stone** · 08-12-2016, 06:28 PM

Originally Posted by agentsmith

all the grecos have spliced neck heels.

Vintage Aria ES175 2312 Matsumoku 70s Made in Japan Aria Pro Super RARE | eBay

You're right--I stand corrected. They do not, however, have a scarf joint. That's what threw me. I tend to put heel splices and scarf joints together. This one has the heel splice but not the scarf joint.

My PE180 has neither.

**GNAPPI** · 08-12-2016, 06:34 PM

Aaakkkk.... Not ANOTHER "is this git the closest to xxx model git?"

There are many, MANY wonderful instruments, each with their own character, if the 175, 335, L5 blah blah blah is that important save the money and get one?

I said on another thread if I couldn't have my 175 I could live with my Epi Joe Pass... is it as good? Hell no but I wouldn't be lusting after something I couldn't have.

**Longways to Go** · 08-12-2016, 06:35 PM

From what I've read here the Epi Premium 175 fits your criterion perfectly.
Other than the fact that you don't like it.

I like mine a lot-- it won me over from note one, but obviously it's not the same as a Gibson.

But none of the other stuff under consideration is on par with the real deal either.

**lawson-stone** · 08-12-2016, 06:40 PM

If you could get a Gibson level ES175 for under $1000 from a non-Gibson maker, that's what most people would be playing.

For under $1000 I don't know how you can expect to avoid heel splicing and scarf jointed necks--My Peerless Monarch is a beauty, but has both splices but still plays and sounds great. If that is the only thing in your way, I think you need to yield on that point. Anything that would damage a spliced/jointed neck would damage any neck.

But you're free of course to keep looking.

**agentsmith** · 08-12-2016, 06:44 PM

Originally Posted by mr. beaumont

Missed it or not, you're proving what you want doesn't exist.

gotta have a bridge pickup? I've seen 165's for $1500.

no I'm not. The peerless sunset is under $1k. I'd like to hear some more good clips though. I'm not aware of a peerless dealer in the DC area.

**lawson-stone** · 08-12-2016, 06:44 PM

For what it's worth, the Cremona has a scarf-jointed neck as well.

**agentsmith** · 08-12-2016, 06:45 PM

Originally Posted by lawson-stone

For what it's worth, the Cremona has a scarf-jointed neck as well.

yes, I know but the sound clips I've heard are very good and thunky.

**Top of the Arch!** · 08-12-2016, 06:58 PM

An Archtop Tribute At 101 from Walkin in Japan will probably do exactly what you want for slightly more than $1000 shipped. http://www.walkin.co.jp/guitars/290001t640.jpg Masiki is a super cat to deal with. Bob Never mind, I forgot you wanted a sound clip.

**Top of the Arch!** · 08-12-2016, 07:05 PM

Heres the 102 model, I believe the only diff is neck binding and inlays. Bob

**agentsmith** · 08-12-2016, 07:05 PM

Originally Posted by Top of the Arch!

An Archtop Tribute At 101 from Walkin in Japan will probably do exactly what you want for slightly more than $1000 shipped. http://www.walkin.co.jp/guitars/290001t640.jpg Masiki is a super cat to deal with. Bob Never mind, I forgot you wanted a sound clip.

link doesn't work.

**vinlander** · 08-12-2016, 07:06 PM

Why settle for a 1 K emulation when you already got the real deal with a 1989 Gibson...lets be honest we are not even in vintage territory, no problem touring with that!!
Even more when you got a real 63 laminated Gibson at its best

...
I have a 96 that is not as good resonating as a '60s real deal because they are built much heavier that I can hear... but can live with it because it still has that nice upper mid thunk going no damn cheap import can dream about.

**agentsmith** · 08-12-2016, 07:06 PM

Originally Posted by Top of the Arch!

Heres the 102 model, I believe the only diff is neck binding and inlays. Bob

wow, that sounds amazing. Possibly the best 175 copy I've heard. Do you have a link to where I could purchase?

**agentsmith** · 08-12-2016, 07:07 PM

Originally Posted by vinlander

Why settle for a 1 K emulation when you already got the real deal with a 1989 Gibson...lets be honest we are not even in vintage territory, no problem touring with that!!
Even more when you got a real 63 laminated Gibson at its best

...
I have a 96 that is not as good resonating as a '60s real deal because they are built much heavier that I can hear... but can live with it because it still has that nice upper mid thunk going no damn cheap import can dream about.

Because an '89 175 will run you between $2300-$2500. I don't want to put one of those on an airline.

**agentsmith** · 08-12-2016, 07:12 PM

Originally Posted by Top of the Arch!

An Archtop Tribute At 101 from Walkin in Japan will probably do exactly what you want for slightly more than $1000 shipped. http://www.walkin.co.jp/guitars/290001t640.jpg Masiki is a super cat to deal with. Bob Never mind, I forgot you wanted a sound clip.

p.s.

from what I can see the tribute 175s are going for 230,000 yen which is $2200+

**lawson-stone** · 08-12-2016, 07:15 PM

Those Archtop Tribute guitars look really splendid! I couldn't tell if they had an L5ces model. But clearly Japanese guitar making continues to be excellent.

**Top of the Arch!** · 08-12-2016, 07:15 PM

Originally Posted by agentsmith

wow, that sounds amazing. Possibly the best 175 copy I've heard. Do you have a link to where I could purchase?

Check your PMs. Bob

**Top of the Arch!** · 08-12-2016, 07:18 PM

The 102 model is just under $1000 the others 175s are roughly $1500. The Ones for the big $ have solid tops ,ebony boards and CC pickups. They have tons of different models to choose from, everything from 125, 175 and 350s in various body depths. As I said, Masai is a real nice cat to do business with although it may take a few days to get a reply. Bob

**agentsmith** · 08-12-2016, 07:24 PM

thanks much Bob. I emailed him about one of his 101s. Looks like the 101s are about $1k and the 102s are close to $1500 ?

**Top of the Arch!** · 08-12-2016, 07:27 PM

Yes, you are correct, I may have made a mistake with the model #s. If I can ever move my long scale Byrdland, Ill be getting that 50s burst single p90 350 he has. Bob

**Greentone** · 08-12-2016, 07:47 PM

I won't dispute your assessment of the copies.

Good grief! The thunk that Joe Pass gets on Joy Spring is sensational. Despite the photo Pass is playing his ES-175D that was given to him by a fan when he got out of Synanon.

And, Tal Farlow! Well...he's Tal Farlow. He played "thunky" guitar.

My 60s 175 was six pounds and was super sounding. Herb Ellis' 175 was noticeably lighter--maybe 5 1/2 pounds. It was phenomenal playing and sounding. He'd had several refrets, so his fretboard was flatter than mine. He'd replaced his P90 with a humbucker by that point. Grovers instead of Klusons, too. The guitar was the best 175 I have ever held or played. And, of course, it had played all of those Oscar Peterson and Jazz At The Philharmonic gigs...and the studio gigs on the west coast. Man. Thunk? Yes, it did.