Gibson ES-5 Switchmaster?

[Hammertone]

More is more.
The ES-5 is a superb electric archtop, with tones unavailable from any other guitar.
As a top-of-the-line guitar, it got humbuckers when they became available, and got lots of extra knobs and switches as well, which makes perfect sense, because…more is more.

...You have me wondering what Gibson was aiming at when they made it. ...

The Switchmaster started as the electric version of the L-5 and was launched as the ES-5. I don't know the reasoning for the 3 pups, probably because Gibson couldn't fit four. It may have been something like, "You want electric, we got electric."
The laminated and heavily hardwared top decreased feedback. Nonetheless, it's never been a big seller.

Their goal was to sell guitars. The model's sales history indicates that their goal was successfully achieved. They sold plenty of them. And they used the three-pickup format on other top-of-the-line guitars for years, on the Les Paul Custom, SG Custom, and Firebird VII.

[nopedals]

Guild X-350 Stratford (1962) - Hollow Body Electric Guitars - Electric Guitars - Instruments

No affiliation.

Guild's version, for a lot less dough than a vintage (or new) switchmaster. Priced at $525 in 1962, these were high end laminates. The pushbuttons make sense when you have three pups.

[Greentone]

The two ES-5 guitars (one Switchmaster, one not) that I have played were exceptional guitars. Would I have preferred them as single-pickup ES-350 guitars? Sure, but I did appreciate them for what they were. I wasn't interested in buying them, however.

The coolest Gibson guitar from the 50s I EVER saw belonged to John Sprung. At his old Wheaton, MD, store he had a mint, 3-PAF pickup late-50s ES-295...but in ES-175 trim. It featured a tune-o-matic bridge and a 175-type tailpiece. It was a gold top guitar. IIRC, it had a gold side/back/neck, too. The guitar played and sounded fantastic.

Unfortunately, it had a price, even 25 years ago, that was a mind blower. At $13K, then, it was way out of my league. It was, however, a one of a kind Gibson. Lotsa PAFs.

[AlsoRan]

More is more.
The ES-5 is a superb electric archtop, with tones unavailable from any other guitar.
As a top-of-the-line guitar, it got humbuckers when they became available, and got lots of extra knobs and switches as well, which makes perfect sense, because…more is more.





Their goal was to sell guitars. The model's sales history indicates that their goal was successfully achieved. They sold plenty of them. And they used the three-pickup format on other top-of-the-line guitars for years, on the Les Paul Custom, SG Custom, and Firebird VII.

Why in the world don't I see more of them for sale? Maybe the owners are holding onto theirs?

[Danny W.]

This was a really nice guitar, but I never found a good use for it:



Another guitar mentioned in this thread, an ES-357 ("ES-Mitch") in a more rare form based on an ES-355 instead of the ES-345. Likely a one-off:



(I've seen this guitar for sale several times since I sold it).

Danny W.

[gggomez]

Not jazz but this Aussie kid sure makes the Switchmaster sound sweet (if you like Chet Atkins you will enjoy this)

He won Australia's got Talent in 2008. I think he is currently touring USA with Robben Ford

[HeyNow]

What's wrong? Personally, I wouldn't pay more than $4k for a laminate guitar (other than a vintage semi-hollow).

[Doctor Jeff]

Who am I to criticize Steve Howe, a guitar master and one of the most successful guitarists career-wise in history? Plus a definite technological whiz.

However...I am still kind of mystified by his choice of guitars. His tone is awesome, but highly processed, and I wonder if he wouldn't have been better served by a Les Paul with some electronic mods ala Jimmy Page or maybe stick with the 335-style? A fully hollow archtop is not something one typically sees with prog rock.

Anyway, that's neither here nor there. He knew what he was doing. He was my favorite guitarist in the 70's and one of the main reasons (Pat Metheny being the other) persuading me to get a 175 in 1980.

These Switchmasters are beautiful with the figured veneers. Can't argue about that.

[wintermoon]

agreed, I'd have to say Howe was my first guitar influence and I bought an ES-175 as a result.
The jazzy lines he played attracted me and I soon moved onto jazz.

[Michael4yah]

Check it out , middle p/u can be made to sound like a Strat !