Epiphone ES-175 Premium Natural from Guitar Center

**2bornot2bop** · 12-01-2016, 03:44 PM

Nice guitar. But do you kind of wish they made it the depth of the '175? I wonder how it would sound if they did?

Good move Lawson! Congrats!

**pants** · 12-01-2016, 06:00 PM

Im kind of curious about the matte finish on these and how it will fare with time. I have a budget gretsch g100ce with what I suspect is the same basic matte finish. The feel and sound I love but it's definitely not going to win awards for being pretty/artfully constructed. What I have noticed is that the back of the neck has taken on a definite increase in "polish" with being played. Makes me wonder if the rest of the typical wear areas aren't destined for unusual glossy patches with prolonged use. We'll see.

**Longways to Go** · 12-01-2016, 07:51 PM

Originally Posted by pants

Im kind of curious about the matte finish on these and how it will fare with time. I have a budget gretsch g100ce with what I suspect is the same basic matte finish. The feel and sound I love but it's definitely not going to win awards for being pretty/artfully constructed. What I have noticed is that the back of the neck has taken on a definite position increase in "polish" with being played. Makes me wonder if the rest of the typical wear areas aren't destined for unusual glossy patches with prolonged use. We'll see

It's funny, but that's exactly why I think they will look better over time.
I'm looking forward to the bits of random gloss coming on

**lawson-stone** · 12-01-2016, 07:52 PM

Originally Posted by 2bornot2bop

Nice guitar. But do you kind of wish they made it the depth of the '175? I wonder how it would sound if they did?

Good move Lawson! Congrats!

The thickness is less than 0.1" so honestly I doubt that has any impact at all. I can't imagine that difference alone matters. You'd also want to measure the thickness of the top/back/sides and calculate the volume, ask if the curvature was exactly the same, etc. All these elements function together, so I doubt the <1/10th of an inch is critical.

More important I would think is the composition of the laminate. Weren't the classic ES175s a maple/poplar/maple laminate? I think the Epi's are all maple (don't know for sure).

I'd think the composition of the laminate would be far more important than a tiny difference in depth that only you and I would spot and think about ;-)

**2bornot2bop** · 12-01-2016, 08:40 PM

Originally Posted by lawson-stone

The thickness is less than 0.1" so honestly I doubt that has any impact at all. I can't imagine that difference alone matters. You'd also want to measure the thickness of the top/back/sides and calculate the volume, ask if the curvature was exactly the same, etc. All these elements function together, so I doubt the <1/10th of an inch is critical.

More important I would think is the composition of the laminate. Weren't the classic ES175s a maple/poplar/maple laminate? I think the Epi's are all maple (don't know for sure).

I'd think the composition of the laminate would be far more important than a tiny difference in depth that only you and I would spot and think about ;-)

you're absolutely right. I thought the Epi was much thinner.

**lawson-stone** · 12-01-2016, 09:03 PM

Originally Posted by 2bornot2bop

you're absolutely right. I thought the Epi was much thinner.

So did I. When I pulled it out of the box, I kind of did a double-take. I had thought it was a 3" depth, but it's just a tenth thinner than the Gibson. I think they've tried to copy the ES175 pretty closely but still retained its Epiphone identity: the slim taper neck is a nice Epiphone feature. I've loved every Epiphone neck I've played.

I also think they made a good decision to fit this budget guitar with world-class pickups. Epiphone pickups on the MiK guitars were generally disliked, but these Classic 57s really do the job on this guitar.

**icr** · 12-01-2016, 11:11 PM

Not sure what your plans are for your Epi, but I have made purchase like you have done in the interest of a project. For example I'll take all this stuff out...
Epiphone ES-175 Premium Natural from Guitar Center-file-1062-jpg

Epiphone ES-175 Premium Natural from Guitar Center-file-1062-jpg

**icr** · 12-01-2016, 11:12 PM

...and replace it with stuff like this...
Epiphone ES-175 Premium Natural from Guitar Center-file-1493-jpg

Epiphone ES-175 Premium Natural from Guitar Center-file-1166-jpg

**GNAPPI** · 12-01-2016, 11:17 PM

Originally Posted by Thumpalumpacus

"it's therefore "stretchier" if you'll pardon the invented word.

They invented that word for queen size pantyhose, that and the stuff the NFL players use :-)

**lawson-stone** · 12-02-2016, 12:06 AM

Why replace a Gibson Classic 57 pickup with a StewMac Golden Age? I have that and don't think it's at all the better pickup.

**Thumpalumpacus** · 12-02-2016, 12:09 AM

Originally Posted by sgosnell

The finish is nitro on Epi 175s, not poly. They save money by calling it vintage, and not taking the time to polish it.

I stand corrected on the Premiums, and thanks for teaching me something.

That said, the pattern on those cracks still spells impact and not weathering, to my eyes.

**lawson-stone** · 12-02-2016, 12:10 AM

Originally Posted by lawson-stone

Why replace a Gibson Classic 57 pickup with a StewMac Golden Age? I have that and don't think it's at all the better pickup.

Oh wait that's the Sebring project you did, right?

Likely the Epi would make a fun project, but honestly, I don't see much I'd want to change about it. Out of the box it's a really nice guitar.

**392Hemi** · 12-02-2016, 03:05 AM

I have enough guitars and i am digging my new ES175, if they do a 440 sale on a Wine color I'll be on it. I may actually spend more for it I like it enough to say that. Another tasty guitar from Epiphone. I said to my wife this morning "I am done buying guitars", she's still laughing.

**BigDaddyLoveHandles** · 12-02-2016, 11:06 AM

Originally Posted by 392Hemi

I have enough guitars and i am digging my new ES175, if they do a 440 sale on a Wine color I'll be on it. I may actually spend more for it I like it enough to say that. Another tasty guitar from Epiphone. I said to my wife this morning "I am done buying guitars", she's still laughing.

**pingu** · 12-02-2016, 11:51 AM

epi 175 premium are about £700 in the UK !

You guys got bargains !

those PUs cost approx £100 each in UK alone

**sgosnell** · 12-02-2016, 11:59 AM

Prices tend to be whatever the market will bear. It appears to bear a lot in the UK.

**icr** · 12-02-2016, 05:12 PM

Originally Posted by lawson-stone

Why replace a Gibson Classic 57 pickup with a StewMac Golden Age? I have that and don't think it's at all the better pickup.

Well, yes, if you have good electronics then certainly not. And, in fact it may well be the case that modern Epiphone quality trumps 90s Korea. Do you know what kind of pots are in that?

**lawson-stone** · 12-02-2016, 05:32 PM

Originally Posted by icr

Well, yes, if you have good electronics then certainly not. And, in fact it may well be the case that modern Epiphone quality trumps 90s Korea. Do you know what kind of pots are in that?

I don't know about the pots and switch. Looking inside, I do notice that part of the wiring harness is connected with a quick-connect thing of some kind, not just all-soldered. It might be easier to modify this set up than some others. At some point I will probably open 'er up and have a look, maybe when I decide to buff the top a bit to get a nice sheen the way I have the back.