Epiphone ES-175 Premium

**mitch_33** · 05-13-2013, 09:42 AM

If you dont mind me asking, where did you get the ebony bridge? Looking to pick one up for my guitar as well.

**Pukka-J** · 05-13-2013, 09:57 AM

I got it at a local shop, but I guess you can get them at allparts or warmoth etc. too. I wasn't specifically looking for ebony by the way, rosewood would have been fine too.

Important is making sure it sits fluch against the body. In order to do that I put some sanding paper on the body (sandy side up

) on the exact place the bridge would go (I didn't bother taping it this time, though I guess I would have if this were my expensive Gibson). Then place the bridge on the sanding paper and make small movements lenghtwise, making sure not to leave the paper. It takes a while and your right hand will be to cramped for playing for a hour afterwards, but it works

You may also have to file small dents for the strings. I had that done for me as I have no small files.

**SamBooka** · 05-13-2013, 11:10 AM

Originally Posted by Pukka-J

I got it at a local shop, but I guess you can get them at allparts or warmoth etc. too. I wasn't specifically looking for ebony by the way, rosewood would have been fine too.

Important is making sure it sits fluch against the body. In order to do that I put some sanding paper on the body (sandy side up

) on the exact place the bridge would go (I didn't bother taping it this time, though I guess I would have if this were my expensive Gibson). Then place the bridge on the sanding paper and make small movements lenghtwise, making sure not to leave the paper. It takes a while and your right hand will be to cramped for playing for a hour afterwards, but it works

You may also have to file small dents for the strings. I had that done for me as I have no small files.

If you dont have the files there are other ways of doing it.. they dont have to be very deep grooves.. just enough to catch the string. If you play super aggressively and bend alot you might need one or two strings a tad deeper but on the jazz forums just a bit is enough. Gibson used to use a hammer on their solid bodies.. dont recommend it on an archtop giving a solid whack but ....

**edh** · 05-13-2013, 03:50 PM

These don't look like the saddles are radiused.

**Pukka-J** · 05-13-2013, 04:15 PM

Mine you mean? Mine are/is radiused. Or you mean the ones in the link? That's quite possible, I didn't really check for that. I already have one, you see

But you raise a valid point: it is something to take into account!

**djelley** · 08-01-2014, 03:27 PM

That does look nice, but I'd have a hard time paying that when I can get an Eastman AR371 for about the same amount.

I wonder how easy it would be to get rid of the pickguard and replace it with one that doesn't have the big "E" on it.

**Rondonopolis** · 08-01-2014, 05:39 PM

The Epi plays well and sounds good. (I've had a couple Epi's and the 'E' just fell off, leaving a clean pickguard.)

For a little more dough, check out the Eastman ar503ce - with carved spruce top. At $999, street, a sweet deal.

**newsense** · 08-02-2014, 03:50 AM

Originally Posted by djelley

That does look nice, but I'd have a hard time paying that when I can get an Eastman AR371 for about the same amount.

I'd love to see a good comparative review of the 371 or 372 and the Epi.

In the UK, the relatively rare blonde 371s are £200 more than blonde Epi 175, on top of which many owners seem to upgrade the stock Eastman pickups to something like a Gibson 57. So the Epi begins to look like a good deal, especially if you're into blondes. The choice might hinge on the benefits of the renowned liveliness of the thin Eastman laminate.

The 371s I have tried have always seemed a little untidy for one reason or another and I have never managed to get a great sound out of one in a shop - but that may be due to the stock strings and the shop amps. Nevertheless, a 371 is still on my list of "possibles" for my next purchase. I will have to track down an Epi 175 to decide whether it is also on the list.

**SamBooka** · 08-02-2014, 09:50 AM

If the E is like ever other one I have seen.. I little WD40 will help you peel it off.

**soulbody** · 08-02-2014, 12:27 PM

..and mahogany neck,not like the older maple ..looks good in black or wine red

**Doctor Jeff** · 08-02-2014, 01:33 PM

I likey!

I especially like the black - VERY classy look. I have to say I love blondes, but I'm not a fan of the wood grain on the top. I much prefer spruce. The wood on my blonde Epi JP was striking - tight stripes on the spruce top, highly figured maple on the back and sides. In fact, if I wanted a blonde Epiphone, I might go for the JP over the 175.

2 questions I have are where made? Korea or China? And are the pickups true MIA Gibsons or are they made overseas to Gibson specs? In fact, I wonder if they're exactly the same pickups as the "Epiphone Classic 57's" I have in my Peerless?

Anyway, nice guitars at a decent price. If I were in the market for another laminate jazzbox, I would certainly consider this. Interestingly it's almost exactly what paid for a Gibson ES-175 in 1982...

**miken** · 08-02-2014, 01:45 PM

I had an Epiphone ES 175 and thought that it was just ok. Then I got an Eastman AR371 and it was hands down better. And, I am a fan of Epiphone's. I have 3 other Epi's and will probably get more in the future. But, for the price, the Eastman is a much better value. In my opinion, of course. I am comparing it to the ES 175 from a few years ago. I'm not sure that the Gibson pick ups really make that much of a difference.

**newsense** · 08-02-2014, 02:00 PM

Originally Posted by miken

I had an Epiphone ES 175 and thought that it was just ok. Then I got an Eastman AR371 and it was hands down better. And, I am a fan of Epiphone's. I have 3 other Epi's and will probably get more in the future. But, for the price, the Eastman is a much better value. In my opinion, of course. I am comparing it to the ES 175 from a few years ago. I'm not sure that the Gibson pick ups really make that much of a difference.

miken - Can you say what it is about the Eastman that makes you like it more than the Epi ? Thanks.

**miken** · 08-02-2014, 03:04 PM

Originally Posted by newsense

miken - Can you say what it is about the Eastman that makes you like it more than the Epi ? Thanks.

The Eastman has a much better fit and finish. By that, I mean that it feels like a much higher quality instrument. I wanted to love the Epi, but it just felt cheap. It was quite dead acoustically. I will say that it sounded very nice plugged in. to me it had the "jazz tone" to my ear anyways.
The Eastman has a great acoustic sound (Not that this would be my first choice for an acoustic arch top sound). The stock pick up is so-so. I put in a Seymour Duncan Classic 59. It doesn't have that "jazz tone" that I was talking about with the Epi, but it sounds super nice plugged in. A bit more acoustic kind of tone. I love it.
Another thing that I have come to really like about the Eastman is the wider string spacing. It's different at first, now I would seek it out on my next guitar.
These are not huge issues. My point is that for the same price, the Eastman is a much nicer guitar. If the Eastman was $1300 and the Epi was $600, then the Epi is looking more attractive. Just my opinion.

**vinlander** · 08-02-2014, 04:25 PM

Originally Posted by miken

The Eastman has a much better fit and finish. By that, I mean that it feels like a much higher quality instrument. I wanted to love the Epi, but it just felt cheap. It was quite dead acoustically. I will say that it sounded very nice plugged in. to me it had the "jazz tone" to my ear anyways.
The Eastman has a great acoustic sound (Not that this would be my first choice for an acoustic arch top sound). The stock pick up is so-so. I put in a Seymour Duncan Classic 59. It doesn't have that "jazz tone" that I was talking about with the Epi, but it sounds super nice plugged in. A bit more acoustic kind of tone. I love it.
Another thing that I have come to really like about the Eastman is the wider string spacing. It's different at first, now I would seek it out on my next guitar.
These are not huge issues. My point is that for the same price, the Eastman is a much nicer guitar. If the Eastman was $1300 and the Epi was $600, then the Epi is looking more attractive. Just my opinion.

Interesting the Epi has "that Jazz tone" despite feeling cheap and dead acoustically, while the Eastman has not while being superior acoustically. I guess it has something to do with a thinner top and the lack of boat varnish...
In any case I would really like to play both side by side plugged in if I was in the market for another 24.75 175 style.
I would in both case change the TP for the classic trapeze one

**Ronstuff** · 08-02-2014, 06:32 PM

I like the specs on this new Epiphone: Mahogany neck, thinner finish, Gibson pickups, made in Korea. It seems like it could be a winner for an inexpensive 175 type of guitar. I've found the Eastman 371 to not have that Gibson type of tone happening, it's great but something else. Can't wait to try the Epiphone in store...

**Beanctr** · 08-20-2014, 09:45 AM

I'm the OP and pulled the trigger on this model in a natural finish. So far it seems pretty nice. Pinned bridge intonation looks good, satin lacquer finish, yellowed bindings. Slim neck, plays nice.

Differences to my ES-165, larger "F" holes, bridge pickup about 3/8" closer to the fingerboard, short pick guard has a flat mounting bracket as opposed to the round glued, old style tuners with press in bushings and the truss rod cover is 3 screw instead of 2.

A little expensive but MF will give you a 15% coupon if you call. Then again the 57' Gibson pickups are a $300 item.

They also have a wine red finish which may be interesting.

rick

**newsense** · 08-20-2014, 03:18 PM

I can see why Gibson/Epiphone have done this. At £700 in the UK, it goes head to head with the upper end of the Ibanez Artcore/Artstar range, including the PM2. I think they are trying to win back some market share in this part of the market which seems pretty active at the moment. My local music shop is now listing it in stock and if it wasn't for a 2 week trip overseas starting Friday, I would be down there trying it for myself before too long. I'm sure it will still be there i when I get back.

**docbop** · 08-20-2014, 05:17 PM

I remember there was an Epi 175 a few years back that was cancelled, I know because after all the good reviews I read I was going to get one and they were out of production. This sounds like same guitar except now they pin the bridge which hopefully is something that can be easily removed. If it is the same as I said I saw quite a few good review and comments, but most did swap out the pickups.

**Doctor Jeff** · 08-20-2014, 05:19 PM

Satin finish huh...

Would like to see pictures please!

Re' the Eastman, I tried a recent vintage 371 right after playing a vintage 1981 ES-175--the Gibbie was EXACTLY the mellow tone one would expect from such a jazzbox, whereas the Eastman had a brighter, thinner tone. It was a nicely made guitar and I'm sure one could tame it if one wanted, but I was surprised it was a bright as it was.

**gingataff** · 08-20-2014, 07:20 PM

I haven't tried one of these Epis but seen them in the store.
The natural, burst and red all look nice, not sure about the black.
The price is good in a Japan, ￥80000 including tax so about $770/£465.

I'm not a fan of the headstock, but if it sounds and plays well enough.

**Beanctr** · 08-20-2014, 10:48 PM

Here are some pics , of course I had to check out the pickups while changing the strings.

Epiphone ES-175 Premium-img_2054-jpg

Rick

**gingataff** · 08-20-2014, 11:10 PM

Looks sweet.
So the bridge is pinned by the height screws.
Should be secure but I guess it would be no problem using a regular floating bridge.

**docbop** · 08-20-2014, 11:40 PM

Those pinning holes are way bigger then I expected. I thought they would use a small brad on the outer part of the bridge foot.

**Finn** · 08-21-2014, 05:29 AM

Originally Posted by docbop

Those pinning holes are way bigger then I expected. I thought they would use a small brad on the outer part of the bridge foot.

Bad idea IMO pinning the bridge at all, I see the bridge pickup is a classic 57+ they are probably aiming at the rock/pop player market. In the other thread about pinning the bridge they think it is 2 small pins.

"From a practical standpoint the answer to the original question is arguably no depending on the method of pinning. I've not examined a factory pinned bridge but have seen those done post production. In those cases, what can be described as two small nail heads protrude from the bottom of the bridge which pierce the top of the body and eliminate movement of the bridge. The depth of the piercing does not exceed the thickness of the top. If this is done carefully with some allowable range of adjustment for a TOM then it's possible that it could accommodate a usable range of string gauges/tensions and still allow for optimal intonation for the guitar. If the pinning is done as described above and there came a need to move the bridge beyond that range it could simply be repositioned and the top pierced again in the needed location. It's likely that the amount of movement for repositioning would be less than half the width of the bridge base and therefore not expose the original pinning holes in the top."