Epiphone ES-175 Owners Club

[Nick-Ald]

Have a black premium which is great but tuners are a bit spongy. Can anyone tell me a good replacement set of tuners and whether the holes are modern 10mm or vintage 8.8mm?

from various posts on the web my best guess is 10mm holes as it’s an epiphone, but the deluxe style tuners will have 6mm (metric) posts so that a Gotoh SD90 or Grover 136 would be a drop-in replacement.

[garybaldy]

Attachment 40334

I'm not sure it's worth the effort, but here's the bridge. The serial number starts with 14, so I guess it was made in 2014.

Nice bridge but my OCD would have me drill the holes right through the saddle!!

[Little Jay]

Nice bridge but my OCD would have me drill the holes right through the saddle!!

You mean holes for the posts on top of the bridge? I have actually done that to my aftermarket ES-125 bridge to make it look more authentic. I also always replace the chrome pickup frame screws for black ones….. I’m a freak

[garybaldy]

You mean holes for the post on top of the bridge? I have actually done that to my aftermarket ES-125 bridge to make it look more authentic. I also always replace the chrome pickup frame screws for black ones….. I’m a freak

I'm with you LJ - the authentic look!
ps Don't use posts with Allen sockets in the top!!!

[sgosnell]

I actually prefer the type where the holes don't go all the way through. The holes, whether or not the posts stick above the, can be uncomfortable on my wrists and hands. I would only drill them all the way through if I couldn't lower the bridge enough for acceptable action, and that's rare. But whatever you prefer...

That said, I have the TOM saddle back on the Epi. I tend to change things just for the sake of change, and I think I currently prefer the slight extra snap the TOM gives over the wooden saddle. Tomorrow I might change my mind.

[WillsJazz]

I’ve owned a Premium for about 5 years that I like. Then about a month ago I picked up this non premium in a Guitar Center that was used. I was hooked. Immediately liked it better, especially the neck profile. Was already upgraded with with Gibson Classic 57 pickups. Like the finish better too. Had it set up and plays like a dream.

[SeanSeb]

I had the same experience.
My ES-175 (Korea 2010) is a fantastic guitar! - like it better than the pricier Premium.

[WilliamScott]

On Reverb the sellers are asking more for the reissues than for the premium. I traded my reissue for a premium a few years ago and I regret it.

[garybaldy]

All one ever used to read was the premium was the best.

[sgosnell]

I think the primary attraction of the Premium was that it had real Gibson 57 pickups. Mine does. The only thing I don't like about it is the body depth. As I've aged, I've come to prefer thinlline guitars because 3"+ bodies just aren't comfortable for me. That's the same on all ES-175 copies, though, AFAIK. Otherwise it's a great guitar.

[WillsJazz]

I think the primary attraction of the Premium was that it had real Gibson 57 pickups. Mine does. The only thing I don't like about it is the body depth. As I've aged, I've come to prefer thinlline guitars because 3"+ bodies just aren't comfortable for me. That's the same on all ES-175 copies, though, AFAIK. Otherwise it's a great guitar.

Yes, the pickups on the premium are the draw. But the thin neck is the drawback. You can put the 57 classics in a non premium, can’t do much about a thin neck.

[Sigmund451]

Threads like this are expensive

[lawson-stone]

Yes, the pickups on the premium are the draw. But the thin neck is the drawback. You can put the 57 classics in a non premium, can’t do much about a thin neck.

Unless of course you like the thin neck, as a good many do.

[sgosnell]

I have guitars with a variety of neck profiles - thin, thick, narrow, wide, different combinations. I'm not bothered by any of them, nor totally in love with any. The neck is not the most important factor to me. YMMV.

[John A.]

I have guitars with a variety of neck profiles - thin, thick, narrow, wide, different combinations. I'm not bothered by any of them, nor totally in love with any. The neck is not the most important factor to me. YMMV.

A few years I would have said much the same thing, but (coincidentally) my two most recent guitar acquisitions have relatively chunky necks, and I find that I prefer them to the skinnier ones (especially to one that is "D" rather than "C" shaped). It's not to the point that I can't play the skinnier ones, but it does have me toying with the idea of replacing the "D" shaped one with something chunkier.

[sgosnell]

I do somewhat prefer chunkier necks, but again that's not the most important thing.

[Palomorado]

I'm going to be a bit cheeky and add my Epiphone ES-295...by all measures its just an ES-175 with the gold paint.
Removed the bigsby and added an old zig-zag tailpiece and got a new wiring harness from RS Guitarworks and some underwound P90's from Wolfetone...this guitar just kills. Classic Jim Hall sounds

[DMgolf66]

I'm going to be a bit cheeky and add my Epiphone ES-295...by all measures its just an ES-175 with the gold paint.
Removed the bigsby and added an old zig-zag tailpiece and got a new wiring harness from RS Guitarworks and some underwound P90's from Wolfetone...this guitar just kills. Classic Jim Hall sounds

I should've bought one of those in Walnut when they were blowing them out a few years ago for under 500

[WillsJazz]

I'm going to be a bit cheeky and add my Epiphone ES-295...by all measures its just an ES-175 with the gold paint.
Removed the bigsby and added an old zig-zag tailpiece and got a new wiring harness from RS Guitarworks and some underwound P90's from Wolfetone...this guitar just kills. Classic Jim Hall sounds

Never understood why they screwed the Bigsby down on a hollow body instead of using a B6.

[Palomorado]

Never understood why they screwed the Bigsby down on a hollow body instead of using a B6.

same...oh well