Epiphone ES-175 Owners Club

**pcpicker47** · 02-28-2018, 12:05 PM

Originally Posted by Al Br.

Great read here and I really like the detail of what all have done to make improvements. Comes in handy with what I may or may not do with the Epi ES-335 Pro I have. Not trying to side rail this discussion but when looking at the Epi 175's I ran across a Peerless rendition called the Gigmaster. Advertised as lighter than a Gibson ES-175 with better sustain. I have a couple of Peerless and can attest to the quality so the question is, has anyone else done a comparison of the Epiphone ES-175 to the Peerless Gigmaster?
They cost more than the Epiphone, but way less than a Gibson.

Thanks .
Al

Good question ! I have been looking at the Gigmaster myself and wondered the same thing...hopefully, some one can respond with experience and opinions. Thanks in advance.

**lawson-stone** · 02-28-2018, 12:12 PM

Originally Posted by pcpicker47

Good question ! I have been looking at the Gigmaster myself and wondered the same thing...hopefully, some one can respond with experience and opinions. Thanks in advance.

That's likely worth its own thread. Most here might not have much experience with the Gigmaster, but in the forum at large Im sure there is. I also bet a lot of forumites would be interested in hearing that instrument discussed.

**Alter** · 02-28-2018, 04:26 PM

specially when the peerless along with the eastman ones are amongst the few 175 clones available left handed

**pcpicker47** · 02-28-2018, 05:19 PM

Originally Posted by lawson-stone

That's likely worth its own thread. Most here might not have much experience with the Gigmaster, but in the forum at large Im sure there is. I also bet a lot of forumites would be interested in hearing that instrument discussed.

Good idea,,,I started another thread with this specific heading. Thanks.

Anyone compare an Epi175 to Peerless Gigmaster ?

**lawson-stone** · 02-28-2018, 05:28 PM

Originally Posted by pcpicker47

Good idea,,,I started another thread with this specific heading. Thanks.

Anyone compare an Epi175 to Peerless Gigmaster ?

That will get you the maximum exposure for your question. Good luck!

**advid** · 03-05-2018, 10:55 AM

...I've got a 2008 Epiphone ES 175....Sunburst - nice high gloss finish...

I decided to order another one but wanted a Natural (blonde) finish.. .I ordered a brand new one from GAK (UK) and was sent a nice playing ES 175 guitar in blonde BUT the finish was a quite matt'ish non gloss finish...didn't look quite right to me....All the old Gibsons based on the 175 in blonde had a very nice gloss/varnish finish....
I returned the guitar...not quite what I expected....

Can someone please explain the models of Epiphone ES 175's ..why are some glossy and some not ?

Is the 'antique' finish a gloss finish...?

**Namelyguitar** · 03-05-2018, 11:30 AM

The Premium model came out with "aged" lacquer finish and Gibson USA Classic '57 pickups.

**pcpicker47** · 03-05-2018, 11:58 AM

Originally Posted by advid

...I've got a 2008 Epiphone ES 175....Sunburst - nice high gloss finish...

I decided to order another one but wanted a Natural (blonde) finish.. .I ordered a brand new one from GAK (UK) and was sent a nice playing ES 175 guitar in blonde BUT the finish was a quite matt'ish non gloss finish...didn't look quite right to me....All the old Gibsons based on the 175 in blonde had a very nice gloss/varnish finish....
I returned the guitar...not quite what I expected....

Can someone please explain the models of Epiphone ES 175's ..why are some glossy and some not ?

Is the 'antique' finish a gloss finish...?

I have been wondering about that also...the wine red model ? Is it glossy or matte...I am with you, I dont care for the looks of the matte either...I would want glossy only ! Looks classier to me. I have not seen one in person yet, and the descriptions and pictures dont tell the story...they seem to be getting harder to find also...the ones that are blonde are from Japan and much more expensive...I wont go that route ! I might try to find a Gibson Es165....dont need dual pickups for what I will use it for...but those are hard to find and somewhat pricey also. Thanks for keeping this going !

**lawson-stone** · 03-05-2018, 12:26 PM

Originally Posted by pcpicker47

I have been wondering about that also...the wine red model ? Is it glossy or matte...I am with you, I dont care for the looks of the matte either...I would want glossy only ! Looks classier to me. I have not seen one in person yet, and the descriptions and pictures dont tell the story...they seem to be getting harder to find also...the ones that are blonde are from Japan and much more expensive...I wont go that route ! I might try to find a Gibson Es165....dont need dual pickups for what I will use it for...but those are hard to find and somewhat pricey also. Thanks for keeping this going !

A single-pickup ES175/165 type guitar on a budget is the Epiphone Zephyr Regent Re-Issue. I have one, really like it, and it was not expensive at all.

**lawson-stone** · 03-05-2018, 12:28 PM

Originally Posted by pcpicker47

I have been wondering about that also...the wine red model ? Is it glossy or matte...I am with you, I dont care for the looks of the matte either...I would want glossy only ! Looks classier to me. I have not seen one in person yet, and the descriptions and pictures dont tell the story...they seem to be getting harder to find also...the ones that are blonde are from Japan and much more expensive...I wont go that route ! I might try to find a Gibson Es165....dont need dual pickups for what I will use it for...but those are hard to find and somewhat pricey also. Thanks for keeping this going !

None of the new Epiphone ES175 Premiums are made in Japan. I have a blonde and it's a Korean made, I believe. Not Japan. There are some ES175 copies made in the 1970's at the Matsumoku plant in Japan, Aria, Ibanez, and some others, that are famous for their accuracy but also almost as expensive as a Gibson.

**wmachine** · 03-05-2018, 01:41 PM

Originally Posted by advid

...I've got a 2008 Epiphone ES 175....Sunburst - nice high gloss finish...

I decided to order another one but wanted a Natural (blonde) finish.. .I ordered a brand new one from GAK (UK) and was sent a nice playing ES 175 guitar in blonde BUT the finish was a quite matt'ish non gloss finish...didn't look quite right to me....All the old Gibsons based on the 175 in blonde had a very nice gloss/varnish finish....
I returned the guitar...not quite what I expected....

Can someone please explain the models of Epiphone ES 175's ..why are some glossy and some not ?

Is the 'antique' finish a gloss finish...?

Originally Posted by pcpicker47

I have been wondering about that also...the wine red model ? Is it glossy or matte...I am with you, I dont care for the looks of the matte either...I would want glossy only ! Looks classier to me. I have not seen one in person yet, and the descriptions and pictures dont tell the story...they seem to be getting harder to find also...the ones that are blonde are from Japan and much more expensive...I wont go that route ! I might try to find a Gibson Es165....dont need dual pickups for what I will use it for...but those are hard to find and somewhat pricey also. Thanks for keeping this going !

The "aged" finish is a pretty sure sign it is a Premium. Besides having Gibson '57 Classic pups, it seems to be better than earlier ones. I think it doesn't look so bad in the Vintage Sunburst, but looks terrible in the Natural. The Natural looks "frosted" to me and begs to be "cleaned up". But that's just my opinion. I have not tried it with my Vintage Sunburst, but from what I've read, the finish can be buffed out to get at least most of a gloss out of it.

**pcpicker47** · 03-05-2018, 02:00 PM

Originally Posted by lawson-stone

None of the new Epiphone ES175 Premiums are made in Japan. I have a blonde and it's a Korean made, I believe. Not Japan. There are some ES175 copies made in the 1970's at the Matsumoku plant in Japan, Aria, Ibanez, and some others, that are famous for their accuracy but also almost as expensive as a Gibson.

Sorry, I didnt really make myself clear on that statement...I didnt mean to imply they were built in Japan, but on ebay the premiums that I found were being sold by a dealer or individual located in Japan, and were around $1,500 bucks...for a bit more I could get a Gibson ES165...thats what I was trying to say.

**sgosnell** · 03-05-2018, 02:53 PM

$1500 is way too much for a used Epi ES175. You can buy them new for far less. If the local Guitar Center has none in stock, you can have one or more shipped there for free. If you don't like it when it arrives, you can just return it. Mine wasn't perfect, but pretty close. I changed the nut and the bridge, because I don't much like tune-o-matics. I put an ebony bridge on it. The nut was some sort of plastic, tusq or something, and I don't like that. I replaced it with a ZeroGlide nut with a zero fret, and I really like that. The frets were fine, completely level and well finished. The pickups are good enough, the same as you'll get on many Gibsons. I have no issue with the finish. Playability and tone are far more important to me, but YMMV. I believe the Epi is as good as a Gibson in all respects, and better than many based on what I've seen here in posts by many Gibson buyers.

**lawson-stone** · 03-05-2018, 03:10 PM

Originally Posted by pcpicker47

Sorry, I didnt really make myself clear on that statement...I didnt mean to imply they were built in Japan, but on ebay the premiums that I found were being sold by a dealer or individual located in Japan, and were around $1,500 bucks...for a bit more I could get a Gibson ES165...thats what I was trying to say.

Aha! I see. Yes, I've noticed on eBay there are lots of Japanese dealers.

I still would strongly encourage, if you're on a tight budget, looking for an Epiphone Zephyr Regent Re-issue. They are lighter than the ES165, more like a VOS1959 ES175. Also if it matters to you, mahogany laminate for the back and sides. Lots of folks in ES1x5 world love the "Hogs." You'll probably want to upgrade the stock pickup, but I love my EZR2. It has the slim Epiphone neck, which is probably the one thing some would object to (I don't).

Epiphone ES-175 Owners Club-img_0168-jpg

Epiphone ES-175 Owners Club-img_0168-jpg

**pcpicker47** · 03-05-2018, 03:24 PM

Lawson-Stone....thanks for that picture...that is indeed a beauty ! I like the looks of that a lot and I appreciate you taking the time to put that up there and giving me information about them. I do like a slim neck, so that would probably be fine for me...again, I will be in Phoenix next week and I will have more places to look for one out there, Sam Ash, Guitar Center, Milanos (local) and several others are within a few miles from me out there...I could try one out at one store and drive to another close enough that I could still remember what I thought of the first one ! haha
Thanks, I always enjoy your posts and the knowledge that you share !!

**Brian B** · 03-05-2018, 06:04 PM

Pcpicker47;

They made them in blonde, too..

Epiphone ES-175 Owners Club-img_9136-jpg

(Mine has an aftermarket pickguard and bridge)

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

**lawson-stone** · 03-05-2018, 06:07 PM

Originally Posted by Brian B

Pcpicker47;

They made them in blonde, too..

Epiphone ES-175 Owners Club-img_9136-jpg

(Mine has an aftermarket pickguard and bridge)

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Whoa! Gotta love the contrast between the blonde top and the mahogany sides!

**Brian B** · 03-05-2018, 06:12 PM

I love it.

(Shameless opportunity to post another accepted)...here's the other direction, same pic;

Epiphone ES-175 Owners Club-img_9145-jpg

Love both of these....the Emperor T sounds so much better after putting the set of Seths in it.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

**pcpicker47** · 03-05-2018, 06:12 PM

"Whoa! Gotta love the contrast between the blonde top and the mahogany sides!"-Lawson-stone

Yes. I agree I have always loved that look as well ! Beautiful, thanks for posting Brian B !

**JSP737** · 03-06-2018, 04:27 PM

Originally Posted by pcpicker47

I have been wondering about that also...the wine red model ? Is it glossy or matte...I am with you, I dont care for the looks of the matte either...I would want glossy only ! Looks classier to me. I have not seen one in person yet, and the descriptions and pictures dont tell the story...they seem to be getting harder to find also...the ones that are blonde are from Japan and much more expensive...I wont go that route ! I might try to find a Gibson Es165....dont need dual pickups for what I will use it for...but those are hard to find and somewhat pricey also. Thanks for keeping this going !

I bought a Wine red Epi Premium used from GC about a year and a half ago. It was only a little over $500 with the hard shell case and in like new condition. The deals are out there if you're patient.
As far as the matte finish, I think it looks gorgeous in the wine red. It's a very thin finish. It does however gloss up where it gets rubbed, like the back of the neck. It would be very easy to buff to a low gloss. I think someone on the forum here did that.

Sent from my moto x4 using Tapatalk

**pcpicker47** · 03-07-2018, 11:38 AM

Originally Posted by Brian B

I love it.

(Shameless opportunity to post another accepted)...here's the other direction, same pic;

Epiphone ES-175 Owners Club-img_9145-jpg

Love both of these....the Emperor T sounds so much better after putting the set of Seths in it.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I keep coming back to this photo and looking at that blonde !! ( I even woke up in the middle of the night thinking about her !) I love the contrast of the two woods...if I could find one like that, I would buy it in a heartbeat, even if I didnt like the way it played or sounded, just to have in hanging on the wall to look at, but I am sure I would love it otherwise too. Was this a limited addition model ? What year was it built ? Thanks for any additional info (I assume this is not a premium ?) Thanks in advance.

**lawson-stone** · 03-07-2018, 11:48 AM

Those are all late 1990's "reissue" models of the Epiphone Zephyr Regent. Sunbursts go at about $400-550, blondes go about $500-600. It's like the ES165 except about a pound or so lighter and a slimmer neck. Oh yeah, and a mediocre pickup. Just plan on putting your favorite humbucker-sized upgrade pickup in there.

**mr. beaumont** · 03-07-2018, 12:05 PM

Those Zephyr Regents were real gems, bummer they're not made anymore.

**Brian B** · 03-07-2018, 12:13 PM

Mine was made very late 1998. The model production run started 1999, so I have an early one. Blonde was a standard option, as Lawson mentioned.

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**Brian B** · 03-07-2018, 12:19 PM

Double post (thanks ATT and iPhone....)

Since I can't delete it, I might as well make it worthwhile...

I got my ZepReg on Reverb, paid $500 shipped. Previous owner(s?) had swapped out the tuners for newer but similar looking Klusons, the pickup for a Gibson P94T, and I'm not 100% sure if the pots were original or not.

I've replaced the pickup with a SD Seth Lover neck, the harness with 525K CTS pots and a PIO cap, pickguard with an aftermarket ES165 part, the pickguard mount with a repro Gibson piece, and the bridge with a rosewood StewMac part.

I've got Chromes on it now...11s. I've got a set of 12s for next change. I like the 11s as it sits so I may go back to them.

Epiphone ES-175 Owners Club-img_8724-jpg