CME Figured Natural Gibson ES-175

[Mark 63]

I have never owned a 175 and I read Guys on here talking about how the ES 175s vary a lot ...

But really how bad can a 175 be ?

Even a Mediocre sounding 175 is going to sound ( no offense ) better than a 335 for Phatt Natural Neck Tones..right?
Assuming it intonates well and the Frets are good..

$2120. is actually such as crazy price that even if you don't like it ...you might have to sell it and lose
$0. - You might have to sell it and only make $200 to $400
?

Is this correct ?

I have read I think two unofficial Reviews by people who say the' newer' 175s seem to have better sustain.. not exactly a Problem..lol.

I don’t see anyway you can go wrong with these prices if you have the do re mi.

[Stringswinger]

It is January 1 and the 15% sale is over. I suggest calling CME on tuesday and seeing what they can do.

[Burrellesque]

CME have a 1952 ES-175 in sunburst with a single P90 for $2695.

[Max405]

It is January 1 and the 15% sale is over. I suggest calling CME on tuesday and seeing what they can do.

I just looked and the only one I see is a 339 Studio for $895 and bunch of tee shirts.
Man it was good while it lasted.
I look at my wall and I’m still in shock. I remember looking at one of these new 2016 Figured 175’s on Dave’s website for over $4,000 and I thought to myself, man I’d love to have one of those.
Played mine for an hour yesterday. Still blown away. Then I played my 165 and my hand cramped. Then I went to the GJS and my hand was good again. The neck on the new 175 is similar in depth to my GJS and HJS18.
What a pleasure to play.
Joe D

[Stringswinger]

I used the CME 175 on my 5 hour New Years Eve gig. Knowing that when people drink, they get louder and that on NYE, people drink, the CME 175 with it's heavy build would be a good choice. This was her first gig and the guitar did a great job. These are superbly crafted guitars and a bargain at these prices. Even with flatwound strings and a wooden saddle, the guitar had enough "cut" to be heard through the din. The neck is straight as an arrow and playability was perfect. I probably played more 32nd notes last night than usual (why? because I can ) and after 5 hours, my hands felt fine. My gig partner was playing his Benedetto Bravo and we both thought the Gibby had better tone. Gibson rules!

[Marty Grass]

My gig partner was playing his Benedetto Bravo and we both thought the Gibby had better tone. Gibson rules!

It can happen!

[Longways to Go]

I used the CME 175 on my 5 hour New Years Eve gig. Knowing that when people drink, they get louder and that on NYE, people drink, the CME 175 with it's heavy build would be a good choice. This was her first gig and the guitar did a great job. These are superbly crafted guitars and a bargain at these prices. Even with flatwound strings and a wooden saddle, the guitar had enough "cut" to be heard through the din. The neck is straight as an arrow and playability was perfect. I probably played more 32nd notes last night than usual (why? because I can ) and after 5 hours, my hands felt fine. My gig partner was playing his Benedetto Bravo and we both thought the Gibby had better tone. Gibson rules!

100% agree! I did a 4 hour gig Friday with my new CME 175 - best sound and feel I've ever had. It has a great feeling neck and effortlessly good tone -- as in, I don't even have to think about it or fiddle with settings very much.

I've spent the past couple of years mostly devoted to the acoustic flat top,
but now it's all about the 175 baby

[rio]

Glad that you are meshing with it. Pretty crazy how these prices are getting - the only problem is that I was waiting to sell my 175 until I needed the money since although I never bonded with it she does look pretty on the wall...now the new prices are the old used prices and I don’t know what I could even get for it now even if I could find a buyer. I wonder in the long term what will happen with Gibson prices. The reason I felt safe buying this guitar was since it always felt safe buying a Gibson even if I did not end up keeping it.

Anyway that’s all not really relevant - blonde 175s have always been my favorite and I’m glad to hear that yours is getting played


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[2bornot2bop]

I play 32nd notes all the time...okay, on the piano

[Stringswinger]

Glad that you are meshing with it. Pretty crazy how these prices are getting - the only problem is that I was waiting to sell my 175 until I needed the money since although I never bonded with it she does look pretty on the wall...now the new prices are the old used prices and I don’t know what I could even get for it now even if I could find a buyer. I wonder in the long term what will happen with Gibson prices. The reason I felt safe buying this guitar was since it always felt safe buying a Gibson even if I did not end up keeping it.

Anyway that’s all not really relevant - blonde 175s have always been my favorite and I’m glad to hear that yours is getting played


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Rio,

Who knows what the future worth of Gibson archtop guitars will be? I sure would wait for this CME blowout to be long gone before you try selling your 175. But with the changing taste of the new generation, it could be bad long term. But for those of us who love jazz guitar, it is not the most important aspect of ownership. Having a great archtop that inspires your playing is worth more than the fallen value of these guitars, if they indeed fall, and do not recover.

[Max405]

Rio, Its a shame you didn't bond with your 175. I played that one quite a bit and it is an EXCELLENT 175. I think you should get your investment back on it.

All its gonna take is one big mainstream star playing a high end jazz guitar and the public will follow. Remember Steve Howe? Brian Setzer? It happened to us, and it absolutely can happen to this new generation. The other night I watched Jimmy Fallon and the guitar player in his band was playing Byrdland. After seeing that, I wanted one! The music industry this day in age is SOOO full of holes, something has to give. On one of the new years shows, I watched a guy play a guitar solo with 2 fingers and it sounded like complete garbage. A comeback is imminent. Trust me. You cant make good interesting sounding guitar sounds without talent. And archtops make those sounds sound so much better.. The future of guitar is full of possibilities.
Keep playing your archtops. You will inspire a young person to the do the same.
The old standards will never die. And they sound better when played on an Archtop.

We are not the only people who like a big, bold, lush deep and meaningful guitar sounds. Archtops will prevail.

Joe D

[lawson-stone]

Rio, Its a shame you didn't bond with your 175. I played that one quite a bit and it is an EXCELLENT 175. I think you should get your investment back on it. I didn't. But you can for sure.

All its gonna take is one big mainstream star playing a high end jazz guitar and the public will follow. Remember Steve Howe? Brian Setzer? It happened to us, and it absolutely can happen to this new generation. The other night I watched Jimmy Fallon and the guitar player in his band was playing Byrdland. After seeing that, I wanted one! The music industry this day in age is SOOO full of holes, something has to give. One one of the new years shows, I watched a guy play a guitar solo with 2 fingers and it sounded like complete garbage. A comeback is imminent. Trust me. You cant make good interesting sounding guitar sounds without talent. And archtops make those sounds sound so much better.. The future of guitar is full of possibilities.
Keep playing your archtops. You will inspire a young person to the do the same.
The old standards will never die. And they sound better when played on an Archtop.

We are not the only people who like a big, bold, lush deep and meaningful guitar sounds. Archtops will prevail.

Joe D

I agree with Joe. Also, I got to thinking recently, I don't think there have ever been as many truly gifted, great-playing guitarists in the "mainstream/bebop" jazz idiom any other time as there are today. I listen to the jazzradio.com guitar channel, and I'm always hearing great players, I check the name, and I've never heard of the player. We have a multitude of talented jazz guitarists active. I think one reason it's so hard for them to make it is that there are, in fact, so many really fine players and the competition is fierce. If some way could be found to get to the public, to create some on-ramps into this music, I think folks would love it.

Many of us who are amateur players, when we get a chance to play for friends, people will say "Wow, I never heard playing like that! What do you call that?" If we could get a few "name" players somehow up there before the multitudes, we might see a pretty good response. No, not a jazz guitar Taylor Swift billion-dollar-industry, but maybe something better than the present.

[vinnyv1k]

Maybe we need to start wearing our hats on sideways and our pants at half mast instead of a nice suit and tie......not.
Jazz is intelligent music. It caters to intelligent people as does classical music. How many professors do you know that listen to rap. Jazz has always catered to a select group of music lovers. Jazz will always live on but you will never get rich playing it. Joe Pass one of the greatest jazz guitar players ever financially just made a simply living.
George Benson went were the big money is......pop.

The thing with jazz is if it is good it is never dated. Doesn’t matter if it was recorded in 1951 or 2018.

[Archtop Guy]

Guys,Just to let you know I have a figured burst coming to me,ordered this morning and got the price of $1950 after the 15%. Through Joel. So they are still covering that extra discount. Should ship today or tomorrow in the one degree temp. I will pray for her survival.

[TedBPhx]

The other night I watched Jimmy Fallon and the guitar player in his band was playing Byrdland. After seeing that, I wanted one!

Joe D

I am embarrassed to admit I do not know the man’s name but I’ve been drooling over his guitar collection for awhile. I suppose he write can them off when they appear on TV. We’re lucky he has great taste.

[johnnytuinals]

Guys,Just to let you know I have a figured burst coming to me,ordered this morning and got the price of $1950 after the 15%. Through Joel. So they are still covering that extra discount. Should ship today or tomorrow in the one degree temp. I will pray for her survival.

Thought that if you would call CME that you would still get
another 15% off.
Think that they are running out of guitars too pick from................JT

[silverfoxx]

JD,
So you like the Byrdland, have a listen to Anthony Wilson on his
with Diana Krall, you'll want one tomorrow! I was hesitant about
buying one until Vinny gave me the heads up on them, I travelled
100 miles to try one. bought it on the spot, ditto the TF(to be fair
I had two previously some years ago. ) A Byrdland on the neck
pickup sounds pretty good to me. The 23.5" scale is so comfortable.

[Archtop Guy]

Thought that if you would call CME that you would still get
another 15% off.
Think that they are running out of guitars too pick from................JT

The price for the burst is $2295 on their site. The 15% came off of that price.

[Easy2grasp]

I am embarrassed to admit I do not know the man’s name but I’ve been drooling over his guitar collection for awhile. I suppose he write can them off when they appear on TV. We’re lucky he has great taste.

Captain Kirk Douglas
Captain Kirk Douglas - Wikipedia

[TedBPhx]

Thank you. That Wiki page is a little out of date in its gear section. He plays a couple of nice archtops beside the Byrdland Joe spotted.

[Max405]

I am embarrassed to admit I do not know the man’s name but I’ve been drooling over his guitar collection for awhile. I suppose he write can them off when they appear on TV. We’re lucky he has great taste.

Ted, he is a very versatile player. I like that Byrdland. Looks comfy.

JD,
So you like the Byrdland, have a listen to Anthony Wilson on his
with Diana Krall, you'll want one tomorrow! I was hesitant about
buying one until Vinny gave me the heads up on them, I travelled
100 miles to try one. bought it on the spot, ditto the TF(to be fair
I had two previously some years ago. ) A Byrdland on the neck
pickup sounds pretty good to me. The 23.5" scale is so comfortable.

foxman, I will definitely give that a listen. I think I watched a video clip of him tearing it up one time.
I didn’t know you had one. I’m glad you do. A classy man should have a classy guitar like that.

Captain Kirk Douglas
Captain Kirk Douglas - Wikipedia

Nice!

[vinnyv1k]

Byrdlands rule ! I played a 1977 for 35 years. My 2014 is even better sounding and playing. They are super comfy and get very close to nailing the L5 tone too. Fastest guitar neck period. Johnny Smith / Tal Farlow stretch chords no problem-o. Only problem is the prices have really gone up on them. They use to be cheaper than a L5.....no more. Great archtop for us older cats that gets regular visits from Mr.Arthur Itis.

[silverfoxx]

Joe,
I completely endorse Vinny's comments here, I bought mine new its a VSB model
2013 Crimson Custom , absolutely perfect, not one criticism or blemish. but prices
now through the roof. I agree also with the view on the L4CES.