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replacement tailpiece?
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06-08-2018 01:31 PM
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That is weird. It might be an aftermarket replacement TP. The original screw hole might be underneath. I would remove the TP and look. Does it have a strap button on the neck?
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Gibson? Only $80.
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I just looked at one of my 175's and that TP looks to be in the right position. Maybe one was never installed at the factory (custom order?, mistake?).
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Looks like proper hole placement, even if it is a repro. Look on the bright side. At least they didn't drill a hole somewhere you *don't* need.
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possibly, there was no strap button by the neck either. Maybe it came that way. The mahogany on the inside of the back looks really new which seems a bit odd. The last '88 I had was dusty and worn looking. OTOH, the finish on the back is slightly cracked along many of the mahogany grain which is how my last one was so that looks right. And the tuners are gibson/kluson and seem to be worn. I can't imagine someone would counterfeit an '88 175. Can't be much market value in that. The frets are also under the binding which is another thing that counterfeiters probably wouldn't bother with.
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If the guitar was mostly in the case, there might not be much dirt inside, and it might look rather new. Can't tell anything about the endpin area without removing the tailpiece. That's easily done and completely reversible, but it does require removing, or at least completely loosening, the strings. I'm sure you know this, though. I don't know if it's worth the effort to you to find out. I don't see any evidence of a larger tailpiece ever being on there, from the picture, so I would be entirely unsurprised to hear that the tailpiece is original, or at least an exact replacement.
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this doesn't look right either. The endpin block doesn't look thick enough to support a strap button.
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Jack,
I have a hard time believing that your guitar is not real. Who would spend the time to make a fake hog backed 175? Call Gibson and have them check the serial number. (Their records are not complete though, that call will either put your mind to rest or stoke your suspicions)
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I think you're right. After talking to a few other folks, apparently you could custom order without strap buttons and they would not put the end block in. I have to decide whether to get it "repaired" or return it...
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Is the wire connecting the pots to the end pin block making contact with the tailpiece?
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Get a toothbrush.
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the block is apparently thicker than it appears. I installed a standard strap button and all is well.
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Is that a metal cap covering what appears to be the input jack ?
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Old StewMac catalogues used to offer "hole remover" in a can, it came in really handy when you wanted to "paint out" errors like extra pickup routings and stuff like that. But I think I read that NASA bought out their stock in an effort to repair the hole in the ozone.
It may be that someone in Gibson had some and accidentally spilled some on the end of the guitar.
The nice thing about a hole is it's a lot easier to put one in than it is to take one out. If you want, I can send you a spare one. I've got it right here in my pocket.
David
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Yes, that metal can appears to be covering the jack. You don't see them that often any more. That's another indication that it's a real guitar - I doubt fakers would go to those lengths.
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yes.
Originally Posted by vinlander
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So you started to miss your old 80ies 175?
That was bound to happen.... that guitar sounded sweet in your clips!
Is there much difference between the two?
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yep. I whittled my guitars down to the bare necessities but even though I love my '63 Kessel, I found that the '88 175 really spoke to me in a way that no other guitar has. I actually went through about a 1/2 dozen 175s as well as various similar guitars (seventy seven hawk, etc) and never was able to find one that sounded as good as my '88. I even bought an '85 with mahogany back/sides like the '88 but it sounded different and was much heavier.
So, this one feels and plays almost exactly like the other one I had. Similar neck profile and weight (under 7lbs) and has the response I have been looking for. It's got that pat metheny vibe. I have concluded that gibson 175s are just notoriously inconsistent from year to year. I have probably played 2 dozen since the '88 I sold and none of them sounded very good to me.
The seventy seven hawks are great guitars but they sound like a modern guitar. The '88 actually has the vibe of a guitar 20-years older. Ironically, i recently played a '64 and briefly owned a '57 and I liked the '88 better.
The main difference between the old '88 and the new one is that the old one was refretted. The new one has original frets. The setup is not quite as good on the new one but hopefully that'll be taken care of with a fret level. Other than that, they are damn close.
'88 must have just been a year for that instrument in terms of what I like. Surprising that the '85 sounded very little like the '88.
Originally Posted by Little Jay
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So, no endpin strap button on an ES 175 huh?
Who woulda'........... thunk it?
Just joshin', good luck with you NGD Jack.
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Nice ! No kerfed braces and they used plenty of glue. Solid build.
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well, after all is said and done, i'm probably going to move it. Overall, i just prefer the '63 kessel much more and it doesn't sound different enough to warrant keeping both. I already ordered the grover deluxe tuners so I have a little more than $2500 into it including the fret level that was just done.
Not sure what I'll be able to get back out of it.
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They dropped that product when Dan Erlewine started pushing the lightbulb repair kits.... Originally Posted by TruthHertz
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