-
I think I've been looking for one of these for decades, particularly with P90 pickups and sunburst as opposed to natural. When I saw this one at CME- with it's original case and made during my birth year I knew immediately I had to have it.
After many condition questions ( which by the way they answered fully and completely) and some price negotiation it was on it's way. You can ask all of the right questions and still not bond with the feel of a guitar so I was a little anxious.
When it finally arrived I was surprised; the inspection condition was better than the described condition. All original finish and hardware and the frets pretty much excellent. I like a higher wider modern fret and though these are vintage they feel great and don't need replacing.
Where the guitar shines is tone- there's simply no denying that classic woody tone and the P90's are in my mind a big part of that sound. These were hotter than I expected from measuring them but you'd never know that by the tone of the guitar.
It arrived with .012 flats which I've already replaced with a set of D'Addario half-wounds which I love. Very light in weight it feels like a feather. The intonation is perfect and the neck/ guitar needed no set-up.
Here's a quick sound file of the guitar;
Here are a few pics;
Last edited by electricfactory; 08-17-2018 at 06:50 PM.
-
08-17-2018 12:23 PM
-
Very nice.
Keith
-
Glorious! Congratulations, and play it in good health!
-
Congrats! A good ES-175 is all the jazz guitar a talented jazz guitarist needs. Herb Ellis, Joe Pass, Jim Hall, Pat Metheny, Jonathan Kreisberg, Joseph Reinhardt, David Reinhardt, yours truly ( I sure don't belong in this list, but here I am
) and countless others all figured that out. And now you have too. May she inspire your playing for many years to come.
-
What a guitar! Congrats
-
Nice! I also was fond of DAddario half rounds when I got my 53 175. Right now it’s strung with Thomastik Bebop Roundwound 13s and it’s just perfect. I think the cutaway takes out some of the acoustic tone compared to a 125, based on the many 175s and 125s I’ve played but man is the 175 a great looking and great feeling guitar. Oh and it sounds alright too.
-
Let me also comment congrats on getting one with such a nice sunburst. I’ve seen a lot of 175s around and yours is one of the nicests bursts I’ve seen on any of them.
-
Beautiful. I suspect that a '50s, P-90 175 would be my Holy Grail, but I've never played one. Yours is perfect. Hope you enjoy it and do provide us some audio!
-
Beautiful!!
-
Beautiful '53 ES175.
Congratulations on your 'birth date' archtop!
Play it in good health.
-
A '53 ES-173 is THE jazz guitar. I played Herb Ellis' '53 and I have yet to find one I like better.
Of note, I believe a forum member recently purchased Herb's guitar. THAT is the Holy Grail. Yours is right up there.
Enjoy.
-
Man! The way that deep, rich tobacco burst works against the perfectly faded yellow binding--just magnificent! It's like they knew when they designed it that it would only get better with age!
That one sounds good just looking at it. Congratulations!
-
Here's a quick sound file of the guitar;
Last edited by electricfactory; 08-17-2018 at 06:49 PM.
-
You are a lucky man. Enjoy your beautiful Guitar. That was beginning of a run that should not have ended this year. Nothing lasts forever, but 175's should be made forever.
I grew up on a Natural 1953 ES175D. I miss that guitar every day. I still hear the sound of the latch opening in my head every time I think about it. The guitar had a beautiful old wood smell to it. It was lighter and more vibrant than the other 175's I've played.
I wish I could play that guitar one more time, now that I can play what is supposed to be played on it. It would never leave my possession.
Thanks for sharing it with us.
Joe D.
-
Nice...
Before I had kids I used to spend waaay too much time haunting CME, and I've played dozens of old 175's, but I don't think I've ever played a dual P-90 model!
You got something special right there.
-
Beautiful example, congratulations.
Out of curiosity, is that the original bridge and tuners? Whenever I see 50's and earlier guitars in beautiful condition like this one I start wondering about the role of environment on guitar longevity, some guitars seem to disintegrate just sitting in their cases, but this one looks like a time capsule.
-
Great color, enjoy that one
-
Beautiful 175 with P90s. Just great. Good luck and use it well. Can't wait to hear it.
Tony D.
-
Boomshakalakalaka
-
Originally Posted by electricfactory
Cool music, nice playing, beautiful jazzy guitar sound. Congratulations!
-
Herb Ellis let me fondle his 53. I will always remember the light weight. Lighter than a carved potato chip archtop. Not to mention the great tone. You scored big time. I have been trolling for a 54....my birth year. I love 175’s !
A great big Congrats. I will die a total Gibson fanboy. Sweet !
-
99% original, everything but the tuner buttons. The tuners themselves are original, the buttons replaced by Gibson at the factory in the 70's.
Originally Posted by ugarte
-
Yeah, I am not generally enthralled with this burst on a new guitar, but on one the is almost as old as I am, it almost seems alive with sort of a sllllllllooooooowwwwllllllly beating heart. Originally Posted by Flat
-
Great guitar, GREAT tone, GREAT demo! Congrats!
-
Really nice, sounds great, looks great. A good fit! I need one
Reply With Quote
Jimmy Smith at Newport ('72) Kenny Burrell on guitar
Today, 03:31 PM in The Players