Tommy Tedesco's 1956 ES-175

[Easy2grasp]

I held vigil in my front room yesterday and awaited the arrival of FedEx with great anticipation. By mid-afternoon my GAS finally abated. The package arrived and I restrained myself from immediately opening it. I considered that despite it being nearly 45 degrees Fahrenheit out, the tracking said it had been loaded on the truck for delivery Thanksgiving morning at 4 AM so I figured it had been in a cold place for over 24 hours. I removed the case from the box and left the house to run some errands so I would not be tempted to open it for a few hours.

The case is an early 1960's Gibson case -rough black telex with the leather-over-metal handle and a rich yellow interior, with only two of the 4 latches fully operational. The best part about it is the luggage tag where Tommy printed his name and telephone number. The leather tag is from the Sheraton Hotels in Hawaii. Behind Tommy’s ID card is an advertiser card that says “Sheraton Aloha ’84”. I returned from my errands 2 1/2 hours later and proceeded to unpack the well-packed guitar.



There were three things I was curious about right away. Was Tommy’s name on the custom truss rod cover under the Vanco string dampener? Is the neck true and unaltered? What is the condition of the tape residue around the upper f hole?

Yes! It said Tom Tedesco on the cover! The neck was very straight and true with a bit of peckering of the finish where the guitar was leaned against something like a music or guitar stand multiple times. Just what one would expect.. The pictures of the Tedesco instruments on the Heritage Auctions website had made their necks appeared to have been planed on the back, but thankfully it turned out to be an anomaly in the lighting during the photography. The tape residue - on the guitar for at least 40 years - has transformed into a solidified finish of its own nature and is incorporated into the nitro finish. It looks like it has liquified and rehardened in some places. I dabbed with naptha on a cotton tip wand at the corner where it looked like there wasn’t much glue deposited (maybe the tape was dog-eared there) and nothing changed. The stuff is on to stay so it looks like this will be a permanent feature of Tommy’s guitar, which is what I thought I would do when I first won the bid, but in the meantime I had been considering its removal. I definitely will not refinish the top of this iconic guitar and this tape residue is the guitar’s identity.



Plugged in - the volume knob sounds a little wonky and crackly so that made evaluating the pickup difficult, but I think it is going to sound great with a little TLC by my guitarman. The Armstrong style humbucker pickup has a small light area where the black paint has worn through. The challenge will be servicing the inside without disturbing the lower f hole tape. There is a 3-4 inch crack in the waist area of the treble side of the body. It might have to stay as is. The neck is very fast and I am really happy with it. The flatwound strings feel like a set of 13’s or 12’s. I played some chord solos with the string dampener engaged and it made them sound cleaner.



I am totally blown away with the mojo I am holding in my hands. This guitar will join my collection of famous and not so famous peep’s guitars - George Benson’s ’98 Mortoro, Billy Bean’s ’64 ES-175, Rulon Mecham’s ’56 ES-175, and now Tommy Tedesco’s ’56 ES-175!

[BigMikeinNJ]

DUDE !!!!!
Happy it arrived safely !!!!

Good on ya mate, a lovely acquisition...
PIIGH

Big

[Stringswinger]

ES-175's will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no ES-175's

[skykomishone]

Congratulations on your guitar. Mid 50s 175s are awesome, and yours has some serious mojo.

[deacon Mark]

Great job but you know me, the tape residue will go with elbow grease and naptha. Pull the other piece of tape off the f hole and put the pick up back on that comes with a 175...……………..oh it is not my guitar.

Went to the right person so now for the real deal we need a video playing it and probably do some Tedesco tune he wrote a few jazz tunes.

[Namelyguitar]

Great guitar, and thread!

The f-holes tape was a feedback reducer. Did it accomplish anything else? The string damper was an aftermarket product?

[lawson-stone]

ES-175's will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no ES-175's

This one wins the internet for me today.

[lawson-stone]

Great job but you know me, the tape residue will go with elbow grease and naptha. Pull the other piece of tape off the f hole and put the pick up back on that comes with a 175...……………..oh it is not my guitar.

Went to the right person so now for the real deal we need a video playing it and probably do some Tedesco tune he wrote a few jazz tunes.

He famously played the M*A*S*H* theme, which is loosely based on Autumn Leaves... might try that one.

[Rufes]

Congrats! Hope you enjoy it a lot

[wintermoon]

Too cool for school easy...

[citizenk74]

Very cool. Congratulations, and play it in good health!

[Dave70]

Thanks for sharing the mojo!

[Easy2grasp]

Great guitar, and thread!

The f-holes tape was a feedback reducer. Did it accomplish anything else? The string damper was an aftermarket product?

The tape on the f holes reduces feedback, and nothing else. Although, after seeing the inside of Billy Bean's guitar, I can say it does preserve the label from alcohol spills.

The string dampener was an aftermarket item invented by George Van Eps. Here are some links from Archtopeddy, Scotty Moore - String Dampers and VintageArchtop.com

[Drumbler]

Very cool.

Thanks for the pics!