Gibson ES-165 vs 1998 Herb Ellis

[rmpmcdermott]

Silkscreen logo is found on a Les Paul Studio. The ES165 is not a single-pickup ES175. It is more like a 'Studio' version of a single pickup ES175. But ES165 are priced too high on the used market to see any advantage over an ES175.

Pray tell, what makes it a studio version of a 175 other than the silkscreen logo?

[Piedaddy]

I also have the same model. Great guitar and like mentioned in the thread has a chunky neck which is just fine for me. Asking price seems a bit high. I would think closer to 1600 - 1800. I like the set pickup as well.

[sgosnell]

It looks to me as if there was a strap button on the heel, which has been removed. I'm not sure there is a screw in there. Hard to tell for sure, though.

[vintagelove]

Great guitar.

[Easy2grasp]

I found the 490R pickup on the '92 I had to be too dark. I switched to a "Classic '57" and I still wasn't happy. I ended up letting it go for $1500. It was in great shape but a little on the heavy side at 7.2 lbs.
Gibson ES-165 Herb Ellis 1992 Ebony Black | Reverb

[floatingpickup]

I'm looking at purchasing a guitar off of Reverb. Luckily it is close enough that I'll be able to check it out in person prior to buying it. I was wondering if anyone would be willing to look at it (on line of course) and see if anything jumps out at them. Any input or suggestions of what to look for would be appreciated. I've never purchased a guitar like this before; Les Pauls, Teles and Strats are more my comfort zone.

Thanks.

Gibson ES-165 Herb Ellis 1998 Sunburst | bryan's Shop | Reverb

I owned an ES-165 for a few years. It was a fabulous guitar. I also own two vintage ES-175D’s for comparison - a 1969 and a 1959 (with pafs). The 165 sounded great, had a perfect action and compared very favorably with my vintage 175’s. I loved the sound of the original pickup (490 IIRC). The neck was a little chunky and felt very close to my 1959, which I really liked. They are great guitars.
Keith

[QAman]

Hogrider 16

Have you considered this one on Reverb? The flame is exquiste and you could likely get it for around 2k.

Gibson ES-165 Herb Ellis Signature Model 2006 Ice Tea Burst Gibson ES-165 Herb Ellis Signature Model 2006 Ice Tea Burst | Reverb

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[Stringswinger]

QAman,

I had a student who bought the 90's version of the Herb Ellis 165 (per my advice) and I got to play it at many a lesson (I would let him play my guitars to develop dexterity on different instruments). The 165 with the built in PUP was superb. I had another student who showed up with one of the later 165's with the floater and was underwhelmed by the instrument. The tone was on the thin side and the sustain was very short, even with the TOM.

Just my 2 cents based on personal experience. Others may have a different take.

[QAman]

QAman,

I had a student who bought the 90's version of the Herb Ellis 165 (per my advice) and I got to play it at many a lesson (I would let him play my guitars to develop dexterity on different instruments). The 165 with the built in PUP was superb. I had another student who showed up with one of the later 165's with the floater and was underwhelmed by the instrument. The tone was on the thin side and the sustain was very short, even with the TOM.

Just my 2 cents based on personal experience. Others may have a different take.

Stringswinger,
Thanks for providing this info - ive only owned the floater and have never tried the built in humbucker version. You have great experience with these guitars from a working musicians prespective, and im sure this can add prespective for any interested buyer. I sold my floater because the neck cross section was just too thick.
Hope all is well out on the west coast.


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[icr]

Studio version with flame maple body, gold hardware, pearl inlays and neck and body binding?

You must be used to very fancy studios

Yes, some Gibson Studio guitars were fancy:

[icr]

Pray tell, what makes it a studio version of a 175 other than the silkscreen logo?

300k vol pot.

[blille]

The ES165 is not a single-pickup ES175. It is more like a 'Studio' version of a single pickup ES175.

Yes, some Gibson Studio guitars were fancy

I’m confused. So is your point that the ES-165 is a studio ES-175 and hence barebones or is it a studio and hence fancy?

[QAman]

Here is another one just listed 1 day ago from DHR.

Gibson 1995 Gibson ES-165 Herb Ellis 1995 Gibson 1995 Gibson ES-165 Herb Ellis 1995 | Reverb

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[Gitfiddler]

My very first 'real' archtop was an ES165. That thing had the tone!! I miss it and have considered getting another.

[Durban]

Not all ES165 necks are thick/chunky ive had several, the one i play now, is not super slim, but not thick/clubby and the most comfortable of all my guitars, that profile is just perfect, comfy.

The 490R pup is marginally brighter on top than Classic 57 with a pinch more mids

[Stringswinger]

Here is another one just listed 1 day ago from DHR.

Gibson 1995 Gibson ES-165 Herb Ellis 1995 Gibson 1995 Gibson ES-165 Herb Ellis 1995 | Reverb

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That looks like a good one! While forum member Max405 can get a wonderful solo jazz guitar sound out of the floater variation, I think the built in PUP version would be a better choice for most jazz guitarists. Also, it has been my experience that Gibson archtops from the 90's are as good as it gets (I own three of them myself).

[blille]

Not all ES165 necks are thick/chunky ive had several, the one i play now, is not super slim, but not thick/clubby and the most comfortable of all my guitars, that profile is just perfect, comfy.

The 490R pup is marginally brighter on top than Classic 57 with a pinch more mids

Do you have a sense of which years are chunky vs not? Or if the humbucker one is not and the floating pickup one is or viceversa?


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[hogrider16]

Hogrider 16

Have you considered this one on Reverb? The flame is exquiste and you could likely get it for around 2k.

Gibson ES-165 Herb Ellis Signature Model 2006 Ice Tea Burst Gibson ES-165 Herb Ellis Signature Model 2006 Ice Tea Burst | Reverb

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I looked at all of the ones on eBay. Price and proximity are a factor here. If I can pick it up I can save shipping and might be able to cut a better deal. However, condition and the guitar are the most important factors. I'd rather wait than cheap out and buy a lemon.

[Greentone]

I don't know why some folks think the 165 is a "175 Studio." Every one that I played seemed the equal of the comparable, two-pickup 175, except that it had one pickup and had gold-plated trim.

Being a player of a single-pickup ES-175, I thought the 165 with set pickup was actually pretty cool.

[rmpmcdermott]

I don't know why some folks think the 165 is a "175 Studio." Every one that I played seemed the equal of the comparable, two-pickup 175, except that it had one pickup and had gold-plated trim.

Being a player of a single-pickup ES-175, I thought the 165 with set pickup was actually pretty cool.

Apparently a silk screen logo and 300K volume pot makes it a "studio." I do not agree with this opinion, though.

[sgosnell]

300k ohms has been the standard for Gibson for many years. They may have changed somewhere along the line, I haven't kept up, but older Gibsons will have, or originally had, 300k pots.

[rio]

I don’t buy at all that the 165 is a “studio”. They haven’t cut enough corners for it to be designated as one. Look at the L5 studios, for example, the red and blue ones. No binding, alternate tailpiece that is likely less expensive to make, for inlays etc. I love those guitars, don’t get me wrong, but they are clearly cheaper (parts, labor, not “cheap” as in quality). The 165 doesn’t do any of that, it just doesn’t have an inlayed headstock.

I should add that I don’t like that. I think it should have an inlayed headstock - call me shallow but it would look nicer and it doesn’t make sense that they use the silkscreen logo on the model. But I don’t think in any way that it puts the model in the studio tier. Ultimately it is just semantics and doesn’t matter one bit. If it plays well and sounds good then being a studio or not makes absolutely no difference.


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[Durban]

Do you have a sense of which years are chunky vs not? Or if the humbucker one is not and the floating pickup one is or viceversa?


Not 100% certain, based on several i played and the ones i owned think the early ones 1991- 95 had slightly thicker necks , i had a 1991 the neck was not thin, not bad comfy my was 1997 similar, my current 2000 also 490R is perfect, again not super thin slim but not thick, it just feels right everywhere,

Gibson certainly knew something, they sound good,

The sausage who suggested Es165 Studio 175's is a clown, i have played very many 175's and its not the case. Gibson wanted Herb Ellis name on the Headstock, since Herb had no trussrod cover ( dampener) they put his name in place of inlay.

Inlays cost nothing in terms of the overall cost. Purely marketing.

Who the FCuk wants a Red archtop. Rather like a Pink Ferrari Tasteless.................. a non player for sure.

[Durban]

PS the floating pup ES165 is also great, i prefer the set 490R but both are good,so is the GB10 1980-1989ish floating pup excellent, very warm

Brown lipstick and Red archtops.................................... Yeah

[pingu]

Who the FCuk wants a Red archtop. Rather like a Pink Ferrari Tasteless.................. a non player for sure.

Bruce Forman