Gibson ES-175 Steve Howe Model Opinions?

[CliveR]

I have one. It is a reissue of the '64 ES175 with Grover machine heads, bridge and a larger switch.

[Jabberwocky]

The Steve Howe ES-175 marked the re-introduction of the zigzag tailpiece. It also saw the return of plain laminated maple to the ES-175. It has the gradated sunburst of 1964 with more red in it. A tuner tip is used for the switch selector. The bridge base is MoP bowtie inlaid ebony from the L4CES/L5CES. It is notable for the shallow neck profile of Steve Howe's own 1964 ES-175, not the meatier 1959 neck nor the baseball bat of the 1958.

The neck profile is its biggest differentiator. I don't recall if the pickups are the Classic 57s.

It is a fine ES-175. It was unique in its day for looking the way it did, like a 1964 ES-175 replica. Gibson has since used the zigzag tailpiece and plain maple in later ES-175s. But before the Steve Howe ES-175, the zigzag tailpiece was history and had not been used in new guitars since it was discontinued in the 60s.

[hogrider16]

My Gibson ES-175 Steve Howe Model showed up!

It's everything I dreamed it would be. I've been around long enough to know it's sometimes cheaper to spend more and get what you really want. That was definitely the case this time.

I had to do a quick setup when it arrived, but the action is super low, it plays like a dream and it just sounds fantastic.

Thanks to all for their feedback

[Ray175]

Presumably, like Steve Howe, you're setting it up with the following string gauges : 12, 12, 16, 26, 40, 50 ?

[Jason S]

Presumably, like Steve Howe, you're setting it up with the following string gauges : 12, 12, 16, 26, 40, 50 ?

Is that what he really uses? That would feel really weird.

Love the look of the guitar.

[hogrider16]

Presumably, like Steve Howe, you're setting it up with the following string gauges : 12, 12, 16, 26, 40, 50 ?

Not with these little wimpy rock and roll fingers!

[hogrider16]

Is that what he really uses? That would feel really weird.

Love the look of the guitar.

Thanks. I love it.

[Bluedawg]

My Gibson ES-175 Steve Howe Model showed up!

It's everything I dreamed it would be. I've been around long enough to know it's sometimes cheaper to spend more and get what you really want. That was definitely the case this time.

I had to do a quick setup when it arrived, but the action is super low, it plays like a dream and it just sounds fantastic.

Thanks to all for their feedback

I'm still enjoying my '85 175 that I bought new.

Now that I have some of the "nicer" more expensive Gibson archtops as well, I can compare them and IMHO a good 175 can hold its own with L5s and Super 400s and other archtops of a similar reputation ....

And I think of all that money I could have saved

[Joe Phillips]

I saw Steve Howe promoting this guitar at a show in Long Island when this guitar was being introduced. and one feature of it stuck with me--the beautiful, rich finish on it. Only one other poster mentioned it, but the color had a definite vintage vibe to it, more of a "caramel" look to the lighter hues of the sunburst. It was not the color of the contemporary ES-175, nor was it the color of the first generation ES-165 Herb Ellis model I got when it was introduced. It looks like an homage to the 60s that Gibson absolutely nailed. Congrats on a sweet acquisition.

[wmachine]

Nice! Not that it is that important, but I like the burst you have better than the studio pic. To me, on the studio pic, the transition from black is too sudden and uniform, especially with the red element it has. I like yours a lot more.
There is a similar red tinge in the burst on the 2015 ES-175D '54 reissue. On that model they call it a "Jim Dickinson Burst".

[jzucker]

They are nice guitars. Essentially a modern (thick plated) ES-175 with a zig-zag TP, an L-5 Bridge (in Ebony) with Grover tuners and a weird selector switch. I would not pay a premium for one over a regular ES-175 from the same year. The Grovers add sustain and the Ebony, full contact bridge add brightness.

Like all modern 175's they come from the factory with 10's. IMO, they sound better for jazz with heavier strings and some tweaks are involved to get them playing their best.

Thanks for this info. A friend of mine is selling one and I was curious if it was a lighter build like a real '64 or a heavier build for a rock guy...