1953 Gibson ES-175 – How much is it worth?

[guavajelly]

I found an ad for a 1953 ES 175, all original, natural, single P90 pickup version, good condition. I have no idea what these go for. Maybe you can help?

[Little Jay]

At the moment there are two on Reverb.com, both 1953, natural. One is single PU, the other double. They both have asking prices of over USD 9000.....

"es-175 1953 natural" Gear | Reverb

Gibson ES 175 N 1953 NATURAL | WOODSTORE | Reverb

https://reverb.com/item/36626997-1953-gibson-es-175-dn

[guavajelly]

The one I'm looking at is this: Gibson ES-175N 1953 | Vintage Guitars | Reverb

I know what they ask for on Reverb – I just want to know how much people really pay for these.

[ThatRhythmMan]

I don’t know what they are going for in the EU, but in the US, I would advise someone to not pay over $5000 for a single P90 ES-175N, and that would be for an all original one in exceptionally good condition.

[Little Jay]

The natural ones are much rarer and are prices much more expensive than the sunbursts.

I don’t know what they go for.

[ThatRhythmMan]

In the US that premium would typically be a few hundred dollars for an ES-175. Unlike carved top and back guitars, the wood Gibson used for laminate guitars like this was basically the same. Just the finish was different.

[Crm114]

(edited my post to corrrct the price paid)


I paid $3580 a couple years ago for my ‘53 single pickup in blonde
really great score
really wonderful guitar

good luck

[Woody Sound]

Make a very low offer and see what happens. Worst you can get is "no." Maybe after some back and forth you'll get a price that you can do.

[John A.]

The one I'm looking at is this: Gibson ES-175N 1953 | Vintage Guitars | Reverb

I know what they ask for on Reverb – I just want to know how much people really pay for these.

Did you filter search results for sold listings?

John

[Woody Sound]

Did you filter search results for sold listings?

John

I thought they only show the original asking price, not the sold price. Am I wrong?

[ThatRhythmMan]

If you search the sold listings, Reverb shows the listed price at the the time of sale, which may or may not be the actual sale price. If you search their price guide, you may be able to find actual sale prices, but they only have a limited number of models and years available in the guide. Also, the prices can be markedly skewed by weird deals that people do. This is the closest match I see there.

Gibson ES-175 1954 Sunburst Price Guide | Reverb

[Crm114]

Back a couple years ago when I was looking 5K was the average price so when I found mine I didn’t waste any time haggling
it turned out well

These older 175s used far thinner laminates and are very sweet yet very sturdy

frankly the one in the link is real expensive

[John A.]

I thought they only show the original asking price, not the sold price. Am I wrong?

I thought sold listings showed sale prices (they seem consistently lower than asking prices on live listings), but I could be wrong about that.

John

[ThatRhythmMan]

I thought sold listings showed sale prices (they seem consistently lower than asking prices on live listings), but I could be wrong about that.

John

They are lower because they are the ones that actually sold. Many of the live ones are at prices that will never result in a sale.

[guavajelly]

I found the price overview. These are everywhere between € 1800 und € 4000.

[Fred Archtop]

I found the price overview. These are everywhere between € 1800 und € 4000.

If you are located in France, which I suppose, you won't easily find this guitar for less than 5k€, probably more if you buy it in a shop. Jerôme casanova, in Paris (passage Véro-Dodat, Accueil - Galerie Casanova (galerie-casanova.com), had one for sale around 6 k€ that stayed for a life and never sold. Your only chance is to find a private seller that would like to sale it fast. A friend of mine bought a 1952 ES-175N (P90) plus a nice 1948 L7 for 7 k€.

if you don't mind 17 inches wide guitars and uncut tables, you might consider an ES-300 (GIBSON ES-300 1948 - Galerie Casanova (galerie-casanova.com). Their price is usually lower but they do have a P90 plus a wonderful tone, deeper than an ES-175 from the same era.

Cheers.

[Woody Sound]

I thought sold listings showed sale prices (they seem consistently lower than asking prices on live listings), but I could be wrong about that.

John

I checked a few items I sold in the recent past, and indeed the "Sold" listings only show the asking price, not the actual sale price offered.

[Stringswinger]

The pre-1960 ES-175's were built very light and have a different tone than the 175's that followed. The reissues come close to duplicating that tone, but are not 100 percent in that regard. And there are very few single pickup reissues. Truth be told, there are not that may genuine 1949-1959 ES-175s with either pickup variation in existence, so you are talking about a somewhat rare guitar. 20 years ago, they sold for around $3,000 in the single pickup variation (the two pickup models are more versatile and more valuable). $5,000 for an excellent condition single pickup model sounds like top dollar to me (here in the USA).

[deacon Mark]

George Gruhn and a beauty for sale Blond from 1956 for $6500. I am certainly not one to want the guitar but frankly it is not a bad deal given what those crazy folks on Reverb ask for a lot less guitar.