Gibson ES-165

**SamBooka** · 03-12-2010, 08:33 PM

CC will go in my Epi EmpReg. I will be CERTAIN to give you more details once it is in. The Emp Reg is now my ho' guitar. Change the brigde, change the strings, change the pickups. I CANT affect the value on it but it is a good guitar so it is a good test platform. When I spoke to VV the plan was to put in the CC and if I didnt like it move to a more traditional P90. Pete was great for giving advice on the pickup. Fast and helpful. To be fair tho, whenever I deal with smaller companies they usually kick ass. Weber, Lollar, Antique Electronics. They all treat me well and as a direct result get my $$$. I wont name the ones who dont. One exception, I have the email of a guy from Fender who is always fast and helpful. I hope he stays a LOOONG time.

When I was looking for for an entry level archtop I tried an Epi Zephyr Regent (new MIK). It was the only guitar that made me go Wow. It was SOOOO warm (thats right, all caps, it was just THAT warm). My concern was with the HB in the neck it would be too dark. I let it pass. Of all the guitars I tried (Gibson, Hofner, Eastman, Washburn, Epis, Ibanez, etc etc etc) it is the one that stuck in my mind. Maybe it is the mahogany (albeit plywood) back, maybe it was just that one guitar. I wont forget it tho.

EDIT: I should not have saved when i did. So I did mucho editing on my last post. Sorry.

**jazzbow** · 03-14-2010, 10:50 AM

the burny es165 pictures I posted earlier seem to be a new line just being imported to the UK, as for their quality I cannot comment. Apparently the burny/fernandez guitar company and others upset the major USA manufacturers some time back so whether they are still quality I do not know.

**Eddie Lang** · 03-15-2010, 01:39 AM

If it were me, I'd get a vintage 175, the ones with only one pup, the years with the p-90 preferably. You can get them for around or under $3000 and I prefer them to the newer Gibsons. But I'm not you...

One advantage is that if you decide to resell it, you shouldn't loose money, maybe even gain some. But to me, the main incentive would be that I like the sound and feel of vintage guitars.

EDIT to add: That being said, the pre-2004 165 (w/ hb pup) would be the one I'd get if I was looking for a newer guitar.

**SamBooka** · 03-15-2010, 09:21 AM

yeah.. anything pre2001 is HB. I am looking at a 96/97.
I definitely wont loose money at the price he is selling it for.
I know that a late 50s p90 is 1500 more now. In 5 years is will be 2500 more so I should act now but at my level of playing it is hard to justify.

**Eddie Lang** · 03-15-2010, 06:09 PM

Originally Posted by SamBooka

but at my level of playing it is hard to justify.

You know, I am one of those who believe a guitar is never too good for any player. In fact, a better guitar may make anyone a better player. It always sounds better and feels better than a cheap guitar, so you don't tire of playing it which makes you better. A friend of mine always says: If you want to make sure a kid will never want to play guitar, buy him a cheap one.

On the other hand, although a guitar is never too good, there is a vast number of guitars I will never be able to outgrow.