Just bought a '93 Gibson 175 from George Gruhn's shop

**nevershouldhavesoldit** · 01-01-2022, 01:23 PM

That is one seriously fine guitar! My trusty ‘60 175DN was a great companion for many years - but she’d be hiding her plain vanilla wood in shame next to your gorgeous example. I first bought a guitar from Gruhn’s in the ‘90s - the entire operation was first rate, and AFAIK it still is.

As I recall, Jim Triggs was in charge of their shop the first time we visited. I noticed a beautiful blond archtop on the wall with a name on the headstock (Triggs) that I didn’t recognize. George explained that it had been made by the person who oversaw their repairs, maintenance and restorations. It was a wonderful guitar and IIRC was priced at $1000. I foolishly passed on it, as I’d just switched to 7 strings and needed an archtop 7. Gruhn always had / has great value in great guitars and I trust them completely.

**bluejaybill** · 01-01-2022, 02:51 PM

Originally Posted by 73Fender

Congrats and good luck on the incoming. FWW there is an old thread on TGP forum about that early 90s era at Gibson. With ex employees posting as well. I have a 93 LP Studio that is special.

Gibson supposedly was really trying to up their game. Many of their guitars were painted by Tom Murphy during that period. Even the cheaper ones.

I bet you’ll get a good one.

Yes, I have a '94 R8, first year of issue. Said to be a Murphy paint job, but it's a "plain top" so the color is good but no flame. Which is fine with me.

It's a great guitar, but I didn't know that era was supposed to be a golden period. Even on this one a luthier had to heat up the neck and straighten it, now it plays like a dream. So not without it's flaws!

**Stringswinger** · 01-01-2022, 03:02 PM

JZ,

From those pictures, it looks like you scored a keeper. I would move that strap pin (I hate that Martin position, back of the heel for me). The inscribed tailpiece is part of the history of that guitar and is cool in it's own way. I would also replace the TOM with a wood saddle, but I just like that old school 175 sound (and all the old 175's had wood saddles!).

The 90's necks are slim by comparison with the Gibson 175 necks made after 2000. I like that and the heels are slimmer in that era as well. The cutaway is deeper than the 175's of the earlier eras (great for upper fret access). Those early 57 classic pickups are dark and creamy (right up my alley, but others might want more "detail").

The fretwire is tall, and is a bit squared rather than rounded. Once I got used to that, it was fine. My 97 is now 25 years old and has yet to see any checking in the lacquer. Both the blonde finish and the binding have ambered nicely.

My 97 was a special build for Peter Busboom, a German fusion guitarist who had an endorsement deal with Gibson. Peter never played it, solidbodies were his thing, so I traded him a 78 Les Paul deluxe for it (in 2009). That was a win-win. I got rid of a cherry-sunburst, mini-humbuckered, voluted Norlin Les Paul that had a 6 piece maple top (it looked like a puzzle) and I got a virtually unplayed Blonde 175 that has become my all time favorite archtop guitar. Peter got a Les Paul, that was more suited to his style of play. I don't think Peter played my 97 175 more than a few hours in the 12 years that he owned it.

Here is hoping that you found the 175 of your dreams! I will warn you that if you play a flamed, blonde 175 on gigs, be prepared to have folks come up to the bandstand and tell you how beautiful your guitar is.

**vinnyv1k** · 01-01-2022, 03:03 PM

Beautiful 175. I never understood strap buttons on the round part of the heel. It restricts high up fret access. Flat side of the heel yes. On a laminate the best place IMO is on the body under the heel as their is a solid block there. On a 2 piece back though might be risky with the seam.
I like how Guild and Borys placed it. On the rim with a reinforcement block on the inside of the rim.

At least it is on the side of the heel and not at high noon.

A lot of guys like them on the heel though. We are all different. No wrong or right just personal choice.
Mark Campellone sends me pics of his builds and I see a lot of them mounted at 12:00 on the heel.
I'm old I don't play standing. Don't need a strap anymore.

**jzucker** · 01-01-2022, 03:10 PM

Originally Posted by vinnyv1k

Beautiful 175. I never understood strap buttons on the round part of the heel. It restricts high up fret access. Flat side of the heel yes. On a laminate the best place IMO is on the body under the heel as their is a solid block there. On a 2 piece back though might be risky with the seam.
I like how Guild and Borys placed it. On the rim with a reinforcement block on the inside of the rim.

At least it is on the side of the heel and not at high noon.

A lot of guys like them on the heel though. We are all different. No wrong or right just personal choice.
Mark Campellone sends me pics of his builds and I see a lot of them mounted at 12:00 on the heel.
I'm old I don't play standing. Don't need a strap anymore.

Last 175 I bought from Joe V, he had installed the strap button where guild does except there was no block there. I left that but put a second one under the neck heel.

**vinnyv1k** · 01-01-2022, 03:48 PM

Originally Posted by jzucker

Last 175 I bought from Joe V, he had installed the strap button where guild does except there was no block there. I left that but put a second one under the neck heel.

Best place IMO under the neck heel.

**bluejaybill** · 01-01-2022, 04:53 PM

Originally Posted by vinnyv1k

Beautiful 175. I never understood strap buttons on the round part of the heel. It restricts high up fret access. Flat side of the heel yes. On a laminate the best place IMO is on the body under the heel as their is a solid block there. On a 2 piece back though might be risky with the seam.
I like how Guild and Borys placed it. On the rim with a reinforcement block on the inside of the rim.

At least it is on the side of the heel and not at high noon.

A lot of guys like them on the heel though. We are all different. No wrong or right just personal choice.
Mark Campellone sends me pics of his builds and I see a lot of them mounted at 12:00 on the heel.
I'm old I don't play standing. Don't need a strap anymore.

Yes, I like where Borys puts his, on the rim, as well. I had Mark Campellone put a block under the rim for me to add a strap button, but I haven't wanted to mar the rim yet! Maybe after I get my first ding...but that position, like on a Les Paul, is the best for balance. I find I like a strap even when sitting down, I often get up to adjust something or get music etc. Ot just to stretch!

Back to Jack, excellent looking 175! Play it to pieces!

**Doctor Jeff** · 01-01-2022, 06:28 PM

I must have missed that it was a blonde. With gold jewelry nonetheless...kind of like the Charlize Theron of guitars.

That is one of the most beautiful guitars I've laid eyes on recently.

It's worth whatever you paid for it!

**skykomishone** · 01-01-2022, 09:35 PM

That's crazy beautiful. It has to sound beautiful too.

**sgosnell** · 01-02-2022, 11:01 PM

There appears to be engraving on the trussrod cover, the pickups, and the tailpiece, but I can't make it out, even at the maximum zoom I can easily achieve. What do they say?

**jzucker** · 01-02-2022, 11:23 PM

birth and retirement dates

Just bought a '93 Gibson 175 from George Gruhn's shop-pickups-jpg

Originally Posted by sgosnell

There appears to be engraving on the trussrod cover, the pickups, and the tailpiece, but I can't make it out, even at the maximum zoom I can easily achieve. What do they say?

**sgosnell** · 01-02-2022, 11:39 PM

Looks like someone got a nice retirement gift, better than a watch. I think the tailpiece engraving is "x8 years of loyal service". Can't make out the first number, but I would bet it's either a 2 or a 3. I got a 175 as a retirement gift from my children, but it was a plain Epi model, not a gold-plated Gibson. I like it anyway.

**Marty Grass** · 01-03-2022, 08:17 AM

Best of luck!

This may not be a popular view, but I absolutely judge each guitar individually. I read about golden periods for various models and have seen many exceptions.

The best ES-175 I had was from the Norlin era. Does that mean it came from the best run of 175s? Not at all.

Talking to the guys in the spray booth, they had metrics to meet. They had to be both fast and good. The same with setups and fret filing. And the same with binding.

I would respect Gruhn's word on an instrument more than its birthday. It's taken quite a few years to see this clearly.

**Marty Grass** · 01-03-2022, 08:32 AM

I've had a few instruments with that strap lock position. The advantage with a deep body is that it requires less left wrist flexion and tendon stress.

I've used a leather strap like this in those situations. Well-Hung Old School Leather Guitar Strap Locks 2021 Various | Reverb

This particular brand of straps is huskier than need be, but it doesn't get in the way of playing and doesn't require additional drilling.

**jzucker** · 01-03-2022, 08:49 AM

Originally Posted by Marty Grass

I've had a few instruments with that strap lock position. The advantage with a deep body is that it requires less left wrist flexion and tendon stress.

I've used a leather strap like this in those situations. Well-Hung Old School Leather Guitar Strap Locks 2021 Various | Reverb

This particular brand of straps is huskier than need be, but it doesn't get in the way of playing and doesn't require additional drilling.

That's a good point and thanks for the tip on the old school strap. The disadvantage of that position is that it tips the guitar's top toward the ground so while it makes for an easier left hand wrist position, it makes for an awkward picking hand position IMO.

not a fan of strap locks either...

**John A.** · 01-03-2022, 09:07 AM

Originally Posted by jzucker

That's a good point and thanks for the tip on the old school strap. The disadvantage of that position is that it tips the guitar's top toward the ground so while it makes for an easier left hand wrist position, it makes for an awkward picking hand position IMO.

not a fan of strap locks either...

I have that strap button position on one of my guitars (gypsy jazz style acoustic similar body dimensions to a 175, though lighter). The guitar doesn't tip, and I don't notice any difference in hand position vs other positions. The strap doesn't get in the way, either. So I don't think it's worth worrying about. Worst case, you don't like it and you reposition it.

You're gonna love this guitar. That's an order

**sgosnell** · 01-03-2022, 12:00 PM

I have a few of those leather straplocks. They work, but one stuck to the finish of a guitar, and when I removed it, it took the finish under it with it. I don't use them any longer. I should have put a felt washer between the guitar and the leather, which might have prevented the damage, but I didn't.

**Woody Sound** · 01-03-2022, 01:20 PM

The gold hardware over the natural finish is stunning.

**jzucker** · 01-03-2022, 06:44 PM

by the way, gruhn informed me not to open the case for 24 hours after receiving it. Interesting because their evaluation period is 24 hours after receiving the instrument. I requested an extra 24 hours and they granted it. But it's kind of weird, lol...

**GNAPPI** · 01-03-2022, 07:40 PM

I also handled a Norlin era 175 in blonde... It was the RATTIEST git I've ever played, I felt like I came out of a sewer after playing it. Severe sweat stains all over it but that sound! It was like none I played before or since. Alas the price was stupid high and I left the store to decontaminate myself and the car.

When I was all clean and shiny I slept on it and called the store, and it was sold.

I love my 95 but I never forgot the Norlin.

Best of luck Jack, and I generally agree the early 90's 175's were more top notch than other decades I played.

I hope you post some bits of you playing it soon.

**Easy2grasp** · 01-05-2022, 09:24 AM

Well I think you know where I stand regarding your purchase, Jack. I've never had an ES-175 that I haven't regretted selling and I have carelessly sold 4 over the years. I think I have learned my lesson. But now I must stop buying them. Which is sad because there are few things in this world as great as a NGD with an ES-175. Now I will go soothe myself and stare at my collection and try to decide which is my favourite. This changes daily. I love my 175's. (And my L-4C).

Enjoy it and make it your own! Put that strap button where you want it, etc. If you want to swap out the tailpiece for one that isn't engraved there is this on Reverb right now...Gibson NOS Vintage Tailpiece. Es 175. /. L4 1970 Gold | | Reverb (or else retire from somewhere after the correct number of years)

Honestly it is beautiful as it is. The gold and the blonde...wow.

**jzucker** · 01-06-2022, 08:18 AM

got the guitar yesterday afternoon. It was killing me but I left it in the box until 8 hours had gone by, then removed it from the box and left it in the case until this morning. Finally opened it the case, tuned it up.

And it's great! One of the best 175s I've ever owned or played. Plays great too. No tailrise. About the only issue is that strap button placement. My palm hits it at about the 11th fret. It hits the strap too but I think it's actually hitting the strap button that bothers me the most. I'll leave it there for a while. it's annoying but not so bad I feel compelled to move it right away. John A was right that it doesn't tip the guitar forward.

Anyway, purchasing a guitar from gruhn is highly recommended. Extremely great experience and very happy with this instrument. More later...

**John A.** · 01-06-2022, 08:35 AM

A worried nation breathes a deep sigh of relief. Once again, there is an ES-175 in Zuckerville and all is right with the world. (Except for, you know, some other stuff ...).