Here's an interesting '56 ES-175... mixed parts?

[Steve Z]

So I've been watching this Reverb listing of a 1956 ES-175 TDN. Some interesting oddities that had me going down a rabbit hole trying to determine what is going on with this guitar. Emailing with the owner, who purchased the guitar in 2019 there was some sort of restoration to the guitar; however, the owner is not sure what was done to the guitar... his info appears to be based on what the shop told him when he purchased the guitar.

This is what I have so far...

• Serial number and orange oval inside body sticker indicate '56
• Headstock logo appears to be from early-mid 60s
• based on incorrect headstock logo, assume the headstock binding may not be a custom ordered feature
• The neck appears for be pre-1955 based on only 3 frets past the last fret marker... yet another year of parts. I believe Gibson fret numbers changed in '55.
• The headstock shape appears to more resemble a pre-1955 headstock shape
• Fret nibs are present, though I do not believe that '50s ES-175 neck binding was over the frets... perhaps someone can provide better info.
• Tailpiece is not original, perhaps bridge not original as well.
• Overspray on neck and likely body

Added based on forum member comments from below posts (appreciate the info)...

• pick guard bracket nut looked odd... may not be original.

• Speed Knobs 1953-55
• 1955 or earlier neck because of fret number (19 vs 20)
• pickguard nut should be nickel flat cap not acorn nut
• bridge saddle not original
• 1960's switch tip (original was amber bakelite)
• 1969-1984 logo on headstock
• early '60-64 Gibson case
• 1956 tuners
• frets are original to neck
• crown motif in pre 1965 position

My current guess is that this is a '56 with a replaced neck from pre-1955 and an added mid-60s headstock overlay with added binding...?
Any additional thoughts from our Gibson experts here on the forum?


Reverb posting...
Gibson ES-175D 1956 | Gus's Gear Bazaar | Reverb

(pics from listing...)

[skiboyny]

Looks like a different neck. Any signs of it being changed out. L7 perhaps?

[Steve Z]

Looks like a different neck. Any signs of it being changed out. L7 perhaps?

Good question. Hard to tell if the scale is 24 3/4 or 25 1/2 from the pictures.

EDIT... upon looking at different 50s and 60s L7s, the neck is not from an L7. L7 necks have 4 frets below the last fret marker. This guitar only has 3 frets below the last marker which matches early 1955 or earlier ES-175 necks. The fret nibs are still a mystery.

[customxke]

Wrong tailpiece, nut on the pick guard bracket is wrong, binding on headstock is suspect, knob placement looks off to me, but could be from lens distortion.

[skiboyny]

Good question. Hard to tell if the scale is 24 3/4 or 25 1/2 from the pictures.

I had a look at the listing if you zoom in the neck joint looks to be suspect it would also explain the scrap in the cutaway. My vote is changed out neck. Tailpiece is not original I don't think.

[Steve Z]

Wrong tailpiece, nut on the pick guard bracket is wrong, binding on headstock is suspect, knob placement looks off to me, but could be from lens distortion.

• I did note the incorrect tailpiece.
• Headstock binding not original if the faceplate is not original
• I thought the pickguard bracket nut looked odd as well, though I found one on another from the mid 50s that was similar based on the odd angled photo. Perhaps it is incorrect, not certain.
• Knobs appeared in correct position based on looking at several other guitars, though possible it was a single then converted to double.

[Steve Z]

I had a look at the listing if you zoom in the neck joint looks to be suspect it would also explain the scrap in the cutaway. My vote is changed out neck. Tailpiece is not original I don't think.

I definitely agree that the guitar had a neck replacement. The pre-1955 fret number and the early - mid '60s headstock logo are a mystery... hmmm....

I love this sort of detective sleuthing. I could spend hours picking apart the smallest details

[wintermoon]

"though possible it was a single then converted to double"

I think you can rule that out the label is clearly marked D

[Easy2grasp]

Let's see...
-!956 SN
-Speed Knobs 1953-55
-1955 or earlier neck because of fret number (19 vs 20)
-headstock binding like Metheny's
-should have simple nickel trapeze style tailpiece
-pickguard nut should be nickel flat cap not acorn nut
-bridge saddle not original
-1960's switch tip (original was amber bakelite)
-1969-1984 logo on headstock
-early '60-64 Gibson case
-1956 tuners
-frets are original to neck
-crown motif in pre 1965 position

I would guess this guitar succumbed to a headstock fracture that damaged the holly overlay (sometimes seen in ES-175's and Gibson solid bodies of older vintage). It was probably a factory repair 1969-1984. Maybe the original logo didn't survive the removal and they had to use a new one, but still put the crown in a vintage position?

[Steve Z]

Let's see...
-!956 SN
-Speed Knobs 1953-55
-1955 or earlier neck because of fret number (19 vs 20)
-headstock binding like Metheny's
-should have simple nickel trapeze style tailpiece
-pickguard nut should be nickel flat cap not acorn nut
-bridge saddle not original
-1960's switch tip (original was amber bakelite)
-1969-1984 logo on headstock
-early '60-64 Gibson case
-1956 tuners
-frets are original to neck
-crown motif in pre 1965 position

I would guess this guitar succumbed to a headstock fracture that damaged the holly overlay (sometimes seen in ES-175's and Gibson solid bodies of older vintage). It was probably a factory repair 1969-1984. Maybe the original logo didn't survive the removal and they had to use a new one, but still put the crown in a vintage position?

Thanks for the info. I had some of the items, but definitely not the finer details. Definitely a real mix of different year parts. Very interesting player grade guitar.