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€5000 is a very good healthy budget. You saved a long time for it; don't be in a hurry to blow it on the wrong thing or at the wrong price.
I'm going to throw out a left-field suggestion. If it is a lively 1959 Reissue ES-175 VOS you seek, you can't seem to find one and you require one because life is too short to be waiting check out the Sadowsky Jim Hall or the Westville Aruba. You can find both at Walkin Japan, WALKiN' | ※gmail等のフリーメールをご利用で、弊社からの返信が未着の場合は、迷惑メールフォルダのチェックを お願い致します。. Masaki-san, the proprietor, writes English well and is a straight-up honest dude.
Since Gibson stopped making the ES-175 in 2019, the price has gone up on used ones and they have become increasingly thin on the ground. I guess folk who have them are holding onto them. Try to buy one from a reputable dealer in the USA. Why reputable USA dealers? Because there is a rumour that Gibson ship out their lemons overseas. OK, let's just say that Gibson shipped more ES-175s domestically than overseas and of those shipped domestically, the lemons are caught and returned to Gibson. Overseas, the Gibson distributor merely recycles them to the next dealer. Note that the overseas distributorships are independent businesses not owned by Gibson and so warranty is offered by them and not by Gibson. In the USA, Gibson are their own distributor and so the warranty is honoured by Gibson themselves. Big difference where it comes to sucking on a lemon. I recall JGF member Chazmo of the UK ranting about the faulty new ES-175s he found in the UK at different Gibson dealers or stockists a few years ago.
So, do be careful to watch your €5000 and spend it wisely. A wrong move could see you regret and hate the ES-175 that is the lemon.
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07-08-2022 07:39 AM
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I like the way my 68 ES175 sounds but it has a silly little skinny neck. I bought it through the forum for 2k gbp a while back.
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Once you get the jones for a 175, nothing else will really do. I bought one new in 1981. It had a mahogany body and neck (despite what the internet says). It was a good guitar, but for various reasons I sold it ~1988. I have always regretted it.
Fast forward to 2020 and I was finally able to get another 175 at a reasonable price—an ‘88 also mahogany.
It is, from my standpoint, a perfect guitar, despite some surface imperfections caused by age. The combination of playability and sound and that indeterminate thunk is pretty unique.
If you are not sure you might like a 175, one of the other many fine guitars would probably do. Heck, I have a couple of 175 “substitutes” by Peerless and Godin that are good guitars, but they’re not a 175. So if you’re sure you need a 175, go for it.
Prices on Reverb are up a bit from when I last looked—start in the mid-$3000’s and go up from there. For the best bang for your buck and a very good warm tone, the 1980’s mahogany 175s seem to be the best deal. Ignore the Norlin factor (pre1983) if you have a chance to try it out beforehand.
Anyway, good luck!
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do not forget spare $100 - $300 for a good luthier, and next few days go to him with the instrument, it is mandatory, and will be your best investment :-)
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Love my 2014 '59 RI, and I have a Sadowsky Jim Hall that I bought first, thinking I could get a "modern" and more well built 175.... But, as nice as the Sadowsky is, it does NOT have the "thump" or the full frequency of tones that feeds that need for that special, 175 tone. It's like someone pushed the "loudness" button. And, it has the fat 50's neck, which just works so well for me. I also have a '97 WesMo, which is also a wonderful guitar, but it's not a 175 either. Not better or worse, just not THAT tone.
If I didn't have one already and could not find one without spending 10K for a vintage 50's/early 60's model, I would seriously look at one of the Walkin Archtop Tribute versions from Japan - I've never played one, but they look and sound great on the demo videos with a few Japanese players and go for less than $2K. I'm still thinking I might pick one up, just to have a single pu P90. Those early 50's models used to be available for $3 to 4K, but not anymore.
Shop carefully, but go for it. There are lots of wonderful guitars in the world, but there is something strangely wonderful about a good 175 and if you can swing it, you won't regret it!
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Danny has a Peerless? I’m impressed! I miss the Peerless Cremona. Nice guitars!
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Dr. Jeff, not Danny.
Originally Posted by 2bornot2bop
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My 175 is a 2017 Memphis Natural. It is heavier than previous iterations with it’s thicker laminates and braces and it has a pinned bridge. Supposedly reduces feedback. Love it! My favorite electric by far. It is the best 175 I’ve ever played. It is also the only 175 I’ve ever even picked up so what do I know? Paid USD2500.
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To the OP, listen to this advice. It’s the best advice you can get, given to you by a GREAT pro player. Originally Posted by Stringswinger
The 175 is a benchmark. If you don’t get one, you will alway wonder what it would be like. And if you don’t like it, there is ALWAYS a buyer for one.
Joe D
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I bought my mid-70s 175 from a rockabilly guy. My tech sorted out the action and adjusted the pickup height and it’s fine now.
I tend to play my Tele more.
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OK OP I have had three 175s in my days. And currently a PM200.
FWIW although I love it and would not trade it a MIJ PM200 though a great guitar is in no way a 175. It’s got it’s own mojo, and the combination of the all maple and the Silent 58 pickup is a more ‘acoustic’ live sound than a 175. I had to change pickups, but even still it lacks the certain something of a 175. Try one, it’s a good axe.b
My favorite and best electric sounding 175 was a ‘79 Norlin! Loved that one, loved to gig with it. Sadly the truss rod decided it would be better in two pieces, so away she went.
I tried twice in the early 90’s with new ones. Neither was exciting in sound, playability or finish.
I do not hate Gibson (with an L5 and a Tal how could I). But my experiences over I guess 4-5 guitars were bad. Finish, fit, frets, sound you name it. There are two types of people in this world: Gibson owners who’ve never got a dog, and those like me all too familiar with the woof woofs.
Bottom line? Caveat Emptor… try in person before you buy, or have a firm return policy
Go get it)
jk
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This is a very insightful experience, thanks for sharing. What in your experience characterizes a "dog" ES 175 sound-wise? Originally Posted by jazzkritter
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Well gotta caveat this as it’s my opinion and frequently my opinions are not mainstream. To say the least.
I found that rather than the clean ‘thunk’ one was muddy. The other had a neck twist at 12. A Tal Farlow thunks but yet has a solid upper register sound, it has a brightness to the thunk. Again to my ears. This did not. Both very early 90’s, IIRC a 91 and 94. Both mahogany back and sides. Gibson was just getting back on its feet after HenryJ came in ‘87. My 89 L5 is great, go figure.
My other weird Gibson experience was that time period also. A 93 350T that had a bad neck finish that as you played it got sticky. I have read that’s a common problem 90-94ish. Three times to the factory finally gave up.
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Dunno if they’d do international but check this:
Gibson ES-175D c.1995 | Reverb
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At 7.1 pounds, that is probably a stellar example of a 175. My 97 weighs 7 pounds exactly. Originally Posted by jazzkritter
I have bought two guitars from that dealer over the years. They are a solid and dependable shop. Buy with confidence.
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And thats a real looker!!!
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I haven't traded with Bernunzio but came close several years back when in need of a plectrum banjo. They, Mandolin Brothers (RIP), Intermountain Guitar and Banjo (now on-line banjo only) and Elderly were the experts. Glad to see them still around - 50 years in business!
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Good luck with your search for a ES175, I have a 2001 and love it.
I did a quick search and found this one in the UK, I don't know about the Bozeman Factory but I am sure someone can educate us?
Anyway it looks very nice to me.
Gibson ES 175 1997 Bozeman factory mint condition. £2,850.00
andyb
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That guitar was not made in Bozeman, it was made in Memphis. Some seller's are quite ignorant about their stuff. And that is why Caveat Emptor always applies Originally Posted by andyb
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Partagas2b , Do your due diligence, ask lots of questions. Here's a nice one from 2003. Price shown includes 10% Japan sales tax that you do not pay when it is exported to you. It is about JPY450K or USD3250. Use the information at your own risk:
GIBSON ES-175 AN 2003
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Bro, sometimes when you do the serial number lookup, Bozeman comes up incorrectly as the manufacturing location. Gibson’s serial number nomenclature has changed so many times, it even confuses the computer! Not sure if this is the case here..
JD
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Courtesy of Google Translate:
It is a large classic model that represents Gibson's full acoustic, which is the most popular in the jazz scene.
The body is maple, the neck is mahogany, the fingerboard is rosewood, and the pickup is mounted with two of his 57 CLASSICs.
This time, it is in stock in beautiful conditions where you can see how it was handled very carefully. In the vicinity of the top pickguard, you can see some minor scratches that can be seen by holding it over the light. In addition, a slight weather check can be seen around the front pickup. On the back, you can see some dents about the size of rice grains from scratches that can be seen by holding it over the light.
There are slight scratches on the 4th to 5th floors behind the neck. Of course, there is no problem with the performance.
Regarding plated parts, there is cloudiness and plating pain.
The neck is straight and in good condition, and the truss rod is functioning properly.
There is a slight dent on the frets, but there is still enough height left. In addition, there is no problem with the electrical system because there is no gully in the pot.
There are small dents, slight scratches, weather checks, etc. on the whole, but the gloss of the paint remains, and it is a beautiful instrument set up with good playability.
There is a crisp, clean live sound, and the performance with the front microphone sounds with a glossy warm tone.
A beautiful musical instrument with a beautiful flame maple!
If you are looking for something in good condition, please take this opportunity to consider it.
Weight: 3.25kg Comes with an original hard case.
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Andyb, it reads Bozeman, MT (Acoustic)/Nashville, TN (Electric).
The ES-175D would be considered an Electric. And it was made in Memphis, TN. But close enough to Nashville for our purpose...
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Bernunzio's is good people. Bought my 1966 Epiphone Howard Roberts used from them. And I'd go directly to Bernunzio's unless you like paying more: Originally Posted by jazzkritter
Bernunzio Uptown Music
$3250 directly from Bernunzio's.
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Jabbs, I am thinking that a 97 would have been made in Nashville actually. I know that once Memphis was up and running, most ES guitars were made in Memphis with a few made in the Nashville Custom shop. But according to the Wiki page on Gibson, Memphis came on line in 2000. So my earlier comment stands corrected. Originally Posted by Jabberwocky
The ES-175 is and always was an electric guitar. Gibson Bozeman is an acoustic guitar facility.
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