What is nicer than an ES-175 (in your opinion)?

[Christian Miller]

175s do a thing.

it’s not a question of nice it’s a question of whether you need that tool

[tbeltrans]

I purchased a 175 new back in the late 1990s. It was heavy and always had something rattling. Sometime after purchasing that, I had the chance to play a 1950s 175. It was a completely different experience with no rattles and it was very light weight. So 175s are definitely NOT all equal.

As for the Heritage, I have not liked the feel of the neck on any of the ones I have had the opportunity to play. I can't put my finger on what the problem is, but I just couldn't consider owning one. As for quality of build, I thought they were excellent.

Tony

[ThatRhythmMan]

As a maple topped 575 owner, I have to respectfully disagree with some of your findings.

I think most older 175's actually have more acoustic presence than my 575. This is not necessarily the case with more recent 175's which seem to be built quite a bit heavier. My 575 has a quiet, pleasant acoustic voice, but it's definitely no acoustic guitar.

The top on my 575 is quite thick, and I've had zero feedback problems with it.

This tracks perfectly with my experience also.


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[Gitfiddler]

As a maple topped 575 owner, I have to respectfully disagree with some of your findings.

I think most older 175's actually have more acoustic presence than my 575. This is not necessarily the case with more recent 175's which seem to be built quite a bit heavier. My 575 has a quiet, pleasant acoustic voice, but it's definitely no acoustic guitar.

The top on my 575 is quite thick, and I've had zero feedback problems with it.

Interesting. My findings are based on my '97 and '07 Heritage H575's and '89 ES175. The 175 has Mahogany back/sides which might be a factor in its slightly more muted acoustic sound. The Heritage models have carved Maple top/back/sides.

Each of them have their own unique voice. I love and appreciate the nuances both acoustic and amplified.

[ThatRhythmMan]

Interesting. My findings are based on my '97 and '07 Heritage H575's and '89 ES175. The 175 has Mahogany back/sides which might be a factor in its slightly more muted acoustic sound. The Heritage models have carved Maple top/back/sides.

Each of them have their own unique voice. I love and appreciate the nuances both acoustic and amplified.

Yes, 1949-early 1960s ES-175s are a very different guitar in many ways than one from 1989. The early ones are far lighter and more resonant. Even the 1959 reissues are quite a more heavily built.


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[Marty Grass]

FWIW I have been collecting and selling vintage ES-175's for awhile, but the 1967 Epiphone Howard Roberts I recently acquired knocked my socks off.
Attachment 95451

I had an Epiphone HR from about the same year with a spruce top and ebony board. I wish I remember how good it sounded. Basically it was a L-4 with some different cosmetics, a maple neck, and a roundish sound hole and mounted pickup.

Recently I played my Gibson HR Custom, which is a very different instrument. The body is all laminates. I was surprised at how good it sounds acoustically.

[Lppier]

Thanks for the responses , I appreciate this forum for not even having one snarky remark! Bunch of classy people here!

[marcwhy]

That's a fair point. He's switched back and forth between those models over the years.

Here's a 175. It's still Joe.

Yep, Joe played a bunch of stuff, and always sounded like Joe!

[I took lessons for a bit with him in So Cal; his gorgeous Benedetto was sitting there on a stand, but he played the L-4 during the lesson. I was playing a CB Hill laminate at the time (great instrument!), and when Joe tried it out, it sounded like a different guitar than what I played!]

[Max405]

Sorry I am late to the thread.
My opinion, fwiw, you can probably find a number of 175 copies (or L5 copies for that matter), that are nicer. Unfortunately Gibson has left a lot of room for improvement. Heck just get a used 175 and change the bridge to a Faber (thanks Vin) and put covers over the pickup springs, and you can have a better 175 or L5. But to me nothing can ever be better.
I’ve owned the Eastman copy, I think it’s called the 371 or 372. That was a REALLY nice guitar. Lighter build, same neck, MUCH better pickguard. Very vibrant guitar. Depending on what you like, it could be perceived as better. And I certainly understand the need to save a few bucks, believe me, I’ve been there.
One thing that opened my eyes.. one day, I’d like to get myself an L4ces. But seeing that natural 575 up top, has made me think about that.. I wish they made one with the mahogany back. Maybe they did.
JD

[Marty Grass]

Here's Alex Skolnick playing new-jazz on a H-575. It sounds like a good electric.

Here's his playing with better definition. I love the sound.

This is him at his zenith. Not jazz.

[Marty Grass]

David Becker on H-575

On vintage L-5 but with heavy reverb

Mimi Fox on ES-175

Mimi on H-575 with maple top and with spruce top and with a Sweet 16

[Marty Grass]

I listen to these artists and can only conclude that 98% of what I like would come through on a variety of guitar models.

[Marty Grass]

Sorry I am late to the thread.
My opinion, fwiw, you can probably find a number of 175 copies (or L5 copies for that matter), that are nicer. Unfortunately Gibson has left a lot of room for improvement. Heck just get a used 175 and change the bridge to a Faber (thanks Vin) and put covers over the pickup springs, and you can have a better 175 or L5. But to me nothing can ever be better.
I’ve owned the Eastman copy, I think it’s called the 371 or 372. That was a REALLY nice guitar. Lighter build, same neck, MUCH better pickguard. Very vibrant guitar. Depending on what you like, it could be perceived as better. And I certainly understand the need to save a few bucks, believe me, I’ve been there.
One thing that opened my eyes.. one day, I’d like to get myself an L4ces. But seeing that natural 575 up top, has made me think about that.. I wish they made one with the mahogany back. Maybe they did.
JD

Here's a H-575 with a spruce top and a mahogany body. 2006 Heritage - H575 MH Carved Spruce Top - Natural | Reverb

[Stringswinger]

Mimi Fox on ES-175

Mimi on H-575 with maple top and with spruce top and with a Sweet 16

In 2008 and 2008, I did a bunch of concerts with Mimi Fox at Djangofest Mill Valley and Djangofest Northwest. Mimi played a spruced top Heritage 575 through an AER Compact 60 and got great tone. Her guitar was pretty much an L-4CES without the Gibson bling. Certainly a Heritage 575 or a Gibson L-4CES are suitable replacements for a 175, but they are carved top guitars and do have a different tone. Not better or worse, just different.

Here is a picture of me and Doug Martin (Gitpicker on this forum) playing with Mimi (Doug and I were both playing Favino guitars for those shows. Doug eventually sold his Favino and bought mine):

[burchyk]

I don't consider H575 a substitute to ES-175. They play and sound different. Had a mid-90s 575. My ES-175D VOS is much more resonant despite lam vs carved, different body materials, different neck profile, different body depth, different pickups, different frets. The build quality is similar.

ES-175s vary a lot in quality and character. No substitute for trying them out.

[Max405]

In 2008 and 2008, I did a bunch of concerts with Mimi Fox at Djangofest Mill Valley and Djangofest Northwest. Mimi played a spruced top Heritage 575 through an AER Compact 60 and got great tone. Her guitar was pretty much an L-4CES without the Gibson bling. Certainly a Heritage 575 or a Gibson L-4CES are suitable replacements for a 175, but they are carved top guitars and do have a different tone. Not better or worse, just different.
Here is a picture of me and Doug Martin (Gitpicker on this forum) playing with Mimi (Doug and I were both playing Favino guitars for those shows. Doug eventually sold his Favino and bought mine):

SS, thanks for sharing that bro. You,ve done it all. A real life uncle bugs! Keep it going buddy. You have plenty left in the tank.

Here's a H-575 with a spruce top and a mahogany body. 2006 Heritage - H575 MH Carved Spruce Top - Natural | Reverb

Thank you MG. That one has a nasty crack near the Jack. It’s good to know the 575’s are available in the same mahogany and spruce carved construction as the L4’s once were. I’m sure it’s a great guitar otherwise. I wonder if it has the same tendency to get under your skin like my Golden Eagle has? Man, I love that guitar.
JD

[mad dog]

"Nicer" could mean different things to different players. I'd love to own a 175 someday. Until then, IMO, Guild is a worthy alternative. Thinking USA made X-175s. Not the same as Gibson 175s. Different, and (to me) equally compelling. I tried a 70s X-175 long ago. As good an archtop as I've had in my hands, but could not afford it at the time. My '61 Guild X-175 is rather different from the 70s examples. To my taste (due to the single coil Franz p/us), the earlier one is even better.

[Marinero]

For example, I like my Tele with chambers ... :-)

Hi, K,
I remember a recording you did on that instrument for JGF and very few musicians could differentiate the sound of your Tele from a certified archtop. The electric guitar is a unique instrument in that so much of the sound can be controlled through the controls on your instrument and those on the amplifier. However, most guitarists, don't understand that good technique and understanding the total tone palette of the guitar create a musician's unique sound . . . not just the equipment. Playing a purely acoustic instrument is a great way to understand these possibilities and enhance your electric guitar sound.
Marinero