Description
The ES-175 is one of Gibson’s classic models, manufactured from 1949 right up to the present day, for many it is the definitive jazz guitar. Strong and versatile enough to withstand life as a working instrument; not as high priced as some archtops thanks to its laminate top; and actually designed as an electric so not overly prone to feedback; it was also the first Gibson to feature the pointed Florentine cutaway which improves upper fret access. The combination of a deep fully hollow maple laminate body and solid mahogany neck creates an incredibly rich and complex tone.
This guitar is in totally original condition; it’s just old enough to have mellowed in tone and yet it plays like new. There’s a tiny bit of finish wear on the volute on the back of the headstock but the body finish is excellent and there isn’t even any metal corrosion. The electrics are noiseless and like new. Gibson’s necks are so fast with their wide low frets you just want to be motoring your speed scales as soon as you pick this thing up, and sliding chords up and down the neck is a breeze.
The ES-175 is actually a far more versatile guitar than many people realise. The bridge humbucker is plenty bright and with thick roundwound strings and good pick attack with give you serious rock’n’roll twang. Steve Howe from Yes has rocked one at stadium volume for his entire career and has a signature model. Roll down the neck volume and you get an almost acoustic tone.
This is a proper working guitar: it gives you the benefits of an older guitar (genuinely aged wood for a more complex tone, the accumulated mojo of 30 years of playing) without getting into the higher prices of historic early models and retaining excellent action and playability of a modern instrument. You can play serious jazz on this instrument from Montgomery to Metheny, but it’s going to give you the versatility to enter other territory when you need to: a true professional.
Features
-
16” wide, 3” deep bound body laminate maple with Florentine cutaway
-
Deep sunburst finish
-
3 ply binding on body, unbound f-holes
-
5 play raised scratchplate
-
2 Gibson humbucker pickups
-
20-fret bound rosewood fingerboard with split parallelogram inlays
-
Three piece mahogany neck
-
Adjustable rosewood Tune-O-Matic bridge
-
Gibson tuners
-
Embossed trapeze tailpiece
-
Gold Gibson crown logo headstock
-
Top hat knobs, 2 volume, 2 tone
-
Original Gibson hard case
Tags
Gibson, es-175, es175, jazz, steve howe, yes, pat metheny, wes montgomery, archtop