Vintage Gibson ES-175D Sunburst 1965

Vintage Gibson ES-175D 1965 sunburst

The Gibson ES-175 is the most popular cutaway jazz guitar of all time. With its clean cut looks, iconic design and superb playability and tone, you can immediately see why it has the status it does amongst jazz guitarists in particular. Introduced in 1949, the ES-175 was the first model to be fitted with a humbucking pickup (in 1957) and it remains in the Gibson catalog to this day. With world class guitarists such as Joe Pass, Jim Hall, Steve Howe and Pat Metheny amongst its most famous players you know that this guitar is something special the second you take it out of the case.

The ES-175D (double pickup configuration) is just an incredible instrument to behold with a never equaled design and an almost 3D quality to its sound even when played acoustically. The combination of the ‘D’ profile neck and Gibson 24 ¾” scale length, make the fingerboard an absolute dream to play in all registers and access to the upper frets is incredibly smooth with the beautifully cut Florentine cutaway.

How does this ES-175D sound?

As you might expect from an instrument so very popular with famous jazz guitarists, this vintage Gibson ES-175D guitar excels in producing rich, warm jazz tones in every respect. Chordal passages seem to just leap off the fretboard in true Joe Pass style and single-line soloing on the ES-175D is about as close to double-cream richness as you can get on a jazz guitar. Yes, this guitar has THAT tone. The surprise with the twin pickup configuration however, is that this guitar is equally capable of getting into respectable rock territory. If you think of ‘Fragile’ era Steve Howe tones you’ll get an idea of what we mean there. Very impressive.

There are some guitars that you just can’t put down once you begin to play them and this instrument is in that category.

Condition report

Overall, the guitar is in really good original condition. The sunburst is strong and unfaded, and the finish has aged to present a very fine vintage patina. The mark you can see in the photo on the back of the headstock must have been a fingerprint as its no longer there.

The serial number is 513xxx, which Gibson used in both 1965 and 1968, however, the lightness in weight, the feel and open playability make it a 65. The fact that it has nickel-plated tuners and chrome-plated p/up covers and tailpiece means it was made in Gibson’s transition period from nickel to chrome, which was the year 1965.

The case is correct for the period, but it’s not a Gibson case. It’s possible it was supplied by the dealer as a less expensive alternative so it could be the case originally supplied with the guitar.

Lots of our customers enquire about the neck, and there’s no simple answer. We like the feel of this neck, it’s not a small neck and has a well-rounded “D” profile. It measures 1.569 inches at the nut, a touch over Gibson’s specification for the year of 1 9/16″.

If you want one of the most famous instruments ever built by Gibson, crave tone heaven and want to be part of real jazz guitar history then look no further than the Gibson ES-175. If no one is looking you could also take it along to your next prog rock gig too, you won’t be disappointed and neither will your audience. A magnificent guitar.

1965 Gibson ES-175D sunburst features

• Arched laminated maple top, back and sides
• Hollow body with twin f-holes and single Florentine cutaway
• 20 fret solid mahogany neck with rosewood fingerboard and double parallelogram inlays
• 16” body size. Scale length: 24 ¾” Nut Width 1 9/16”
• Chrome zig-zag trapeze tailpiece
• Compensated rosewood adjustable bridge
• Black beveled 5-ply pickguard
• Pearloid Gibson headstock logo and black bell shaped truss rod cover
• Nickel-plated Kluson double ring tuners with tulip buttons
• 2 x Gibson humbucking pickups with chrome covers
• 4 x black witches hat tone and volume controls
• Period-correct hard case (non-Gibson)