Gibson ES 175

fireglo67 · Post by **fireglo67** » Sat Feb 07, 2009 6:43 pm

I actually played an Epiphone version of this guitar in a shop today, and I have to say that if you can't afford to go for the Gibson, the Epi could be a super guitar with just a little bit of time and money spent setting it up. The action was way too high, and I was concerned about the quality of the frets and the tuners, but it's nothing a half decent luthier couldn't sort out for you.

And for £350, I could be tempted myself.

kiramdear · Post by **kiramdear** » Sat Feb 07, 2009 7:26 pm

Epiphone is a great value, if my local sampling is any indicator. Love their Prophesy models, especially.

But I dare say if Peter is considering the P-90 version, he can afford to go Gibson

frickengruvin · Post by **frickengruvin** » Sat Feb 07, 2009 11:50 pm

Sorry Peter-I don't have any clips.....I will say this tho'....it is a comfortable guitar to play (acoustically and electrically), but in my opinion they are finnicky about what amp you play them through. I have three JMI Voxes, and it doesn't sound that good through them....maybe I haven't tuned in to any of these amps verses maybe my Revolution Casino (which is also a 2 p90 rig), but through my Rickenbacker b16a or Fender Vibrolux it sounds wonderful-warm and jazzy...Maybe because Voxes are so trebley-hard to tone them down....

Anyway YMMV....Wish we were closer to one another you could give her a go 'round for yourself!!!!

JakeK · Post by **JakeK** » Tue Feb 10, 2009 11:52 am

Who are some notable ES-175 players? I know Steve Howe of YES is one of them...

admin · Post by **admin** » Tue Feb 10, 2009 3:41 pm

Kira: What I want and what I can afford are often two different things.

This is the kind of instrument that cannot be purchased without playing.

Thanks again for the comments, everyone. I confess to not embracing finicky.

A couple of ES 175 artists with whom you may be familiar would be Joe Pass and Pat Metheny.

deaconblues · Post by **deaconblues** » Tue Feb 10, 2009 3:46 pm

JakeK wrote:Who are some notable ES-175 players? I know Steve Howe of YES is one of them...

Also many of the jazz greats, notably Joe Pass, Wes Montgomery, and Toots Thielmans.

Mr. Townshend was known to pick one up from time to time, as well.

admin · Post by **admin** » Tue Feb 10, 2009 3:48 pm

Yes and Kenny Burrell, Joe Diorio, Pat Martino, Herb Ellis, Howard Roberts and Jimmy Raney,

kiramdear · Post by **kiramdear** » Tue Feb 10, 2009 5:45 pm

admin wrote:Kira: What I want and what I can afford are often two different things.

Just like me, then, eh: Champagne taste and a beer budget?

JakeK · Post by **JakeK** » Wed Feb 11, 2009 9:21 pm

dpowell wrote:Mr. Townshend was known to pick one up from time to time, as well.

66sweden_gibson_es175.jpg

Pete did use that ES-175 in May/June 1966, but it was only used for the concert at which that photo was taken. It was borrowed from another band, and more than likely Pete used it because his Ric or Tele broke a string.

jps · Post by **jps** » Wed Feb 11, 2009 11:07 pm

JakeK wrote:...more than likely Pete used it because his Ric or Tele broke a string.

Just a string?

JakeK · Post by **JakeK** » Wed Feb 11, 2009 11:57 pm

Jeff, by 1966, I believe Pete knew that smashing Rics was a problem. Oddly enough, he still smashed them (on occasion, not as often as he would a solid body)

collin · Post by **collin** » Thu Feb 12, 2009 2:42 am

JakeK wrote:Jeff, by 1966, I believe Pete knew that smashing Rics was a problem. Oddly enough, he still smashed them (on occasion, not as often as he would a solid body)

Jake, it had more to do with getting rics, both finanically and logistically. Shops frequently ran out, as RM and other suppliers had to wait from overseas shipping etc. Pete mentioned in an interview that Rics smashed usually beyond frequent repair (ie fender), but were too expensive and hard to get to rely on them consistently. Hence the change to fenders (and eventually Gibsons that smashed if you looked at them long enough...)

-C

JakeK · Post by **JakeK** » Thu Feb 12, 2009 2:12 pm

What do you mean by "Gibsons smashed easily if you looked at them long enough"?

jps · Post by **jps** » Thu Feb 12, 2009 3:49 pm

JakeK wrote:What do you mean by "Gibsons smashed easily if you looked at them long enough"?

A lot of Gibsons "like" to break easily at the headstock and heel of the neck.

dblacker · Post by **dblacker** » Mon Mar 28, 2011 8:34 pm

Not sure if this thread is long dead, but I came across it and thought I would add my 2 cents. Most consider the es 175 the classic jazz box, but I think it's an underrated guitar for other styles like rock, blues, rockabilly, etc. Izzy Stradlin of Guns & Roses played a 175 as did Steve Howe and Scotty Moore. Those guys represent a pretty wide spectrum of tone. There's a cool demo of a dude playing some blues and rock licks on a 175dn at the bottom of the page at the link below:

http://www.archtopelectric.com/gibson-es-175

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