Features
The ES-175 debuted in 1949, as Gibson's mid-level laminate top alternative to the L-5 and as an electric version of the L-4. It was also the first Gibson electric to feature a stylish Florentine cutaway. Its first incarnation had one single-coil pickup (a P-90) in the neck position, and a carved rosewood bridge. In 1953, the ES-175D, a two-pickup model, was introduced. The ES-175 or ES-175D could be ordered in either sunburst finish or in natural finish (for an additional charge).
Beginning in February 1957, ES-175s came equipped with humbuckers. Many new jazz guitarists such as Pat Metheny used these to emulate the sound of Joe Pass and Wes Montgomery's "heart" L5. The ES-175 with humbuckers is prized for its full, rich tone. Some guitarists will try to mimic the rich resonant sound of this rather large hollow body instrument by turning the tone knob all the way down on smaller, or solid body, guitars.
In 1976 Gibson introduced the ES-175T, a thin-body variant on the ES-175 (much like an ES-125TCD with more fancy appointments). It was made for only three years, and available in sunburst, blonde (more expensive) and wine red. The model proved fairly unpopular and was discontinued in 1979.
This model guitar is not only used by jazz guitarists. Scotty Moore, the guitarist for Elvis Presley, played an ES-295, essentially a "glorified", dual P-90-equipped, all gold ES-175. Such rock legends as Steve Howe have taken up the ES-175 due to its high level of craftsmanship and playability. Gibson released the Herb Ellis ES-165 as a signature reissue of his original 1957 ES-175. Roddy Frame used one during the first years of Aztec Camera. Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day is also spotted playing one in the band's Redundant Video
The denomination 175 came from the original price tag of the first ES, which was $175.00.
The Epiphone company also produces an ES-175 model, available only in golden and black colours. The Epiphone model has an arched back as well. It is also equipped with two AlNiCo wax-dipped humbuckers. It also briefly produced an ES-295, with all the original trimmings, plus a B-7 bigsby vibrato tailpiece. This last model is now discontinued.
The Gibson ES-175 features a volume and tone knob for each pickup and classic Kluson tuning heads. The Epiphone ES-175 features a volume and tone knob for each pickup and Grover tuning heads.
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