Introduced in 1949, the ES-175 brought a pointed Florentine cutaway and eye-catching double parallelogram inlays to the Gibson archtop lineup. Originally designed as a mid-priced, working-player’s electric, it pairs a single dogear P-90 with a fully laminated Maple 16 1/4"-wide body, which keeps feedback in check while delivering punch, warmth, and power. Unlike the less expensive ES-125, the ES-175 has a proper elevated fingerboard like the top-of-the-line Gibsons. As the model evolved, so did its legacy in jazz guitar history—all while the name itself reflects the original $175 list price.
On this ES-175, the inside of the treble f-hole is stamped with Factory Order Number X9889 33, which dates to 1954. Interestingly, the label inside the bass f-hole shows Serial Number A20129, so it's possible Gibson didn't ship this ES-175 until '55. Under the hood, the wiring all has rubber shielding around the braided wire, so it was redone at some point along the way. Tone pot dates to the 14th week of 1955, and the volume pot is a 1960 IRC pot. The tone cap is a '60s "brown drop" .022 uf capacitor. The pickup resistance measures 8.06 k ohms. For some reason, there's a spot of white paint inside the bass f-hole, as well.
Over the years, this 1954 ES-175 has had a neck reset, so the neck angle is in a great spot that allows for good action and sufficient downward pressure at the bridge. The frets are on the low side in some spots, but we've made great efforts to optimize the playability. It is setup with D'Addario .011-.050 flatwounds, which have a wound 3rd for proper intonation with this bridge. There are a few signs of minor binding repairs, most noticeably around the back of the neck heel and the top edge of the cutaway. There are signs of other tailpieces installed in the past (perhaps even a Bigsby?), but at present, it sports the '54 appropriate pointed tailpiece. All around, it shows patina, scuffs, and signs of use, and the sunburst is faded, but that's all just mojo!
Plugged in, this ES-175 covers a wide range of sounds with its single P90. With the volume dimed, it will push any tube amp over the cliff into smooth saturation. When you roll back on the volume and tone, you'll find sweeter, mellower sounds—right into jazz box territory. Because of all of the play wear and the faded sunburst, this 1954 ES-175 feels like a real relic. Authentic vibe paired with rich vintage tone means you've got a proper Gibson archtop!
This 1954 Gibson ES-175 includes its original case, which is in fairly rough shape. The original handle is long gone, and the sides are slightly blown out at the end block. The liner piping around the neck edge of the lid has come unglued, too. But the pink-lined Fife-Nichols case completes the package of a cool Kalamazoo-made Gibson. With a little care and attention, it is perfectly sufficient to cart the guitar around town.