Gibson ES-175D Arch Top Hollow Body Electric Guitar (1958)

Gibson  ES-175D Arch Top Hollow Body Electric Guitar  (1958)
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Item # 11210
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Gibson ES-175D Model Arch Top Hollow Body Electric Guitar (1958), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, serial # A-26980, sunburst lacquer finish, laminated maple body, mahogany neck with rosewood fingerboard, original brown hard shell case.

The guitar is a lovely and nicely original example of a double-pickup ES-175D from arguably Gibson's finest era, the late 1950s. It mounts early examples of the new pickups Gibson had recently developed, the now universally venerated PAF humbuckers. These first versions do not feature the titular sticker on the baseplate but still have all the sonic glory, just not the signpost!

This guitar was shipped in January 1958; the factory order dates unsurprisingly to 1957. The ES-175 was the first model to receive the new humbucking pickup upgrade, the earliest production guitars to receive them were a batch of ES-175's with serial numbers 25000 to 25030 shipped in late February '57. This guitar carries a stunning set of original untampered with nickel-plated PAFs with a little corrosion to the covers but untouched solder joints on the covers and wiring. Over the years, many of these fine hollowbody guitars have been stripped of their electronics (material for all the "extra" 1950s Sunburst Les Pauls floating around had to come from somewhere), so finding one with the pickups and wiring rig completely intact is now a distinct treat.

Apart from its now-legendary electronics this ES-175D features a sunburst finish laminated maple body with triple-bound top and single-bound back. The mahogany neck is topped with a bound rosewood fingerboard inset with pearloid double parallelogram inlays. The unbound headstock features a pearl Gibson logo and crown inlay, and carries original Kluson Deluxe tuners with "single line" keystone buttons. These are also often pilfered today but remain intact on this example. The nickel-plated tailpiece is the second "wavy" version specific to this model, the original bridge is the standard Gibson rosewood adjustable piece.

This guitar represents the apex of Gibson's 16" electric Jazz guitar perennial, which had been in continuous production since its debut in 1949. With two humbucking pickups and the four knob/one switch wiring rig that has become the standard Gibson electric layout, this is a truly classic Gibson creation and remains one of the company standards. While the model has long been a mainstay of too many jazz players to count, the double-pickup ES-175 is actually a much rarer instrument than many believe; only 285 sunburst examples were shipped in 1958, and few will have survived as clean as this one.

Although often pigeon-holed as a jazz guitar the ES-I75D is actually a very versatile instrument suitable for a range of styles. Steve Howe famously played one with Yes in the early 1970s; Richard Thompson also did so on the earliest Fairport Convention records. In the lower volume environments common today this ES-175D can handle practically anything with grace, style and that always amazing PAF tone.
 
Overall length is 41 in. (104.1 cm.), 16 in. (40.6 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 3 3/8 in. (8.6 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 24 3/4 in. (629 mm.). Width of nut is 1 11/16 in. (43 mm.).

This is a beautiful guitar overall, clean and original with only VERY light wear and a couple of minor alterations. These are a well-done refret and a strap button added on the center of the heel, which is pretty typical. Apart from these this ES-175 is all original and very well preserved, with minimal wear overall including light checking with only tiny dings, dents and scrapes to the finish and some minimal corrosion to the nickel plating. There is some staining to the top under the bridge feet from the oils leaching out of the rosewood base. The pickguard has some very minor scratching on the top but has held its shape very well, not curling up as many do.

All parts are original including crucially the two early PAF pickups and wiring, which at this late date are often removed from this model for Les Paul recreations. The ES-175D is the prime victim in these PAF abduction cases, having the two correct pickups plus the original pots, switch, wiring and caps and single-line Kluson Deluxe tuners that are also coveted. This guitar has fortunately escaped that fate, remaining completely intact. The top shows one small lamination check on the lower horn, and one on the side top edge forward of and above the jack.

The frets and fingerboard on this guitar show hardly any wear; we can only assume the refret was done for someone who simply wanted frets slightly larger than the original thin '50s wire. This is, as expected a truly superb sounding instrument; while these pickups are prized for their hard rock capabilities they also offer a lovely touch-sensitive sound on a hollowbody with many nuanced tonal shades. While a perennially popular guitar these PAF-equipped ES-175D's are actually rarer than generally thought of and something of an endangered species today. This is one of the nicest early examples we have seen, complete in its original brown HSC with the hangtag and a period strap. Overall Excellent + Condition.