Gibson ES-175D Arch Top Hollow Body Electric Guitar (1956)
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Item # 8864
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Gibson ES-175D Model Arch Top Hollow Body Electric Guitar (1956), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, serial # A-22954, sunburst top, dark back and sides finish, laminated maple body, mahogany neck with rosewood fingerboard, original brown hard shell case.
This is a lovely example of a mid-1950s ES-175D, Gibson's classic "Working Man's" hollowbody archtop guitar. This one was built when the ES-175 was a well-established success, having found immediate acceptance with players for its combination of great sound and playability at a moderate price. The single pickup version appeared in 1949; the two-pickup ES-175D was catalogued as a separate model in 1953 although a few custom examples had been built earlier. The second pickup at the bridge adds a lot of tonal versatility, though many jazz players still continue to prefer the sound of the neck PU alone. All other features of both models were the same, the "D" just adding the extra pickup, knobs, and switch to the mix.
The sunburst laminated maple body is triple-bound on the front and single-bound on the back; the neck is single-bound with split parallelogram fingerboard inlays. The headstock carries the pearl Gibson logo and crown inlay and Kluson Deluxe tuners with "keystone" buttons. The original hardware includes double P-90 pickups with black plastic covers, the standard Gibson rosewood bridge, a 5-ply beveled-edge pickguard, earlier L-7 style tailpiece, and tone and volume controls with amber "skirt" knobs. The orange Gibson label bears an "Artist" serial number dating original shipment to late May/early June 1956. This era's ES-175 has been used by far too many jazz guitar greats to count; the double-pickup examples like this one are also great early rock'n'roll, rockabilly and R&B guitars.
Overall length is 40 1/2 in. (102.9 cm.), 16 in. (40.6 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 3 5/16 in. (8.4 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 very clean, beautifully preserved, all original guitar showing only some typical finish checking overall and light play wear for its 66 years on the planet. There are no notable repairs or alterations except an old Gibson strap button has been added to the heel. There are some scattered small chips and dings to the finish, a tiny plywood check around the jack, and some scuffing here and there, but generally this is a truly superb example of a 1950s 175D.
There is some minor wear to the frets and fingerboard, mostly under the B string in the lower positions, but nothing that affects playability. This guitar plays excellent and purrs at lower volume with the mellow even sound 175s are prized for; it can also get quite snarly if desired when the amp is cranked. It is still housed in the original brown HSC, externally somewhat worn but still very solid. Overall Excellent + Condition.
This is a lovely example of a mid-1950s ES-175D, Gibson's classic "Working Man's" hollowbody archtop guitar. This one was built when the ES-175 was a well-established success, having found immediate acceptance with players for its combination of great sound and playability at a moderate price. The single pickup version appeared in 1949; the two-pickup ES-175D was catalogued as a separate model in 1953 although a few custom examples had been built earlier. The second pickup at the bridge adds a lot of tonal versatility, though many jazz players still continue to prefer the sound of the neck PU alone. All other features of both models were the same, the "D" just adding the extra pickup, knobs, and switch to the mix.
The sunburst laminated maple body is triple-bound on the front and single-bound on the back; the neck is single-bound with split parallelogram fingerboard inlays. The headstock carries the pearl Gibson logo and crown inlay and Kluson Deluxe tuners with "keystone" buttons. The original hardware includes double P-90 pickups with black plastic covers, the standard Gibson rosewood bridge, a 5-ply beveled-edge pickguard, earlier L-7 style tailpiece, and tone and volume controls with amber "skirt" knobs. The orange Gibson label bears an "Artist" serial number dating original shipment to late May/early June 1956. This era's ES-175 has been used by far too many jazz guitar greats to count; the double-pickup examples like this one are also great early rock'n'roll, rockabilly and R&B guitars.
Overall length is 40 1/2 in. (102.9 cm.), 16 in. (40.6 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 3 5/16 in. (8.4 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 very clean, beautifully preserved, all original guitar showing only some typical finish checking overall and light play wear for its 66 years on the planet. There are no notable repairs or alterations except an old Gibson strap button has been added to the heel. There are some scattered small chips and dings to the finish, a tiny plywood check around the jack, and some scuffing here and there, but generally this is a truly superb example of a 1950s 175D.
There is some minor wear to the frets and fingerboard, mostly under the B string in the lower positions, but nothing that affects playability. This guitar plays excellent and purrs at lower volume with the mellow even sound 175s are prized for; it can also get quite snarly if desired when the amp is cranked. It is still housed in the original brown HSC, externally somewhat worn but still very solid. Overall Excellent + Condition.