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1957 Gibson ES-175D
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Serial #: A-26431, orange oval label. FON#: U391-23
Body size at lower bout: 16" Scale length: 24 3/4" Nut width: 1 11/16" Neck depth: .89/.98, 1st/10th frets
Materials: Solid mahogany neck; solid Brazilian rosewood fingerboard; arched maple top and back; dual-parallelogram mother of pearl fingerboard inlay and crown peghead inlay; triple bound top, bound back.
Hardware: Original nickel hardware includes Kluson Deluxe single ring tuners; amber bonnet volume and tone knobs; beveled 5 ply pickguard; 3 way pickup selector switch; compensated Brazilian rosewood bridge. Vintage correct 'zig'zag' trapeze tailpiece, Seymour Duncan Antiquity PAF pickups with aged nickel silver covers.
Notes: Introduced in 1949, the Gibson ES-175 quickly became the most popular jazz guitar of all time. Fast, clean, and road-ready, the 175 has been the workhorse of the touring player and studio from Joe Pass to Pat Metheny ever since. Offered with twin pickups from 1953, the ES-175 was the first Gibson guitar to be fitted with humbucking pickups, and this exceptionally fine example from that debut year would have been one of the earliest to be so equipped.
Lovingly maintained, this instrument is in splendid condition, free of pick, buckle, thumb or fingerboard wear, and showing only a few wisps of scattered checking in the gleaming all original sunburst lacquer finish. All binding is original and tight to the body as well, and even the typical tiny stress cracks around the jackplate, so common in this era, are happily absent in this lovely smoke-free instrument.
If any neck profile could be described as ideal, this one could certainly come close. Gone is the bulky C contour of the postwar era, and the skinny necks of the late 60's were still to come. The Brazilian rosewood fingerboard remains fitted with original fretwork in excellent condition, and offers smooth low action over a fresh high precision setup. At just 6lb 9oz, the guitar is dramatically lighter than later versions, and the 16" body sits easily in the lap, with the 24 3/4" scale making stretch chords and fast runs a pleasure.
The Seymour Duncan Antiquity PAF pickups have long been the gold standard of 50's Gibson style humbuckers, and are built with vintage correct Alnico II magnets, 42 AWG wire, and wound unpotted on the original winder from Gibson's old Kalamazoo factory. Hand aged both mechanically and magnetically, these pickups were wound individually for both neck and bridge positions by Custom Shop manager Marcela Juarez, creator of pickups for Clapton, Harrison, Van Halen, and a host of other Guitar Gods. They deliver the detailed, airy response of the PAF originals, with plenty of growl when driven as well.
As handsome an example of this model as we've seen, this gleaming guitar remains nestled in its fine original brown Lifton hardshell case, complete with Gibson badge. A true closet queen, and an outstanding example of the all-time classic jazz box, you'd be hard pressed to find a nicer one, or at a better price. One only: call now.
Setup: Trussrod tension and neck relief adjusted; bridge height adjusted; bridge compensation set; string slots at nut and bridge inspected and recut as necessary; bridge foot contour inspected and fit to top as necessary; bridge wheels and tuners lubricated; fingerboard and bridge oiled; body and neck cleaned and hand polished.
This instrument is strung with medium gauge nickel wound strings (.012-.052). The guitar will accommodate lighter or heavier gauge strings, according to preference. String action is set at 4/64" to 5/64" at the 12th fret, with moderate relief for acoustic playing with medium strings. The action may be lowered or raised to your requirements with the adjustable bridge.
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