❌SOLD❌ Gibson ES-175D Cutaway Archtop Electric Sunburst, 1968

The Gibson ES-175D Double Pickup Cutaway Archtop was one of the most popular instruments for the working jazz guitarist, from its introduction in 1953 until its recent discontinuation. The 175 was built of Maple laminates, to reduce both feedback and prices.

Joe Pass, Kenny Burrell, Joe Diorio, Toots Thielmans, Wes Montgomery, Pat Martino, Herb Ellis, Howard Roberts, Jimmy Raney, Pat Metheny – all at one time in their careers played and recorded with the venerable Gibson ES-175D.   But it wasn’t just jazz players who used them – Steve Howe of Yes used one on arena tours.

Here we’re looking at a good condition 1968 production Gibson ES-175D with a characteristic 60’s style slim neck – the fingerboard width at the nut is 1.56 inches (under 40mm). This example is on overall good condition with light wear throughout. It’s been played but well cared for and appears to be in original condition, though the included hard shell case is not original. There is light tarnish to the chrome plating.

The fully hollow, F-hole Gibson ES-175D body is built of Maple Laminate, with Mahogany for the body blocks and neck.  The bound fingerboard is Indian Rosewood –  originally Brazilian Rosewood which was phased out by 1967 – with split-parallelogram position markers.   The tuners are Kluson Deluxe models with plastic keystone buttons, and  at the other end a trapeze tailpiece with three raised parallelograms on the pointed-end string bar.   As appropriate for a Jazz model, the bridge is a floating model of Rosewood.    For electronics, there are two humbucking pickups, a selector switch and individual volume and tone controls.

This guitar plays well and is currently strung with flatwounds.

Gibson introduced the single pickup “Electric Spanish ES-175”, aptly named for its initial $175.00 retail price in 1949. The word “Spanish” refers to the way the guitar is held and and played, and distinguishes it from “Electric Hawaiian” or “EH” models. EH style guitars were the very first electrics, predating ES style models by several years. The ES-175 was not only Gibson’s first model with a Florentine cutaway, but in 1975 also one of the first guitars to be outfitted with Gibson’s new humbucking pickups. By this time, very few of the single pickup models were being built, and those generally appealed to straight jazz players.   The single pickup model was discontinued in 1971.

This Gibson ES-175D is sold with a non-original black hard shell case.