Introduced in 1949, the Gibson ES-175 is a 16" laminated archtop built for working guitarists. Early examples like this 1951 feature a single dogear P-90 in the neck, a Florentine cutaway, and a trapeze tailpiece.

This particular example plays well and has a strong acoustic voice for an electric archtop. It has a really cool “old guitar” vibe: honest fingerboard wear from decades of gigs, and overall play wear consistent with age and use.

Original Kluson Deluxe are “no line” on one side and “single line” on the other, which is historically correct for the transition period. Original frets are low but very playable.

Knobs are later replacements. Weight is 2500g. The original chipboard case is included, very worn but serviceable.

SPECIFICATIONS

• Construction: Hollow archtop with pressed laminated body; parallel bracing; single Florentine cutaway; f-holes
• Body woods: Laminated maple top, back, and sides
• Body size: ~16.25" lower bout; ~3.5" depth
• Neck: Mahogany, set-neck, adjustable truss rod
• Fingerboard: Rosewood, 12" radius, pearl parallelogram inlays, 20 frets (original low but playable)
• Scale length: 628 mm
• Nut width: 43 mm
• Pickup (factory): Single P-90 in neck position
• Electronics: 1 × volume, 1 × tone; later replacement knobs on this example
• Bridge: Rosewood compensated bridge on rosewood base
• Tailpiece: Nickel trapeze
• Tuners: Kluson Deluxe; transitional mix of “no line”/“single line” (original)
• Pickguard: Multi-ply beveled plastic with bracket
• Binding: Single-ply ivoroid top and back; bound fingerboard
• Finish: Period-correct nitrocellulose lacquer
• Hardware finish: Nickel
• Weight: 2500g
• Case: Original chipboard case, very worn but usable