Gibson ES-175DN Model Arch Top Hollow Body Electric Guitar (1954), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, serial # A18227, natural lacquer finish, laminated maple body, mahogany neck with rosewood fingeboard, original brown leather covered hard shell case.

This is a lightly played in original example of a mid-1950's ES-175DN with two P-90 pickups, the more versatile version of Gibson's classic "Working Man's" hollowbody archtop guitar. When this guitar was shipped in later 1954 the ES-175 was an established success with players for its combination of sound, playability and moderate price, but the double-pickup version was a relatively recent development. The ES-175 had first appeared in 1949 but the two-pickup ES-175D was not catalogued as a stock model until mid-1953 (a few custom examples had been built earlier). The second pickup at the bridge creates a wider sonic palette, although many jazz players (even today) 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 natural finished laminated maple body is triple-bound on the front and single-bound on the back; this blonde version is rarer (and originally cost a bit more) than the standard sunburst model. The one-piece mahogany neck is single-bound with split parallelogram fingerboard inlays on the rosewood fingerboard. The headstock carries the pearl Gibson logo and crown inlay; the Kluson Deluxe tuners have "keystone" buttons. The original hardware includes double P-90 pickups under black plastic "dogear" covers, the standard Gibson adjustable rosewood bridge, a 5-ply beveled-edge B/W/B pickguard, the earlier L-7 style tailpiece and controls with numbered amber "hatbox" knobs. The serial number on the white "artist' label suggests shipment around October 1954.

The natural finish twin-pickup ES-175DN was the flagship of this model family. Although not considered a particularly rare instrument only 129 were registered as shipped this year, by modern standards a VERY small quantity. This would be among the first couple hundred natural finish, double pickup 175's built. The ES-175 in all its variants has been used by too many jazz guitar greats to count. Double-pickup examples like this one are fully suitable for that classic "Blue Note" sound but also make great early rock'n'roll, rockabilly and R&B guitars. This one has seen some use but remains a wonderful sounding and playing instrument with the classic 1950's purr at lower volumes and honk when the amp is turned up!

Overall length is 40 1/2 in. (102.9 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 nicely original guitar overall showing some general wear for its 70+ years on earth and a typical jack area repair, this spot being the most commonly damaged on old Gibson archtops. The guitar is naturally aged-in but apart from this remains unmodified, with no other notable repairs. The all-original blonde finish shows typical moderate checking overall, most heavily on the top and has ambered somewhat. The neck finish has minor dings and dents with areas worn to the wood on the bass side between the 3rd and 7th frets and on the treble side mostly in the 5th-6th fret area. The headstock edges show some typical chipping.

The only notable structural repair is to the jack area which has a tasteful if fairly large cream plastic plate added over a decent sized break all around the jack. Except for the truss rod cover (a replacement) the fittings and hardware are original including the pickups, tuners, bridge, knobs and pickguard. The original tailpiece is intact with no hinge repair, increasingly rare as the metal ages.

The neck angle is excellent with the original full-height bridge, the original small frets have some noticeable wear but still play well. The fingerboard has some minor wear but no serious divots. The guitar offers up the typically warm 1950's Gibson "classic jazz" tone, with the brighter honk of the bridge pickup that can be dialed in if desired. Apart from the jack repair this is a super nice example of a 1950s 175DN. The original deluxe pink-lined brown hard shell case is included with some wear but fully solid. Excellent Condition.