Bay Area Vintage Guitars is proud to present this remarkably preserved 1955 Gibson ES-175 in its original-style Sunburst, single-P-90 configuration, offered directly from the personal collection of Brad Gillis of Night Ranger and Ozzy Osbourne. Serial number A-21852 dates this instrument to 1955, and the guitar retains the elegant proportions and appointments that established the ES-175 as one of Gibson’s most important professional electric archtops.

The laminated maple body produces a lively acoustic response while offering greater resistance to feedback than a carved-top archtop. Its single neck-position Gibson P-90 delivers the warm, rounded jazz tones most closely associated with the ES-175, but it also has enough clarity, attack and midrange authority for blues, folk, early rock and roots music. The comfortable mahogany neck, short 24.75-inch scale and elevated rosewood fingerboard give the guitar an inviting, effortless playing feel.

Introduced in 1949 and originally priced at $175, the ES-175 became Gibson’s definitive working-player’s electric archtop. The broader ES-175 lineage has been associated with Herb Ellis, Joe Pass, Jim Hall, Pat Metheny and Steve Howe, among many others. Herb Ellis is especially identified with single-P-90 Sunburst examples closely resembling this guitar. Its double-parallelogram fingerboard inlays, crown headstock inlay, black multi-ply pickguard, rosewood bridge and distinctive raised-parallelogram trapeze tailpiece make it immediately recognizable as a classic mid-1950s Gibson.

Condition:

This 71-year-old instrument remains in exceptional overall condition, with only very light surface scratches, a few small dings (one notably on the neck that doesn't affect playability) and normal age-related lacquer checking (see pictures for more detail). There are no known cracks, breaks, structural repairs or functional issues. Several fingerboard inlays show the normal shrinkage and surrounding gaps commonly encountered on mid-1950s Gibsons. The frets remain clean and playable but appear newer than the rest of the instrument, so we are conservatively describing the guitar as having a possible older professional refret. It is a structurally sound, exceptionally attractive vintage ES-175 with decades of musical life remaining.

Specifications

• Finish: Sunburst nitrocellulose lacquer
• Body: Laminated maple top, back and sides
• Neck: Set mahogany
• Fingerboard: Bound rosewood
• Fingerboard inlays: Double-parallelogram pearl
• Scale length: 24.75 inches
• Nut width: Approximately 1 11/16 inches
• Neck depth: 1st fret: .92" | 10th fret: 1.00"
• Weight: 5.7 lbs
• Pickup: Single neck-position Gibson dogear P-90
• Pickup reading: 7.5K
• Bridge: Adjustable compensated rosewood
• Tailpiece: Nickel trapeze with raised-parallelogram crossbar
• Tuners: Kluson Deluxe with keystone buttons
• Case: Period brown fitted hardshell case with plush interior
• Factory: Kalamazoo, Michigan, USA

Originality and Condition Notes

There are no known headstock breaks, body cracks, neck reset or structural repairs. The frets appear newer than the surrounding instrument and may represent an older professional refret. A refret is routine maintenance rather than a structural repair, but it is being disclosed conservatively. Several parallelogram inlays display visible age-related shrinkage and gaps typical of instruments from this period.

The included brown fitted hardshell case is period-correct and displays normal exterior and interior wear. Without original purchase documentation, the case is not represented as conclusively factory-original to the guitar.

Why Buy From Bay Area Vintage Guitars?

Bay Area Vintage Guitars carefully evaluates and accurately represents every instrument we offer. We focus on originality, condition, provenance and the details that matter to serious players and collectors.

The photographs show the actual guitar and case included with this listing. Please review all photographs carefully, as they are considered part of the description. We are happy to answer questions or provide additional detailed photographs before purchase.

Every instrument is confirmed to be playable before shipping. Because neck relief, action and personal setup preferences can be affected by climate, humidity and transportation, minor setup adjustments may be desired after delivery.

This guitar will be professionally packed and fully insured for shipment. International buyers should contact Bay Area Vintage Guitars before purchasing to confirm shipping availability, cost and any applicable documentation requirements.

This instrument may also be offered through other marketplaces. Please contact Bay Area Vintage Guitars to confirm availability.

This is a pre-owned vintage instrument and is sold as-is, as described and photographed.

A Note About Instrument Setup 

Guitars and basses are sensitive to changes in temperature, humidity, and movement during shipping. An instrument that is properly set up when it leaves us may arrive with slight changes to the action, neck relief, tuning, or intonation.

These changes are normal as wood adjusts to a new environment. We recommend allowing the instrument to acclimate 1-2 days after delivery before making any adjustments.

Because setup preferences vary by player, minor adjustments or a personal setup may be desired after arrival. If needed, we recommend having the instrument set up by a qualified local guitar technician. Any post-delivery setup or adjustment costs are the responsibility of the buyer.

Shipping

All guitars are professionally packed with extreme care and fully insured. We ship promptly and communicate throughout the process.

We will consider shipping internationally. Please contact us before placing your order or making an offer to determine shipping costs.