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NVGD!! '51 ES175 Player's Dream!

woody-89

Member
Joined
Sep 16, 2007
Messages
855
Hi folks,

Just been to collect this from the Parcelforce depot, and I am utterly blown away!

I've been quietly looking for an old ES125 or 150 for some time, but I've never found one that fitted the bill and was at the right price. During a late night ebay search I happened to come across this absolute beauty, so I took a punt on it, and was quite surprised to actually win it!

She started out as a single pickup 175, that has had a bridge pickup added, and at some point had a 3-way toggle placed right above the upper F-hole :bigal This has since been relocated to the cutaway (a much more user friendly option)..

Tonewise, what can I say?! This thing is LOUD! I don't think I've ever experienced another guitar quite like it. I would easily put it up against a small-bodied acoustic in terms of what it throws out. The articulation is wonderful, you really can hear every note, The best way I can describe it is sounding warm and 'greasy', but still has a good amount of snap to it.

I've been incredibly lucky to have had some good fortune with vintage purchases recently. In the last couple of months I've got hold of two singlecut juniors to join my 58 DC, and one of those in particular (the Admiral Dewey '59 TV Singlecut that has been owned by a few round here) is truly one of the best electrics I've ever played. Expect a (belated) NGD thread on that one too!

Anyway, excuse the fairly lousy iphone pictures, here she is..





Woody
:yah
 

ourmaninthenorth

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 28, 2009
Messages
7,119
Congratulations Woody, the colours on these always astonish me, beautiful.

Play in the very finest of health :salude
 

Reverend David

New member
Joined
Dec 12, 2003
Messages
202
Hell yeah! Beautiful guitar! Let's have some more ES175 love! :salude

ES75VSNH1-Finish-Shot-jpg.aspx
 

elcidd

Member
Joined
Dec 13, 2002
Messages
203
Very cool guitar. Is that Admiral Dewey's case in the corner? Another cool guitar, well done sir!
 

Texas Blues

Active member
Joined
Apr 13, 2008
Messages
4,641
Oh man those guitars just ooze John Lee Hooker sweat.

Woody, what amp or amps do you play that 'thang?
 

woody-89

Member
Joined
Sep 16, 2007
Messages
855
Thanks for the kind words, all of you! I've been using her for my lessons all this evening, and I've had my jaw on the floor most of the time..

Mike, do you have any of these lying about your man-lair?! I'd love to see any of them..

Elcidd, good eyes! That is indeed the Infamous Admiral's case. I really can't believe my luck every time I pick that guitar up too. I've always had what my generation (I'm 25) consider to be 'old' guitars (seventies Les Pauls etc), but in the last couple of years a lot of those have had to fly the nest as I've really started going for Golden Era stuff. To me, there really is no way back, Admiral Dewey is a complete game-changer..

And TB, I must confess, that as I'm a relative newcomer to the world of archtops, I don't actually have a 'suitable' amp for her yet.. The closest I've got would be my 67 Bassman or RI plexi, neither of which I've tried her out in yet. I needs me a Deluxe Reverb for some smooth goodness!
 

lonesomesheik

Active member
Joined
Nov 18, 2009
Messages
1,217
I've had es 175 from 1950 (but the n° in lower F hole showed that it was started to be built in 49, 1st year for 175). It was a feather weight guitar, is that one too a feather weight?
 

lonesomesheik

Active member
Joined
Nov 18, 2009
Messages
1,217
I've had es 175 from 1950, 1 P90 (but the n° in lower F hole showed that it was started to be built in 49, 1st year for 175). It was a feather weight guitar, is that one too a feather weight?
Enjoy!:salude
 

woody-89

Member
Joined
Sep 16, 2007
Messages
855
I've had es 175 from 1950, 1 P90 (but the n° in lower F hole showed that it was started to be built in 49, 1st year for 175). It was a feather weight guitar, is that one too a feather weight?
Enjoy!:salude

This seems very light indeed (almost as if it was full of air..!) - although I have not much idea about how much others of the era weigh to compare it to..

Just checked out, and the serial number is A8848, which puts it at mid-late '51, but the FO number is 3264 2, which would indicate 1950 wouldn't it? :hmm

I haven't put it down since getting it!
My initial plan had been to put a bigsby on it (a floating one like a B6, so no holes would be needed for the top), as it's already got a few extra holes on the bottom from a previous tailpiece. However, I'm growing steadily unsure.. Does anyone know if a Bigsby will fit the existing holes?
 

MapleFlame

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 3, 2005
Messages
14,044
My favorite guitars are one's that were modded to make more useful. Hope you have a great time playing her. I miss my 56 295 with a passion.
 

woody-89

Member
Joined
Sep 16, 2007
Messages
855
Mapleflame, it was actually partly the videos of your blonde 225 that led me towards looking at the 'other' variants of the P90 archtop variety - 225s, 295s and 175s - so many thanks! haha!
 

MapleFlame

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 3, 2005
Messages
14,044
Mapleflame, it was actually partly the videos of your blonde 225 that led me towards looking at the 'other' variants of the P90 archtop variety - 225s, 295s and 175s - so many thanks! haha!

:rofl :rofl Guilty as charged. I get influenced as well from Video's members put up. It's a great source for the ears. I still have to get my 225 out for a neck reset. Jeesh been forever.
 

Texas Blues

Active member
Joined
Apr 13, 2008
Messages
4,641
Thanks for the kind words, all of you! I've been using her for my lessons all this evening, and I've had my jaw on the floor most of the time..

Mike, do you have any of these lying about your man-lair?! I'd love to see any of them..

Elcidd, good eyes! That is indeed the Infamous Admiral's case. I really can't believe my luck every time I pick that guitar up too. I've always had what my generation (I'm 25) consider to be 'old' guitars (seventies Les Pauls etc), but in the last couple of years a lot of those have had to fly the nest as I've really started going for Golden Era stuff. To me, there really is no way back, Admiral Dewey is a complete game-changer..

And TB, I must confess, that as I'm a relative newcomer to the world of archtops, I don't actually have a 'suitable' amp for her yet.. The closest I've got would be my 67 Bassman or RI plexi, neither of which I've tried her out in yet. I needs me a Deluxe Reverb for some smooth goodness!

I have a feeling with your exuberance and and love of "old tone" that you'll find the right

amp and make that guitar sing.

And tone has no age limit on who knows it and makes it.

Good on you sir!
 
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