Blue Notes Posted March 27, 2017 Share Posted March 27, 2017 Would love some feedback on this one. Being a full hollowbody I'm guessing its purely a jazzbox but would the centre block mean you can play with a little overdrive for blues? Also is this an actual Custom Shop guitar or just made in the Custom Shop like many ES-137's? http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Gibson-Custom-Shop-Herb-Ellis-ES-165/192130290221?_trksid=p2047675.c100011.m1850&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D42398%26meid%3D20ee1ec241584c67bc355ac55874aeda%26pid%3D100011%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D7%26sd%3D192103709910 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue Notes Posted March 27, 2017 Author Share Posted March 27, 2017 Well I've since contacted the seller and the guitar doesnt have a centre block so that answers my question. I thought it strange that it would have one to start with. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdgm Posted March 27, 2017 Share Posted March 27, 2017 No this is like an ES175 but with just one pickup, probably a Kent Armstrong, attached to the end of the board rather than the top. Looks very nice; I know that 175s and all other ES-guitars are made at Gibson Memphis. However this particular one is fancier than many ES-165s I see on ebay USA for instance, so.... I would expect the number to start with 'CS' or for there to be a decal/transfer of some sort indicating Custom Shop somewhere, or else it must say so in the black book which contains the details. Sure you could play blues on it; jazz blues - Herb Ellis was an incredible player in that style. Might not be as good with an overdrive pedal as say a 335, 330 or similar....but it could be done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slimt Posted March 28, 2017 Share Posted March 28, 2017 Well I've since contacted the seller and the guitar doesnt have a centre block so that answers my question. I thought it strange that it would have one to start with. some put a Dowel in side to stop the feedback.. or to prevent a top from collapsing.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Versatile Posted March 28, 2017 Share Posted March 28, 2017 Looks OK.... Looks like the best of the bunch....late model with floating P/U.... I had a less than inspiring experience with an early ES165 about 20yrs ago....:blink: Gold hardware seemed fussy but guitar build in general was OK Dry wiring (vintage correct) was unreliable and had to be upgraded under warranty Top mounted P/U suffered from vibration buzzes....hence this later model has a neck mounted P/U.... A beautiful looking guitar which didn't seem to sell despite the number of custom built single P/U jazz guitars currently offered.... Herb Ellis's original ES175 had a single P90 in neck position..... IMO fairly deep hollow jazzers like this are a niche market....the ES175 caters for the many satisfied working players.... Other practical options like the ES137 and ES330 are more versatile for general use..... V Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdgm Posted March 28, 2017 Share Posted March 28, 2017 I must correct my post above - NOT a Kent Armstrong but a Gibson BJB humbucker. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twang Gang Posted March 31, 2017 Share Posted March 31, 2017 Nice looking guitar, as new and never played shouldn't have any problems. I don't know what the exchange rate is, but for AU $4295 this is probably sort of a one trick pony. Single pickup in the neck position and NO tone control. I'm sure it will give a nice warm jazzy tone especially with the right strings, but not very versatile. I am lucky enough to have an L-5 which is pretty much a jazz box, but it does have 2 57 Classic Humbuckers, two volume and two tone controls so I can vary the sound quite a bit. This is just pretty much plug it in and go - as long as it has the tone you want all the time then fine, but few if any variations allowed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
powerwagonjohn Posted April 2, 2017 Share Posted April 2, 2017 It would cool to put a De Armond RC1000 on one of these. Especially now that they are being reproduced. Thanks John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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