DeVeeWee Posted November 5, 2009 Report Share Posted November 5, 2009 I know that both tops are different, as well as the tailpieces, but if you compare pictures you would say they're almost twins. Has anyone a more profound explanation... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlanC Posted November 6, 2009 Report Share Posted November 6, 2009 I own an both an L4 CES and an ES165 which has an ES175 body but has a floating pickup attached to the pick plate. Both guitars are the same size but the L4 CES is more upmarket with an ebony fret board, gold hardware and an ebony bridge. The carved mahogany on the top L4 produces a very different sound when the guitar is played as an acoustic or through an amp. The sound is more mellow. However I reckon both an L4 and ES175 are great guitars. I would love to own a single pickup ES 175 but they are very hard to find. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeVeeWee Posted November 6, 2009 Author Report Share Posted November 6, 2009 Thx Alan! So, fret boards and tops are different what results in different sounds. Do you have less feedback with the L4 due to the fact that the top isn't laminated but solid? Kris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry_lee Posted November 6, 2009 Report Share Posted November 6, 2009 hey deveewee, long time L-4CES admirer / multiple ES-175 owner here... I believe the solid top will feedback sooner. I'm 99.9% sure the laminate tops like the ES-175 were developed to mitigate feedback back in the day. as noted, the solid top, ebony fingerboard and L5(?)-style tailpiece are the big differences, followed by: - neck pickup location - pickguard shape - ebony bridge base - also crown inlay is not in the traditional location I dig 'em though! Would love to get one and experiment with some Gibson or Duncan Alnico-V Staple pickups... that would make it more like a smaller version of an L5CES like Scotty Moore used with Elvis after the 295. As they are, they seem pretty straight-up jazzer guitars. So are you looking to pick one up? :- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlanC Posted November 6, 2009 Report Share Posted November 6, 2009 henry_lee i agree with your comments about the feedback. The ES 175's were designed to not feedback as easily as the carved top L4. In relation to experimenting with pick ups I have replaced the pickups in my L4 with two Seymour Duncan pick ups (neck - jazz, bridge - '59). I'm very happy with the change in sound. The changes I've made make the L4 sound even more jazzy - a very warm mellow full rich sound with great clarity. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeVeeWee Posted November 7, 2009 Author Report Share Posted November 7, 2009 Hi henry_lee, Thx for the info. Since I've never played a L4, I had that fix idea she would feedback not as much as my ES-175. I've always been looking for a L4(L5) to play but I don't have that many opportunities in my neighborhood or my country. I've no plans of buying one, just a question out of curiosity.(euh , never say never...) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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