Supersonic Posted December 21, 2010 Share Posted December 21, 2010 Do any of you guys own or have owned an Epi ES-175 reissue? It looks like it is intended to be primarily a jazz guitar, but I was wondering how it might sound for rock too. I love the look of it so I was curious if anyone has any experience with one and could offer any reviews. I can't make up my mind on what my next guitar is going to be. It's down to an LP, a Dot, a EJ-200 acoustic, or one of these guys. Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
L5Larry Posted December 21, 2010 Share Posted December 21, 2010 To find out how it might sound for Rock, check out YouTube for the band "Yes". Steve Howe used a Gibson ES-175 on many (if not most) early Yes recordings and tours. I think George Thourogood(sp) used one also, and Bonnie Raitt used one very frequently. So there is a history of the ES-175 being a Rock & Roll guitar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supersonic Posted December 21, 2010 Author Share Posted December 21, 2010 Interesting stuff. I didn't know George played one of those. I've always seen him with that ES-125 with P90s like this: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianh Posted December 21, 2010 Share Posted December 21, 2010 I got one recently, traded it for a MIM tele I had upgraded. I kind of miss the tele, but I have another and a strat so not too bad. I warmed up to the ES-175 right away, but then I like jazz boxes, cut my teeth on a Gibby ES-225T whcih is like a 175 thinline. It's a great guitar for the money, and it sounds suprisingly good, but the selection of wood and electronics are not near the quality of a Gibson and of course it has that dipped-in-plastic look from the poly coating. However, it's a guitar you can leave out on a stand or gig with and not worry about it. Like most Epis, it would benefit from a nut, electronics, and possibly a pickup upgrade, but the neck feels good and it holds tune well. I have it strung with 12-52 flatwounds and that feels about right too. I think I had about $400 into the tele, so I consider it a good trade. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to someone looking to try a jazzbox without spending a fortune, but there are some good offerings from Ibanez, Godin, and Washburn in this price range too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supersonic Posted December 22, 2010 Author Share Posted December 22, 2010 Thanks for the info Brian. It really does seem like a good guitar for the money. It's definitely on my radar as far as my next purchase goes. Now I just have to make up my mind. Easier said than done! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lpfan Posted December 22, 2010 Share Posted December 22, 2010 Well I don't know if you like Bryan Adams but the cover of his ICON Greatest Hits album shows him playing a Gold one. Its a Gibson of course but I'm just saying if you like his sound, he uses one. Hope that helps. I found this cover too. For what its worth, I think its a great looking guitar! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianh Posted December 22, 2010 Share Posted December 22, 2010 That's actually an ES-295 made famous by Elvis's guitar slinger Scotty Moore. Similar to and ES-175, but with gold top, trapeze wraparound bridge (or Bigsby), and creme P90 covers and pickguard. ES-175 has a floating rosewood bridge / trapeze tailpiece combo and 1 or 2 humbuckers, although P90s was an option. Either way, good guitars for jazz, blues, or rock - not so much for metal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Buffalo Posted December 23, 2010 Share Posted December 23, 2010 Have one - love it. Bought a set of GFS Mean '90's to put in in my "spare" time. If anything happened to it, would buy another. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lpfan Posted December 23, 2010 Share Posted December 23, 2010 That's actually an ES-295 made famous by Elvis's guitar slinger Scotty Moore. Similar to and ES-175, but with gold top, trapeze wraparound bridge (or Bigsby), and creme P90 covers and pickguard. ES-175 has a floating rosewood bridge / trapeze tailpiece combo and 1 or 2 humbuckers, although P90s was an option. Either way, good guitars for jazz, blues, or rock - not so much for metal. Thanks for the ino Brian, I didn't know that. I think they look awesome. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lpfan Posted December 24, 2010 Share Posted December 24, 2010 That's actually an ES-295 made famous by Elvis's guitar slinger Scotty Moore. Similar to and ES-175, but with gold top, trapeze wraparound bridge (or Bigsby), and creme P90 covers and pickguard. ES-175 has a floating rosewood bridge / trapeze tailpiece combo and 1 or 2 humbuckers, although P90s was an option. Either way, good guitars for jazz, blues, or rock - not so much for metal. Brian I just found this Epi ES-295 http://louisville.craigslist.org/msg/2093887372.html Its sweet but isnt the price a little high? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tuiblue Posted December 25, 2010 Share Posted December 25, 2010 That price is too high, try offering less if the git doesn't sell, in a week or two... http://cgi.ebay.com/EPIPHONE-ES-295-HOLLOWBODY-GUITAR-W-OHSC-/280606625351?pt=Guitar&hash=item4155754e47 http://cgi.ebay.com/TOKAI-ES-295-ALL-GOLD-BARGAIN-/390274492510?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item5ade2c285e Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianh Posted December 25, 2010 Share Posted December 25, 2010 Brian I just found this Epi ES-295 http://louisville.craigslist.org/msg/2093887372.html Its sweet but isnt the price a little high? Yes high, but so are a lot of discontinued epis these days. Search completed sales for an idea of current value. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supersonic Posted December 25, 2010 Author Share Posted December 25, 2010 Nice additions to the thread everyone, but originally I made it to inquire about the 175 lol. Hopefully Musicians Friend will have an "After Christmas sale" and I can make my decision. Merry Christmas Everybody!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lpfan Posted December 25, 2010 Share Posted December 25, 2010 Sorry Supersonic I didn't mean to distract from your original question. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supersonic Posted December 25, 2010 Author Share Posted December 25, 2010 Oh, I didn't mean my comment to be negative at all lpfan. I actually learned some stuff from this thread!! That's always a good thing! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SamBooka Posted December 25, 2010 Share Posted December 25, 2010 may be a brain fart but I think I read in vintage guitar that John Fogerty played one on the first CCR album. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supersonic Posted December 25, 2010 Author Share Posted December 25, 2010 may be a brain fart but I think I read in vintage guitar that John Fogerty played one on the first CCR album. Really? I would love to hear more about that. I'm currently obsessed with CCR. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonnyg Posted December 25, 2010 Share Posted December 25, 2010 I don't own the Epi version but I've had this mid 70's Antoria for about 30 years. It's not really a question of what it can or can't do it's more a question of how loud you want to do it. Feedback really is a problem if you're going to use it live, as it is with all hollow bodies, but for home use at reasonable volumes or for recording I find it can handle most styles. I don't think it has any tones that I can't get with my Riviera or other humbucker equipped guitars but it is nice to play. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SamBooka Posted December 25, 2010 Share Posted December 25, 2010 may be a brain fart but I think I read in vintage guitar that John Fogerty played one on the first CCR album. Then check out Vintage Guitar with Ronnie Wood on the cover! Nice little article. Had no idea JF was a huge fan of short & 3/4 scale guitars! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SamBooka Posted December 25, 2010 Share Posted December 25, 2010 Then check out Vintage Guitar with Ronnie Wood on the cover! Nice little article. Had no idea JF was a huge fan of short & 3/4 scale guitars! I dug it up. 1) He used it for most of the Bayou Country album 2) He loved 3/4 and short scale guitars 3) The opening chords to Proud Mary were inspired by Beethoven's 5th) ?!?!?! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tuiblue Posted December 26, 2010 Share Posted December 26, 2010 I don't own the Epi version but I've had this mid 70's Antoria for about 30 years. It's not really a question of what it can or can't do it's more a question of how loud you want to do it. Feedback really is a problem if you're going to use it live, as it is with all hollow bodies, but for home use at reasonable volumes or for recording I find it can handle most styles. I don't think it has any tones that I can't get with my Riviera or other humbucker equipped guitars but it is nice to play. Nice Guitar, but why are the pups reversed? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonnyg Posted December 26, 2010 Share Posted December 26, 2010 Nice Guitar, but why are the pups reversed? I read an article some years ago that Wes Montgomery reversed the pickups on his L5 so I thought I'd try it out. I don't know if there was any perceivable difference in tone but I just never got round to turning them back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianh Posted December 27, 2010 Share Posted December 27, 2010 I think it would have the effect of making the pickups sound slightly more similar. The object of having them further apart is to get more twang out of the bridge and more mellow out of the bridge. I assume Wes knew that they were revese polarity so needed to be kept mirrored, and may have wanted a little less twang from the bridge or bridge/neck combo? IDK. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geff Posted April 19, 2011 Share Posted April 19, 2011 OK, so I just picked up a 175, new. Could it do rock yes but not thrash metal! Three issues for the budding rock star: 1. It is a wide body and hollow so it isnt going to take a lot of abuse and may feel awkward compared to a solid electric. 2. It has a relatively short playable neck, despite the cutaway, compared to most solid body electrics. 3. The humbuckers, though sounding ok, are not as good as genuine Gibsons - they are fine for me but I am looking for a stay at home guitar and playing mostly bluesy stuff. If you really want to rock out you may want to upgrade to Gibson/SD or some other brand of Pups. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fl00dsm0k3 Posted April 19, 2011 Share Posted April 19, 2011 Izzy Stradlin plays one Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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