Elias Graves Posted May 18, 2011 Share Posted May 18, 2011 Maybe the nicest modern Epi I've played. Must have. Let's see yours! EG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red 333 Posted May 18, 2011 Share Posted May 18, 2011 Maybe the nicest modern Epi I've played. Must have. Let's see yours! EG I've always been curious about the ES 175. What makes it so nice? Red 333 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elias Graves Posted May 18, 2011 Author Share Posted May 18, 2011 For starters, the sound. The buckers were the typical Epi units, but there's just something special about a big ole woofin hollowbody. You can't get that SMOOTH from anything else. The action was as low as I've seen on a new Epi. Too low for my tastes anyway, but zero fret buzz. The sunburst was gorgeous...even continued on the back and sides. Nice touch. Neck was really nice. Not too fat but not the usual epi slim taper either. Lots of nice touches...pointer washers, full binding, nice inlay work and I didn't find any loose pots, switches or jack. That's not much to ask, but I see it on a lot of epis. Mostly the sound, though. Despite being a little muffled from the Epibuckers, the qualities of the guitar really came through. I play many epis that sound kind of anonymous...nothing distinctive in the voice. Not that it sounds like a casino at all, but it has its own voice like a casino does. I can hear a casino and know what I'm hearing, while a good many Epi LPs and others all kinda sound the same to me. This sounded just HUGE, with a big booming bass and smooth highs that didn't get shrill. The tone controls worked very well. I found useful settings all the way down to 1 or 2 with getting muddy. The plain maple top was awesome, too. Nice dramatic grain. Only downsides I found were a couple of flaws in the binding work, but they were minor and I had to look hard to find them. I need to find a way to get one of these. Soon. EG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red 333 Posted May 18, 2011 Share Posted May 18, 2011 Great review. Much appreciated! Red 333 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianh Posted May 19, 2011 Share Posted May 19, 2011 I got a lightly used Epi ES-175 a few months ago, and while it is a "budget" hollow body, I must admit I was pleasantly suprised in playability and amplified tone. The unit I got was restrung with flatwounds and I still haven't changed them out because they play effortlessly. For sure it ain't a Gibby L-5 or Super-400 but hell for $400, it's hard to argue. A very versatile jazz box for way short coin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geff Posted May 19, 2011 Share Posted May 19, 2011 I got mine recently new - but had been in the shop a while. It was set up so well that I would suspect one of the employees might have adjusted it. In the shop I thought it sounded a bit bright when unplugged- although the best of the archtops they had in stock when played unplugged. Got it home and it is settling in nicely and either I no longer notice the bright or it is no longer there (Could just have been the acoustics of the shop for all I know). The finish is great, frets all nicely done and smooth, fretboard is nice and smooth, inlays done well etc. The only bit of it that sucks a tiny bit is the nut - cheap white plastic that doesnt match the cream binding. As noted, the neck is really very easy to get on with, neither too thick nor too thin. The pickups are not great but they are good enough and, unlike some cheaper guitars, there is a clear difference in character between the bridge and neck and it is possible to get some nice tones. Although designed as an electric, there is a good amount of volume from the guitar unplugged due to the relatively deep full-hollow body. It is a shame there are not more colour options but the VS finish is well done (flawless on mine) and suits the shape of guitar. I have other guitars (I am, primarily, an SG fan) but I now find this one being the one I pick up to practice for half an hour. Apart from the cosmetic issues with the nut, my only problem is the ocassional buzz from the bridge saddle retaining wire that is a common fault with all guiatrs equipped with this style of bridge and easily fixed by either putting a kink in the wire or a small drop of nail varnish (there may be other ways to cure it but theses seem to be the most common). Overall a real bargain and proof that Epi can make a very nice guitar (which we all knew on this forum). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gypsyseven Posted May 19, 2011 Share Posted May 19, 2011 ...my only problem is the ocassional buzz from the bridge saddle retaining wire that is a common fault with all guiatrs equipped with this style of bridge and easily fixed by either putting a kink in the wire or a small drop of nail varnish (there may be other ways to cure it but theses seem to be the most common). I got the same with my Valensi Riviera and bought a new bridge with brass saddles and no wire....whar an awesome upgrade in tone...even unplugged!!!! Much warmer and fuller sound now!I have to say it was worth the 40,- Euors i paid... If anyone´s interested: http://www.tokaiguitar.de/xtcommerce/index.php?language=en&cat=c13_Fuer-metrische-Bolzen.html&cPath=2_29_8_13 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elias Graves Posted May 19, 2011 Author Share Posted May 19, 2011 Glad to hear others are liking their 175s. I have a set of handwound Rose Day Breaker (A4 magnets and they have a bit of a filtetron flavor to them) pups that would be right at home with one of these. Now to svae some cash-ola. EG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrw1960 Posted May 19, 2011 Share Posted May 19, 2011 I picked mine up a few years ago on CL for $300 W/OHSC. Super deal.It was manufactured in 2006 at the Saein Plant in Korea. I swapped the PUPs to Classic 57's and installed a MojoTone harness with American components.Did a nut job and it sounds super.I adjusted the PUPS higher than normal and it will crank out some serious Blues tones. The git next to it is my Dean Palomino with 3 P90's. Another nice guitar. I'll be swapping the P90's down the road with either Fralin's or Lollar's. Sorry for the crappy pic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elias Graves Posted May 20, 2011 Author Share Posted May 20, 2011 That's a beauty! EG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrw1960 Posted May 20, 2011 Share Posted May 20, 2011 That's a beauty! EG Thx EG! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parabar Posted May 20, 2011 Share Posted May 20, 2011 mrw1960's picture shows my big complaint about the Epi 175. His Dean Palomino has the correct cutaway shape --- graceful and U-shaped --- while Epi's cutaway is widened and looks somehow misshapen. Also the f-holes on the Dean are much nicer. Now, both guitars are similarly priced, so why is the Dean's body truer to the original ES-175 than Epiphone's, when Epiphone ought to be the legitimate heir of that tradition? Inquiring minds want to know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrw1960 Posted May 21, 2011 Share Posted May 21, 2011 mrw1960's picture shows my big complaint about the Epi 175. His Dean Palomino has the correct cutaway shape --- graceful and U-shaped --- while Epi's cutaway is widened and looks somehow misshapen. Also the f-holes on the Dean are much nicer. Now, both guitars are similarly priced, so why is the Dean's body truer to the original ES-175 than Epiphone's, when Epiphone ought to be the legitimate heir of that tradition? Inquiring minds want to know. Parabar, Thanks for the insight. Yes, the Dean is more sexier than the Epi 175. The F-holes on the Epi are painted ,whereas the Dean's F-Holes are Bound. The Dean cost $425. The Epi NEW $499. I paid $300 for the 175 USED W/OHSC. I, as you have the same concerns about the quality of Epiphone for a reissue. Other than that, it is a quality player.The Dean is super sweet guitar and looker with the Maple top and back. I'm puzzled that Epiphone would have taken more consideration to replicate one of Gibson's BEST guitars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rocker78 Posted July 2, 2011 Share Posted July 2, 2011 i love mine es-175. i have had it now 3 years. done something like 20 gigs with it. and seems like it is sounding bettter and better all the time. good and i can trust to it when playing live. even this is budjet price guitar, it doesnt feel or sound like it. in my opinion, i wont go bigger dollar guitars than this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonnyg Posted July 3, 2011 Share Posted July 3, 2011 I've had this mid 70's Antoria for over 30 years and it's one of the best of its type I've ever played (and I've shown it here several times). It's not all original (SD PAF's, Kluson heads, different pots, knobs etc) but it always had a great feel. I like it better than the Epi version because of the sunburst. Another nice touch is the neck binding going over the end of the frets. Here's the pic (again) anyhow. (I know the pickups are both turned around) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianh Posted July 4, 2011 Share Posted July 4, 2011 Great looking 175 copy Jonny, it looks like it's begging to be played. Beautiful sunburst finish on it too, nicer than some Gibsons I've seen. I can't tell from the photo - are the f-holes bound? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonnyg Posted July 4, 2011 Share Posted July 4, 2011 Great looking 175 copy Jonny, it looks like it's begging to be played. Beautiful sunburst finish on it too, nicer than some Gibsons I've seen. I can't tell from the photo - are the f-holes bound? No, the f-holes aren't bound just painted white (actually cream now). I don't think even Gibson do binding on their 175's. It does get get plenty of playing. It's the guitar I leave out because I don't have to plug it in to hear it and, of its type, it's surprisingly loud unplugged. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geff Posted July 6, 2011 Share Posted July 6, 2011 Johnny G, Thats pretty much why my 175 gets so much playtime. Because it is loud for an electric which means I can practice without plugging it in and still get a pleasing sound. (I dont own a fully acoustic guitar yet) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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