Gibson ES-175D Model Arch Top Hollow Body Electric Guitar (1954), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, serial # A-16833, sunburst lacquer finish, laminated maple body, mahogany neck with rosewood fingerboard, original brown hard shell case.
A lovely example of a mid-1950's ES-175D, Gibson's classic "Working Man's" Jazz guitar. This guitar was built when the 175 was already a very successful design, having found immediate acceptance with players for its combination of great sound and playability at a moderate price. The sunburst laminated body is triple bound on the front and single bound on the back, the neck is single bound with split parallelogram fingerboard inlays. The headstock carries the pearl Gibson logo and crown inlay and Kluson Deluxe tuners with "keystone' buttons.
The original hardware includes double P-90 pickups with black plastic covers, the standard Gibson rosewood bridge, a 5-ply beveled-edge pickguard, earlier L-7 style tailpiece and tone and volume controls with amber "hatbox" knobs. The white Gibson label bears an "Artist" serial number dating to around mid-April 1954. This era's ES-175 has been used by far too many Jazz guitar greats to count; the double-pickup examples like this one are also great early Rock'n'roll, rockabilly and R&B guitars.
Overall length is 40 3/4 in. (103.5 cm.), 16 in. (40.6 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 3 1/4 in. (8.3 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 24 3/4 in. (629 mm.). Width of nut is 1 3/4 in. (44 mm.). Overall very well preserved; the finish shows some dings and chips overall, nost notably on the headstock and some light checking here and there. The fingerboard has a bit of wear and there is a very small old typical jack repair but overall this guitar is quite clean for a 1950's instrument! An excellent player, all original, complete with a fairly well worn original brown case. Excellent - Condition.
