Gibson ES-175DN Model Arch Top Hollow Body Electric Guitar (1957), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, serial # A-26522, natural lacquer finish, laminated maple body, mahogany neck with rosewood fingerboard, hard shell case.
This is a truly lovely example of a natural finish double pickup ES-175DN from arguably Gibson's finest era, the late 1950s. It mounts the very earliest examples of the new pickups Gibson had just developed, the now-venerated PAF humbuckers. These first versions do not feature the titular sticker on the baseplate but still have all the sonic glory, just not the signpost!
These first-generation "PAF" humbucking pickups have become legend in the decades since, the benchmark generations of pickup winders have attempted to replicate. They are controlled by the now-ubiquitous Gibson four knob/one switch wiring rig, with clear ambered knobs and the original amber switch tip. Over the years many of these very fine instruments have been stripped of this complete electronics package which is much sought after for Les Paul "Burst" re-creations. A complete and unaltered ES-175D from 1957 is now unfortunately fairly rare.
This guitar features a natural finish 16" wide laminated maple body with triple-bound top and single-bound back. The mahogany neck is topped with a single-bound rosewood fingerboard inset with pearloid double parallelogram inlays. The neck has the classic round-profile '57 feeling somewhat slimmer than some, and is extremely comfortable to play. The nickel-plated tailpiece is a special design used only on the ES-175, the bridge is the standard rosewood adjustable style. The unbound headstock features a pearl Gibson logo and crown inlay, and carries Kluson Deluxe tuners with "single line" keystone buttons, another part often poached for other guitars.
The "A" Artist serial number on the white label under the bass soundhole indicates this guitar was shipped right at the beginning of November 1957; the Factory Order Number (FON) ink stamped under the treble side f-hole indicates it was fabricated not too long before. The list price was $305 that year plus another $46.50 for the case; that was considerably higher than the cost of a Les Paul Standard! A surprisingly small total of only 175 double pickup natural finish 175's left Kalamazoo that year, some of which would have had the older P-90 pickup rig.
Although often pigeon-holed as a jazz guitar the ES-I75D is actually a very versatile instrument suitable for a range of styles. Steve Howe famously played one with Yes in the early 1970s; Richard Thompson also did so on the earliest Fairport Convention records. In the lower volume environments common today this ES-175D can handle practically anything with grace, style and that always amazing PAF tone. This lovely blonde is not only superbly preserved but remains all original and sounding fantastic.
Overall length is 41 in. (104.1 cm.), 16 in. (40.6 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 3 3/8 in. (8.6 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 24 3/4 in. (629 mm.). Width of nut is 1 11/16 in. (43 mm.).
This is a really beautiful guitar overall, very clean and all original with only very light wear and no alterations. It never even had a strap button added to the heel. It is superbly well preserved overall, with minimal checking, and only VERY minor dings and scrapes to the finish. There is somewhat heavier corrosion to the nickel plating, most notable the pickup covers and tailpiece. There is a bit of discoloration to the top under the bridge, where oils from the rosewood base leaked through.
All parts are original and complete including crucially the two early PAF pickups and wiring, which at this late date have often been removed for Les Paul recreations. The ES-175D is the prime victim in these PAF abduction cases, having the two correct pickups plus pots, switch, wiring and caps and tuners that are also coveted. As the pickups here are only technically correct for a '57 goldtop this guitar was less at risk than '58-60 examples!
There is a small lamination check in the top above the highest control knob; this is the only thing that could be construed as "damage" on the entire instrument. The G string tuner shaft is a bit bent but still functional. The original small wire frets are intact with minimal wear and very playable. The back of the neck has hardly any finish wear. This is, as expected a truly superb sounding instrument; while these pickups are prized for their hard rock capabilities they also offer a lovely touch-sensitive sound on a hollowbody with many nuanced tonal shades. While a perennially popular guitar these PAF-equipped ES-175D's are something of an endangered species today. This is one of the nicest early examples we have seen, housed in a modern brown Gibson HSC. Overall Excellent Condition.
