Gibson ES175D Sunburst 1959

Although the ES175 is associated with jazz greats like Jim Hall, Pat Metheny, and Joe Pass, its versatile sound and ability to handle distortion have made it a favorite of fusion and rock guitarists such as Steve Howe (Yes) and Buck Dharma, who played an ES175 on the classic Don't Fear the Reaper by Blue Oyster Cult. 

The ES175 was introduced by Gibson in 1949 as the more affordable alternative to the more expensive guitars in the range, such as the L4. The guitar was equipped with a laminated maple body featuring a 'Florentine cutaway'. This construction makes the guitar lighter and more resistant to feedback, which could occur more easily in guitars with a solid body. The official designation of this model is ES175D, where the D stands for Double Pickup. 

As the ES175D, this model is equipped with two PAF humbuckers, giving the guitar enormous versatility to excel in various musical styles, although a guitar like this naturally lends itself perfectly to jazz music. The original potentiometers are still present in the guitar, ensuring that the tone and volume of the pickups are easy to adjust. 

This 1959 ES175 features a Sunburst finish that gives the guitar its classic and recognizable look. Over the years, the guitar has accumulated relatively light signs of wear; there is some buckle wear on the back of the body, along with some dings and wear marks on the side of the body. Furthermore, the top, neck, and headstock also show signs of wear, and the guitar has been refretted. It is also noticeable that two of the original Kluson Deluxe tuners have been replaced with Gibson Deluxe tuners. The pickguard is bent and is therefore not mounted on the guitar, but it is included in the original case. 

A beautiful vintage guitar from an illustrious year for Gibson!