Recording Gibson ES-175

[retractablezing]

Originally Posted by rogerbrain

I don’t think an ES175 has any more intrinsic value than an Ibanez Artcore.

i guess you're exaggerating for the sake of making a point but to each his own, i suppose, still a friggin ridiculous statement. i wouldn't own a 175 either, but certainly not for the same reasons as you don't own one. curious about the year of the ones you hated so wholeheartedly. 70s and 80s are not a good time to be selling anything music related, let alone guitars, although the Norlin move didn't affect that archtop line as much as the flatops and other things, as stated before.

[7rojo7]

mic it up! MD421

[rogerbrain]

Originally Posted by henryrobinett

No. Your opinion is good. No need to be Stepford musicians. I'm sure it's a cheaper wannabe L5, or my favorite, Super 400. I say that although I've only played one in a store once, many, many moons ago. So what do I know? Similar with the 175. I must also say I have never been bowled over by playig one, the few times I did. It's more the IDEA of having one. I don't really have a thick bodied jazz guitar, unless you count my old Epiphone Broadway. I haven't played that one in years. But that's a long story.

Roger - thanks for your feedback. Good to have that opinion and one who's not afraid to voice it.

HA!!!(see bold above) ..I had to do a little research to get that ..VG

does you Broadway have pickups? is it a very old carved or a 'newer' pressed Spruce?

all the best and PLAY ON !!!!

[rogerbrain]

Originally Posted by retractablezing

i guess you're exaggerating for the sake of making a point but to each his own, i suppose, still a friggin ridiculous statement. i wouldn't own a 175 either, but certainly not for the same reasons as you don't own one. curious about the year of the ones you hated so wholeheartedly. 70s and 80s are not a good time to be selling anything music related, let alone guitars, although the Norlin move didn't affect that archtop line as much as the flatops and other things, as stated before.

\

from what you say I think we agree more than disagree about guitars in general and the ES175 in particular. It also sounds like you know a bit of history, legend and lore concerning guitars.

you are correct the 70's was a very bad time for guitars - both quality and selling them (I sold other MI product as well so I did make a living) .. the 80's saw a lot of companies both large and small take the opportunity to move into the market with better value (Ibanez and all the off shore and the higher end Dean, BC Rich, PRS etc) ..mid 80's quality/ value was doing much better across the board.

I started playing at the time the Beatles hit. the guitar boom really took the quality control down to nothing and the typical guitar buyer was an average consumer. that changed during the 80's

Slight exaggeration to make a point? -maybe.

the particular guitar i had was (I think) an early Nashville product (not kalamozoo) and played great and sounded fine stayed in tune etc. NOTHING WRONG WITH IT .. I don't think I said ' hated it' although I have some firm and narrow opionions about them I won't waste the energy hating a guitar. I just found that there is nothing to elevates it's function past any other laminated semi hollowbody with low action / decent pickups (the Gibson pickups are average-good). proper intonation and the ability to stay in tune.. ALL of these criterian can be fulfilled in the <$500.00 Ibanez.. I have a friend that has one and I was quite impressed at the FUNTIONAL VALUE compared to 7 times the cost for an ES175.

sorry - but I do love talking Guitars and have a lot of opinions and sometimes am a bit too willing to share

have a good day -

[henryrobinett]

Originally Posted by rogerbrain

HA!!!(see bold above) ..I had to do a little research to get that ..VG

does you Broadway have pickups? is it a very old carved or a 'newer' pressed Spruce?

all the best and PLAY ON !!!!

The Broadway -- I don't know. I only play guitar. It has pickups. It's a 1965. Probably "newer" pressed Spruce.

[dblacker]

I think it really depends on the kind of tone you are going for...If it's a straight ahead jazz thing, then you could get away with a DI setup but I agree with others that you'd lose some of fatness of the sound. If you want more of funk / soul (Grant Green vibe) then I would strongly suggest throwing up a mic. The amp you use is going to be part of the equation too of course. Check out the dude in the video at the bottom of this page for a 175 through a Fender Vibrolux. Great all-around tone.

Gibson ES 175 - Archtop Electric.com

[SongCave]

I own many guitars and have played and recorded for over 30 years. I own 2 x Gibson es175 guitars.
Why? They are soooooooo different and amazing. 1 x well travelled 1966 and one Steve Howe 64 reissue.
I can mic them in so many ways, they sound amazing, they kick through vox ac amps, fender twins even dare I say pods.
Depends on the situation
Btw the es175 through big muff and echo plex into fender twin in my live band setup.
1966 clean and gloriously mellow
Steve Howe signature cuts on the bright side and has more gain.

I like jazz - not academic for clevers sake but reworking moonlight serenade etc.

I mainly play rock - I play live with the 175 average 5 times a week. 2 gigs tomorrow 1 hour festival in the snow and then 5 hour gig at a club. I take both and never fail have to have people coming up and commenting on this guitar.
They are stylish, IMHO

Every brand and vintage has shortcomings at some point. Fact of life - shop around for one that sings and when recording this beast let it be an adventure!!! :-)

Just remember to place the amp facing along the length of the guitar to avoid feedback. (when live with rock band)

Easy really. Not as throaty as a strat or ballsy as les Paul but different.

try rode nt4 or if you can afford it a neumann M147 on this acoustically through 6176 .....wow Just like heaven!!!

My 2 cents.

Cheers dudes
Songcave from oz