This really is a touching tale Tim. The relationship someone has with their early guitar loves is something I truly understand. So happy you have found the brother/sister ES-175 to your original!!
I have heard you talk about your old ES-175 before (maybe Josh Smith's podcast?) and hoped that you would find another one like it. I love that late 40's/early 50's ES-350 with P-90's that you play, that P-90 sound is well suited for your style of playing. I always loved hearing Ted Greene play his ES-330 with P-90's. Anyway, I'm happy to see and hear that you got another ES-175. You probably know that Bill Frisell had a similar relationship with his first good jazz guitar which was also an early 50's ES-175 that he sold at some point and he ended up getting it back later in life too.
I've only bought one guitar in the past 20 years (and all the rest before that), and only sold one in my lifetime. I regretted it. I let go a handmade cedar classical -- not a super high-end guitar, but pretty nice. I prefer spruce tops for classicals, so it's not a *major* regret, but I'm not keen to put out $3K right now for another one. It was handmade and had a great finish and really nice wood -- especially the ebony fingerboard. I *almost* sold my 175 when I was really into classical and am glad I didn't.
Pls share more playing with us with that thing! A beautiful guitar!! Love these old ES Archtops… I have also few of ‘em and enjoy every single minute playing them.
There's something about archtops, they have some kind of charm. They are sweet and warm, I love them... The ES 175 is one of my favs no doubt. I can't tell if i like the p90 version of the humbucker ones more. Such a wonderful story and playing... Hugs from Spain :)
So nice. Have the same story but re: a 1952 es-125. It’s great that you found this. Hope you enjoy it as much as others will enjoy hearing you play it.
That’s a beauty. I bought a pristine 52 ES 175 about 10 years ago. Fabulous neck. Wonderful guitar. But I was always so anxious about not dinging it. I do miss it…… great playing as always.
Cool Story Tim. Glad you filled that void with another 52’. Early -mid 50s ES 175s are sweet guitars. I have a 56’. Those old p-90s /short scale sweet necks. Enjoy
I've got an old ES-175, looks exactly like Herb Ellis' original one. Beautiful looks and tone, plays great, and the neck is awesome as well. The angled back neck used on Archtops makes it a joy to play. Congrats on getting a great guitar!
Great story Tim. I too just recently found my holy grail ES 175. She is from 1991, factory black in excellent condition with the most beautiful neck I've ever played. The sound is so recognizable to me I just can't put it down. Aren't guitars great?
Great story Tim. You and the 175 sound great together. I have a 1950 ES-175, born the same year as me, and I love it, even though when I play it it doesn’t sound anything like yours. )-:
Loved the "I took the flatwound strings off of it that EVERYBODY wants to put on jazz guitars and put my regular GOOD strings on it, your round wound strings, D'addario." Makes me feel good about my franken-set of round wounds I have on my Eastman archtop--that you played some years back...right before COVID hit :) Love the sound of round wounds on an archtop! Awesome story and photo to boot. Maybe when things go back to whatever new normal we're calling it these days... maybe we'll meet again. In the time being, I heard you've got a pretty nifty chord book on the market :)
Congratulations! Sounds just right! and whatever experiments you tried on the first one, are "forgiven". LOL You sound inspired and that is inspiring to hear!
Love the story, Tim, and I'm glad you got the guitar. I'm sure you know they're not all good, those old Gibsons. It's nice to get lucky, especially if you don't try before you buy. I "followed" you, Joshua Breakstone and Bruce Forman and tried roundwounds on my 175 (a 1976 -- I'd love to have a '50s version to compare) and I didn't like them. I used Ernie Ball .013s (the Nickel-Wound Custom Gauge). The low E and A were too loud, and I missed the flatwound "thump." I put La Bella flats on, and I got the balance back -- and a whole lot of velvety thump (kind of like a Hammond organ). But I can see going back to roundwounds -- maybe I need to try a different set. I'm sure I have some D'Addarios that I could put on. Congrats on the new guitar, and I hope to see it in more videos.
Strings are such personal and subjective thing. I've tried flats out a number of times and always seem to go back to D'Addario Pure Nickel EPN21s (round wounds), almost immediately. These are 12-51 with a wound third. I think Tim said his are 12-52 so I'm not sure what D'Addario set he is using. I've used these strings on several archtops with different bracing, tone woods, laminate / carved, acoustic / acoustic electric, and they always seem to work well. Easy to play for me and sound really good to my ear.
Well, well, I saw this guitar on their Instagram too and immediately sent them an email for more info. Now I know why they never bothered to answer my initial and subsequent inquiries. At least it went to a good home and to someone who can do it real justice. Enjoy.
@@TimLerchGuitar I never think about recording the 175 acoustically. I know you talk about that more in your next video. I like the blend of acoustic and the pickup.
I saw the newer version 2 pickups on a Bill Withers vid. The guitarist sitting behine Bill ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-LuzlbR5V_hc.html
