Epiphone ES-175 Re-issue

**MichaelE** · July 1st, 2009, 05:08 PM

This arrived yesterday late. Epiphone did a very nice job on this model. I was told that the 'Epiphone Custom Shop Limited Edition' on the headstock means little except that it's a limited run of probably thousands. Go figure...

The attention to detail is apparent everywhere on the guitar. The binding and finish are perfect. The action was a little high, but I lowered it and it plays the same as the LP Custom now.

The burst is more orange than yellow as the pictures in the ads looked. I like the orange better anyway. The neck feels the same as the LP and plays just as nicely. The inlays fit perfectly with no gaps or extra glue and are level with the fretboard. The frets are also nicely done, no sharp edges anywhere up or down the necck, top or bottom.

The sound is the best part. I'm used to having to change pickups in Epiphone solid bodies. Not this beast. The growl and ballsy tone of this box is amazing. The LP has nothing on theis guitar. I play through a VOX AC50CP. The tone is incredible through this amp. The pickups are spot on for rock and blues, but could be a little mellower for jazz. I didn't play with any of the amp settings, but I'm sure I could coax that jazz tone out of it.

No issues whatsoever with this big jazzbox. If you've been thinking of getting one, do it. It's worth the money. The build quality is excellent and the tone is amazing. It looks every bit as nice as any Gibson, Alvarez, Gretsch, or Rickenbacker I've ever seen.

I'll be removing the foam under the bridge mount during the first string change.

**just strum** · July 1st, 2009, 05:28 PM

I checked it out over at the other forum and I must say it looks even nicer over here (maybe the color theme they have here

).

I believe Robert is a fan of jazz, he might be able to give you some advice and offer some sites to visit.

**msteeln** · July 1st, 2009, 08:01 PM

I'd knock that light fretbord to an ebony color, but she still look's cool.

Have you peeked inside to see what set of bracing is used for the top?

**sunvalleylaw** · July 1st, 2009, 11:01 PM

That looks very cool! Congrats!

**MichaelE** · July 2nd, 2009, 05:08 AM

Originally Posted by msteeln

I'd knock that light fretbord to an ebony color, but she still look's cool.

Have you peeked inside to see what set of bracing is used for the top?

No, I can't see the underside of the top from outside without an inspection mirror. I can see the neck and the some of the wiring but that's about it. I did see the jack mount and there is no re-inforcing where the jack is mounted. I'm not thrilled about that, and may for my own piece of mind build or buy a jack plate for the outside.

I did find one set-up issue last night.

Where the trapeeze arm hinges is about 1/16" to far to the right in the mount piece. This has moved the strings a corresponding amount off of the fretboard and to the right of the pickup poles. The trapeeze arm just need to be pushed a tad to the left.

Something I'll fix soon. It doesn't affect the playability, but it bothers me just the same.

duhvoodooman*** · July 2nd, 2009, 07:10 AM

Sweet lookin' gitfiddle there, Michael!

: So now we need a clip or two...

:

**Brian Krashpad** · July 2nd, 2009, 08:25 AM

Congrats Michael!

My WildKat has that same Custom Shop imprint on the back of the headstock, haha. For mine it denotes a color/finish available for one year. So yep-- thousands.

**Rocket** · July 2nd, 2009, 08:47 AM

Originally Posted by Brian Krashpad

My WildKat has that same Custom Shop imprint on the back of the headstock...

Same goes for my Riviera Custom P93.

**bigG** · July 2nd, 2009, 02:38 PM

Sweet Michael! Congrats!

:

**MichaelE** · July 2nd, 2009, 04:01 PM

It sure is different playing one of these. For one thing, you can't see the fretboard without leaning out over the guitar. The neck however, plays just like my LP Custom.

It's a bit of a reach around the bottom bout too, but after lowering the strap a bit (no, not down to my knees!) the reach is a little easier.

The trapeeze tailpiece isn't an issue at all. The bridge moved to the right in shipping and while I was futzing with it it jumped back into position by itself. It just slid right over. I'm still going to have a look at the tailpiece hinge during the first string change, but all is well for now.

Thanks for the kind comments. I really do like it.

Robert**** · July 2nd, 2009, 04:04 PM

Congrats, looks great! I am a jazz fan, but I don't have a jazz box. Been thinking about getting a Hagstrom for that, but that Epi sure looks nice too.

For a jazz tone, use the neck pickup and roll off the tone knob a bit.

**Algonquin** · July 2nd, 2009, 04:07 PM

Beautiful looking guitar Michael! I've always liked how the es 175 looks, but I've never had a chance to play one.
Congrats on the new guitar!
Cheers

David

**just strum** · July 2nd, 2009, 05:42 PM

Originally Posted by MichaelE

It sure is different playing one of these. For one thing, you can't see the fretboard without leaning out over the guitar.

Stop looking at your fret hand. You'll play better and with more confidence.

Advice passed down from Rocket.

**MichaelE** · July 2nd, 2009, 11:35 PM

As mostly a rythmn player, I make a lot of fast and distant (up to ten frets sometimes) chord changes with some of the covers I play. I have to watch most of the time to make sure I hit the fret. All the practice in the world has never changed that about my playing. It's been like that for more than 30 years and I don't imagine it's going to change anytime soon. I know the chords, I know where they are, but my arm can't remember how much to move to hit the fret 100% of the time. I'm usually just watching the dots on the top of the neck. I still glance over the top though.

For simple three chord I IV V stuff I don't have to watch so much until the turn around or for a different inversion.

I have to do the same with piano but it's even more intense watching that many keys spread farther apart. Especially since both hands are playing notes and chords and two separate parts.

**Rocket** · July 3rd, 2009, 07:02 AM

Try to force yourself... practice blindfolded or in the dark. As long as you feel like you must watch, you will need to watch. Allow your muscle memory to work for you.

**Steve206** · July 4th, 2009, 06:47 PM

Hey folks,,

I was working under the assumption that a lot of these copies of Gibson L5s and 175s were all made at the same factory. Do not get me wrong, as I find nothing to complain about my Korean made. Washburn J6 Montgomery. I have played a real L5 once, for a short time, and for the money, I have found that my mind can come up with all kinds of reasons not to own one.

I just fell in love with the whole. hollow body. idea. Might even dress up for a publicity shot with me holding the guitar. No real reason. Blame it on the guitar.

Steve

**sumitomo** · July 4th, 2009, 08:16 PM

That's good advice(playing in the dark)It has helped me a great deal.Sumi

**MichaelE** · July 4th, 2009, 08:17 PM

I just finished my first set up on this guitar, or any guitar for that matter with a floating bridge.

It sounds unbelievably sweet now. And yeah, I pulled the foam out from under the bridge!

It took about an hour a forty minutes to do the setup, but it was well worth the time. The bridge had to be moved back 3/16" on the bass side before it would intonate. The closest strings are now -.3 cents and the worst string is the G at +3.6 cents. I couldn't get it any better than that.

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