1949 Gibson ES-175
The inaugural ES-175 — a jazz guitar that would define Gibson's archtop electric heritage. Single P-90, pressed maple construction, and the distinctive pointed cutaway. Very rare first-year examples.
Current Market Value
* Prices are estimates based on recent market data. Actual value depends on originality, condition, and provenance. Pricing methodology
Specifications
| Body Wood | Maple (pressed archtop single-cutaway hollow body) |
| Neck Wood | Mahogany |
| Fingerboard | Rosewood |
| Scale Length | 24.750" |
| Frets | 20 |
| Pickup Config | S |
| Bridge | Combination adjustable bridge/tailpiece |
| Tuners | Kluson Deluxe |
| Finish Options | Sunburst |
| Est. Production | 75 |
Pickups & Electronics
Single P-90 dog-ear pickup. Single pickup configuration is the original 'D' (standard) version.
What Changed in 1949
First year of the ES-175 — Gibson's most important single-cutaway archtop electric. The pressed (laminated) maple construction was unusual at the time but produced excellent results. Very low first-year production.
Collector's Notes
First-year (1949) ES-175s are rare. Verify single vs. two-pickup configuration — the two-pickup 175D is more common. P-90 dog-ear pickups should be original. These are jazz instruments but have been embraced by rock players.