1962 Gibson ES-175
The 1962 ES-175 — the definitive jazz archtop. Sharp cutaway, floating bridge, and humbucker pickups. The guitar of Joe Pass, Wes Montgomery, and Pat Metheny.
Current Market Value
* Prices are estimates based on recent market data. Actual value depends on originality, condition, and provenance. Pricing methodology
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Specifications
| Body Wood | Maple laminate (full-depth archtop) |
| Neck Wood | Mahogany |
| Fingerboard | Brazilian Rosewood |
| Scale Length | 24.750" |
| Frets | 20 |
| Pickup Config | SS |
| Bridge | Floating rosewood bridge with trapeze tailpiece |
| Tuners | Kluson Deluxe |
| Finish Options | Sunburst, Natural |
| Est. Production | 1,200 |
Pickups & Electronics
PAF or Patent Number humbucking pickup(s). Sharp-cutaway archtop tone.
What Changed in 1962
Block inlays replacing parallelogram on some. The 175 is the jazz standard.
Notable Examples
Joe Pass, Wes Montgomery, Pat Metheny, Jim Hall — the ES-175 defined jazz guitar tone.
Collector's Notes
Jazz players prioritize playability over collector condition. Original pickups, floating bridge, and trapeze tailpiece are key. Single-pickup models are rarer but two-pickup more desirable for players.
How to Authenticate a 1962 Gibson ES-175
Check the serial number on the back of the headstock — ink-stamped numbers should fall within documented ranges for 1962. Potentiometer date codes are critical: look for CTS pots (code 137) with two-digit year codes matching 1962 or up to 18 months earlier. This is the most reliable dating method for Gibson guitars of this era. The finish should be nitrocellulose lacquer showing age-appropriate checking (fine crazing). Under blacklight, original nitro fluoresces a distinctive green-yellow — refinished instruments lack this characteristic. Check for original humbuckers consistent with 1962 production. Full-depth hollow-body archtop. Laminated maple body with single Florentine cutaway. Parallelogram inlays. Check binding condition — deterioration common. Original Kluson Deluxe should be present with no evidence of replacement (no oversized bushing holes). Original hardshell case adds provenance value.