1965 Gibson ES-175
The mid-1960s ES-175 is the working jazz musician's vintage Gibson — professional quality, widely available, and priced appropriately for what it delivers. Patent-number humbuckers are excellent in this context.
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 (pressed archtop hollow body) |
| Neck Wood | Mahogany |
| Fingerboard | Rosewood |
| Scale Length | 24.750" |
| Frets | 20 |
| Pickup Config | HH |
| Bridge | Adjustable rosewood bridge, trapeze tailpiece |
| Tuners | Kluson Deluxe |
| Finish Options | Sunburst |
| Est. Production | 1,800 |
Pickups & Electronics
Two Patent Number humbuckers. Excellent jazz tone, widely used by working jazz musicians.
What Changed in 1965
The ES-175 remained unchanged in basic design but with patent-number pickups. Production was at a commercial high. These are professional-quality jazz guitars used on countless recordings.
Collector's Notes
These are actively used instruments — many have been professionally maintained. Check for replaced pots, pickguard, and tuners (common wear parts). A well-maintained 1965 ES-175 can be an outstanding buy.
How to Authenticate a 1965 Gibson ES-175
Check the serial number on the back of the headstock — ink-stamped numbers should fall within documented ranges for 1965. Potentiometer date codes are critical: look for CTS pots (code 137) with two-digit year codes matching 1965 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 1965 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.