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1951 Gibson ES-175N

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Serial #: A-6613 white oval label. FON#: 5588-20

Body size at lower bout: 16". Scale length: 24 3/4" Nut Width: 1 11/16" Neck depth: .87-.94, 1st-10th fret

Materials: Solid mahogany neck; solid Brazilian rosewood fingerboard; arched slab-cut maple top and back; dual-parallelogram mother of pearl fingerboard inlay and thistle peghead inlay; triple bound top, bound back.

Hardware: 100% original nickel hardware includes Gibson P-90 single coil pickup, beveled black 5-ply pickguard, compensated Brazilian rosewood bridge, Kluson Deluxe tuners, trapeze tailpiece with raised-parallelogram crossbar; gold tall numbered barrel tone and volume knobs.

Notes: One pickup. Two knobs. The rest is up to you.

Introduced in 1949, the Gibson ES-175 quickly became the most popular jazz guitar ever made. Fast, clean and road-ready, the 175 has been the workhorse of the touring player and studio ace ever since, from Joe Pass to Pat Metheny. The legendary P-90 pickup of the early 50's provides a bright, rich sound unduplicated before or since, but was available on this model only until 1957. And since 1971, Gibson has only produced the 175 in its original single pickup design as special reissues.

Examples in natural finish are rare, and were premium priced: Gibson issued almost five times as many sunburst versions of this model throughout the '50s. One of just 105 blondes in its model year, this handsome guitar is elegance itself, with a richly ambered original finish, and the tall gold barrel knobs of the early '50s. Wonderfully lightweight, this guitar tips the scale at a mere 5 lb 7 oz. and is deftly balanced on the lap or the strap. The resonant 16" body sits easily in the lap, and the 24 3/4" scale is a joy to play, with fine original frets and smooth low action over a gentle medium C profile neck, and a fresh high-precision setup.

Maintained in wonderful condition, the instrument is without cracks, pick or buckle wear, and has 100% original nickel hardware and electronics. The vintage P-90 pickup is clear and strong, with characteristic detail and presence, and the pots, cap and wiring harness are all undisturbed. A hallmark of a pro-played instrument, a patch of smooth thumbwear up the back of the neck is a clue to this guitar's clear, open voice, played-in over decades of performance. (The original Kluson Deluxe tuners and tulip keys are in fine shape, with only the 'D' string machine slightly bent, a small price to pay for such a long career on the bandstand.) Even the jack area is notably free of the small stress cracks typical on models of this era.

Do blondes really have more fun? Only one way to find out. One only: call now.

Setup: Trussrod tension and neck relief adjusted; bridge height adjusted; bridge compensation set; string slots at nut and bridge inspected and recut as necessary; bridge foot contour inspected; bridge wheels and tuners lubricated; fingerboard and bridge oiled; body and neck cleaned and hand polished; electronics tested, pickup polepieces balanced.

This instrument is strung with medium gauge nickel flatwound strings (.012-.054). The guitar will accommodate lighter or heavier gauge strings, according to preference. String action is set at 4/64" to 5/64" at the 12th fret, with moderate relief for acoustic playing with medium strings. The action may be lowered or raised to your requirements with the adjustable bridge.

Case: 50's vintage brown arched plush lined hardshell case.