Stunning 1956 Gibson ES-175N just in!
If its big acoustic voice or P90 tone didn't stop you in your tracks, then just comb through the photos here and marvel at how nicely preserved this mid 50s beauty is.
It's no secret that Gibson produced Natural finished instruments in much smaller quantities compared to their Sunburst brethren; only 146 of these shipped in '56, which is approximately 25% of the total of Sunburst 175s shipped the same year. And when they survive nearly 70 years in this kind of condition, it's worthy of celebration.
That aforementioned acoustic tone? Throw a nice condenser mic out in front of this guitar and you'd fool some folks into thinking it was a flat top. The depth of tone is remarkable!
The original P90 pickup delivers quintessential 50s Gibson tone - round and full but with great clarity. It nails those traditional Jazz sounds made legendary by the likes of Jim Hall and Joe Pass. Still, there's a lot more range in this guitar with some simple volume and tone adjustments.
It bears repeating - outside of some light contact wear and natural finish checking, this ES-175N is impressively clean. There's some finish wear on the back of the neck and a small scar on the peghead, but no evidence of breaks or repairs. The input jack area shows some possible light stress fractures but remains stable. To be clear, the guitar was certainly played throughout its life, but it's obvious that it was in the hands of someone who appreciated its inherent quality.
It's currently set up with round wound strings and the original frets still offer a great playing experience.
Paired with a Gator ABS hardshell case.

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