1958 Gibson ES-175D, Serial Number A27906
This 1958 Gibson ES-175D™ is a beautiful, highly original example from one of the most celebrated periods in Gibson history. Finished in Tobacco Sunburst and loaded with its original Patent Applied For humbucker™ pickups, it also sports a bit of a “Scotty Moore-mod” in the form of a period Gretsch® Melita Synchro-Sonic bridge installed long ago. This guitar has spent its life close to home, coming to us from the Kalamazoo area just a short distance from where it was built nearly seven decades ago. It has been played and cared for along the way, and today it remains a fantastic-playing and great-sounding example of a late-1950s ES-175.
The original Tobacco Sunburst finish is particularly attractive, with tight, even checking throughout and only light nicks, dings, and playwear. There is a small amount of finish wear on the top around the bridge base, but otherwise the guitar has been very well cared for. The original five-ply black and white pickguard, gold Top Hat knobs, amber Catalin switch tip, plastics, and nickel-plated hardware remain in place, with the whole guitar showing a wonderfully cohesive amount of age.
The mahogany neck has a comfortable Medium D profile measuring .87" at the 1st fret and .97" at the 9th, with a 1 11/16" nut width and dark Brazilian rosewood fretboard. The guitar was professionally refretted sometime in the past and retains a correct vintage nylon nut. An aluminum Gibson strap button was also added to the top of the heel.
One of our favorite details is the original set of Kolb tuners. Manufactured for Epiphone, these tuners began with an “E” stamped into the back of each housing, which was modified to form a “G” when Gibson used them on certain instruments following its acquisition of Epiphone in the late 1950s. They are a fascinating little artifact of that moment in Gibson history and remain in excellent working order.
Both original Patent Applied For humbuckers remain in place, measuring 7.47k ohms in the neck and 7.75k ohms in the bridge. Their Patent Applied For decals remain clean and intact, and the electronics retain clean, untouched solder joints throughout. The neck pickup mounting ring uses less commonly seen flat-head screws rather than Phillips-head screws, but they appear original to the guitar. All four original Centralab® potentiometers remain enclosed in their original metal dust cans, with a visible 134811 date code from the 11th week of 1958. The original capacitors remain enclosed within the cans and have not been disturbed for identification. The original Switchcraft® three-way selector switch and output jack also remain in place.
Long ago, the original floating bridge was replaced with the vintage Gretsch Melita Synchro-Sonic bridge with Bakelite saddles seen here. It functions well and, paired with the Kolb tuners, gives the guitar a wonderfully industrial bit of period character. For someone who prefers a more traditional ES-175 setup, an era-correct rosewood floating bridge and base are also included with the guitar. The original Gibson zigzag trapeze tailpiece remains in place.
At 7.08 pounds, this is a lively and resonant ES-175 that feels every bit as good as it looks. We have it set up with 12-52 flatwound strings, and the combination of the full hollow body and original humbuckers produces the warm, articulate voice that makes a great late-1950s ES-175 such a rewarding guitar. This one simply does everything well: it plays great, sounds great, and has the kind of visual presence that makes it difficult to put back in the case.
The guitar includes its vintage Lifton™ five-latch brown hardshell case with maroon lining. The case shows regular wear, including some duct tape along the bottom, and remains functional. An old embossed label on the bottom reads “Donald Brown.” A new Gibson Deluxe Protector case is also included for secure transport.
This instrument has received a professional setup and thorough inspection from Gibson Certified Vintage and comes with a Certificate of Authenticity, Letter of Appraisal, new Limited Lifetime Warranty, and exclusive Gibson Certified Vintage accessories including a leather guitar strap, matching leather luggage tag, and vintage-style Gibson pick container.
Weight: 7.08 lb.
Neck depth: 1st fret: .87", 9th fret: .97"
Guitar Specifications
Body Specs
Body Specs
Back Laminated maple
Binding Multi-ply cream top, single-ply cream back and fretboard
Body Finish Nitrocellulose lacquer
Body Material Laminated maple
Body Shape ES-175
Body Styles Hollowbody
Side Laminated maple
Top Laminated maple
Neck Specs
Neck Specs
Fingerboard Material Brazilian rosewood
Fingerboard Radius 12 in. | 304.8 mm
Fret Count 20
Frets Small/vintage
Inlays Celluloid split parallelogram
Joint Glued-in, set neck
Neck Material Mahogany
Nut Material Nylon
Nut Width 43.2mm / 1.7in
Profile Medium D
Scale Length 628.65mm / 24.75in
Electronics Specs
Electronics Specs
Bridge Pickup Patent Applied For humbucking pickup (double black coils, 7.75k)
Controls 2 volume, 2 tone Centralab potentiometers with unknown original capacitors
Neck Pickup Patent Applied For humbucking pickup (double black coils, 7.47k)
Output Jack Switchcraft 1/4" mono output jack
Pickup Selector Switchcraft 3-way selector switch
Hardware Specs
Hardware Specs
Bridge Gretsch Melita Synchro-Sonic
Control Knobs Gold Top Hats
finish Nickel
Mounting Rings Black butyrate M69
Pickguard Multi-ply black
Pickup Covers Nickel
Plastic Parts Mixed
Saddle Material Bakelite
Strap Buttons White plastic endpin, aluminum heel
Switch Tip Amber Catalin
Tailpiece Zigzag Trapeze
Truss Rod Cover Single-ply black
Tuner Plating Nickel
Tuning Machines Kolb Epiphone G-stamped
Misc Specs
Misc Specs
Accessories COA, LOA, Limited Lifetime Warranty Card, GCV leather guitar strap, GCV leather luggage tag, GCV vintage-style picks and pick container
Model: GCVP0210
Case Original Lifton 5-latch brown/maroon hardshell case, new Gibson Deluxe Protector Acoustic Case
Headstock Open book
Headstock Inlay Mother-of-pearl Gibson logo and crown
Strings Gauge 12-52 flatwound
Gibson Certified Vintage 1958 Gibson ES-175D, Tobacco Sunburst
Gibson Certified Vintage 1958 Gibson ES-175D, Tobacco Sunburst
Free & Fast Shipping
Free & Fast Shipping
Orders placed by noon CST Monday-Friday (excluding holidays) will ship the same day. Orders placed after this cutoff will ship the next business day. All orders over $100 receive free ground shipping within the United States.
Case Included
Case Included
Your instrument ships with a factory-supplied hard- or soft-shell case for safe storage and transportation. Please refer to the product specifications for details.
Setup Included
Setup Included
Our craftory-trained technicians perform a final thorough inspection and detailed setup moments before your instrument is packed and shipped to you.
Limited Lifetime Warranty
Limited Lifetime Warranty
Shop and play with confidence knowing that your instrument is protected by our limited lifetime warranty. Learn more about warranties and exclusions here .
Three Free Months of the Gibson App
Three Free Months of the Gibson App
For a limited time only, receive a three-month subscription to the Gibson App for free with the purchase of this product. Click here to learn more about the Gibson App.
1958 Gibson ES-175D, Serial Number A27906
This 1958 Gibson ES-175D™ is a beautiful, highly original example from one of the most celebrated periods in Gibson history. Finished in Tobacco Sunburst and loaded with its original Patent Applied For humbucker™ pickups, it also sports a bit of a “Scotty Moore-mod” in the form of a period Gretsch® Melita Synchro-Sonic bridge installed long ago. This guitar has spent its life close to home, coming to us from the Kalamazoo area just a short distance from where it was built nearly seven decades ago. It has been played and cared for along the way, and today it remains a fantastic-playing and great-sounding example of a late-1950s ES-175.
The original Tobacco Sunburst finish is particularly attractive, with tight, even checking throughout and only light nicks, dings, and playwear. There is a small amount of finish wear on the top around the bridge base, but otherwise the guitar has been very well cared for. The original five-ply black and white pickguard, gold Top Hat knobs, amber Catalin switch tip, plastics, and nickel-plated hardware remain in place, with the whole guitar showing a wonderfully cohesive amount of age.
The mahogany neck has a comfortable Medium D profile measuring .87" at the 1st fret and .97" at the 9th, with a 1 11/16" nut width and dark Brazilian rosewood fretboard. The guitar was professionally refretted sometime in the past and retains a correct vintage nylon nut. An aluminum Gibson strap button was also added to the top of the heel.
One of our favorite details is the original set of Kolb tuners. Manufactured for Epiphone, these tuners began with an “E” stamped into the back of each housing, which was modified to form a “G” when Gibson used them on certain instruments following its acquisition of Epiphone in the late 1950s. They are a fascinating little artifact of that moment in Gibson history and remain in excellent working order.
Both original Patent Applied For humbuckers remain in place, measuring 7.47k ohms in the neck and 7.75k ohms in the bridge. Their Patent Applied For decals remain clean and intact, and the electronics retain clean, untouched solder joints throughout. The neck pickup mounting ring uses less commonly seen flat-head screws rather than Phillips-head screws, but they appear original to the guitar. All four original Centralab® potentiometers remain enclosed in their original metal dust cans, with a visible 134811 date code from the 11th week of 1958. The original capacitors remain enclosed within the cans and have not been disturbed for identification. The original Switchcraft® three-way selector switch and output jack also remain in place.
Long ago, the original floating bridge was replaced with the vintage Gretsch Melita Synchro-Sonic bridge with Bakelite saddles seen here. It functions well and, paired with the Kolb tuners, gives the guitar a wonderfully industrial bit of period character. For someone who prefers a more traditional ES-175 setup, an era-correct rosewood floating bridge and base are also included with the guitar. The original Gibson zigzag trapeze tailpiece remains in place.
At 7.08 pounds, this is a lively and resonant ES-175 that feels every bit as good as it looks. We have it set up with 12-52 flatwound strings, and the combination of the full hollow body and original humbuckers produces the warm, articulate voice that makes a great late-1950s ES-175 such a rewarding guitar. This one simply does everything well: it plays great, sounds great, and has the kind of visual presence that makes it difficult to put back in the case.
The guitar includes its vintage Lifton™ five-latch brown hardshell case with maroon lining. The case shows regular wear, including some duct tape along the bottom, and remains functional. An old embossed label on the bottom reads “Donald Brown.” A new Gibson Deluxe Protector case is also included for secure transport.
This instrument has received a professional setup and thorough inspection from Gibson Certified Vintage and comes with a Certificate of Authenticity, Letter of Appraisal, new Limited Lifetime Warranty, and exclusive Gibson Certified Vintage accessories including a leather guitar strap, matching leather luggage tag, and vintage-style Gibson pick container.
Weight: 7.08 lb.
Neck depth: 1st fret: .87", 9th fret: .97"
Guitar Specifications
Body Specs
Body Specs
Back Laminated maple
Binding Multi-ply cream top, single-ply cream back and fretboard
Body Finish Nitrocellulose lacquer
Body Material Laminated maple
Body Shape ES-175
Body Styles Hollowbody
Side Laminated maple
Top Laminated maple
Neck Specs
Neck Specs
Fingerboard Material Brazilian rosewood
Fingerboard Radius 12 in. | 304.8 mm
Fret Count 20
Frets Small/vintage
Inlays Celluloid split parallelogram
Joint Glued-in, set neck
Neck Material Mahogany
Nut Material Nylon
Nut Width 43.2mm / 1.7in
Profile Medium D
Scale Length 628.65mm / 24.75in
Electronics Specs
Electronics Specs
Bridge Pickup Patent Applied For humbucking pickup (double black coils, 7.75k)
Controls 2 volume, 2 tone Centralab potentiometers with unknown original capacitors
Neck Pickup Patent Applied For humbucking pickup (double black coils, 7.47k)
Output Jack Switchcraft 1/4" mono output jack
Pickup Selector Switchcraft 3-way selector switch
Hardware Specs
Hardware Specs
Bridge Gretsch Melita Synchro-Sonic
Control Knobs Gold Top Hats
finish Nickel
Mounting Rings Black butyrate M69
Pickguard Multi-ply black
Pickup Covers Nickel
Plastic Parts Mixed
Saddle Material Bakelite
Strap Buttons White plastic endpin, aluminum heel
Switch Tip Amber Catalin
Tailpiece Zigzag Trapeze
Truss Rod Cover Single-ply black
Tuner Plating Nickel
Tuning Machines Kolb Epiphone G-stamped
Misc Specs
Misc Specs
Accessories COA, LOA, Limited Lifetime Warranty Card, GCV leather guitar strap, GCV leather luggage tag, GCV vintage-style picks and pick container
Model: GCVP0210
Case Original Lifton 5-latch brown/maroon hardshell case, new Gibson Deluxe Protector Acoustic Case
Headstock Open book
Headstock Inlay Mother-of-pearl Gibson logo and crown
Strings Gauge 12-52 flatwound
