This is a competitive price with a number of the other higher end moderately priced hollow body electrics. However, comparing to the Eastman models I would still choose Eastman. Of course, I already have chosen the Eastman AR371ce which is basically an ES-175 in a single pickup configuration. The AR372ce is the dual pickup model.
I just read about this model’s release today and don’t have all of the details about it’s construction. Here’s a comparison to the AR372ce from Eastman Guitars.
- Price: Epiphone Premium ES-175 is about $900 without a case. A hardshell case costs extra. Eastman AR372ce is about $980 and includes a hard shell case. If you can find a case for about $100, the two guitars are fairly close on price. The proper case (according to Epiphone) is the Model EEMCS usually sold for the Joe Pass Emperor II guitar. (See this list near bottom of page for which cases fit which Epiphone models. You can also use the Sweetwater Case Finder. If you go to Elderly.com, look for cases that fit small F sized guitars.)
- Bridge: The ES-175 has rosewood base with a Tune-o-matic bridge. This is how most standard Gibson ES-175s are configured but historic re-issues have an all rosewood compensated bridge, as does the AR372ce. All rosewood should be better acoustically but amplified probably doesn’t matter. Individual intonation adjustments on the Tune-o-matic bridge is nice but once set properly is unlikely to matter much either.
- Tailpiece: The Epiphone has the classic ES-175 zig-zag tailpiece. The Eastman has a simple trapeze tailpiece similar to an Epiphone Casino. I like the Epiphone ES-175 tailpiece better but I don’t think it is a big deal.
- Pickups: Epiphone is using Gibson USA ’57 Classic Pickups. That’s nice. The Eastman doesn’t specify the pickups. Epiphone wins on pickups. That’s a big deal. If you wanted to upgrade your guitar to the ’57 Classic Pickups the going price is about $150 each plus labor and parts if you’re not up to wiring them yourself. However, in spite of its generic nature, I don’t have any complaints about the pickup on my Eastman. Side-by-side the Gibson pickups are probably better — though I haven’t actually done a side-by-side.
- Scale length: Both are 24.75 inches.
- Nut width: The Epiphone’s nut width is the same as most Gibson guitars, a classic 1.68 inches wide. In spite of the fact that this is a widely accepted standard nut width, I prefer the Eastman with a wider 1.75 inches width at the nut.
- Top thickness: I can’t find anything about how many ply thick the laminated top is on the Epiphone. The Eastman and Gibson Historic Re-issue ES-175s have a thinner top (3 ply vs. 5 ply) than the standard Gibson ES-175 currently in production. This also results in a lighter weight guitar for the Eastman or historic re-issue models.
Overall, both the Epiphone Premium ES-175 and Eastman AR372ce are excellent guitars. I would have considered the Epiphone had it been available when I purchased my Eastman. However, I probably would have made the same decision I made because I really like the wider fingerboard on the Eastman.
Hi Dan, enjoyed your comments on the Epi- 175 and Eastman guitars. I had made up my mind to buy the Epi when a Salesman at Guitarguitar in Edinburgh recommended the Eastman. First impression of the Eastman was wow! Beautiful tone. Anyway, I agree with all your observations, I’ll just have to make my mind up now that the store has the Epi in stock in sb. Your web site is top notch and I’ll certainly make my fellow guitar players aware of your fine articles. Keep up the good work,
Best regards
Thanks for your comments.
I recently noticed that musiciansfriend.com is currently offering the Epi 175 with a case at about $900 USD. When Epiphone first announced the model the case was not included. I don’t know if this is specific to musician’s friend or if all merchants are now bundling the case.
In any case, good luck. I don’t think you can go wrong whichever guitar you choose, Eastman or Epiphone.
I read your comments about Epi ES175 being offered at Musicians Friend with a case…
I just checked and as of Saturday May 9, 2015 the case is being sold seperately…Dang :-)
Query: I received my Epiphone ES 175 Premium yesterday. Satin finish. But the Guitar Center in Cedar Rapids, Iowa had an Epiphone ES 175 Premium with a lacquer finish-cracked around the input jack-and I thought, it had push pull potentiometers for coil splitting. Mine is made in Korea and does not have push/pull pots. Gray hard shell case. Are there two models being issued, and did I receive the Standard model?
Although Epiphone has been adding push-pull coil spitting pots to a number of their guitars (e.g. the PRO series) I hadn’t seen that feature listed on the ES-175 Premium description. I just checked at the Epiphone website and it says nothing about coil splitting. Coil splitting isn’t a common feature for jazz guitars and the ES-175, though useful for a variety of genres, is often seen as a jazz guitar. The ES-175 Premium should have a lacquer finish. The guitar you saw at the store may have been new old-stock from the last time Epiphone offered the ES-175. Could it have been a trade-in, modded by the former owner? Sorry I can’t be of more help.
My ES 175 has a satin finish.
GC has the vintage sunburst on sales for $650 today…FYI. Thanks for your insights.
GC has it listed as being on Clearance on Cyber Monday 2016. Great price. For comparison, Amazon has same guitar listed for $839 today.