The Gibson ES-175 is a Gibson electric guitar, currently around $3600. Close alternatives include the D'Aquisto Archtop and the Gibson Byrdland. It pairs well with the PRS HX 50 Head and the Soldano SLO-30 2-Channel 30W 1x12 Combo.
Gibson ES-175
Gibson · electric guitar
The Gibson ES-175 is a classic full-depth hollowbody archtop with a laminated maple body and humbuckers, one of the most enduring jazz guitars ever made. It delivers a warm, round, woody tone with smooth highs and full lows, the quintessential jazz-box voice used by Joe Pass, Steve Howe, Pat Metheny and countless others. The laminated body resists feedback better than a carved top, making it gig-friendly for jazz.
- jazz
- round
- woody
- lead
- smooth highs
- carved top
- full lows
- definitive jazz guitar
Price updated Aug 27, 2026
Genres the Gibson ES-175 is commonly used in
- Jazz
Amps that pair well with the Gibson ES-175
PRS HX 50 Head
PRS
30% matchThe HX 50's tube headroom and presence let the ES-175's woody, round jazz tone stay clean at real stage volume.
Soldano SLO-30 2-Channel 30W 1x12 Combo
Soldano
28% matchBoth lean toward bright and warm respectively — close enough in character that they complement instead of clashing
Fender Deluxe Reverb
Fender
28% matchThe ES-175's round, woody jazz-box tone opens up beautifully into the Deluxe Reverb's lush, sparkling clean.
Soldano 4x12 Straight Classic Cabinet (Purple)
Soldano
28% matchSoldano 4x12 Straight Classic Cabinet (Purple)'s bright character and Gibson ES-175's warm voice sit in the same lane rather than fighting each other
Peavey Decade Too
Peavey
27% matchThe ES-175's round, woody jazz voice stays clean and natural through the Decade Too's simple, bedroom-scaled platform.
Ceriatone TW Expression Head
Ceriatone
27% matchWhat Gibson ES-175 brings here leans toward warm — that's worth building a pairing around
Vox MV50 Brian May
Vox
24% matchGibson ES-175's warm voice suits Vox MV50 Brian May's own bright character
Vox MV50 AC SET
Vox
23% matchThe ES-175's round, woody jazz voice suits the MV50 AC's chiming, jangly British character.
Pedals that stack with the Gibson ES-175
Dallas Rangemaster Treble Booster
Dallas
28% matchThe ES-175's round, woody jazz tone gives the Rangemaster's germanium treble boost real midrange to brighten up.
EarthQuaker Devices Chelsea
EarthQuaker Devices
28% matchThe ES-175's warm, woody jazz-box tone gives the Chelsea's bright, British-voiced drive plenty of clarity to cut through instead of turning harsh.
Boss EQ 200 Graphic Equalizer
Boss
tonal matchBoss EQ 200 Graphic Equalizer's bright balances out the warm tone
CALIFORNIA WUB Continuum EQ Galaxy Man Edition
California Wub
tonal matchCALIFORNIA WUB Continuum EQ Galaxy Man Edition leans bright right where the warm tone needs it
Friedman Plexi-Drive Mini Overdrive
Friedman
tonal matchFriedman Plexi-Drive Mini Overdrive's bright balances out the warm tone
Fuzzrocious Baxtabber
Fuzzrocious
tonal matchFuzzrocious Baxtabber's bright balances out the warm tone
Hornby Skewes Treble Booster
pedal
tonal matchRun Hornby Skewes Treble Booster after it and the warm edge settles into something more bright
Ibanez Jemini
Ibanez
tonal matchRun Ibanez Jemini after it and the warm edge settles into something more bright
Cheaper alternatives
Epiphone Joe Pass Emperor
Epiphone
70% similarityShared character: laminated_maple_body, woody, round
Ibanez Joe Pass JP-20
Ibanez
65% similarityShared character: woody, round, jazz
Gibson ES-150
Gibson
93% similaritysimilar tone character
Ibanez GB10 George Benson Signature
Ibanez
86% similaritysimilar tone character
Fender Rosewood Telecaster
Fender
86% similaritysimilar tone character
Boutique & premium upgrades
Gibson Steve Howe ES-175
Gibson
70% similarity“The Gibson Steve Howe ES-175 is the Yes guitarist's signature version of the classic ES-175 archtop, tailored to his prog-rock and jazz playing”
Gibson L-5
Gibson
93% similaritysimilar tone character
1961 Gibson ES-335
Gibson
88% similaritysimilar tone character
Similar charactersee all similar tone character →
D'Aquisto Archtop
Daquisto
61% similarityShared character: volume, woody, benchmark
Gibson Byrdland
Gibson
61% similarityShared character: volume, woody, jazz
Heritage Kenny Burrell Signature
Heritage
92% similaritysimilar tone character
Gibson ES-250
Gibson
89% similaritysimilar tone character
Gibson L-7
Gibson
89% similaritysimilar tone character
Epiphone 1961 50th Anniversary Casino Reissue
Epiphone
88% similaritysimilar tone character
See all alternatives to the Gibson ES-175 (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Gibson ES-175?+
The closest matches in character are the D'Aquisto Archtop, the Gibson Byrdland, the Heritage Kenny Burrell Signature. Budget picks: Epiphone Joe Pass Emperor, Ibanez Joe Pass JP-20, Gibson ES-150. Boutique upgrades: Gibson Steve Howe ES-175, Gibson L-5, 1961 Gibson ES-335.
What pairs well with the Gibson ES-175?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: PRS HX 50 Head, Soldano SLO-30 2-Channel 30W 1x12 Combo, Fender Deluxe Reverb — The HX 50's tube headroom and presence let the ES-175's woody, round jazz tone stay clean at real stage volume..
How much does the Gibson ES-175 cost?+
Around $3600 (live listing price, updated Aug 27, 2026).