Antiques Roadshow

GUEST

My mother bought it new for me, and I've been playing it ever since I was 16. And I just love the guitar, I love everything about western music, and then I got into jazz music and then I taught for a music studio a couple of years later. And I just love playing it and just being around music.

APPRAISER

Well, this would be the perfect guitar for western, western swing or jazz. This model is a Gibson ES 175, as you know, and what year did your mom buy this guitar, do you remember?

GUEST

1954.

APPRAISER

'54.

GUEST

Yes.

APPRAISER

It's a very early ES 175. This was Gibson's attempt to get into the electric guitar business. They really wanted to compete with Fender, who was nipping at their heels. They put a cutaway on it so you could play further down the neck. They put the electric pickup in it, and this is very much like a traditional arch-top jazz guitar that Gibson has made since 1929. But they made it into a hot rod version to appeal to the up-and-coming electric guitar players. They still make this guitar today in a little different model. This is what they call a P-90 pickup. And even though in years since then they switched to what they call a Humbucker pickup, lots and lots of players prefer this pickup. The guitars play beautifully, it has a unique sound that is very desirable. The thing that really impressed me about this guitar, besides the fact that it is a very significant guitar in the history of guitars, is the condition. It just glows in the dark, so you took absolutely great care of it.

GUEST

Well, thank you.

APPRAISER

All of the finish is pristine, the pick guard is pristine, the knobs are pristine. It's a wonderfully clean guitar. How much did she spend in 1954, do you remember?

GUEST

I think it was about $200 or $225.

APPRAISER

$225.

GUEST

And then she paid it off ten dollars a week.

APPRAISER

Uh-huh.

GUEST

So it was a real treat to have this guitar when I was young.

APPRAISER

I feel that in this condition, with this beautiful case, that in a current retail market this guitar would sell for about $5,500.

GUEST

Oh, my goodness. Oh, my goodness. That is unbelievable.

APPRAISER

Well, it's a very nice thing and I'm so glad I got to see it.

GUEST

Oh, thank you so much. That is just thrilling.