Lost & Found: Bill Frisell's ES-175

Whether due to financial shortcomings, boredom, space constraints or restlessness, every guitarist has a tale of the "one that got away," an instrument that we should have held onto, but, somehow, didn't.
In the case of Bill Frisell, the one that got away was a custom 1968 Gibson ES-175. In his 20s, while the young musician was still discovering his singular voice, the Gibson was his main guitar and constant companion. And then, in a move he'd regret for decades, he sold it in 1978.
As Frisell's career took off, he often wondered about where the ES-175 went. Then, magically, he was able to track down the guitar in 2014.
In this exclusive video, Bill talks about this special instrument and the impact it had on his playing.
Read the complete interview and see the guitar up close at: www.fretboardjo...
Go to the FJ's website - fretboardjournal.com - to see even more exclusive interviews, podcasts, performance videos and more. The Fretboard Journal is the guitarist's bible, featuring in-depth interviews with legendary players and builders, photo essays and more. Every three months, subscribers receive a new, 128 page keepsake issue of the magazine in the mail.
www.fretboardjournal.com

[@mirkocaster9632]

All of this is as intense and gentle like Bill. A true love story 🥲😍

[@iceWaterProductions1]

I’m so happy for Bill. This is a great story for people out there to never give up on searching for “the one that got away”.

[@chasmenear7130]

My late father bought me an Ibanez Musician series instrument that is my equivalent. I had a financial bad streak, and had to sell it - probably for way too little. My healthy attitude is that we can only borrow things in this life, and so it is. Kudos Bill for being reunited with that great guitar!

[@jime6688]

Everyone has a one that got away. Few of us get it back, so this was nice to watch.

[@Minor7thb5]

So true. If you have a lifetime love affair with guitars you will eventually have more than one get away from you....

[@tomokra]

what a lovely story! also love the bit right near the end where he almost loses it saying, "it's a lot older than it was ..."

[@lungflogger9]

I have a '63 es 175, I checked the serial number from the Gibson web site. I love it, bought it in early '70's for a few hundred bucks and, of course at that time, I knew it as the Joe Pass guitar but then I was into R&R so I was mostly playing strats....now I play this thing to death and am doing lots of shows with it....glad I kept it.

[@joebeardotnet]

I can understand his joy. The guitar that taught me never again to sell an instrument was a '70's Ibanez ES-175 D clone - lawsuit model. With a Bartolini Hi-A pickup I put in the rhythm position. I'd love to get that one back. Ah well, needed to sell it to obtain a bass. Limited options at the time...

[@Trombonology]

Wonderful that this beauty is back in Bill's hands!

[@greyhousemusic]

I love this video and story so much. Thank you all for putting this together.

[@googo151]

SUCH AN AMAZING GUITAR. ME WANT ONE!

[@HillbillyHellcats]

That's the guitar that Bill used when I took lessons from him at 11th and Washington in Denver, 1973. His rent for that little apartment was $65/month.

[@joebeardotnet]

Howdy Chuck - good to run into you here. I had not known you took lessons from Bill. Cool! Not sure, but I think the 'Dale' that Bill refers to might be Longmont's Dale Bruning.

[@ChuckHughesGuitar]

Yes, Dale Bruning. I took lessons from Dale, too, in 1975. Dale lived in Thornton or thereabouts then.

[@BoyajianDon]

Amazing! I used to live at 10th a Washington! Rent was quite a bit more!

[@krazy8820]

Never been anywhere close to where you guys are talking about but its so cool to see so much history and community in this reply thread!

[@jasonpedley]

Looks like he sold it again. Just saw a sale of this guitar by The Twelfth Fret in Toronto. There was a note written by Bill in the case.

[@digitalramyun]

I sold a Gordon-Smith GS2 in 2003 (cash was tight), and part of me has regretted it almost ever since. I hope it has a good home now... glad that Bill got his “baby” back, anyway!

[@piotrtrypus]

fantastic story..

[@michaelcorenzwit716]

I have my es175d that I bought new in 1962 for $200. I was recently offered $5,000 for it but I decided that I could not part with it I have played it for almost 60 years and it is like a family member to me.

[@Johaneeeek]

Don't ever sell it, you will regret it! :)

[@paulgartner4619]

thanks

[@krisalutius5177]

I have a similar story with my guitar. It stolen in South Philadelphia and ended up in Athens, Ohio five years later. I searched for it obsessively, though.

[@kidderminsterbro]

great story. it would be interesting how much he had to pay for it the second time around. peace, rich

[@joess6667]

any idea what strings he uses on his archtops?

[@fostexfan160]

metal ones

[@snails9505]

quite long ones

[@tooffoo]

i'd be very glad to use the same strings too would that sounds the same with my epi regent...hihi? marvelous story... in marvelous fingers...

[@JohnHorneGuitar]

I hope this guitar inspires a new recording.

[@TheBlackHarrington]

Is that tobacco burst?

[@martinluthierking]

how can it be an original 68 if it has 1 P-90?

[@RonWinter335]

I was wondering the same thing, but Bill explains that (briefly) at around 7:39. Peace!

[@hargisP2]

He says something about a guy named dale put that pickup on it.

[@filipdemeyst8842]

Waw

[@KeenanRuffinEl]

Turns out he sold it again

[@Earl00001]

Keenan Ruffin-El That doesn't make sense. Can you elaborate please.

[@KeenanRuffinEl]

He sold that guitar after he got it back. How does it not make sense?

[@Earl00001]

It makes sense to you that after all that effort he sold it again?

[@KeenanRuffinEl]

Earl00001 He did sell it though. Here's a list of the guitars Bill's sold www.myjazzhome.com/frisell/bfpricelist.html , and that exact Es-175's on there. Mind you, Bill hasn't been seen with that Es-175 ever since. He just likes Telecasters more.

[@Earl00001]

Cool,I haven't seen that before. Bill said it was a 68 though. The 1968 Gibson listed there is a 125 not a 175.

[@cnrbsmth]

Talk faster bill!

[@nominalegg5865]

Conor Smith ...and louder. I have the speed set to 1.5 and it’s just about perfect.

[@IViewMusic]

+Nominal Egg That's so cool! First time I ever use that feature and it's so much fun!