Tough Decision! | 2 Great Gibsons Go Head To Head! | Which Sounds Better? | Jazz Guitar Shootout |

[@rhmayer1]

That was awesome, Rich. Both are dandies, but yeah, it took you awhile to say it but the L4 has the edge. It has that well-rounded bell like tone on all strings, evenly - perfection, with the woody sound delivered by the carved top. And what can I say, I'm partial to an ebony board. Rich, the playing was again just fantastic. Speaking of fantastic - Wes did an incredible editing job at the end. What an effort! One of yer bests!

[@hotpot170]

I think the L4 is unique because it has a soft and delicate and bright sound quality. It is particularly unique among full acoustic guitars. The ES175 has an image that the sound of strings is amplified as it is,and I think that is it’s characteristic.

[@tomculhane6648]

Beautiful playing, Rich! I was all set at first to comment that the L4 was the one. Then you picked up the 175, and it sounds just as good to me.

[@philpalonen2648]

Rich thanks for this comparison. Having owned and loved the ES175 for 49 years, I will take it with me when I go....The L4 has more richness as it should with a solid top and pickup closer to the neck. I would love to have a L4 too....

[@RickMcCargar]

Both sound lovely when you play them.

[@bjarnesegaard5701]

Rich is always so melodic and interesting in his soloing. Love it. This dude always sounds so good. :)

[@royswan]

The L4 is my choice. I’ve had 2 vintage 175s and a 1980 L5-CES. The L5 too mellow for me and the 175s a tad thin. The L4 is right in between… the sweet spot! Rich, your playing is always superb- but it was clear comparing the two takes with tracks. - the L4 was inspiring you more.

[@edwardebel1847]

Jeez, Rich! Talk about economy of movement! If I wasn’t absolutely sure that you are playing on this video, I’d swear you weren’t playing! Beautiful technique in addition to musicality! Also, I bought a L-4 15 years ago and am just now starting to appreciate it…almost sold it when I moved a year ago…no takers, thank goodness! This video makes me appreciate it more. Right after breakfast am going up and practicing! Thanks Again!

[@bobrich1950]

Yea, that was interesting Rich. I think i agree, the L4 seems to have just a tad bit richer/deeper sound. Although they both sounded great. Of course, that could be because you're playing them. I'm always taken by your smooth/ fluid playing. It always just seems so effortless and musical. I have a '98 L4 as well with the same wood configurations. It sounds a lot like yours. I also own a '96 ES165 with that 490 R pickup. I'm always tempted to change it out, as it's usually a lot brighter than i'd like. Curious if you've ever done that to a 165 and what you'd recommend putting in place of the 490R. Thanks Rich. Great playing as usual!!!

[@rickcurtis2983]

Sorry to late! I listened thru my bose phones and thought I'd hear a difference..really thought the 175 would be less mellow due to the pu position but man..they are really close in tone! Anyway sure enjoyed your playing and the comparison! I own a 175 from the 70's and enjoy it as well. Happy Easter Rich!

[@UTubemar25]

The guitar in the right hands makes a huge difference. Awesome playing. 8 years ago, between shows, I got to talk a long time with Pat Martino. This is my absolutely great time. We talked a lot about my 175. I am not a great jazz guitarist but an advanced player. Pat mentioned how feedback drove him nuts when he played the 175. He actually told me he would stuff it wit a towel. Lol. A player from hometown, Frank Potenza, chair at USC jazz guitar, told me about Doug’s plugs. He makes perfect fhole inserts.

[@pierremlaurin3581]

wow, what a nice comparison and your playing is like a feather, soooo nice, I have an L4 ces , I will raise the pick up plastic case with whashers, cant wait to try that, continue your nice work it is very pleasant to listen to your videos, ciao from edmonton in alberta

[@brianloftus8230]

The problem I had with this comparison video and the comparison videos of late is that your reverb is saturated it makes discerning between the instruments almost impossible. On our end of the video we get loads of wet echo reverb and the real tone of these guitars is masked. Compared to some of the Heritage comparison vids last year and other guitar features, those were less reverb soaked and you can really get a handle on the tone.

[@bernardbourget9273]

Hello Rich. les deux guitares ont un son exceptionnel, j'ai une légère préférence pour la 175, le son me parait légèrement plus boisé et je préfère. L'une ou l'autre sont des guitares excellentes, surtout jouées par toi. Merci pour tes vidéos.

[@tomroot7961]

It's such beautiful playing and lovely guitars. The L4 has the richer and more subtle sound, especially on the chords and octaves, but the 175 has a more focused sound for the lines. What a pleasure to consider--but, in this context, the L4 takes it, I think.

[@jerryanderson9161]

I watch you all the time, I wish you would show us how you set your pickups and poles, especially on a gibson 175.

[@waitaminute7257]

Man I just have always loved those florentine cutaways with the split parallelogram inlays. They both sound so nice. I think you got a keeper with that mahogany back 175 too. Almost can't tell any difference between that and the L-4.

[@larrylorenzen2449]

The different position of the pickups make up some of the difference with spruce/maple the rest. L4 gets my vote

[@stephenscott4166]

Loved this review… thanks…

[@jaycee30865]

In the mix the 175 holds up remarkably well but you can hear the l4 really shine in the high frequencies. Solo is night and day particularly live not through a microphone etc.

[@guitarpoetone1]

Very nice rich fantastic sound both guitars gotta love them I like the warmth of the L4 lil more

[@Patomataor]

Hi! Rich. Thx for your revIew!! Lovely knowledge. By the way… which pick are you using in this video?? Super velvet sound 🌬✨ Thx from canary island (spain) :D

[@petersmart894]

The L4 has a deeper and richer tone to me than the 175 but both are superb guitars in their own right.

[@jeffhildreth9244]

I like the looks of the L-4, the sound of the 175.

[@jaycee30865]

Rich be sure to check out Elis and Tom. Great album. There are two versions and one has a guitar solo that the other has not. Both full of great Jobim in an electric setting. You’d also probably like Larry Coryell Bahia. One that my mom discovered that proved quite fantastic.

[@heriberto1819]

The L4 👍🏼🇵🇷.MAGNÍFICO M

[@L4sleeko]

Of course you know which one I'm going to pick but they were very close to my ear. I will say, that body shape and proportion make for a very comfortable play. Same pickups no? Thank you!

[@daveanderson5680]

They both sound gorgeous,….or maybe it’s the guitarist. I liked the L4 best for the solo chord melody and the ES175 for ensemble

[@drjsmetz]

It would be interesting to compare them to the Tal Farlow with it’s longer scale length and bigger body.

[@michaelfenemore1168]

The solid top on the L-4 is more likely to produce feedback at higher volumes. Big problem when playing live.

[@heneverreturnasahorse9773]

Super nice 175, but...a gorgeous L-4...oh, well. However, my favorite is you Tal.

[@junulock]

It’s close but your L4 has a slightly brighter and clearer tone. Definitely brighter. I would expect that because of the 175 with that much mahogany.

[@larrymalott1055]

Both are great. I am partial to the L4 because l have a 2002 L4 maple back and sides. I believe they changed to mahogany about 2004.

[@thomaswashington3201]

Right, and the L4 went to a solid mahogany back after 2004 or therabouts.

[@Nono1234x]

@@thomaswashington3201 right! Mine is Hutchins Label 27.July 2005 with solid warm sounding mahogany 🫠

[@badscrew4023]

Very very close, with my preference to th 175's more mellow attack

[@kerrfoot]

So close… Both sound fantastic, but I’m a little biased toward the 175 because I own a Steve Howe signature version, and it’s unreal.

[@robertlindgren8132]

I have a 1947 l4 acoustic guitar in original condition.

[@andyd9725]

I prefer the L4. That being said, I’ve heard from L4 owners that they tend to feed back at higher volumes, making them less desirable for gigging. Is that your experience as well?

[@neiles335]

Both sound a like a dream. Although different than these, Rich have you ever tried / reviewed an ES137? I have one.

[@rickjensen2717]

I have one as well. Superb instrument. Sounds midway between a 335/345 and a 175. Very nice bright but rich tone at less than half the cost.

[@pn6719]

Hi Rich ~ just wondering ~ I see that you review quite a wide variety of hollowbody guitars (Gibsons all the way to Samicks)....but I noticed that you haven’t reviewed a Gretsch. I mean, Gabor Szabo and Chet used them in jazz, so why no love for a single Gretsch? Just curious...

[@nikazoran2558]

L4 has better clarity and definition thanks to the ebony fingerboard

[@ralex3697]

I prefer the 175

[@paulroper8649]

They both sound like Rich 🙂... But the L4 is sweeter - beautiful playing .

[@bluesman97]

Rich just an observation.. Heritage guitars make you play much smoother.

[@clarencetrice4442]

I like the gibson 175 better my self it has a better sound and tone 2 me that's what my ears hear I like jazz music 🎶 I just don't listen 2 it like I use 2 now I listen 2 my true music 🎶 the blues U want the strings close 2 the neck w out buzzing it's alot easier 2 play the guitar 🎸 like that 😊TLC/OMG 4 3O 2O23

[@InnominabileNessuno]

Gibson L4 is - simply - what you call a jazz guitar.

[@patrickevelyn8028]

Again very close

[@patrickevelyn8028]

An ES175 with a solid mahogany b/s is a rarity, and a treat for the ears, you should hold on to that one

[@patrickevelyn8028]

Sound the same

[@gtrmusic69]

To answer your question, neither one "sounds better".

[@RichSeversonGuitar]

Please Elaborate!