Ibanez PM3C vs ES150 vs ES175CC

[Fred Archtop]

Hey jazzers,

Still having the Ibanez PM3C of my friend around, so I've decided to make a comparison 2 historical archtop guitars each equipped with their own Charlie Christian microphone. The ES150 from 1938 has an original CC pick up. The second archtop is a ES175CC from 1980.

Potatoe potatoes or tomato tomatoes ? Best and take care.

[AllanAllen]

Nice playing. I listened though Bluetooth with my phone face down. One of the guitars (the one at 3:30, sunburst, brown knobs) is a little beefier. But they all sound great.

[SOLR]

Thx for posting and nice playing as usual.....

If I had to choose I'd have the 150 on top followed by the 175 and the Pm3 well, 3rd I guess..

Mind you, you make all 3 sound great

potaytoe potahto.....

S

[Gitterbug]

Thanks, Fred! Incredible how interesting and fresh this old tune became in your hands! To me, the ES-150 has more character than the other two, which also sound just fine. It shines in the melody lines. Also the bass end sounds beautiful and more acoustic. Needless to say that you make any guitar sound great.

Happy New Year!

[MikeTT]

Thanks! More mid thunk on the Gibsons to my ears. But I guess playability is best on the PM3C.

[ruger9]

Wow!! Great comparison!! To my ears the PMC3 (Ibanez CC) is a *tad* brighter... but we're talking like 5% or something. For all intents and purposes, all 3 guitars tone is interchangeable. Purely personal preference, including "big brand" and "vintage/historical" bias.

[John A.]

The 150 sounds quite different from the others (noticeably more midrange). It looks like the pickup is a little closer to the headstock on the 150 than the others. I bet that's a considerable part of the difference. I think I probably prefer the 150 on the recordings, though in hand I might feel differently,

[Jabberwocky]

They sound cut of the same cloth. Brothers of different mothers.

[Jx30510]

Great playing ! In all honesty, I'm really not sure I can hear a difference in sound besides what my eyes are telling what to think...
Obviously the PM3C is a wonderful guitar for sure
Which has the sweetest playability ? To me that's where they must be that different

[pingu]

The 150 sounds quite different from the others (noticeably more midrange). It looks like the pickup is a little closer to the headstock on the 150 than the others. I bet that's a considerable part of the difference. I think I probably prefer the 150 on the recordings, though in hand I might feel differently,

yes the pu on the 150 appears to be
at the virtual 24th fret

the 175 a bit further towards the bridge
and the PM3c maybe even a bit more

interesting ….

I also like the old 150 sound
the most then the 175 then the Ibanez

not a huge amount in it tho ….
Id be happy with any of them

[Jx30510]

I wonder how the neck shape of the Ibanez compares to the Gibsons?

[Fred Archtop]

Hey Jazzers,

Thanks for your comments!

Which has the sweetest playability ? To me that's where they must be that different

PM3C has a modern playability, the strings flushing the fingerboard. But the 2 others ones are also great to play if you are ok with archtop guitars.

I wonder how the neck shape of the Ibanez compares to the Gibsons?

The 3 guitars have a great neck. The 1938 ES150 has a very comfortable V-shaped neck, ES175 being rounder and PM3C flatter.

Happy new year!

[pingu]

yes I think I would prefer the Ibz sound
if the action was raised a bit ….

(so it didn’t slap the frets as much)

but It’s not your guitar , I know

[lawson-stone]

The playing was so wonderful I had a hard time thinking about the different pickups. Obviously, none of the 3 got in the way you producing delicious tone and punchy, fun, interesting music. That's what counts, the pickups on all 3 delivered your playing. I really doubt I could separate them if I weren't watching. They all sound great.

[Jx30510]

Exactly. It's the player, and Fred has a really sweet touch and phrasing!