ce-100 vs. es-150

[Zachary]

Can anyone offer any comparisons between the ce-100 and the gibson es-150 (post-war)? can the franz pups pull off the soft, round jazz tones the 150 can? I am torn, all of a sudden, by the opportunity to buy the gibson, although it is $300 more than the ce-100. both have the original cases and are in pretty exceptional shape. the guild is a '59 and the 150 is a '49.

It seems as if the guild would be the more virsitile axe (sorry for the spelling) as it has twice as many pups. I'm looking for opinions. I only wish the fund were unlimited!

 

[northbayj]

You're in the wrong spot for objective opinions, but I'll chime in anyway. The Franz-powered full hollow bodies I've played do very much nail the warm/round jazz tone that you'd expect from a Gibson with P90 - which I'm assuming what you're getting with the ES150. The CE's also reportedly deliver outstanding rockabilly/surf tones. You should search around on the site for posts by our buddy BillyDLight - he's written many entries on his CE's and linked to some performances as well where you can hear them in action. My vote: Go with the Guild!

 

[Scotter]

I have a '65 CE-100D and other than that mine originally had the dual humbuckers, it's the same instrument as the '59. I just got done putting the GFS NYII single coils on it, but that's for another thread.

For comparing the two, it is going to depend upon what you want it for now, vs possible future uses.

The CE has a laminated top as compared to the solid carved top on the ES-150, and each type will have their own character, acoustically. The CE-100D compares better to the ES-175 (ones with dual P-90s, anyway) than the ES-150.

Basic Comparison

ES-150:
-- solid carved top, I believe. Some jazzers think that solid is better for clean jazz soloing, but they would usually also use a guitar with a floating pickup and not one with it cut into the top, like the ES-150.
-- doesn't have a cutaway for easier higher fret access
-- single P-90 which will (mainly since it is in the neck position) give you one kind of a tone that is best for jazz comping and some clean tone solos
-- In case you care, a post-war model ES-150 has lower collectability than the pre-war ones, but still is slightly better collectibility than the CE-100

CE-100D:
-- laminated top, similar to an ES-175
-- has a cutaway for easier soloing up the neck
-- two single-coil Franz pickups, which, I'm told, sound similar to p-90s. With two pickups you'll have more versatility, not only for cleaner jazz tones, but if you ever want to get into the gritty side of things for jump blues or rockabilly, it'll be much easier to get a good tone for that.
-- Compared to an ES-150, slightly lower value on the collector market

You'll have to be the one to decide which features are the most important to you. Make sure you give us all the details when you decide, which ever way that is!

Scottie

 

[Walter Broes]

I don't think a Gibson ES150 has a carved top, it's laminated maple, just like the Guild.

The Guild will be a little brighter than the Gibson, and two pickups make it a lot more versatile, of course.

 

[Scotter]

One source I use is http://www.provide.net/~cfh/gibson3.html

Plus, archtop.com had info on a '51 for sale that they claimed was a slab maple top.

Hard to tell without more research. As I mentioned, the CE is more like the ES-175, which I know is laminated.

Scottie

 

[jp]

Can't answer about whether the top on an ES-150 is carved or laminated, but I can babble about comparisons a little. With two Franz PUs, the CE-100 will definitely be a more versatile instrument. I've had two--a '64 with a single Guild mini-humbucker and currently a '68 with two mini-humbuckers--both solid players for a variety of styles. The Franz PUs are overall great PUs, as mentioned by northbayj--I have a '59 T-100D with them. The ES-150 will be a one-trick jazz pony, while with the CE-100, you can pull off old timey country, surf, rockabilly, and amazing jazz tones. I can't sing enough praise about the Franz PUs, as many here can also attest.

I usually buy guitars trusting my gut, which makes it really hard for me to ever get rid of anything. If you have any chance for comparison, play them both a lot. Which one feels right? I've personally tried to like Gibson guitars and have picked up gazillions of them, especially the high-end models--ES-175s, -137s, -135s, -225s, and -125s. They just never "do it" for me, outside of an occasional LP. Whenever I pick up a Guild archtop, they just feel and sound right immediately. I chose my first CE-100 over six different ES-175s I tried.

 

[Scotter]

jp,

The more I think about it, I've come to the same conclusion. I've actually never owned a Gibson, even though I've lusted after quite a few.

I bought my CE-100D when I needed a basic big band guitar, and all of the ES-175s around were way too spendy.

I keep hearing guys on here gush about the Franz single coils and I'm gonna have to give them a listen sometime. I'd probably like them, too, as I've always been more of a single-coil person, like the guy who wrote the manifesto. I just last night installed the GFS NYii's in place of the HB-1s(?) in my CE-100, which is a '65. I've only played them for an hour so far, but so far I'm liking them.

The only humbucker I really like is the Gretsch filtertron. The main Gibson I'd like to have is an ES-295 with (you guessed it) P-90 single-coils. Ah, but I think my CE will work just fine!

Take Care,

Scottie

 

[Walter Broes]

In all fairness, I'd go for the Guild too, but a one trick pony the Gibson is not - it's great for all kinds of Jazz, and it'll do Sun-era or Jump/swing Blues and R&B nicely.

 

[Zachary]

I really appreciate you guys taking the time to give me $.02. I spent about 3.5 hours yesterday going back and forth between the 2. At the end of the day it mad much more sense to me to go with the Guild. The neck felt so much better to me on the Guild...narrower and much more "playable". In addition, the cutaway is a big bonus, as is the versatility w/the 2 pups. All that and it is less expensive than the Gibson. I really wanted to like the Gibson more, if that makes any sense, but the Guild seemed much more ready to play...it just felt so much better in my hands.

Again...thanks for the input. The ce-100 really stood up to the es-150 in every way. They have quite distinct personalities!

 

[jp]

In all fairness, I'd go for the Guild too, but a one trick pony the Gibson is not - it's great for all kinds of Jazz, and it'll do Sun-era or Jump/swing Blues and R&B nicely.

Very true. Sorry, Walter. Didn't mean to pigeonhole Jazz into a one dimensional box. I use my 100s for all kinds of jazz as well. I'm a huge fan of 20s and 30s small combo swing jazz, a la Eddie Lang, Django, Charlie Christian, elegant Ellington Big Band swing, and some fiery hard bebop.

And congrats, Zachary! Sounds like my first Guild-Gibson, head-to-head purchase as well. It's puzzling. . .that "wanting to like the Gibson" feeling. There is so much brand-marketing hype about Gibson's, and I just don't feel they're worth the asking price most of the time, especially when there are so many great guitars out there.

 

[Zachary]

I just read your post about your first Guild purchse, jp....great story! It's reassuring to know that I wasn't going crazy while I was a/b'ing them...that feeling that the Gibson should be the better guitar took some time to get over. Actually...for someone else it will be the better guitar! Just not for me.

I can't wait to be able to post pictures of my new baby!

 

[Smiert Spionam]

I don't think they're very much alike at all. Both great guitars, but different, and both great.

I've owned a '58 CE-100D, and have another '50s Guild with the Franz pups now. I also have a '55 ES-175D. The Gibsons will be fatter, rounder, and smoother, while the Franz-equipped Guilds are much punchier. To my ear, the CE-100D is actually closer to a Starfire in feel and tone -- though the overall profile is similar to an ES-175, the slimmer body, narrow neck, and tighter feel make it a quick, bright, tight little guitar. That's a VERY good thing -- just very different from a Gibson archtop with a P90.

Now that you've got the CE-100D (congrats!), you could keep an eye out for a bargain ES-125 down the road. Similar tone and feel to the ES-150, and readily available under $1000US.

 

[Scotter]

I'll 2nd the ES-125 comment -- I've always had hankerin' for one of those, and I turned down one a few years ago. It had a cutaway and 2 pickups, but needed a neck reset, so i passed on it. Cute as a bug! Arrgh....

Scottie

 

[jp]

I just read your post about your first Guild purchse, jp....great story!

Thanks. I was sold on Guilds after that.

Now that you've got the CE-100D (congrats!), you could keep an eye out for a bargain ES-125 down the road. Similar tone and feel to the ES-150, and readily available under $1000US.

I've always lusted after an older Epiphone Sorrento--the lost cousin to the ES-125. They're pricier than the 125s, though.

 

[Zachary]

I don't think they're very much alike at all. Both great guitars, but different, and both great.

Now that you've got the CE-100D (congrats!), you could keep an eye out for a bargain ES-125 down the road. Similar tone and feel to the ES-150, and readily available under $1000US.

Smiert...I wish I could imagine my wife saying the same thing! :mrgreen:

 

[Smiert Spionam]

Patience might work....

;- )

For now, enjoy that CE. Good guitar.