The Les Paul's impact on the worlds of rock 'n' roll and blues was absolutely titanic. In the realm of jazz, the instrument that had the same monumental effect is the Gibson ES-175.

When the ES-175 debuted with a run of 129 in 1949, it nudged aside the ES-150, which had been the guitar of choice for jazz innovators like Charlie Christian and Eddie Durham. The ES-175 also proved a more manageable and less costly alternative to the L-5s thanks to its smaller body size and laminated top.