What are all of the ES-175 style guitars and copies?

[jeng3000]

I was wondering if anybody has ever compiled a list of all the guitars that kind of look and sound like an ES-175. You know, like the Washburn J6 (not quite a 175 but close), or the Aria Diamond copy.

I really like the tone and feel of the ES-175 but I doubt I'll have the money to buy one any time soon. So I've been looking at stand-ins for now.

I was checking out one of the Samick/Greg Bennett LaSalle and it's nice but it's a bit limited with only one pickup. I like the jazzy sound of the neck pickup, but I like the buzzy crunch of a full-on humbucker on a fat body guitar. And the neck humbucker on the 175 has the most amazing fat bell tone ever, especially on bends. I once owned an ES-135 and loved it, but it wasn't as "woody" and "fat" in sound as a real 175. It was thinner and the sound was thinner as well.

I know there are tons of Matsumoku and Eko and Crucianelli 175ish clones, plus there's the Epiphone clone. And of course, the "replicas" being made in China for like $300... although I'd be scared to death of ordering one, not for fear of getting in trouble but basically not getting something as nice as the Epiphone for just a couple hundred more.

Any recommendations, suggestions, experiences?

Maybe we could compile a list or something.