1973 Gibson ES335 Walnut Look at this neck joint? Replacement? Need opinion

[NegativeEase]

Guys Check out this 1973 Walnut Gibson ES335 w/ P90s. The price is right for this incredible guitar. Everything appears correct and it looks, plays and sounds like a dream. But the darkening of the nitrocellulose at the neck joint makes me slightly dubious. The seller Is a very well known player and it's his personal guitar not from his investment collection and he wouldnt just screw me but he can't vouch for why that is like that, as he purchased it that way years ago. I have seen plenty of other Gibsons like this with the darker at the heel and mismatched at the joint new and old but still for investment purposes level guitar it would be nice to know more -plus the pic doesn't do it justice -it's really really dark -for playing purposes it's good to go %100

Thoughts?

Is it maybe just palm oil and sunlight as it does almost match the darkness of the top side -or possibly a cover for a neck replacement?

 

[justFred]

Re: 1973 Gibson ES335 Walnut Look at this neck joint? Replacement? Need opinion

it might have something to do with end grains showing up on that section of the neck cut....but am definitely no expert...maybe that guy DavidRavenMoon that builds guitars and pickups will chime in...ask someone at GC...90% chance answer will be wrong so just figure the opposite...
Beautiful axe by the way...tough not to go for it most assuredly!!!

 

[Chris Pile]

Re: 1973 Gibson ES335 Walnut Look at this neck joint? Replacement? Need opinion

It's just a finish crack and NOTHING to worry about. If I had a dollar for everytime a guy dragged a guitar into my shop that looked like this and asked if the neck joint was broken I could buy a new Ferrari. Buy it and play the damn thing. If it ever breaks, I'll fix it for free.

 

[NegativeEase]

Re: 1973 Gibson ES335 Walnut Look at this neck joint? Replacement? Need opinion

It's just a finish crack and NOTHING to worry about. If I had a dollar for everytime a guy dragged a guitar into my shop that looked like this and asked if the neck joint was broken I could buy a new Ferrari. Buy it and play the damn thing. If it ever breaks, I'll fix it for free.

No, I'm not referring to the finish cracks, it's a 73 -there's nitro cracks all over -not worried about those at all. I'm referring to how much darker the finish is on the heel/neck joint than anywhere else on the guitar. does it indicate a possible neck swap?

 

[Chris Pile]

Re: 1973 Gibson ES335 Walnut Look at this neck joint? Replacement? Need opinion

Again.... just play it.

 

[Mincer]

Re: 1973 Gibson ES335 Walnut Look at this neck joint? Replacement? Need opinion

I am no expert and no nothing about cracks like that, so I defer to those who know. It is a perfect guitar to play 'Close to the Edge' on, though.

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: 1973 Gibson ES335 Walnut Look at this neck joint? Replacement? Need opinion

Perhaps done to hide a heel cap (necessary when using thinner lumber to make necks on guitars with thick heels).

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: 1973 Gibson ES335 Walnut Look at this neck joint? Replacement? Need opinion

If it's just the darkening at the joint you're asking about (not any cracks), there is nothing to be concerned about.

There are two things that cause this effect:

1. There is some end grain at that joint. The end grain absorbs the stain more and deeper than the smooth grain (it "soaks in" more). So even though you are not directly seeing the end grain, you're seeing the affect of where the stain has been absorbed deeply into the wood.
2. Stain and finish will "collect" at any joints making it thicker and darker.

 

[NegativeEase]

Re: 1973 Gibson ES335 Walnut Look at this neck joint? Replacement? Need opinion

If it's just the darkening at the joint you're asking about (not any cracks), there is nothing to be concerned about.

There are two things that cause this effect:

1. There is some end grain at that joint. The end grain absorbs the stain more and deeper than the smooth grain (it "soaks in" more). So even though you are not directly seeing the end grain, you're seeing the affect of where the stain has been absorbed deeply into the wood.
2. Stain and finish will "collect" at any joints making it thicker and darker.

Thanks. this is what i'm looking for.

 

[Aceman]

Re: 1973 Gibson ES335 Walnut Look at this neck joint? Replacement? Need opinion

Meh - Walnut 335 = Win.

If it plays well, buy it.

 

[NegativeEase]

Re: 1973 Gibson ES335 Walnut Look at this neck joint? Replacement? Need opinion

Meh - Walnut 335 = Win.

If it plays well, buy it.

Yeah, I made an offer, its just like twice as dark as a typical heel -so for investment reasons was curious if I should be concerned.

 

[AlexR]

Re: 1973 Gibson ES335 Walnut Look at this neck joint? Replacement? Need opinion

Looks merely like the joint has been 'bursted' to hide the nature of the neck join. Others of this type of guitar exhibit this.

In other words, its darker because the clear was tinted.

 

[beaubrummels]

1973 Gibson ES335 Walnut Look at this neck joint? Replacement? Need opinion

I’ve seen a lot of Gibson’s from the factory with that dark shading at the joint. There’s a couple 1970-1971 walnut 335s on eBay right now with the same shading. I wish my SG had it because my SG looks like it has a replacement neck, though I bought it brand new.

 

[astrozombie]

Re: 1973 Gibson ES335 Walnut Look at this neck joint? Replacement? Need opinion

You know the neck on these things is fat as **** right? A friend has one with humbuckers and the neck is enormous. I get around on my les Paul with 50s neck better than I can on that guitar.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: 1973 Gibson ES335 Walnut Look at this neck joint? Replacement? Need opinion

Oh man! Yes was my all-time favorite band back in the day. I could listen to Close to the Edge all day. Actually, the entire album. Went to 3 or 4 of their concerts in the Bay Area. Rick Wakeman was unbelievable and Steve Howe did things that couldn't be done on guitar. By the way, that's a 345 with Varitone control. I can't remember the model (too long ago) but his main guitar back then was a thick-bodied Florentine cut Gibson, I think it may have been a 175. The electric sitar and steel guitar were a nice touch on many songs.

 

[NegativeEase]

Re: 1973 Gibson ES335 Walnut Look at this neck joint? Replacement? Need opinion

You know the neck on these things is fat as **** right? A friend has one with humbuckers and the neck is enormous. I get around on my les Paul with 50s neck better than I can on that guitar.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

thanks for the heads up, yes, its medium meaty, but not as chunky as many 50s LPs I've played or even the old Telecaster U necks, so I don't have an issue with the neck -my hands are pretty big -so it feels awesome. -and maybe that's why it sounds so amazing -I mean it's featured on some of the greatest guitar performances of all time. :lmao:

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: 1973 Gibson ES335 Walnut Look at this neck joint? Replacement? Need opinion

I had a '58 or '59 burst 330 and a '68 cherry 345, but I always wanted a walnut 335. Those are way gorgeous. I am soo jealous.

I don't recall any of the 335s having a fat neck though.

 

[Boogie Bill]

Re: 1973 Gibson ES335 Walnut Look at this neck joint? Replacement? Need opinion

That's factory shading. IMO, nothing to be concerned about.

Bill

 

[Mincer]

Re: 1973 Gibson ES335 Walnut Look at this neck joint? Replacement? Need opinion

Oh man! Yes was my all-time favorite band back in the day. I could listen to Close to the Edge all day. Actually, the entire album. Went to 3 or 4 of their concerts in the Bay Area. Rick Wakeman was unbelievable and Steve Howe did things that couldn't be done on guitar. By the way, that's a 345 with Varitone control. I can't remember the model (too long ago) but his main guitar back then was a thick-bodied Florentine cut Gibson, I think it may have been a 175. The electric sitar and steel guitar were a nice touch on many songs.

Yeah, he still used the ES-175, although a replica of his classic one. He still uses the 345 on 'Close to the Edge'. I think his Varitone is disconnected. Anytime I see a 335-type made of walnut, it reminds me of that clip, though.

 

[NegativeEase]

Re: 1973 Gibson ES335 Walnut Look at this neck joint? Replacement? Need opinion

Yeah, he still used the ES-175, although a replica of his classic one. He still uses the 345 on 'Close to the Edge'. I think his Varitone is disconnected. Anytime I see a 335-type made of walnut, it reminds me of that clip, though.

The double block inlays on his are amazing