Re: 335's...Do you like the later years?
I've always loved 335s and brethren. Back in the early 70's I jumped all over a year-old used Long Neck 330. That was a fantastic guitar, but I ran into some financial trouble and had to sell it. I regret it to this day. I also invested in a ES-150DCN, which I was able to hang onto. Should have sold it; that guitar had problems with intonation and feedback. I finally traded it off after six years of frustration.
I came back to a 335 in the mid-90s, with a '70s MIJ Hondo 935HC (a clone). I bought it cheap, and it's doesn't have the quality of the Gibson, but it wasn't a crap guitar either. The hardware is good, as are the (DMZ?) pickups...though the rest of the electronics suck. Even then, it is a very good, well playing guitar, and very pretty with a mahogany-lam body. But the neck...OMG...one of the best feeling necks I've ever played. It's a project now, one I'll probably never complete.
In 2003 took a risk on a used MIK Ibanez Artstar AS-120TR that I found on E-bay after playing a couple in the stores. The neck is very similar to the Gibson 1960 Slim-Taper. The quality of the guitar is a step up from the Hondo...hell, it's probably better made than the Gibsons! I love the vintage PAF tones of the Super '58 pickups!
But, I wanted a Gibson, and now I have three. The first one I bought is was a used 2006 in Antique Sunburst. Beautiful flametop finish, and the tone and playability is everything you'd expect from a guitar in this price range. The neck on this one is the Slim-Taper, but it has a slight asymmetry to it.
The next one was a 2007 in Blonde. Just gorgeous! This one has a slightly fatter neck than my others, but it is symmetrical.
The last one has quite a story. I first saw it at a display they had at the Spring 2013 Seattle Guitar Show. I was immediate attracted to the Flametop Vintage Sunburst finish. It was a good price, until I realized that it had a headstock repair...a brand new 2012 guitar that had been damaged in the store. Hmmmm...what to do? That guitar was really calling my name!
I went back home to Portland and talked it over with the boss...she gave me the okay to pursue a deal. Took a few phone calls, and I made an offer, and explained my logic behind the offer. A week later it was in my hands...GC gave me a fantastic deal. I did take it to my luthier to do some cosmetic clean up on the repair, and it was worth it. I love all of my guitars, but this one has become a favorite. I love the tone, and it has the best neck of the three. And supposedly the 2012s are crap. Go figure. She really begged me to take her home, and I am so glad I did.
I remember back when Larry Carlton endorsed the Yamaha SA-2000. He did a Guitar Player Magazine interview and said that the Yamaha was a great guitar. But when you find a special 335...they are really special. Lifetime keepers. And he was right. The Artstar is a VERY good guitar, like the Yamaha. But there's something just so special about these three Gibsons I have. They are hard to put down, and lately I've been using them instead of my Les Pauls. Such a versatile guitar, and perfect for a lot of the things I do. And the one with the headstock repair might be the best of the bunch.
I wouldn't worry about vintage...judge each guitar individually.
I've played many 335s and brothers over the years. Liked some, hated others...and some inspired true LUST. Many of the Heritage 535 and 555s I've played had unacceptable finish flaws. I've never bonded with a Guild Starfire or the double-cut Country Gentleman. The new D'Angelicos leave me cold. I hear the Collings is great...but they are even spendier than the Gibsons. Never seen one in a store.
I have way too many guitars as it is, but I have to tell you that if another great 335/345/355 popped up at a good price...
Like I said...LUST!
Congrats on the new guitar.
Bill
