Thinking about getting a Gibson Historic ES 335

[Lewguitar]

I haven't had one since about 1975 or so, when my '60 was stolen. I've found a beautiful flamed natural maple Gibson ES-335 Historic for about $1800. It's like brand new. Dot neck and even has a pair of Seth Lovers installed. The owner says he'll throw in the '57 Classics. Brown case with the purple lining and purple cover cloth. What's a good price for one of these used? This one has what the seller calls an early 60's style neck. That's fine with me as my favorite ES-335 I ever owned was my '60. ( actually, my old one was a 1960 ES-355 without the varitone or stereo wiring. ) I've played some of the reissues with the 50's style neck and liked them alot but found them to be a little chunkier than I remember my '60 being. I'm getting my computor cleaned up today and I'll be able to post some pictures of this ax later this morning. Thanks! lew

 

[JOLLY]

Re: Thinking about getting a Gibson Historic ES 335

That's a good deal. The brand new ones in antique natural go for around $2800.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Thinking about getting a Gibson Historic ES 335

Thanks! Have you played many Historic 335's? Is there a lot of diff from one to another? What about the 60's style neck vs the 50's style neck? How would you describe it? Any diff in nut width or is it more a matter of neck thickness? I've been so happy with my Historic Les Paul and my Hamers that I haven't looked seriously at newer Gibsons in quite a while. Lew

 

[JOLLY]

Re: Thinking about getting a Gibson Historic ES 335

Now that I think about it......if it's highly flamed on front and back, I've seen those go for around $4000 brand new.

 

[JOLLY]

Re: Thinking about getting a Gibson Historic ES 335

Thanks! Have you played many Historic 335's? Is there a lot of diff from one to another? What about the 60's style neck vs the 50's style neck? How would you describe it? Any diff in nut width or is it more a matter of neck thickness?

Sorry Lew, I haven't played any of those. I do know however that there's no difference in nut width between the different necks. They are just a different thickness. My Gibson Les Pauls have the slimmer 60's type necks.

 

[Curly]

Re: Thinking about getting a Gibson Historic ES 335

I'm not knowledgeable about those, but I love the natural finish - my favorite on the 335's ...
It sounds like a decent deal, since the regular ones go for over $2000 new, but again, I'm just not familiar with the historic 335's.

335's are great for something that's versatile, and not as common as strats, teles, and LP's.

 

[Falstaff]

Re: Thinking about getting a Gibson Historic ES 335

I have played a 335 Historic with the 50's neck and it was very similar to the neck on my R7. Beefy, maybe a bit off-putting for the first thirty seconds or so, but it's very easy to get used to. My 335 (it's an Orville by Gibson copy) has a 60's neck and it's kind of nice to be able to have a different feeling neck available.

I was just at a Historic dealer (I bought my R7 and Pro Reverb from him) and we compared the neck of my 335 to another 335 with a 60's neck. The real Gibson's neck was a bit flatter, almost approaching a shredding-type neck. I am sorry to admit that I don't know if the guitar was a regular production or a Historic. I think the guy has both. At least for that guitar, the shape of the neck seemed a bit incongruous with the type of guitar it was on. IMHO, YMMV, etc., etc. I think the necks on the Historics are all hand done so it might have been an unusually slim/flat neck.

 

[Curly]

Re: Thinking about getting a Gibson Historic ES 335

I remember 60's necks, like on 175's, as being wide/ flat, which felt great for chords

 

[Scott_F]

Re: Thinking about getting a Gibson Historic ES 335

I am very fond of my Heritage 535, but for a few hundred bucks more, if I could have gotten a 335 Gibbie from the Custom and Historic Shop, I'd have jumped on it really fast.

That seems to be a good price. What's ebay think?

 

[Norman_T]

Re: Thinking about getting a Gibson Historic ES 335

Lew,

I would jump and get that guitar real fast because it is a very good price!!! The neck is probably a liitle bit thinner to the Hamers but still very manageable and once you get iinto it (a few minutes) you will not notice the difference. The 50's neck are just to mucho and is an acquired taste. I think the pups with the Seth Lovers might be slightly better, but get the 57 humbuckers also thrown in as I am sure with your experience you can change them around.

FWIW my '68 335 which cost me nearly an arm an a leg (well nearly twice what you are going to pay for yours)

 

[Scott_F]

Re: Thinking about getting a Gibson Historic ES 335

That's a pretty big pic hombre!

How about a resize? :saeek:

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Thinking about getting a Gibson Historic ES 335

Thanks Guys! You gave me the confidence to go ahead and tell the seller "I'll take it!". I'll post some pics...it's a real beauty! Lew

 

[Scott_F]

Re: Thinking about getting a Gibson Historic ES 335

I have the Power to give this Thread back its LIFE! Be amazed! :dance:

 

[JOLLY]

Re: Thinking about getting a Gibson Historic ES 335

I have the Power to give this Thread back its LIFE! Be amazed! :dance:

Do you have the power to take away that life sized pic? lol

 

[Pandemonium]

Re: Thinking about getting a Gibson Historic ES 335

It's hard to beat a 335 plugged into a Fender tweed.

 

[Hoss]

Re: Thinking about getting a Gibson Historic ES 335

oh man........lew.....just go for it man....that's one of my dream guitars....i played a red one in a store about a month ago (flamed on both sides...subtle though...you had to get close to see it...kind of intimate...super cool!!!)

my wife came in to get me three times.......i did not want to put it don't....it was sooo awesome!!!

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Thinking about getting a Gibson Historic ES 335

He got it.

 

[Ez74]

Re: Thinking about getting a Gibson Historic ES 335

thats a great price.... its not a guitar i would buy but at that price i would... and then make a couple $$ on it

 

[Norman_T]

Re: Thinking about getting a Gibson Historic ES 335

That's a pretty big pic hombre!

How about a resize? :saeek:

Woops sorry is this better?

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Thinking about getting a Gibson Historic ES 335

So, we're waiting Lew. Did you get it, or does some other guy get to enjoy the benefits of that picture you've been staring at? LOL