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1965 ES-355 antural in Germany. What do you think about it

sharky

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Jan 25, 2012
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1965 ES-355 natural in Germany. What do you think about it

Hey guys,

stumbled over this offer here from Guitarpoint in Germany: http://shop.guitarpoint.de/de/Gibso...tereo?x511e4=8d1033215c874c77f8d6359995acb6f6

I really like what I see. I could easily check it out as the shop is only half an hour away from me. Before I do this, what do the expert think price wise and how are the necks on those, do they have the narrow nuts or 1 11/16 "?

Thanks for any information in advance
 
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RAB

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I checked out the blonde 355 on the site. It looks gorgeous to me and I'd suggest you jump on it if it is affordable. A friend of mine had a blonde '64 ES-355TDSVN that looked just like this one except it originally came with a Bigsby. It was a fabulous sounding and playing guitar and of course the look is hard to beat. The 355s don't tend to have particularly wide fingerboards even when they are from the "golden era" (1958-64) but are still quite playable (I have a '63 ES-355 and owned a couple '59s). Assuming there are no issues (repairs in particular though the guitar looks pretty pristine) I imagine paying up to even $20K for it would not be unreasonable...note I have no connection to Guitarpoint...let us know if you score this honey!
 

GotTheSilver

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I would say that guitar is certainly worth a half hour drive! At the current exchange rate, their asking price is roughly USD $12,000. I don't know how much these guitars typically go for in Germany. Can't tell from the angle of the photo what the nut width would be. I'd say, go look at it.
 

RAB

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$12K is a steal if the instrument is as pictured and described...if I were in Germany I'd be on it like a cheap suit...:frank:
 

GotTheSilver

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$12K is a steal if the instrument is as pictured and described...if I were in Germany I'd be on it like a cheap suit...:frank:

RAB - This brings up a question I had. I know that the current prices of 335s drop in 1965 as they transitioned to narrow nuts, chrome hardware and trapeze tailpieces. But I don't know how the current prices of 345s and 355s change over the manufacture years, as the changes were not exactly the same as the changes in 335s. Any insights?
 

RAB

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RAB - This brings up a question I had. I know that the current prices of 335s drop in 1965 as they transitioned to narrow nuts, chrome hardware and trapeze tailpieces. But I don't know how the current prices of 345s and 355s change over the manufacture years, as the changes were not exactly the same as the changes in 335s. Any insights?

I tend to leave the pricing comments to folks more expert on that subject than I (such as Charlie Gelber) but, as a general observation, all ES models experience a fairly sizable price differential when moving beyond early 1965 (which still had most '64 features) due to the aspects you mention above...
 
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yeti

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$12K is a steal if the instrument is as pictured and described...if I were in Germany I'd be on it like a cheap suit...:frank:

I don't know much about prices but I'm pretty confident that you will never find "a steal" at that store. :ganz
 

Greasy G

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I have read OKGuitar's article - months ago, but still - but completely failed to make the conection with the guitar at Guitarpoint. Wow, I need to start paying better attention. Still a beautiful guitar, though.
 

Prototype

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thanks Charlie, appreciate it much. Lesson learned.

It's a great blog, very few people are willing to put the info out there like that when they get burned. Some dealers will just pass it along to the next unsuspecting buyer.
 

parts

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That is a great blog.. I have been curious as I ordered my 66 ES355TDSV custom in Walnut. I have never seen another..but I assume there are.
Curious to find if there are more..

I recently found that my 67 GA75 Recording Amp..maybe the only one shipped that year. I was given it working the NAMM show. I think no one wanted to carry to the elevator :)

I did..a beautiful sounding amp..
 

oldflame

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RAB - This brings up a question I had. I know that the current prices of 335s drop in 1965 as they transitioned to narrow nuts, chrome hardware and trapeze tailpieces.

It's the nut width that hits the value and not so much (if at all) the hardware. And don't forget the rake angle on the peghead. My one has the wide nut and mixed chrome and nickel hardware. I changed the trapeze to a stoptail.

Can't have been many factory stoptails in 65'. I've only seen two and both were cherry. In fact, one of those was Guthrie Govern's.
 

sharky

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Charlie, thanks for posting this! Very informative.

yes, Charlie's site is full of valuable informations. I'm browsing his inventory every once in a while too and almost pulled the trigger on one guitar but stepped back, because I fear the import problems here in Germany. As vintage ESes is no big topic here (unfortunately) it might take forever til I get what I am longing for. *sigh*
 
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yeti

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I'm wondering if GP is aware of this thread.
what would really restore my faith in vintage dealers (at least a little bit) would be if guitarpoint would include the reneck in their description of that guitar, but I'm not holding my breath.
 

sharky

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I'm wondering if GP is aware of this thread.
what would really restore my faith in vintage dealers (at least a little bit) would be if guitarpoint would include the reneck in their description of that guitar, but I'm not holding my breath.

you bet he knows
 

Progrocker111

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Guitarpoint has often fairly high prices even for european market and their descriptions are far from precise. :hmm
 
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