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Bought an ES-355 in Dallas Yesterday

Amp360

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 16, 2012
Messages
852
I flew down to the Dallas show looking for a 345 or 355. I didn’t think I would find what I was looking for but I found exactly what I was looking for.

Basically I have a late 60s ES-330 that I really like. I wanted something like that but I wanted to be able to take it out.

I found this 1968 ES-355 at a place called Jimmy Wallace Guitars. They were very helpful and came down enough to make it good for both of us.

the case is not original and there is a headstock repair and no pick guard but it sounds great and plays great and is light.

the confusing thing is the neck is much, much bigger than my ES-330. It’s probably closer to my R4 but slightly smaller.

I always thought these had small necks on them.

Anyways, here are some pics. I know it’s prob not what the real collectors would want but it’s in budget and I can use it out and it sounds great
 

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Frost

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Sep 17, 2004
Messages
161
Beautiful guitar. I love 355s and wish I could have attended Dallas this year. Congrats! Were the pickup covers replated or are they newer pickups? Gibson gold plating tarnishes/wears off with even using strong language around it and those are really shiny for a '68. Very cool with the Bigsby B7. Usually the late '60s ones have the Vibrola; I much prefer the Bigsby myself.

Heiko
 

Amp360

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 16, 2012
Messages
852
They told me the pickups were original. I thought they were shiny as well but they do have more wear on them than what’s shown.

when I get it home I’ll look at them.
 

brandtkronholm

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 3, 2006
Messages
2,737
Yep, you've chosen wisely! Great score!
What is the width of the fretboard at the nut?
Gibson made 144 Mono 355s and 174 Stereo/Varitone 355s. in 1968. (guitarhq.com)

Things I would do with it of it were my newly acquired 1968 ES355: (Can a guy dream for a second? 😊)
i) Repro long pick-guard OR repro short tortoise shell pick-guard;
ii) Black control knobs (think LP Custom) OR gold with silver top control knobs (early '60s look);
iii) Amber switch tip - historically inaccurate but I just think they look cool;
iv) play the heck out of it!
 

Amp360

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Joined
Feb 16, 2012
Messages
852
Wow thanks! They didn’t make many! I had no idea
 

goldtop0

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Joined
Aug 19, 2003
Messages
8,931
iii) Amber switch tip - historically inaccurate but I just think they look cool;
de rigueur with any Gibson I reckon.
You see the pics of some of the old '50 vintage guitars and it's just the best looking thing.........that rich honey/amber kinda flatter topped tip.
Why do you say historically inaccurate............because they were white or a lighter yellow maybe at the outset?
 

65Firebird

Active member
Joined
Oct 14, 2019
Messages
110
I flew down to the Dallas show looking for a 345 or 355. I didn’t think I would find what I was looking for but I found exactly what I was looking for.

Basically I have a late 60s ES-330 that I really like. I wanted something like that but I wanted to be able to take it out.

I found this 1968 ES-355 at a place called Jimmy Wallace Guitars. They were very helpful and came down enough to make it good for both of us.

the case is not original and there is a headstock repair and no pick guard but it sounds great and plays great and is light.

the confusing thing is the neck is much, much bigger than my ES-330. It’s probably closer to my R4 but slightly smaller.

I always thought these had small necks on them.

Anyways, here are some pics. I know it’s prob not what the real collectors would want but it’s in budget and I can use it out and it sounds great
Congrats, nice rig. Is it wine red or cherry? I have a '74 wine red 345 that I would love a Bigsby on.
 

Amp360

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 16, 2012
Messages
852
Thanks! I’m pretty sure it’s cherry. It didn’t look wine to me in person.
 

brandtkronholm

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 3, 2006
Messages
2,737
de rigueur with any Gibson I reckon.
You see the pics of some of the old '50 vintage guitars and it's just the best looking thing.........that rich honey/amber kinda flatter topped tip.
Why do you say historically inaccurate............because they were white or a lighter yellow maybe at the outset?
Historically inaccurate: Gibson changed the material (hence color) of the switch tips some time in 1960/1. Up to and including 1960 we have amber; by 1961 we have white. A 1968 355 would have a white switch tip. Amber just looks cooler.
 

Amp360

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 16, 2012
Messages
852
Finally arrived! The action is a little low for my tastes and there were what I'm guessing are the original covers in the case. All in all I'm really happy with it. Just need to find a pickguard at some point.

Just for fun I put it on my scale because I've been shipping a lot of packages. 8.1lbs. Not sure if that's considered heavy or light but it feels really nice to me!
 

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Pdx

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Jan 15, 2019
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7
Just for fun I put it on my scale because I've been shipping a lot of packages. 8.1lbs. Not sure if that's considered heavy or light but it feels really nice to me!

According to the photo it is actually 8.975lbs. Not bad for 355.
 
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