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Vintage ES-335s 1958, 59, 59, 60, 61, 63, 64, 64

marshall1987

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 30, 2005
Messages
3,278
Just curious.....most folks are aware that in 1965 Gibson started shipping ES-335s with their standard trapeze tailpiece, and within a month or two, completely phased out production of 335s with the stop-tailpiece. Anyone have a rough estimate of how many stop-tail, ES-335s Gibson made in 1965? I've only seen photos of perhaps 5-6 online, and none in person.

Not surprisingly, it's fairly common to find '65 stop-tail "conversions" listed for $10 -15K or more on the internet,..... even the narrow-nut '65s are being pitched at these unrealistic prices. WTF! IIRC one or two years ago, all-original trap-tail '65s with the wide nut (1-11/16") could be had for $6-7K....perhaps $8K with all-nickel parts. Begs the question....what's is driving up prices on vintage ES-335s?
 

Steve Craw

Formerly Lefty Elmo
Joined
Sep 9, 2004
Messages
5,294
Charlie Gelber at OK Guitars has a great blog that deals with all things ES-335, including the current "Pandemic Buying". A terrific resource, you can find it at www.es-335.com
 

latestarter

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 9, 2009
Messages
4,173
Beautiful - 59 'appointments' too! Transition neck profile?
Thank you. Feels typical 60 to me. From memory it's .82" at the first. But it doesn't bother me in the slightest. The neck is wide, and I have tall frets on it. The PAF's are medium hot (8.2-8.4) and the whole rings out wildly.
 

MikeSlub

Administrator
Joined
Jul 15, 2001
Messages
15,166
Mike; Have you had a chance to try a `64 reissue to your real `64? I have one that I got last May/June. Swapped out the bridge for one with brass saddles and installed a set of Pat.# pickups from a `65 SG inplace of the Custombuckers.
Nope, haven't played a reissue. The only reissue 335 that I have is one of the Clapton cherry red ones with the Hare Krishna stamp sticker on the back of the headstock that Guitar Center did several years ago. Clapton signed the orange labels pasted inside the f-hole. 🎸🎸🎸

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crashbelt

Active member
Joined
Apr 10, 2016
Messages
103
So many awesome images in this thread - the original post image is breathtaking - hope it carries on with more contributions.

Can't resist posting this pic of my favourite long-guards - 60 60 and 59 (all courtesy of Charlie Gelber over the years)


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crashbelt

Active member
Joined
Apr 10, 2016
Messages
103
Some truly amazing collections here! I only have one vintage guitar, a '64.
View attachment 14554
Beautiful 64.

If you're only going to have one, a cherry stop tail 64 is just about perfect (and I'm not interested in the Clapton Albert Hall connection).

My avatar 64 is a dead ringer for yours and is still the one I'd save from a fire! Got it in 1989 and it was my only vintage guitar , and my gigging guitar for years too.
 

programmer

Member
Joined
Jul 2, 2021
Messages
36
Beautiful 64.

If you're only going to have one, a cherry stop tail 64 is just about perfect (and I'm not interested in the Clapton Albert Hall connection).

My avatar 64 is a dead ringer for yours and is still the one I'd save from a fire! Got it in 1989 and it was my only vintage guitar , and my gigging guitar for years too.
Thanks, it almost had to be a 64 because the 50s vintages are too much and I wanted a good size neck. Incredible guitar, looks just like the one in your avatar 👍
 

latestarter

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 9, 2009
Messages
4,173
I had a great cherry '67 (yeah yeah, I know it doesn't fit the brief ;) ) which I tweaked the string spread on with a re-fret, and it felt pretty close to a wide nut version. See how close they look to say a 64?! Had a stinger too...will find a shot. Like others from this period, it had a really high logo. Someone put a stop tail on it....not the worst I've seen but not in a traditional position. Great guitars these for the money.

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