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'65 ES-335--What Would You Do?

bbjonz

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Jul 19, 2011
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25
Hi Everyone,

I recently picked up this '65 ES-335. There's some good and bad news with it. The bad news is all of the changed parts, as well as a neck crack repair (done well, from what I can see), but the good news is the wide neck (not quite 1 11/16" but close), original patent-sticker pups, and plays great. I'd like to restore the restorable parts, but the question is should I take a "vintage parts" or "repro parts" approach? For example, I could get a vintage harness (there's a '65 harness on eBay with a BIN of $200), double-ring Klusons (several sets on eBay for $300), and gold reflector knobs (several vintage sets on eBay). But doing so, given the neck repair and bridge change, would likely not improve it's value (not that I'm planning on selling it) so it's less justifiable. Repro parts are less expensive and would it least give it that "look" (and sound, in the case of the harness).

I'm leaning toward repro parts, but I have another question about harnesses. Do you like the RS or Bumblebee versions? Which seems more "accurate" compared to the vintage harness? Or maybe I should grab that '65 harness and use repro parts for the rest?

Thanks in advance.

Joe



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Purple Jay

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Aug 3, 2010
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193
Nice looking guitar you have there. I love my '65 red Sheraton. What exactly are the "changed" parts on your ES-335? It must sound good right now or you wouldn't have snagged it, right? May be you do nothing. Putting period correct vintage parts won't make it "original" again ... especially with a headstock repair. Repro parts would give it the "vintage look" if that's what you're after.
 

garywright

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Aug 17, 2002
Messages
15,584
that shade of sunburst is beautiful, some original gold reflectors would definitely look great on it.
 

j45

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Jun 14, 2002
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9,081
If it were mine I would not worry about anything but the pickups. PAT stickers after 1964 (especially if chrome covers) are usually about the same p/u as T-Tops internally with the poly insulated orange windings and black/white lead wires. Not that T -Tops or early orange wire PAT's can't sound great, (yeah I know, Larry Carlton and everything) they don't sound like PAF's. A 60's 335 with the wide neck and PAF type pickups can sound and play every bit as good as a burst IMO. A '58 - '64 335 is Gibson's greatest guitar in my mind and with the right pickups you could have it. (Gary is right about the gold reflectors...maybe just get those)
 

latestarter

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Nov 9, 2009
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4,173
Personally I like the Pat No stickers in these hollow bodies...yeah, don't over capitalise on old parts...get repro's IMO...and then just get to enjoying it!

Looks great.
 

OKGuitar

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Jan 20, 2011
Messages
938
I'd go for repro nickel hardware and that's it. You bought it (I assume) because you wanted a big neck vintage 335. It won't play any better with repro or original hardware and will sound the same with nickel or chrome. Cosmetics aside, you want it to sound like a "Golden Era" 335. Tone aside, you probably want it to look like one too which means nickel. With the stop conversion and a busted headstock, the collector value isn't going to increase appreciably no matter what you do. I think a vintage correct harness is kind of a waste of money in a guitar that's already compromised. The high end new ones (Dr. V and RS) sound excellent and are a lot easier to install. If you buy a vintage harness, make sure it's from a 335. There are a lot of ES-175 harnesses that are touted as 335 harnesses. They require a bit of work to fit correctly in a 335.
 

bbjonz

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Joined
Jul 19, 2011
Messages
25
Thanks guys! From what I can tell, it started life with a trapeze bridge/tailpiece and then had a Bigsby on it before the stop-tail conversion. The bridge that is on its should have nylon saddles, so I assume the bridge itself is not original. The original harness is gone–I can tell because there are some black and white wires that I can see in that f-hole. An original harness does not have those wires (nor do any of the replacements that I've seen online). Finally, it has Grover tuners, but it looks like the screw fits into the bottom screw hole from the original tuners.

At this point, it seems like getting the correct harness is most important–I can live with the rest, although I do think it would look slightly better if it had double Kluson tuners, even though they probably aren't as good as the replacement Grovers that are on there now, and repro gold reflector knobs.

It is still a great guitar, one that I plan on keeping for quite some time. I've had an interesting progression “backward” in time with ES-335s. I started with a 2002, which I like very much, but then bought a 1985 with Shaw pickups that I think sounds great. But I harbored a desire for a vintage 335, and when a friend found a '70 on the Phoenix Craigslist, I jumped on it. (Pic below.) That same friend found this '65 last week, and I knew I had to have it after playing it for a few minutes. The '70 is very good, last of the orange labels, "Made in USA," and has the volute, and the neck is skinny but not uncomfortably so. The '65, though, is the best of the lot.

You know, I've spent a fair amount of time on Charlie's site ogling the 335's he has for sale, and it dawned on me this morning that I could sell the 2002, '85, and 70 and probably have enough to buy the stock '65 he has there now. Hmm... (And thanks, Charlie, for taking the time to inspect pics of the '65 and consult with me before I bought it.)

Joe

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j45

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Jun 14, 2002
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Personally I like the Pat No stickers in these hollow bodies...yeah, don't over capitalise on old parts...get repro's IMO...and then just get to enjoying it!

Looks great.

"Pat No." covers a lot of ground from 1962-1965. Can be identical to a PAF or a T-Top in tone. Can have purple enamel windings or poly insulated orange wire... a '64 and '65 Pat # humbucker can be two very different sounds.
 

Mars Hall

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Nov 26, 2008
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With a headstock break and converted TP, places the guitar in a "player" grade category. I would make any purchases for "tone" and "aestetics" based on what makes it look and sound its best, regardless of vintage.

That's a nice guitar, enjoy it.:salude
 

aknow11

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Sep 22, 2009
Messages
55
That's a beautiful '335', and the Gibsons from 1964 to 1965 are among the best sounding of all. Unless it dramatically improves this guitar's tone, I'd leave it alone and just enjoy the heck out of it.
 

j45

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Jun 14, 2002
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Has anyone else noticed this guitar looks like a '68/'69 in the horns?
 
Last edited:

latestarter

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Nov 9, 2009
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4,173
"Pat No." covers a lot of ground from 1962-1965. Can be identical to a PAF or a T-Top in tone. Can have purple enamel windings or poly insulated orange wire... a '64 and '65 Pat # humbucker can be two very different sounds.

Sorry, I was speaking about t tops...I have both and each work for me in different ways.
 

j45

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Jun 14, 2002
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Has anyone else noticed this guitar looks like a '68/'69 in the horns?

OK I'm slow as usual figuring things out... that the OP posted two different 335's, duh. For those keeping score and don't already know the basics in determining eras of 335's, notice the larger F holes on the OP's bottom 335 compared to the top. I couldn't figure out why they were changing sizes from pic to pic.... I'm getting up there...
 

latestarter

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Nov 9, 2009
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4,173
That top picture - the sunburst at the top of the upper bout looks darker than the lower side.More dark, less red? Or is it me?
 
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