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Love ES's

lpdeluxe

New member
Joined
May 15, 2005
Messages
417
Here's my own evolution:

1982: a '63 Gretsch Chet Atkins Country Gent. Bought it for $425 back then, sold it for $3100 in 2007.

GretschChetAtkinsCountryGentleman.jpg


Traded something for this '94 Samick Sheraton II in 2008, traded it off again when I got the next one.

EpiphoneSheratonIImod.jpg


The "next one" (I should call it, the "last one"). A 2000 335 that I got for $1750, including case, in 2009. I don't even look at other guitars any more.

GibsonES-335-1.jpg
 

brandtkronholm

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 3, 2006
Messages
2,737
My buddy Gil's Black Es-345.Mike B.
BLACK345.jpg

Gil sold this one (it's on the cusp of 1959/60) to a collector in upstate NY along with a blonde '59 345 with a sideways vibrola (original in the case) a long time ago. They came up for sale a few years ago and since I was interested in both and lived near the seller at the time I got to play the black 345 in the picture. It was just pretty good. It wasn't as nice as my own '59 sunburst 345 - but when I compared the black to the blonde that the seller had, WHOA, the blonde '59 blew it away. My own '59 345 was also left behind...but not so far behind. I had all three guitars there when I was trying the black and blonde out that day.

The neck on the black one had the wide and flat feel, but not wide flat and thin.

The varitones on all three guitars (black, blonde, and my own) were all different after position 1. Positions 2-5 on each guitar had similar but distinctly different action.

I do enjoy telling this story. (This is not the first time I've told it on this forum) The black 1959 ES 345 in the picture is unique. There are no other factory black '59/60 ES 345s. It was eventually purchased by Kirk Hammett - after all, it is black. The blonde '59 went to a player in NYC.
 

mbowen

New member
Joined
Mar 6, 2009
Messages
5,022
Thanks brandtkronholm here is another blonde Es-345 60's Gil had years ago.I have shots of another one maybe the 59 i will have go see if i can find them.Thanks Mike B.
Gil-BlondeSS-345.jpg
 
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mbowen

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Joined
Mar 6, 2009
Messages
5,022
Here is my early 1959 ES355 mono stop tail
1050.jpg

Great Guitar i remember when Gil had 3 of them together at once,not all Mono .As i remember he had 2 Mono 355 stoptails and 1 stereo stoptail Es-355.It was amazing to see 3-355 stoptails together,they just did not make many.Was always sorry i did not buy one of them,the stoptail 355's and his flamed 58 blond dots ,i thought both were too much money at the time .I know dumb.I have had 2 1959 Es-355 Mono's but never a 50's stoptail 355.Great guitar Humbucking,thanks Mike B.
 
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Midnight Blues

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Joined
Feb 20, 2011
Messages
1,703
My Alex Lifeson "Inspired By" ES-355 (AL 028). The infamous Volute issue is not a problem for me.

midnight-blues-albums-my-pictures-picture40977-hpim0760.jpg


midnight-blues-albums-my-pictures-picture36919-alex-lifeson-es-355-al028.jpg
 

mbowen

New member
Joined
Mar 6, 2009
Messages
5,022
A CD i did a while back with 3 of my ES's on it,Thanks Guys Mike B.
CD-1.jpg

CD-2.jpg
 

RAB

Active member
Joined
Mar 17, 2005
Messages
2,122
Wow, this would be my dream guitar. :wow How is her tone in comparison to your ES345?

I have a '63 mono, factory stop tail 355 and, in comparison to the '59 345 I owned, the 355 has more bite and cuts thru the mix better than the 345. At 8lbs even, the 355 is also lighter. Don't get me wrong, the 345 was a fabulous instrument as is the 355, just different! :jim
 

Dire Wolf

Active member
Joined
Dec 20, 2006
Messages
2,745
Got more if want 'em(previously sold):

1952 ES-125/Factory Lefty, Clean!
PB010020.jpg

1958 ES-175D w factory Epi Tuners:
P2080016.jpg

1958 ES-335T, Factory Lefty, Too Clean To Handle:
PA170012.jpg

1960 ES-330TD, Factory Lefty Dot Neck:
PB180012.jpg

Couple of 1960 ES-345s Side by Side(Righty Cherry/Lefty Sunburst):
P7040043.jpg

1962 ES-345, Factory Lefty/no stud holes; varitone removed, TONE!
PB120020.jpg

1964 ES-330TDC, Factory Lefty, Nice!
PB180015.jpg

1964 ES-335TDC; Beautiful One-Owner; Mike, you lovin' it?
P7240007.jpg

1965 ES-330TD Factory Lefty with 1964 features; Rob's Diggin' It:
IMG_0645_zpse0986125.jpg

1973 ES-355TDSV Factory Lefty; As clean as clean can be:
P1280005.jpg
 
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