Why is the Memphis 1959 VOS 50% more expensive than the 1958, other than the neck binding?
Right now the Gibson site shows the 2016 1959 ES-335TD at $6499 street. That's what the OP is asking about. I've noticed that too.I don't think there was a 50% difference in street price. 2016s 59s are $5,999 and 58s are $4,199 (not sure what the prices are for 2017s right now, as Gibson just had another price hike).
It's mostly due to marketing - just as with Les Pauls, 59s are the high end and 58s are next tier down.
As for construction, you get all hide glue construction on the 59 (58 has a mix of hide glue, Titebond, and Assemble 65 glue [whatever that is]).
Neck binding on the 59, no binding on the 58.
Also note: Nashville-made 59s have all maple bodies, while Memphis 59s and 58s are maple-poplar-maple.
None of it makes sense to me. It's like why is a beautifully figured R8 so much cheaper than an R9?
Right now the Gibson site shows the 2016 1959 ES-335TD at $6499 street. That's what the OP is asking about. I've noticed that too.
And no, there is no difference to merit anywhere near that difference.
None of it makes sense to me. It's like why is a beautifully figured R8 so much cheaper than an R9?
That's not actual street, as you will see if you click the links to Wildwood that I added to my post.
Also, I see that Sweetwater currently has a 59 listed at $5,849 and a 58 at $4,049.
I paid $4,100 for a 58 in 2016.
Okay, you can argue whether it is street or not, but the prices on the Gibson website are considered to be street, and generally are the same as the regular prices at dealers. Yes, in some cases like this, dealers have them for less. And also in this case, for good reason. But I don't consider any one dealers price to be the "street" price. As you just shown, those dealer prices vary.
It's like why is a beautifully figured [vintage] 58 so much cheaper than an 59? :2cool
None of it makes sense to me. It's like why is a beautifully figured R8 so much cheaper than an R9?
My `63 block inlay ES-335TDC was built using Hide Glue for the fingerboard, neck joint, Spruce expansion plates/center block. I think I paid $4k for it at the end of 2014.The 2015-2017 Mempish 1959 is a higher spec instrument in these ways:
binding
hot hide glue used on fingerboard attachment
solid center block ("1959" spec)
hot hide glue used for rim assembly, spruce braces, and maple centerblock
the 1958 uses the same construction as the 63, but without binding and with dot inlays:
center block cutaway like on a 60s ES-335
"assembly 65 glue" used on fingerboard attachment
titebond used for rim assembly
not necessarily higher spec, but the 59 neck seems to shade .02.-.05 thinner
Are you sure? That has not been the spec since 2015 - the 63s and 58s did not get hide glue for the fingerboard attachment. It was Assembly 65 glue, per Gibson. Only the hyperexpensive 59s were and are getting hide glue there for some reason.
I am not sure about 2014, as you cannot check the spec right now. But I don't recall Memphis using hide glue for the fingerboard on their 63 RIs - it's been one of the sticking points for why I haven't bought one. I've asked repeatedly through dealers over this time.