1968 ES 345, suggestion: to buy it or not to buy it?

Barenik · Oct 31, 2017

Hallo there folks!
Sorry for my poor english.
I'm trading for an Es 345, but i'd like to have some opinions before buying, so I upload al the pictures the owner send me, please feel free to express what you think about it.

He ask in euro something like 3000$ and in Italy it's avery good price for that kind of axe.

In the rear of the peghead there's a trasparent adesive that cover and "protect" the serial number (he said), the serial is 971XXX

Let me know what you think about it!

Thank youuuuuu

Barenik · Oct 31, 2017

fakejake · Oct 31, 2017

Looks great! For that price I'd buy it in an instant, given that I'd be able to try it beforehand.
Here in Europe these can easily sell for 4000 euros and more.
If it plays well and sounds good, go for it :dude:

crashbelt · Oct 31, 2017

Looks great for that price. Might need a fret job soon. I'd go for it if it sounds good.

c_wester · Oct 31, 2017

It seams to have the super shallow neck and needs a refret badly.
If you can get along with the shallow neck why not?

JimR56 · Oct 31, 2017

Nice Grovers, and I like the fact that somebody already had the good taste to replace the black "witch hat" vol/tone knobs.

marshall1987 · Nov 1, 2017

This guitar will have the narrow 1 9/16" nut width which may be too small if you have large hands, or prefer the more traditional nut width of 1 11/16".

The frets are completely worn out and need to be replaced.

You mentioned trading for this guitar, and also buying it for $3000.00. Which is it? Trade or buy?

fakejake · Nov 1, 2017

Funny how you all mention the frets... personally, I couldn@t tell from those pictures whether they need replacing or not.
Some of my guitars have a couple of small dents on some of the frets, and some of the frets are worn down quite a bit, but this didn't give me issues yet to to point that I had them refretted.

In any case, I'd strongly advise you to try the guitar before you buy. Then you'll be able to judge the fret situation as well.

Barenik · Nov 1, 2017

marshall1987 said:
This guitar will have the narrow 1 9/16" nut width which may be too small if you have large hands, or prefer the more traditional nut width of 1 11/16".

The frets are completely worn out and need to be replaced.

You mentioned trading for this guitar, and also buying it for $3000.00. Which is it? Trade or buy?

No, I didn't yet buy it.
The negotiation arrives at 2800 euros, probably I will not have the chance to try the guitar bifore buyin it, and If I will it will be in a car with out amp. So I'm really not sure.
help meeeeee

And another doubt, if I have to refret it, the luthier needs to change the bindings in the neck?

deytookerjaabs · Nov 1, 2017

Barenik said:
No, I didn't yet buy it.
The negotiation arrives at 2800 euros, probably I will not have the chance to try the guitar bifore buyin it, and If I will it will be in a car with out amp. So I'm really not sure.
help meeeeee

And another doubt, if I have to refret it, the luthier needs to change the bindings in the neck?

Hard to tell on the refret, from the one angle by the body they still look tall enough from the angle by the first few frets they look really shallow. I'd have no problem trying that guitar unplugged and if I was in the market for one I'd pounce, worst case scenario that it doesn't check all the boxes you can sell or trade down the line.

fakejake · Nov 1, 2017

Damn... 2800 euros is a steal for that guitar. Less than a used reissue

Progrocker111 · Nov 3, 2017

Barenik said:
No, I didn't yet buy it.
The negotiation arrives at 2800 euros,

Thats great price, it really is a 68. Buy it immediately!

Barenik · Nov 4, 2017

I asked some image of frets to the owner, and he send me the following pics.
My impression is that the frets are huge (I really prefer small frets).. and they are very ugly.
But, all in all, they're not shallow as I was imaging. What do you think?

deytookerjaabs · Nov 4, 2017

I wouldn't worry about a refret at that price one bit. You'll probably want to do that at some point but until then you can still pick around just fine on the guitar.

latestarter · Nov 4, 2017

Couple of things.

1. The head stock mustache looks like it has been rounded a bit from wear...no big deal if so, but sometimes if there has been a refin it can be a sign of extra sanding where it's not needed. Not sure about the tape on the serial number - seems dodgy to me.

2. Refret is needed as noted - no, you don't need to replace the binding. The undercut the frets.

3. The neck pickup is around the wrong way, or may even be a bridge ring, which may have something to do with the high action (so the strings miss he wrong edge of the pickup). The bridge looks high too, which is a good sign as it means the neck angle could be fine, it's just the pickup ring messing with things.

Get some good advice from a luthier once you've got this - good luck.

marshall1987 · Nov 5, 2017

Thanks for the additional photos. Sticking by what I said earlier however. Those frets have been filed flat leaving no crown whatsoever. Doubt the guitar will intonate properly and play in tune like it is now. A pro-refret will give that guitar new life and super playability.

Your call, but the full potential of that guitar depends on a pro-refret. And they don't cost that much anyway.

latestarter · Nov 5, 2017

The frets are technically fecked.

neuroy · Nov 5, 2017

Hello Barenik,

I think it´s a cool guitar ! Refret seems to be needed in any case. Our Forum Brothers are right.

If you do not buy her, I would be glad to jump in and buy her for myself, so if you make a contact to the seller for me ?
Or just buy it, try it, and if you don´t like it, I´ll take it from you. I´m in Germany.

Have a nice day.
Michael

Wally · Nov 6, 2017

The guitar has already been refretted at least once, and it was not a great job. Imho, that piece of adhesive laminate over the serial number is a negative thing...but it is there. Unless seomthing is seen during an in-person examination, it is good price, imho.....

DrRobert · Nov 8, 2017

Yeah, I can't see any way to make those frets work, and with the tangs sticking out like they are I'm comfortable that it's a bad refret, no loss refretting it again. Th price is right. I'm just not a fan of the 1 9/16 neck width, but at that price you can buy it and make a little money if you don't like it.

1968 ES 345, suggestion: to buy it or not to buy it?

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