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Adding a Stoptail to a 1969 335?

ourmaninthenorth

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Joined
Mar 28, 2009
Messages
7,119
Paul, sage advice as always.

And flattery will get you everywhere.

Sorry I missed you at the show, I was there for over three hours and it seems I managed to miss most folks!

Rob

I was looking out for you Mate, but like yourself managed to miss almost everyone!!!

We got there about noon, and didn't leave until the end. I thought it was a great show.

Hope you're well, catch you soon.

:salude
 

Guitar Whiskey

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 10, 2006
Messages
2,757
If you “need” to mod it permanently to make it “right”...it isn’t the guitar for you. Sell it so that it can get into the right person’s hands unharmed.

You’ll find yours...it’s out there!

Well said.

That's too nice of a guitar to bastardize.
 

GuitarMikey

Active member
Joined
Mar 1, 2013
Messages
910
I say do it! :salude
If I were in the market for a 335 of that year, I would purchase one that was converted to stop (correctly) before I purchased one with a trap.
 

J.D.

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Joined
May 24, 2006
Messages
10,030
When did it become taboo to modify a guitar? :wah
 

garywright

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Joined
Aug 17, 2002
Messages
15,583
call me silly, but in my mind if a vintage guitar has remained pristine for that many years it’s earned its right to remain so
 

Wilko

All Access/Backstage Pass
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Mar 11, 2002
Messages
20,853
If it had a stop tail. it wouldn't have stayed so nice. Good guitars get played.
 

rob livesey

Member
Joined
Feb 28, 2007
Messages
655
If it had a stop tail. it wouldn't have stayed so nice. Good guitars get played.

The original owner bought it new and kept it under the bed for 40 years. I bought it from the second owner, who had it for 10 years. It has been played, but only at home, and the fret wear indicated he never went above the 5th fret.

I won’t rush into making a decision.
 

renderit

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Joined
Jan 19, 2009
Messages
10,951
Back in the early to mid 70's I did that to 3 or 4 of them for people I knew.
 

TM1

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Joined
Jun 27, 2003
Messages
8,349
Rob; back in the 70’s I did a lot of 335 stop tail adds! Made them a better guitar. I don’t think it devalues a guitar by doing that. Most guys who wanted me to do it as it added quite a bit of sustain.
I would also get an ABM bell brass stoptail! They resonate so nicely and add a lot to the overall sound. I would also put a pair of ThroBak A-4 magnets in those T-Tops! It will add more of a “PAF” quality to the sound.
Congrats on the guitar my friend!
[FONT=ssp_semibold]ABM 3020c Chrome[/FONT]
 

deytookerjaabs

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Joined
Nov 6, 2016
Messages
1,592
I'd rather hold off and buy a stop tail down the road. A big fan of both setups, especially a step further to the Rivieras, such sweet tone and feel. Yep, not as much sustain or tight feel when bending etc but there's a very subtle difference that I love about having the tailpiece setup. It's like hating a Jazzmaster because Tele's/Strats just lend themselves more easily to big bends/sustain/etc.
 

mdubya

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Joined
Mar 31, 2010
Messages
1,020
I'd rather hold off and buy a stop tail down the road. A big fan of both setups, especially a step further to the Rivieras, such sweet tone and feel. Yep, not as much sustain or tight feel when bending etc but there's a very subtle difference that I love about having the tailpiece setup. It's like hating a Jazzmaster because Tele's/Strats just lend themselves more easily to big bends/sustain/etc.

:dude:

Now I have to post my favorite Phil X video.


:hank
 

marshall1987

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Joined
Jan 30, 2005
Messages
3,278
I don't want to start a shit storm, but 1969 ES-335s w/ the 1 9/16" nut is not one of the better years for the model. I can't even play a Gibson with that narrow nut width, and would never buy one regardless of price.

So go ahead and put a stop tail piece on your guitar if you like. I wouldn't worry about devaluing the guitar, as long as the conversion is professional completed.
 

guitplayer

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Joined
Mar 8, 2008
Messages
2,114
I don't want to start a shit storm, but 1969 ES-335s w/ the 1 9/16" nut is not one of the better years for the model. I can't even play a Gibson with that narrow nut width, and would never buy one regardless of price.

So go ahead and put a stop tail piece on your guitar if you like. I wouldn't worry about devaluing the guitar, as long as the conversion is professional completed.



There it is....:salude
 

renderit

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Joined
Jan 19, 2009
Messages
10,951
Out of curiosity, Ren, did the stop tails make dramatic improvements to the guitars in question?

Yes IMO.

The last I talked to any of them they were happy they did it.

Tone, sustain and less pain in the butt were their comments.

But that was years ago. Like 40 years ago.
 

mdubya

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 31, 2010
Messages
1,020
Yes IMO.

The last I talked to any of them they were happy they did it.

Tone, sustain and less pain in the butt were their comments.

But that was years ago. Like 40 years ago.


Thanks.
 

AA00475Bassman

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Joined
Apr 26, 2016
Messages
3,769
I don't want to start a shit storm, but 1969 ES-335s w/ the 1 9/16" nut is not one of the better years for the model. I can't even play a Gibson with that narrow nut width, and would never buy one regardless of price.

So go ahead and put a stop tail piece on your guitar if you like. I wouldn't worry about devaluing the guitar, as long as the conversion is professional completed.

1987 really nailed this is what my first post should have said , the stop seemed to disappear with the 1 9/16 nuts .
 

CAGinLA

Active member
Joined
Jan 4, 2016
Messages
489
Get a Towner Down Tension Bar II - which is made for guitars with trapeze tailpieces.

http://townerusa.com/product/down-tension-bar-ii/

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