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NAMM 2020 & Historics For 2020

gio

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Joined
Dec 22, 2004
Messages
125
I think I’m going to have to pick a ‘64 ES-335 RI. I have a ‘59 in sunburst, but I’m so tempted by the 64.
 

Gold Tone

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Joined
Apr 2, 2002
Messages
6,825
Oh I know, I have one as well. I should have worded it, they corrected the crown inlay for the ES335 line. My apologies.

You were clear, it was me who wasn’t reading well what you had written. Friend apologies are mine
 

vintage58

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Joined
Apr 13, 2003
Messages
3,958
Did I mention they fixed the logo on the ES335's as well, especially the crown?
No, but I did — a week ago, actually (see my below-linked thread about the crown inlay, from the "The Other Gibsons" section of the Forum). Despite over a hundred views, however, no one seems to care about this change... or, for that matter, to even have noticed it. And yet, it's huge (in my opinion, at least). Gibson has had that seemingly simple visual detail glaringly wrong for decades.

Here's the thread I'm referring to:

headstock crown inlay on 2020 ES-335 Custom Shop reissues
 

Cliff Gress

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Aug 26, 2004
Messages
3,302
No, but I did — a week ago, actually (see my below-linked thread about the crown inlay, from the "The Other Gibsons" section of the Forum). Despite over a hundred views, however, no one seems to care about this change... or, for that matter, to even have noticed it. And yet, it's huge (in my opinion, at least). Gibson has had that seemingly simple visual detail glaringly wrong for decades.

Here's the thread I'm referring to:

headstock crown inlay on 2020 ES-335 Custom Shop reissues

I was in the not noticed category. Today I looked my 2012 USA 335 and my crown inlay is quite different. That detail just slipped on by.
 

Mr. Legit

Active member
Joined
Sep 11, 2016
Messages
112
No, but I did — a week ago, actually (see my below-linked thread about the crown inlay, from the "The Other Gibsons" section of the Forum). Despite over a hundred views, however, no one seems to care about this change... or, for that matter, to even have noticed it. And yet, it's huge (in my opinion, at least). Gibson has had that seemingly simple visual detail glaringly wrong for decades.

Here's the thread I'm referring to:

headstock crown inlay on 2020 ES-335 Custom Shop reissues

Oh shoot, well there it is and it is a sight to behold. I agree they are doing things I thought would never happen the crown included. The trouble is you have ask the right people at Gibson what exactly the changes are. They mention there are more, but in every YouTube video the interviewer is not asking the right questions so the Gibson guy just skips over them. I was told the Goldtops depending on the year also have the correct location on the headstock, but I am not too keen on following the progression of the Goldtop Historics.

I think I’m going to have to pick a ‘64 ES-335 RI. I have a ‘59 in sunburst, but I’m so tempted by the 64.

The neck is similar to that of the '64 SG Reissue, and it that has easily become my second favorite neck of all time after the Historic Makeovers '59 shape. I am looking to get a 60th Anniversary Les Paul as well, but deciding between the different versions have been tough. I have held a couple vintage '64 ES335s, SGs, and such, and I would say the necks are extremely close to some of the specific real deal examples I have held especially the SG Specials. The V3 on the 60th 1960's is very blade like!

I can't wait to see the new cases though, and I wonder what they will look like!
 

J.D.

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May 24, 2006
Messages
10,030
It is not obvious to me what is changed with the crown inlay. Can someone illustrate?
 

vintage58

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Apr 13, 2003
Messages
3,958
It is not obvious to me what is changed with the crown inlay. Can someone illustrate?
See the below comparison image. The left headstock (from a vintage 1959 ES-335) shows the earlier style of crown inlay that Gibson originally used on various ES-series models. Although its position on the headstock changed a bit as the 1960s progressed, the actual inlay itself stayed the same the whole time. Then, at some point within 1969, Gibson switched to the style of inlay shown on the right headstock (from a 1969 ES-335). Some 1969 ES-series guitars have the earlier style of inlay, and others have the later style... but *after* 1969, the style of inlay on the right is the only one that Gibson has been using on its ES-series semi-solid guitars. Anyway, for the entire time that Gibson ES-335 *reissues* have existed (from the initial early-1980s ones right up until 2019 — and this includes all the Historic Collection/Custom Shop ES-335 reissues, as well as the more recent Gibson Memphis reissues with the improved "ear" shape), Gibson has, for whatever reason, persisted in incorrectly using the 1969-and-onward crown inlay on the headstocks of those guitars — even if the model year being reissued was a pre-1969 model year. Anyway, "this" year (i.e., in 2020) Gibson would appear, going by the photos currently on their website, to have finally begun using the earlier (i.e., left) style of crown inlay on their 2020 reissues of 1959, 1961, and 1964 ES-335s.


82851707_3098469127045493_6072655879017070592_n.jpg
 

J.D.

Well-known member
Joined
May 24, 2006
Messages
10,030
Subtle but interesting detail.

I did a quick eBay + Reverb scan of the Gibson USA and Historic ES guitars for sale. Looks like the shape and positioning of the GUSA vs Historic is different. I believe the GUSA used fibre headstock veneer whereas the Historic didn't.
 

gio

Member
Joined
Dec 22, 2004
Messages
125
The neck is similar to that of the '64 SG Reissue, and it that has easily become my second favorite neck of all time after the Historic Makeovers '59 shape. I am looking to get a 60th Anniversary Les Paul as well, but deciding between the different versions have been tough. I have held a couple vintage '64 ES335s, SGs, and such, and I would say the necks are extremely close to some of the specific real deal examples I have held especially the SG Specials. The V3 on the 60th 1960's is very blade like!

I can't wait to see the new cases though, and I wonder what they will look like!

Is it fairly similar to a 59 neck?
 

Mr. Legit

Active member
Joined
Sep 11, 2016
Messages
112
See the below comparison image. The left headstock (from a vintage 1959 ES-335) shows the earlier style of crown inlay that Gibson originally used on various ES-series models. Although its position on the headstock changed a bit as the 1960s progressed, the actual inlay itself stayed the same the whole time. Then, at some point within 1969, Gibson switched to the style of inlay shown on the right headstock (from a 1969 ES-335). Some 1969 ES-series guitars have the earlier style of inlay, and others have the later style... but *after* 1969, the style of inlay on the right is the only one that Gibson has been using on its ES-series semi-solid guitars. Anyway, for the entire time that Gibson ES-335 *reissues* have existed (from the initial early-1980s ones right up until 2019 — and this includes all the Historic Collection/Custom Shop ES-335 reissues, as well as the more recent Gibson Memphis reissues with the improved "ear" shape), Gibson has, for whatever reason, persisted in incorrectly using the 1969-and-onward crown inlay on the headstocks of those guitars — even if the model year being reissued was a pre-1969 model year. Anyway, "this" year (i.e., in 2020) Gibson would appear, going by the photos currently on their website, to have finally begun using the earlier (i.e., left) style of crown inlay on their 2020 reissues of 1959, 1961, and 1964 ES-335s.


82851707_3098469127045493_6072655879017070592_n.jpg

Finally, somebody gets it! We can thank the new people heading the R&D department for these upgrades!

Is it fairly similar to a 59 neck?
Similar but not as thick? But about the same as the V2 necks on the 1960 60th Anniversary Les Pauls. I would put it in the middle of the ‘59 and ‘60 V2 size.
 

Mr. Legit

Active member
Joined
Sep 11, 2016
Messages
112
is the pelham blue SG standard a ‘64 RI ? ...I checked Gibson’s site and there is says available only in cherry

Those are all '64 SG's, and the colors you can do a M2M in. The fancy colors are there to show the color options of the M2M program. They auction the guitars off to dealers so perhaps in a couple months you might see one of the dealers that purchased it at NAMM selling it. I can't add anymore photos as the forum system says I reached my peak bandwidth.
 

Mr. Legit

Active member
Joined
Sep 11, 2016
Messages
112
We can see the new cases, so what they told me is true. It looks there is a Lifton badge on the specific example's case below, and they are still double neck supported for the ES line. Interesting, some images I received from another dealer show that there is no Lifton badge. The Memphis ES line had the black with gold interior cases before, but they gold material was wrong. They are now putting more furry and correct padding. THIS EXAMPLE BELOW DOES HAVE THE LIFTON BADGE IN THE CASE.

https://reverb.com/item/31807976-gibson-custom-1961-es-335-reissue-vos-sixties-cherry-2020-0020
 
Last edited:

El Gringo

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Apr 8, 2015
Messages
5,657
Did you notice on the 2020 Certificate there is no signature ?
 
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