current production es-335 versions

[Cycler]

any opinions, thoughts, on which current production versions of the es-335, is the best, or a good value for the money?

 

[Troels]

There's no longer a "production" ES-335. They are all considered Custom Shops these days and come with certificates of origin. I personally think that the quality level is way higher now than say in 2000 when Memphis opened. The quality control has improved under production management of mr. David Winters and the employees have got a new and different engagement in what they do which helps the general QC.
That said - it's still a production line and sometimes something goes wrong. But generally the guitars really are better - and a down to earth ES-335 from Memphis these days is a fine instrument which can easily serve as tool for a professional guitar players with absolutely no problems for years and years.
And the sound is not only classic - it's EXCELLENT! (Don't forget to nuy a Fender Super Reverb )

 

[R9.]

I've got a 2007 block neck and yeah...it's incredible.
Further to what Troels said, the 2007s didn't come with certificates. The 2008s do. I contacted Gibson about it and they said it's possible to get one, but I'd have to sent the guitar to them.

 

[Uncle Gary]

My 2007 Antique red Block Neck 335 had a few build quality issues (uneven surfaces on top and back-from shrinkage after building or hard and soft spots in the maple, and a rear strap button installed crooked). On the other hand, the fretboard, frets and setup were near perfect. At 7.9 pounds, it's lightweight for a 335, and it plays and sounds incredible. I plugged and re-drilled the strap button hole and replaced the pots and caps with 500K audio pots and .022uf mylar caps (personal preference).

I have some nice guitars, but this one is clearly special, and stands out even among my best. It's become my "go to" gigging guitar, because I can always depend on it to get the job done.

Like all Gibsons, there is a fair amount of hand work still done on these, and thus, they will vary somewhat one to the next.

 

[The Boz 56]

I've been playing this stock 08 Historic 59 335 alot through a new HW Vox AC-30 head and 2 x 12 bottom with Vox Blues. It works for the blues and rock tunes we're playing (mostly on the heavier side but we swing some blues tunes). Played great right out of the box have done nothing but change strings. Expensive but highly recommended:

 

[Trans-Am]

I've got a 2007 block neck and yeah...it's incredible.
Further to what Troels said, the 2007s didn't come with certificates. The 2008s do. I contacted Gibson about it and they said it's possible to get one, but I'd have to sent the guitar to them.

Not mine? I just went back to the store where i got the guitar and fired offf an email to Gibson authenticating it a week later? Boom!!:bug my COA arrives.

You dont have to send your axe in...it's merely for Gibson to deter fakes and scammers alike.

Cheers!!:salude

 

[R9.]

Trans-Am, did the store send the email for you because I called & emailed Gibson and that's what they told me? I live in Ontario and bought the guitar in NY State...maybe that had something to do with it, I don't know. I'll give that store a call and see if they can do anything for me...it's worth a shot.

 

[R9.]

At 7.9 pounds, it's lightweight for a 335

Mine's 7 lbs 9 oz. :salude

 

[Cycler]

thanks all for the comments/opinions....I am trying to decide between the 335 and the 339, now, all I have to do is find examples of each to play and decide...

 

[markguitar]

There's no longer a "production" ES-335. They are all considered Custom Shops these days and come with certificates of origin.

This statement is not at all accurate! The guitars from the Memphis facility are called "Gibson Custom" NOT "Custom Shop". ONLY the 335's built in Nashville are true Custom Shop guitars. And the Nashville built guitars are the ONLY ones with the Historic Reissue appointments. Yes the Gibson Custom 335's come with an orange label inside and have a certificate but they also have the serial number on the back of the headstock which Custom Shop guitars do not have. Also thicker standard production binding and fretwire. Nice guitars but they are still standard production guitars in the end.

Here are the pictures of a Custom Shop Historic '63 block neck I just sold. If you look closely you can see many subtle differences from the Memphis '63 335.

http://www.marksguitarloft.com/images/63natural335/1.jpg

 

[Troels]

This statement is not at all accurate! The guitars from the Memphis facility are called "Gibson Custom" NOT "Custom Shop". ONLY the 335's built in Nashville are true Custom Shop guitars. And the Nashville built guitars are the ONLY ones with the Historic Reissue appointments. Yes the Gibson Custom 335's come with an orange label inside and have a certificate but they also have the serial number on the back of the headstock which Custom Shop guitars do not have. Also thicker standard production binding and fretwire. Nice guitars but they are still standard production guitars in the end.

Here are the pictures of a Custom Shop Historic '63 block neck I just sold. If you look closely you can see many subtle differences from the Memphis '63 335.

http://www.marksguitarloft.com/images/63natural335/1.jpg

The Certificate of Authenticity following all ES's coming out of Memphis is signed by the Gibson Custom Shop.
In my book it makes it a Custom Shop guitar - or what???

And - all the Custom Shop signature ES guitars and ES-339s with CS serial numbers (on back of the head stock?) all come from Memphis which Gibson do call a custom shop. Furthermore the certificate following the guitars from Memphis says "The instrument bearing the serial number above was hand built by Gibson Custom..." etc. and are signed by the Custom Shop as mentioned. The ES guitars which you believe is the only true Custom Shops (I guess you own one of them... right?) do not represent more hand building than those from Memphis.

So... I believe my statement is sort of correct anyway. But when cut right into the bone it's all a matter of word more than anything else... When it comes to real built quality things sometimes look surprisingly different - for instance the fact that quite many of the Nashville Custom Shop ES 335s had to be returned and destructed because of twisted or warped necks and delaminated bodies and other strange issues completely off compared to your romantic hand built in Nasville quality imaginations.

 

[markguitar]

The Certificate of Authenticity following all ES's coming out of Memphis with is signed by the Gibson Custom Shop.
In my book it makes it a Custom Shop guitar - or what???

And - all the Custom Shop signature ES guitars and ES-339s with CS serial numbers (on back of the head stock?) all come from Memphis which Gibson do call a custom shop. Furthermore the certificate following the guitars from Memphis says "The instrument bearing the serial number above was hand built by Gibson Custom..." etc. and are signed by the Custom Shop as mentioned. The ES guitars which you believe is the only true Custom Shops (I guess you own one of them... right?) do not represent more hand building than those from Memphis.

So... I believe my statement is sort of correct anyway.

I don't just own one, I own a guitar store and have sold many 335's. The statement I made is 100% accurate. And you claiming that there are no production 335's and that they are all "Custom Shop" guitars is wrong. Plain and simple, if the guitar is not made in Nashville it not a true Custom Shop guitar!! We are talking about ES335's and now you are bringing other models into the discussion. This thread is not about 339's or other models. I'm only commenting on 335's. I'm not trying to argue with you just trying to state the facts so other people reading aren't misinformed.

 

[Troels]

I don't just own one, I own a guitar store and have sold many 335's. The statement I made is 100% accurate. And you claiming that there are no production 335's and that they are all "Custom Shop" guitars is wrong. Plain and simple, if the guitar is not made in Nashville it not a true Custom Shop guitar!! We are talking about ES335's and now you are bringing other models into the discussion. This thread is not about 339's or other models. I'm only commenting on 335's. I'm not trying to argue with you just trying to state the facts so other people reading aren't misinformed.

I would say they are Custom Shops -haven't you seen a Certificate of Authenticity... You are only commenting on 335's... so the signature ES's (Larry Carlton for instance...) is not 335's???? I don't thinkl you are quite updated here - go to gibson.com and look for ES-335's - and note carefully where you find them...

 

[Gold Tone]

Troels - you are absolutely wrong. No offense but no matter how hard you wish something to be true doesn't make it so.

You seem set on making the falsehood something evryone needs to agree with for some reason. http://www.lespaulforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=151702

It's just not as you have it. It is very understandable though that you would think it is so. Gibson is very unclear about this and most things. I don't think you are alone in your confusion.

Cheers.

 

[markguitar]

I would say they are Custom Shops -haven't you seen a Certificate of Authenticity... You are only commenting on 335's... so the signature ES's (Larry Carlton for instance...) is not 335's???? I don't thinkl you are quite updated here - go to gibson.com and look for ES-335's - and note carefully where you find them...

Right, I'm not updated!! It's only what I do for my living!! You are confused! Go to the Gibson site, then go to Gibson Custom, then you will see that you can choose Historic or Custom, Custom does not stand for Custom Shop. You must not understand the difference between "Gibson Custom" Memphis built and "Custom Shop Historic" Nashville built. The ONLY Custom Shop Gibson has is in Nashville where they make all of the Historic reissue guitars. If the guitar is built in Memphis it is NOT a true Custom Shop guitar because they are not true reissues. The Memphis 335's have many appointments that are wrong to be a reissue.

My original argument with you was over the statement that you made that there were no standard production 335's any longer and that they were all Custom Shop guitars. That is still wrong. Memphis is Gibson's facility to build the standard production hollow body guitars. When Nashville Custom Shop 335's are made, the wood is driven to Memphis to use the molds to shape the front, back and sides. Then it is driven back to Nashville where the guitars are built to Historic resissue specs. I've been in this business for many years and do know just a little bit about Gibson guitars.:hmm :ganz

 

[markguitar]

Troels - you are absolutely wrong. No offense but no matter how hard you wish something to be true doesn't make it so.

You seem set on making the falsehood something evryone needs to agree with for some reason. http://www.lespaulforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=151702

It's just not as you have it. It is very understandable though that you would think it is so. Gibson is very unclear about this and most things. I don't think you are alone in your confusion.

Cheers.

Thanks Gold Tone!! I just read his comments in that thread, wishfull thinking! The last I knew Edwin Wilson was the head of the real Custom Shop in Nashville.:wow

 

[J.D.]

Troels, you are simply wrong, for whatever reason, and either too stupid or arrogant to back off.

 

[60 Cycle Hum]

Hi - not sure I want to wander into this discussion, but I would love to know what Gibson means by the "Memphis Custom Shop" referenced at this link in conjunction with ES-335 construction.

http://www.gibson.com/_microsite/electricspanish/customMemphis.html

If Gibson only has a Nashville Custom Shop and Memphis Custom, but not a Memphis Custom Shop (which seems to be the consensus here), then the discussion at that link is very confusing.

If people feel that this issue has been beaten to death and don't wish to engage it anymore, please feel free to ignore this post.

 

[J.D.]

Here's the deal, one more time...

Former Gibson USA ES-335 production in Memphis is now under the Gibson Custom portfolio and renamed Custom Shop ES-335 production. They are basically the same spec with the Plek finishing improvements, easily distinguished by the impressed (8 or 9 digit) serial numbers on the back of the headstock and "Made in USA". Recent production will also have an orange label in the body stating they are MEMPHIS made.

Also under the Gibson Custom portfolio is the Nashville Custom Shop, where the Historic guitars are made *exclusively*. Here the Historic ES-335s are made, with similar appointment changes that distinguish the Les Paul Standard Gibson USA production from the Historic reissue Les Paul Standards. The Historic ES-335s are most easily distinguished by lack of an impressed serial number on the back of the headstock and a serial number in the A-##### format on the orange oval label inside the body which also states made in NASHVILLE.

 

[markguitar]

Here's the deal, one more time...

Former Gibson USA ES-335 production in Memphis is now under the Gibson Custom portfolio and renamed Custom Shop ES-335 production. They are basically the same spec with the Plek finishing improvements, easily distinguished by the impressed (8 or 9 digit) serial numbers on the back of the headstock and "Made in USA". Recent production will also have an orange label in the body stating they are MEMPHIS made.

Also under the Gibson Custom portfolio is the Nashville Custom Shop, where the Historic guitars are made *exclusively*. Here the Historic ES-335s are made, with similar appointment changes that distinguish the Les Paul Standard Gibson USA production from the Historic reissue Les Paul Standards. The Historic ES-335s are most easily distinguished by lack of an impressed serial number on the back of the headstock and a serial number in the A-##### format on the orange oval label inside the body which also states made in NASHVILLE.

J.D., Maybe we are speaking in a different language and just don't know it! And that's why nobody can understand what we're saying??:rofl