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Prices, value, and thoughts on 1964 ES-335

Joined
Apr 26, 2018
Messages
93
Considering pulling the trigger on a 64 re-issue 335 from last year (2020). Seller says it’s the best 335 she’s ever owned, like new, etc etc.
Due to the pandemic I still haven’t had the ability to play any Nashville manufactured 335s. I’ve wanted a 335 for a long time but was never satisfied with the quality of the past re-issues. Everyone seems to love the new ones and talks about how authentic they feel. On a sidenote, I originally was going to purchase a 61 as I prefer the dot inlays and wider horns but I’ve been told that the 64 neck profile is larger and feels better with less shoulder. Is this accurate? I much prefer some girth.

I believe these retailed for $5,299 last year, assuming no one actually paid that? Hoping someone can speak to this. There seems to be a couple for sale on reverb in the mid fours. What would you consider to be a fair price to pay for a used, mint condition example? Also curious to know everyone’s thoughts on long-term values. I’m sure they will depreciate and I would not expect to make money on it but I’m curious to hear some long-term predictions.
Also, does anyone know if they’re still manufacturing these? Sweetwater says they have more on order but everywhere else seems to be out of stock. I know you can still get them through Murphy lab or made to measure but I wasn’t sure if they were going to make anymore “normal” CS variants.


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C-4

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 5, 2005
Messages
1,776
I cannot speak for the '64 RI, but I did buy a '59 355 one day prior to the Murphy Lab opening being intro'd.

That guitar had the sound, feel, and playability I was very satisfied with. I've owned an embarrassing number of semi solid body Gibson guitars over the years and this one held up extremely well.

In all honesty, I returned it after just one day, after reading on line about the Murphy Lab opening up, as while the blonde version was very classy and nice, I do prefer red, so I ordered a M2M ML watermelon red one in ultra-light aging. I don't care either way about the aging, but the color and rolled fret board edges were what I desired. Unfortunately, the Custom Shop would not build me a clean, unaged, '59 355 with just rolled fret board edges. Oh well!

I did a write up of the 355 in another thread in this section, so I won't repeat it here, but I will say that I was also thinking that maybe, instead of a 355, I would opt for either a '59 335, or a '64 335 and it took me several months of going back and forth on my decision before I decided on the 355.

The custom shop is turning out really fine guitars, so I would not hesitate to try one. If you are buying used, of course you will not get the Gibson warranty, and if you decide to keep any guitar for a long period of time, that might just be a consideration.
 

viper007

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 26, 2007
Messages
1,631
I have a Gibson Custom Shop 1964 ES-335 Reissue 2020.

This is my 24th guitar that i own and before i had some other reissues and some Fender Custom Shop guitars.

This is by far the best guitar i owned. Everything by this one feels so natural. From the neck (which suits me perfect) and i think you describe it correct "larger then '61 and feels better with less shoulder". The nylon saddles are just fine and the Custombuckers are magnificent.

This one is going nowhere!!!!

:) (y)


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goldtop0

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 19, 2003
Messages
8,931
I like the look of that 335 Forever...........EC played a '64.
Who knows what deal she got from the store but it might be safe to assume she got it at less 5% ??, so for me I'd offer $4.3k first off and see where that goes.
It won't increase in value in the short term, however as dealer prices increase over time the second hand market will follow suit(as we've seen in the last year)..........the covid pandemic has also helped the second hand market with a lack of new stock from the manufacturers.
Gibson will continue to make the standard CS 335s as the biggest sellers I think are the '59s and '64s. And if you want a fatter neck go for a '59, but you can't get that in Cherry of course.
Good to read about the unpotted CBs.......I like the potted ones in the gibbys I've got.
 
Joined
Apr 26, 2018
Messages
93
Bit surprised at that. What was the problem?
Not really sure where to begin. I just I could start with the electronics. Not only the 335s but many older Gibson reissue humbuckers never satisfied me. It’s like Gibson hadn't heard a real PAF or pat# before. It hasn’t been until just the past few years that I felt their pick ups have been much more accurately voiced. However, I guess that just comes down to personal preference. I understand some people enjoy a hotter, modern voiced pick up, but that’s not what I personally want when buying a reissue. There are plenty of other reasons I didn’t buy one in the past. Inaccurate colors and finishes, quality control issues, and uncomfortable neck profiles to name a few.

I’m sure there are plenty of great reissue 335s from the 2000s and early 2010s but none of them come close to the originals, nor did they make me want to spend thousands of dollars. But that’s why I’m inquiring now. I have been really satisfied with the recent reissue Les Pauls, SG‘s, and juniors from the last two or three years. In fact I have bought several, but I’ve been holding out for a 335.
 
Joined
Apr 26, 2018
Messages
93
I like the look of that 335 Forever...........EC played a '64.
Who knows what deal she got from the store but it might be safe to assume she got it at less 5% ??, so for me I'd offer $4.3k first off and see where that goes.
It won't increase in value in the short term, however as dealer prices increase over time the second hand market will follow suit(as we've seen in the last year)..........the covid pandemic has also helped the second hand market with a lack of new stock from the manufacturers.
Gibson will continue to make the standard CS 335s as the biggest sellers I think are the '59s and '64s. And if you want a fatter neck go for a '59, but you can't get that in Cherry of course.
Good to read about the unpotted CBs.......I like the potted ones in the gibbys I've got.
Thanks so much for the insight. I’ve been buying and selling a lot over the last year so I completely understand the oddity that is the Guitar market right now. I think I might just take a chance on it because if I don’t like it I should be able to at least get out of it quickly at little, to no loss. I’m just wondering if guitar manufacturers will begin to meet demand over the coming year or two and if the market will get flooded with new and used guitars for sale.

Not to get off topic here but thought I would chime in and say that I also quite enjoy the unpotted custombuckers. It’s amazing how night and day different potted vs unpotted is.
 

renderit

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 19, 2009
Messages
10,951
they got it right the first time...then they did it on the reissue in 2016.
Saweet tonez.

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goldtop0

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 19, 2003
Messages
8,931
Thanks so much for the insight. I’ve been buying and selling a lot over the last year so I completely understand the oddity that is the Guitar market right now. I think I might just take a chance on it because if I don’t like it I should be able to at least get out of it quickly at little, to no loss. I’m just wondering if guitar manufacturers will begin to meet demand over the coming year or two and if the market will get flooded with new and used guitars for sale.

Not to get off topic here but thought I would chime in and say that I also quite enjoy the unpotted custombuckers. It’s amazing how night and day different potted vs unpotted is.

Yes that's the question isn't it re new product being available this year..........will there be a glut.........we'll see I guess.
However I've seen that CS 335 production has less guitars each year compared to LPs so that always creates a demand in itself in this current market....guitar sales have gone bananas in recent times.....and 2nd hand prices have increased dramatically since 2018 with the closing of the Memphis facility.
Let us know if you pull the trigger it looks a beauty.
I've got a fat necked '58 M2M 335 in the pipeline and look forward to playing the unpotted CBs when it arrives......hopefully August.
 

wmachine

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Mar 17, 2016
Messages
303
Not really sure where to begin. I just I could start with the electronics. Not only the 335s but many older Gibson reissue humbuckers never satisfied me. It’s like Gibson hadn't heard a real PAF or pat# before. It hasn’t been until just the past few years that I felt their pick ups have been much more accurately voiced. However, I guess that just comes down to personal preference. I understand some people enjoy a hotter, modern voiced pick up, but that’s not what I personally want when buying a reissue. There are plenty of other reasons I didn’t buy one in the past. Inaccurate colors and finishes, quality control issues, and uncomfortable neck profiles to name a few.

I’m sure there are plenty of great reissue 335s from the 2000s and early 2010s but none of them come close to the originals, nor did they make me want to spend thousands of dollars. But that’s why I’m inquiring now. I have been really satisfied with the recent reissue Les Pauls, SG‘s, and juniors from the last two or three years. In fact I have bought several, but I’ve been holding out for a 335.
That's why I asked. I'm not familiar with earlier reissues, but I'm under the impression (and my limited experience) that the newer (2015 and newer) reissues, especially with the MHS pups pretty much nailed it for vintage sound. And yes, they were criticized for not being bright enough, but as you point out (calling it hotter), that modern voicing is not accurate to the vintage sound. The vintage sound was also due to use of nylon saddles, not just the voicing of the pups. When the great CME Memphis blowout sale came, this perceived accuracy of the 2016 reissues gave me the confidence to not only get one, but to get a few of them!
 

glenngross

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Joined
Nov 13, 2012
Messages
147
My local dealer has (at least he did as of last week) a new 64. PM me and I can check if it’s still there. Pricing was righteous.
 

goldtop0

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Aug 19, 2003
Messages
8,931
When the great CME Memphis blowout sale came, this perceived accuracy of the 2016 reissues gave me the confidence to not only get one, but to get a few of them!

Did you end up with a.............58,59,61 and maybe a '64??
 
Joined
Apr 26, 2018
Messages
93
Well, I made an offer on the 64. We will she if she takes it!
I figure if for some reason it’s not the 335 I’ve been waiting for, I’ll resell it before years end and loose little to nothing. It’s a sellers market right now, that I am sure of.
 

Amp360

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Feb 16, 2012
Messages
852
I’ve seen the black Murphy reissues at GC for about 5k.

A few years ago I wanted a 335 and played a bunch of them. My friend has a 60 that is insane but it’s not for sale and if I bought it I wouldn’t want to take it out. I ended up really liking the Historic model I tried. I found a really good deal (1k) for a 535 so I bought that but the Historic I tried I really liked, YMMV.
 
Joined
Apr 26, 2018
Messages
93
A '64 ES-345 TDC Maestro, ES-335 Premiere Figured Faded Burst, ES-335 Studio Ginger Burst, 2016 Lucille, ES-LP Special, and last but not least in a fluke deal. a 2015 '54 ES-175D Dark Burst .
And which one is your favorite? 👀
 

wmachine

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Joined
Mar 17, 2016
Messages
303
And which one is your favorite? 👀
I honestly don't have a favorite. "I don't play favorites". So it would be a shame to have a favorite and not play it............
Seriously, I can tell you the one I like the least is the ES-LP. Sure it is a low end model. And there really is nothing wrong with it, but it just doesn't bring anything to the table. It doesn't cover any ground between a LP and a 335. (I feel the same way about ES-339s)
 

wintomato

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Joined
Apr 9, 2019
Messages
43
I tried a 2020 61, 59, and also a Collings i35lc. I wasn’t taken with the 59, can’t remember why, although I do prefer slimmer necks. The 61 was amazing. It was extremely compelling. A joy to play, sounded amazing, those unpotted pickups were fab. I had trouble deciding what to chose, the Collings was perfection, but actually I wanted the 335 sound, so am opting for the 335. Build wise, in my humble opinion, they were on a par.
I haven’t tried loads of 335s although did play a real 60s 335 many years ago, but I felt I didn’t need to look any further. I am just hoping they are consistent, and Will get one very soon, when I’ve sold enough other bits.
 

Wilko

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Mar 11, 2002
Messages
20,854
Just played my 1964/65 ES-335 last night. I love that guitar!
 
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