• You're one step from joining Guitar Discussion Forum - The Fret.
    Create a free account to post, follow threads, and never miss an update.  Sign up free →

Gibson ES335

Guitar Discussion Forum - The Fret

Help Support TheFret.net:

wingsdad said:
OK, so I suggested looking at a Heritage. My bad. Forget it. Walk away and find the 335 you want, that you've longed for, at a fair price.
Click to expand...

Why would you say that. From everything I read, the Heritage is a great guitar, I just don't see that significant of a price difference.

Oh and you are correct, I would get concerned over a C note, just imagine how I would be about $1,300.

ZMAN said:
Hey JS: I am wondering what "The Rest of the Story" is with this 335. How it could never have had an owner since 1991.
Click to expand...

I don't know, but I am searching for more info.

The attraction now is the investigative work and the thrill of negotiation. He has the price so high that it will be interesting how much I can get him to reduce the price. The next time that I go in there (maybe this weekend) I will let him know that he should have jumped on the $2100 because after further research the price has gone down -maybe $1750.

Kazz said:
Hey Strum....Check this out.

http://www.tdpri.com/phpclassifieds/showproduct.php/product/16295
Click to expand...

Interesting, I will have to look into it just to see where he is willing to go with the price.
 
just strum said:
Why would you say that. From everything I read, the Heritage is a great guitar, I just don't see that significant of a price difference.
Click to expand...
Because you've been all over that Gibson for what seems like an eternity; don't settle if that's the emotional bond thing.

FWIW, though, per the same reference source I used for the 335, a Heritage H535, '87-'99 ranges around A Grand less than the 335. Low $1,100 - High $1,175; same period w/ flamed maple top, Low $1,200 - High $1,275. One from 2000 - '06: Low $1,250 - High $1,350. Seems right, because Willie (ROB) offered me a shot at an '02 about 3 years ago for $1,100 that he was asking $1,200 for. The timing wasn't good financially, as in I was unemployed.

The attraction now is the investigative work and the thrill of negotiation. He has the price so high that it will be interesting how much I can get him to reduce the price. The next time that I go in there (maybe this weekend) I will let him know that he should have jumped on the $2100 because after further research the price has gone down -maybe $1750.
Click to expand...

Now you're talking:AOK. If you want me to scan the VGM price guide page for you, just PM or email me. Put the market value facts in his face; land on $2 G's.

If you can find any recently closed/sold bids on e-bay for a similarly aged 335, they're only semi-relevant; depends on where the buyer/seller are from.

In any case, it's only worth what he can get for it. This guy's name isn't Barnum, is it?
 
Blaze said:
good-evil.jpg
Click to expand...

Is that Robert in the red?
 
I went to guitar lessons night before last and my instructor had the door to his studio locked - I could hear him wailing away, he was playing at the King of Blues regional finals yesterday. When he opened the door I saw the guitar he was playing - Gibson ES-335.

Such a beautiful guitar, especially in the hands of a pro. Now this same instructor has been telling me that he needs eye surgery for cataracts (sp?) but hasn't been able to save up the money (no health insurance). I was thinking "Well, maybe you should sell that guitar and get your eye fixed".

It's a killer guitar - but for that price there's a lot of other stuff I'd rather have. Personally I think it's pretty crappy for Gibson to put such an obscene price tag on one of the most beautiful and storied styles...you'd think they'd want everyone to have one. At that price - there's a lot fewer people playing them and playing a dot instead.
 
How dare Gibson want to make money. :sarcasm I do think that most Gibson guitars are overpriced but I doubt that's going to change anytime soon.
 
hubberjub said:
How dare Gibson want to make money. :sarcasm I do think that most Gibson guitars are overpriced but I doubt that's going to change anytime soon.
Click to expand...

LOL - I don't mind them making money...but $3500?? I'm sure they make a HUGE markup on that.

Not too many people can pay that much for a guitar. Like me :)
 
With a name as shrouded in mystique as Gibson, they can charge whatever they really want. That's why I buy most of my guitars used. You can pick up a nice used 335 in the $1500-2000 range. IMO, you can get guitars that are superior to a 335 in that price range as well.
 
progrmr said:
LOL - I don't mind them making money...but $3500?? I'm sure they make a HUGE markup on that.

Not too many people can pay that much for a guitar. Like me :)
Click to expand...
If people will pay, you can trust a company to have prices that reflect that demand. Credit Gibson for making this nest for themselves, I suppose -- it's quite impressive to be in that position as a company. It's not really Gibson's job to provide guitars at cost; though I think the price gouging is a little stupid, that self-regulating aspect is the nature of capitalism.

The only way to overcome it is to disengage from that idea that "only a Gibson is a Gibson." The irritating part is when you get other people looking down at you because they hold that ideal close to their hearts, but that's just sort of a microcosm of life, isn't it? Separating what you believe from what others tell you is right.

OK, I'm done. For now.
 
I wanted a 335 aswell.......

Luckily, a guitar collector (60 + guitars last count) at work lent me a few different 335s aswell as a couple of Yamaha SA2200 (Deluxe and standard).....

I really wanted that 335 - but the Yamaha, with Ebony fretboard and Single coil taps was just too good to pass up so I bought a brand new one. The voice on this thing is incredible and love being able to play single coil or humbucker. Even after I had my heart set on a 335, I think this was a better guitar and half the price of the 335!

da33f459.jpg
 
Tio Kimo said:
That's a beautiful guitar. Yamaha's consistently impress me. Is it MIJ?
Click to expand...

Thanks mate! It's 'THE ONE' for me anyhow! As I mentioned I had played on several 335s, even some Ibanez but these seemed to have such a versatile sound and to be made of highest quality....

This one is MIJ, I believe they're starting to get hard to find? They stopped making this model or something now???

The finish is like nothing I own.....my custom Ibanez S series is pretty hot and finished well, but the Yamaha is on another level again.

AND I could've bought 2 of the Yammies for 1 base model genuine 335 (here in Aus at any rate).......
 
That is a beautiful Yamaha. I wonder if the gold hardware will hold up better than a Gibson? From what I've heard, Gibson gold hardware is notorious for losing it's plating quickly.
 
FrankenFretter said:
That is a beautiful Yamaha. I wonder if the gold hardware will hold up better than a Gibson? From what I've heard, Gibson gold hardware is notorious for losing it's plating quickly.
Click to expand...

Sorry to kinda Hi-jack the OP . . . .but if anyone is looking for a 335 type guitar then the Yamaha definately, definatelyrequires a close look/play.....

All of my other guitars have humbuckers so having something that I can split the coils from is awesome....my guitar needs a bit more 'playing in' but the Ebony fretboard on the others I had played, some heavily gigged with, was simply the best feeling under my fingers I'd ever felt....

Again for me, the Yamaha IS the better guitar for several reasons....it just doesn't say 'Gibson' on the headstock and do you know what, I'm GLAD that it doesn't!

Gold hardware is always a bit of a worry, does any one have maintenance advice for this? My S series Ibanex *had* gold trim, which on the PUP surrounds is quite pitted/crappy looking, on the volume/tone knobs it's almost turned a polished silver colour.....something I want to try very hard avoiding on my precious Yamaha....

To the OP, if you have not already bought, check out the Yamaha and see what you think!
 

Similar threads

Spudman
Return To Forever reunion
Replies
8
Views
1K
Spudman
Spudman

Latest posts

Back
Top