Finally got a Gibson Barney Kessel.

[Marty Grass]

What a great find!

[floatingpickup]

I may have to check out a BK myself. My dream guitar is a vintage 50s ES 350 but those are completely unaffordable. The BK has all the specs I love too though. At a better price.

DB

I have mentioned on this forum before that there was a very nice Gibson BK hanging on the rack at Gator Music in Naples Fl. for quite some time. I am not sure if it is still available but it was there for over a year and was still there when I was in the store a few months ago. It was consigned by the widow of the owner and it was a very nice guitar with no issues. They didn't have a price tag on it but they told me they were open to a reasonable offer. They seem to be good guys to deal with, so the guitar could probably be purchased at a reasonable price. I have no connection to the guitar or the store, but if someone is looking for a nice BK, it may be worth calling Gator.
Keith

[nopedals]

My point is not spending than 1k, just that if I am going there, I will try to pass on the frankensteins. Like a lot of folks here, the full body ES350 is my sweet spot, but probably outside my price range. Fortunately for me, a cutaway is not important to me. So I can get in the neighborhood with an es150 or es300. So I would buy a clean one of those rather than an es350 that has had the electronics ripped out.

I appreciate the problems faced by someone who has to have a 50 year old Gibson with a cutaway and humbuckers. I guess I would ante up for a clean one, and stay away paf models. The extra dough is an issue, but you will get it back when you sell.

[jzucker]

I dunno, nationwide has been selling a clean one for almost a year with no bites. And I don't mind the replacement parts or the checking. It's character and I'd rather have a great sound than great looks. Guitars are organic there's no guarantee that a clean ones going to sound as good as the one I currently have

My point is not spending than 1k, just that if I am going there, I will try to pass on the frankensteins. Like a lot of folks here, the full body ES350 is my sweet spot, but probably outside my price range. Fortunately for me, a cutaway is not important to me. So I can get in the neighborhood with an es150 or es300. So I would buy a clean one of those rather than an es350 that has had the electronics ripped out.

I appreciate the problems faced by someone who has to have a 50 year old Gibson with a cutaway and humbuckers. I guess I would ante up for a clean one, and stay away paf models. The extra dough is an issue, but you will get it back when you sell.

[yebdox]

I personally dig the looks of the BK, but if I was going that far out of bounds, I would definitely opt for the Trini Lopez Custom. I have not played one, but the cool factor is over the top. The necks typically sound narrow, though from what I have read.

Jack, did you ever run into a Trini for comparison? Aren't they essentially the same guitars, except for cosmetics and headstock?

[Jonathan0996]

Congratulations, Jack. Beautiful guitar.

A friend of mine sat in on my gig with a Barney Kessel a number of years ago and we traded guitars for a set. I remember it being a lot like a 175, but richer sounding and with more sustain. Enjoy it.

[jzucker]

I personally dig the looks of the BK, but if I was going that far out of bounds, I would definitely opt for the Trini Lopez Custom. I have not played one, but the cool factor is over the top. The necks typically sound narrow, though from what I have read.

Jack, did you ever run into a Trini for comparison? Aren't they essentially the same guitars, except for cosmetics and headstock?

yeah, the trinis have a real problem staying in tune. I have talked to a few owners of them and that's a big issue.

[yebdox]

yeah, the trinis have a real problem staying in tune. I have talked to a few owners of them and that's a big issue.

Any idea why? Asymmetric neck tension? I think if I found one in good shape, I would probably work hard to rectify that, but I'm no luthier. Do you think it's strictly because of the head stock and string post arrangement?

[jzucker]

Any idea why? Asymmetric neck tension? I think if I found one in good shape, I would probably work hard to rectify that, but I'm no luthier. Do you think it's strictly because of the head stock and string post arrangement?

I think so.

[Philco]

I have mentioned on this forum before that there was a very nice Gibson BK hanging on the rack at Gator Music in Naples Fl. for quite some time. I am not sure if it is still available but it was there for over a year and was still there when I was in the store a few months ago. It was consigned by the widow of the owner and it was a very nice guitar with no issues. They didn't have a price tag on it but they told me they were open to a reasonable offer. They seem to be good guys to deal with, so the guitar could probably be purchased at a reasonable price. I have no connection to the guitar or the store, but if someone is looking for a nice BK, it may be worth calling Gator.
Keith

There is one in Barcelona Guitars. A couple of doors down from where I was staying. Way too expensive though.
didnt play it because I knew I would start to obsess over it.

Guitarshop Barcelona