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Hi there,
I've been reading this forum for three years now but I've never written a post (I guess I don't have much to say :-P).
The thing is that I'm in a quest for an archtop on the 3000€ - 3500€ range. Since I live in Barcelona is quiet difficult to find anything different than brand new Epis, Ibanez and d'Angelicos. Eventually you can find some new Gibson ES-175 but they are quiet overpriced (around 4500€)...
I found this 1946 Gibson ES-300 in the Netherlands and I happen to have a trip to Brussels (which is a 1h30 drive to the shop) next month, so I could try it. I really the guitar and it really fits my style (swing and early bop).
They're asking 3900€, the guitar seem to be in very good condition (missing pickguard) and all original hardware (not sure about the tailpiece, though ) but I think its a bit overpriced, is not easy to find these guitars, especially in Europe. What you guys think? What would be a reasonable price to ask for?
Thanks!!
PS: Excuse me if my English makes it hard to follow...Last edited by Guillemlt; 05-03-2016 at 08:42 AM.
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05-02-2016 07:25 AM
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Beautiful, here they are cheaper than that. I've seen 2 in the last month or two at Guitar Center online for about 1,800. One was the 2 PUP version.
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woow. For that price difference I fly there!
Originally Posted by abelljo
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it looks like the pickguard deteriorated discoloring the top.
that and it's priced more than double what it's worth.
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This one is a little higher priced, but it has a scripted logo whoooooo Originally Posted by Guillemlt
woow. For that price difference I fly there!
Vintage Gibson 1940s ES-300 Hollow Body Electric Guitar Sunburst | Guitar Center
Maybe still worth the trip!
A few more
https://reverb.com/marketplace?query=gibson%20es300
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It's difficult for us to know what guitars sell for in different countries.
I will say that the Gibson ES-300 is a marvelous guitar. I used to play a very early example, with the earliest P90, and it was a superb jazz guitar.
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I kinda like how they made the b and s into one super letter
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The ES-300, when introduced just after WW2 (there was a pre-war ES-300, but it was really a different guitar), was briefly the top of Gibson's electric line. It can be accurately described, I think, as an L7 with a laminated top and pickup(s), or an ES-350 without a cutaway. It was played by Mickey Baker, and also Danny Cedrone, who played the solo in Rock Around the Clock. See:
Rock Around the Clock guitar. The story behind the session and the guitar tab for the Rock Around the Clock.
There were some variations in trim during its brief production period, nothing that would make me pay more for a particular year. The presence or absence of an original pickguard is not too important; most have succumbed to chemical rot, and the ones that have survived are time bombs that should not be stored with the guitar.
Probably my imagination, but the one I had seemed to have a deep rich sound that I associated with the extra interior volume due to the lack of a cutaway.
The ES-150 from the same period is a very comparable guitar; a little less fancy, but cheaper. If you tumble on a nice example of either for a bargain price, snap it up, you won't be sorry.
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Most ES-150 I've found (on the internet) are more expensive than the ES-300. To my knowledge the ES-300 should be a little superior but maybe the spirit of Charlie Christian makes the ES-150 more valuable... Originally Posted by nopedals
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I have always wanted to hear what those ES300s with the huge diagonal pickup sounded like. Probably a bit of a strange sound, but I've never heard one.
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> Most ES-150 I've found (on the internet) are more expensive than the ES-300. To my knowledge the ES-300 should be a little superior but maybe the spirit of Charlie Christian makes the ES-150 more valuable.
The query was about a post war ES-300, and I should have made it clear I was talking about the post war models of both guitars. The pre war specs of these models are radically different, and are priced at different levels, so I don't really think of them as being the same guitars. Charlie Christian did not play the postwar models, of course.
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Originally Posted by nopedals
Great info. Thanks. I'll keep searching
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Can't agree more with Mr. Greentone.
Post war ES 300 are wonderful instruments. They were the first laminated top to hit the market which was considered as a real improvement for playing loud (less feedback issues). A derived model, the ES 350 which is basically a cutaway version of the ES 300, became the warhorse of Barney Kessel. They were the top of the line for Gibson electrics immediately after WWII.
I own one from 1946, with a replaced pickup, and she is a damned good guitar. The laminated tabletop brings a naturally compressed sound with more blending between the frequencies and strings than for a carved top. Definitly more a modern sound than hand-carved instruments.
You will find demos several of my ES 300 in my YT channel. You can hear the tone of it at 0'55".
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dfxMV6JrdF0
Cheers
FredLast edited by Fred Archtop; 05-04-2016 at 07:18 AM.
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Wow. Great sound! I checked a lot of your videos, but not this one. The tone is great, I even prefer it than the L5's. What about the neck? Is it comfortable? Or too big (I play now with a Gyspsy style guitar, so that souldn't be an issue...)? Originally Posted by Fred Archtop
Thanks!
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Round neck, very comfortable, you can play for hours without tiredness. Actually that's the neck profile I prefer. Originally Posted by Guillemlt
Cheers.
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Thanks Guillemlt, no, I haven't played that specific guitar, I've just been generally searching ES-300's for quite some time. One thing I did notice about the one I posted the link for, is that (from looking at the pics) there might be a crack in the side, bass side. I would definitely ask the seller about that.
As we're on the subject, I'll give you a link to a guy who is selling several absolutely stunning Es-300's. There are 2 P90 models here which are virtually mint, as far as I can see, but the prices are considerably higher. However, one might consider a luthier built replica of a similar instrument by Daniel Slaman, for instance, would actually still cost more than either of the genuine articles on offer here;
Page 202
Either way, best of luck with your search, and please do keep us posted regarding your decision.
Best Wishes.
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As we're on the subject of ES-300, and as you're in Europe, I thought It was worth mentioning a German luthier called Karsten Schnoor.
KARSTEN SCHNOOR - Stringed Instruments
There was a thread on this forum by a fellow who was considering buying a used model by this luthier, which had been built to ES-300 spec. It looked very impressive. From the pics at the time it was the same as this model. (scroll down 1/2 way).
Archtop Germany: Verkauf
and,
Image
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I own the 1947 ES-300 on the Reverb link above with the arm wear on the upper bout. It is an incredible guitar for swing and bop playing. The first run on those neck P-90's have a really dynamic sound. They're very dark compared to a modern P-90. I'm only selling mine because I'm looking for an all acoustic archtop from that era. Anyone want to trade Haha!! Problem you're going to have with US sellers is the shipping costs. I had an interested buyer in CA and I'm in IL. Shipping was over $100.
Has anyone ever had the ES-300 side by side with a solid top guitar? I'm curious on the volume difference overall between the two. I'm sure the ES guitars are much quieter right?Last edited by MrJonWilson; 05-11-2016 at 11:14 AM.
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Hi guys!
Finally I got the ES-300 I mentioned. Yesterday I flew to Holland to try this one (and an L5, a D'Angelico, Super 400...you name it!!!). I'm very happy with the guitar, nice sound, very comfortable despite the big neck (I like big necks...) and gorgeous look.
I'll upload something as soon as I get good :-P
Guillem
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A fellow is bringing this one around on to my group's rehearsal on Thursday. He wants to sell it. He's an older man who bought it new in 1948. I'm not sure I'm going to want to buy it, but anyone who's interested can contact me and I'll get you in touch with him. I think the minimum he will take will be about $3000. I haven't played it yet. I'll know more on Thursday.
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Congrats. I like those old ES300/350/150/125 with P90s very much. If I had the choice, I might go for the ES150 (the later version with 17" body, 25.5" scale and a P90), for the sole reason of its lower price as compared to the 300. I think they are pretty much the same guitars except for the little less fancy decorations of the 150. OTOH hand, I like the classic trapeze inlays a lot.
Whatever, instead of getting one of these oldies, I had Tom Painter make a P-350T (25.5" scale) for me a couple of years ago, but the inspiration for it was clearly the ES 350T. BTW, I think it was one of the last guitars Tom made before he went out of the guitar making business.
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Do you guys think it us OK morally to buy one
of the old Es300 with the big slant PUs
(or the small bridge PUs)
And remove the pickup and add a decent CC repro
Or a good P90 to it in the neck position
Might be a cheap way to get hold of a nice guitar ...
Or is that sacrilege ?
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I thought the es150 were solid wood tops ... Originally Posted by oldane
And es300/350s are lam tops
Point of order the 300 inlays are usually double parallelograms not trapeziums
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Prewar ES150 were solid top, 16'' body and dot inlays (with Charlie Cristian PU's or other ones...). Post-war models were laminated, 17'' body, trapezoid inlays and a P90. So pretty much the same guitar as the ES300.
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The pre-war ES-300s with the slant pickups are not cheap, and the rout would not remotely match a CC pickup. Originally Posted by pingu
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