1952 Gibson ES-350

[rrbasic]

My opinion is pretty much worthless but you sound great on that guitar.

[D'Aquisto Fan]

Congratulations! Wonderful guitar fit for a wonderful player!

[Jonathan0996]

Beautiful guitar. The response seems so even throughout the entire range of the instrument. And as always, beautiful playing.

It's nice to see it go to such capable hands.

[Woody Sound]

DB, besides the pickups, how does that compare to the Tal? I always thought they were pretty much the same guitar.

[RobbieAG]

Congrats on your new guitar! When I was a student at Berklee (Boston) years ago, my roommate had an early 50s ES350 like yours except sunburst. Great guitar! I had a 1956 ES-175 with P-90s.

[DB's Jazz Guitar Blog]

DB, besides the pickups, how does that compare to the Tal? I always thought they were pretty much the same guitar.

The re-issue Tal is a different beast alltogether. It is built way heavier and has humbuckers. It does capture the sound Tal had on his 60s signature model. So I think even the original Tal Farlows will not sound exactly the same as an ES 350. Probably the pups make a lot of difference.

But at one time I will do a sound comparison side by side. Maybe they sound more alike than my impression is now. The 300 and 350 have more in common than the 350 and my Tal sound wise is my impression now. I'll look into it.

DB

[skykomishone]

DB,

Congratulations on the es350! It's as old as me, but sounds much, much better! Your playing is awesome too! That guitar sounds like it suits your playing style perfectly.

Steve

[joelf]

Well done, Dick, and congats!

I had one back in the '70s, and paid a low '70s price. I dug it, of course. But I was doing stupid lounge gigs in Brooklyn and succumbed, getting an equally stupid instrument and selling the 350. Probably it could fetch $2,000-$2,500 today---at least. I was happy to get around $750 in 1978. But I'd never sell it now had I not had to sacrifice it. They're keepers...

[Cunamara]

Well, that there is pretty much the definition of the jazz guitar sound, isn't it? To my ears, I'm not sure that Gibson ever built a better sounding guitar than the ES-350.

[DB's Jazz Guitar Blog]

Well done, Dick, and congats!

I had one back in the '70s, and paid a low '70s price. I dug it, of course. But I was doing stupid lounge gigs in Brooklyn and succumbed, getting an equally stupid instrument and selling the 350. Probably it could fetch $2,000-$2,500 today---at least. I was happy to get around $750 in 1978. But I'd never sell it now had I not had to sacrifice it. They're keepers...

Joel, in Europe the price range for an ES 350 in good condition is often between 8 and 10K euro. The blondes like mine are the most expensive.

DB

[vinnyv1k]

Joel, in Europe the price range for an ES 350 in good condition is often between 8 and 10K euro. The blondes like mine are the most expensive.

DB

Here also in the US. Even the original ES350T (Brydland style) are way up there.
In fact higher priced than a L5.

Dick though you paid a lot it was a sound investment. The price will only go up. Not that you will ever sell it but you will never lose if you do. Very rare bird.
The ES350 is at the top of almost every jazzer’s list. Unbeatable tone.
We rejoice that this one is in great hands now. The ultimate bop axe.

[vinnyv1k]

On a side note in 2012 I asked Gibson the price to build me a replica ES350. The price back then was $9K heavily discounted from my dealer. MAP was $12K. And of course it wouldn’t be the same just look the same. It would be heavy and probably sound like a modern TF.

Also Gibson modern P90’s are not the same as the originals.

[Stringswinger]

A cursory look at Reverb informs me that joelf's estimate for present value of a vintage ES-350 is quite low. Here in America, I doubt a blonde ES-350 with all original parts could be had for less than 6K (and would probably cost quite a bit more).

Our interest rates here in America have been artificially low for many years now. Money kept in a savings account is actually shrinking. While there is no guarantee that buying a guitar will be a better investment over time, I have enjoyed owning my guitars far more than I would have enjoyed watching those funds lose value in a savings account. And don't get me started on Stocks and bonds. Relying on the crooks who run that giant casino called Wall Street, regardless of past performance, only makes me want to get more guitars. YMMV

(Before anyone tells me that guitars are a poor investment for one's retirement, let me say that one should not count on any long term financial performance from guitar investing. My "old age" investing is in real estate. While real estate has not been as lucrative as stocks long term, I am in control of my financial destiny owning land, with stocks and bonds, I have to rely on the likes of people like Mitt Romney and George Soros. No Thank you. Once again, YMMV)

[DB's Jazz Guitar Blog]

On a side note in 2012 I asked Gibson the price to build me a replica ES350. The price back then was $9K heavily discounted from my dealer. MAP was $12K. And of course it wouldn’t be the same just look the same. It would be heavy and probably sound like a modern TF.

Also Gibson modern P90’s are not the same as the originals.

Wow. 9-12 k is a lot of money Vinny. You could easily get a real vintage ES 350 for that kind of money, which I find way more attractive. And you are right, it would be more like a modern TF than a 350 anyway.

Also the new "Chuck Berry" (vintage ES 350t replica) is extremely expensive. Why not get a real vintage 350t for that kind of dough? I don't get it. A replica when the real thing is equally expensive is a no brainer to me.

DB

[joelf]

Joel, in Europe the price range for an ES 350 in good condition is often between 8 and 10K euro. The blondes like mine are the most expensive.

DB

Well, blondes are always expensive...