What exactly is a "Memphis Custom Shop" Gibson ES-335?

**Alter** · 01-30-2021, 02:18 PM

I was looking at new, left handed 335s, and i see some described as "Memphis custom shop". I believe the only Gibson custom shop these days is in Nashville? I am also reading that 335s made in Memphis are sometimes called custom shop, or just custom, or Memphis. Are they exactly similar to the regular dot 335s, or is there anything custom (or different, better quality) about them? Anything changed the last couple of years or so?

**Tal_175** · 01-30-2021, 02:42 PM

My run of the mill 2013 ES 175 is also a "Memphis custom shop" model. I think Gibson just called the Memphis factory, custom shop at one point.

**Lobomov** · 01-30-2021, 04:30 PM

Actually they didn't even call it the Memphis Custom Shop. The COA's just said "Memphis Custom" without the shop.

Sellers have a tendency to translate that to Memphis Custom Shop at times. It's just a Memphis Gibson ... Which can be a great guitar. Their '59ri ES175s where stellar, while other models where more bland off course

**monkmiles** · 01-30-2021, 08:23 PM

Not sure about the Memphis Custom thing, but I own a fantastic 2018 figured 335 that was built in Memphis and I love the MHS pickups on it (Memphis Historic Spec).

**ThatRhythmMan** · 01-30-2021, 08:25 PM

Originally Posted by Lobomov

Actually they didn't even call it the Memphis Custom Shop. The COA's just said "Memphis Custom" without the shop.

Sellers have a tendency to translate that to Memphis Custom Shop at times. It's just a Memphis Gibson ... Which can be a great guitar. Their '59ri ES175s where stellar, while other models where more bland off course

The COAs would say “Custom Shop” though.

**Alter** · 01-30-2021, 10:06 PM

Thanks to all for the clarifications. I can get the 335 at a very decent price without the VAT,... but what I really want is a 330

. Hard to find a left handed one in Europe though. Even worse now that the UK is out of the game since you get to pay import duties when buying from it..

**Just Fred** · 01-30-2021, 10:17 PM

I'll just add to the confusion, not subtract from it.

I purchased a 2017 Gibson ES-35 Memphis "Limited Edition" in Walnut like this one:

ES-335 1970s Walnut

I was in the market for a 335, and this one caught my fancy. It feels and plays like my ES-225. But newer.

**guavajelly** · 01-31-2021, 06:26 AM

Originally Posted by Alter

Thanks to all for the clarifications. I can get the 335 at a very decent price without the VAT,... but what I really want is a 330

. Hard to find a left handed one in Europe though. Even worse now that the UK is out of the game since you get to pay import duties when buying from it..

If you really want an ES 330 don't look at the 335 – totally different guitar apart from the form factor. I had one of an expensive memphis custom shop 335 and it wasn't my cup of tea. I compared it with my Ibanez JSM and it had that woody airy semi acoustic quality. Then I took it to a rehearsal and it just dissapeared when played with the band (organ trio). I don't think every 335 is like that, but mine was. Stupidly I had already sold the Ibanez. Sold the 335 and got the 330 (also made in Memphis I think, it's a 59 VOS) and that's a totally different guitar. It sounds open and acoustic and cuts through the mix no problem. It is also very light and comfortable. If you want a 330 get it – as you said it can take some time to find a lefthand but it's worth it.
My only complaints were rattling cables and switch (in middle position) when played without an amp but a luthier took care of it and now it's also a nice sofa guitar – pretty warm sounding unplugged with enough volume to practice.

**guavajelly** · 01-31-2021, 06:40 AM

BTW Gibson at least made a lefty 330 recently: 1959 ES-330 Left Handed
You could also try an Epiphone Casino.

**Alter** · 01-31-2021, 06:54 AM

I do have a 70s Gibson 335. It's a great guitar, but it has the vintage short and wide frets, which have their pros and cons. Plus i've had it for more than 20 years now..

and as much as I like archtops they just don't cut it for many of my jazz gigs and groups (organ trios) due to feedback problems..

I also would enjoy P90s as I like the Grant Green kind of sound for jazz, where you have a little meat on your sound. It's just next to impossible to find a lefty 330 in Europe right now, as they are out of stock everywhere..

Indeed an Epiphone 330 might do in between, they will be available in a few months.

There's always the solution of finding a righty one, and turning it to left handed also.. It can be invisible if done right.

**guavajelly** · 01-31-2021, 07:32 AM

Alter, the Epi Casino Lefthand is available from a shop here in Germany https://www.session.de/produkt/epiph...EaAguNEALw_wcB. Should be working if you are in the EU.

**Lobomov** · 01-31-2021, 08:04 AM

Originally Posted by ThatRhythmMan

The COAs would say “Custom Shop” though.

Had too google one .. This is the one I remember .. It says "Gibson Custom"

But is signed by the vice-president of the Gibson Custom Shop .. that is borderline .. haha

I just remembered the "Gibson Custom" headline from my 2013 Memphis ES390 .. Definitely not Custom shop, I paid 1800 euro for that thing brand new. Didn't notice the signature tho.

I don't know if they actually made it even worse later on?

**conchmusic** · 02-02-2021, 02:47 AM

I am also a lefty, and I sold my Casino with (outstanding) Lollar pickups last year because even though it sounded great and I loved the weight I couldn't stand the plasticky feel. I have been trying to find a good 330 ever since, but lefties are very expensive. Always a problem for us, but particularly so in this case. I live in Los Angeles and there are righty vintage 330's everywhere for much less than the cost of the most recent lefty reissues. One thing that I have considered instead is the P90 335, which is of course heavier. I was eyeing one at Max Guitar in The Hague when the exchange rate was better. Just wanted to mention it as an alternative. If you manage to find a lefty 330 in the end I'd love to hear about it.

**monkmiles** · 02-02-2021, 12:38 PM

Originally Posted by Alter

Indeed an Epiphone 330 might do in between, they will be available in a few months.

Epiphone is doing a 330? Cool! Where'd you see that?

**Lobomov** · 02-02-2021, 12:50 PM

Originally Posted by monkmiles

Epiphone is doing a 330? Cool! Where'd you see that?

I guessing he means a Casino

**Alter** · 02-03-2021, 03:50 AM

Yes I mean the Epiphone casino. I see it available as left handed in Thomann "in several months"..

My biggest concern about converting a right 330 to a left handed one would be the bridge. It would probably have to be replaced? And I'm not sure how easy this is to do. I know the pot holes can be covered and made almost invisible.

An alternative is indeed a p90 335, but that's still a semi hollow, world of difference in the tone..

**339 in june** · 02-04-2021, 11:54 AM

Not in Europe (yet ?) but available ES 330 lefty :
Gibson Memphis ES-330 Sunset Burst Left Hand 2018（中古）【楽器検索デジマート】

Good luck in your quest anyway !

**wmachine** · 02-08-2021, 01:37 PM

Shame on Gibson for intentionally confusing the market by bringing the words "Custom" and, yes, "Custom Shop" into the Memphis line. Yes there were some models that even said "Custom Shop" on the back of the headstock. Management gave marketing too much latitude with that stupid move. One had to look long and deep to find what they really meant was there were some "Custom Shop Series" models. Gibson just shrugged it off like it was the public's problem if they thought they were made in the Gibson Custom Shop. And of course sellers could and have passed off those models as Custom Shop just using the same misleading names that Gibson gave them. Since about 2014, Gibson quit doing that. But obviously the intentional confusion continues and will continue.
The sad thing is that Gibson had no need to try to artificially pump up the perception of quality with the Memphis made models. They were already making some of Gibson's best ever and were heading into a few more years of the same, pretty much until the plant closed.