The only full-size Gibson ES-350 Gibson made after 1956

Dutchbopper · 03-02-2022, 10:24 AM

According to the ad that is. That true?

Vinny, something for you?

DB

BTW. The tuners are wrong.

https://reverb.com/item/19240897-gibson-es-350-archtop-one-off-2000-bourbon-burst?gspk=TmF0aGFuQnJvbWhhbTc2ODc%3D&utm_campaign =NathanBromham7687&utm_me dium=affiliate&utm_source=partnerstack-legacy

**Hammertone** · 03-02-2022, 11:02 AM

The only 2-pickup ES-5 with custom feechers made since whenever?

**Doctor Jeff** · 03-02-2022, 11:45 AM

Sure looks purty.

Who's signature is on the truss rod cover? John Southern--guitarist, writer and luthier?

The Raising of Lazarus: Bringing an Old Gibson Back From the Dead | GuitarPlayer

Edit: yep, that's him--his shop in Tulsa, OK.

**vinnyv1k** · 03-02-2022, 12:48 PM

OMG ! That is one of the nicest Gibson’s I’ve ever seen. Worth the price IMO.
Beautiful ! WOW Dick !

**John A.** · 03-02-2022, 12:54 PM

Originally Posted by Dutchbopper

According to the ad that is. That true?

Vinny, something for you?

DB

BTW. The tuners are wrong.

https://reverb.com/item/19240897-gibson-es-350-archtop-one-off-2000-bourbon-burst?gspk=TmF0aGFuQnJvbWhhbTc2ODc%3D&utm_campaign =NathanBromham7687&utm_me dium=affiliate&utm_source=partnerstack-legacy

Sounds plausible (though there might be other custom one-offs out there). The Tal Farlow was the replacement for the full-depth/full-scale ES350, so it makes sense that there weren't any ES 350s made during the TF's production run. But it's impossible to prove a negative, so any claim that there are no others has to be taken with a grain of salt.

**vinnyv1k** · 03-02-2022, 01:01 PM

10 years ago I asked the Crimson shop to build me a replica 3 knob ES350.
They wanted $9K back then when a new Tal was under $4K.
If I lived close to Oklahoma I would be one my way. It won’t last long.

Thanks for sharing Dick. Gorgeous !

**QAman** · 03-02-2022, 08:32 PM

This is truly a gorgeous instrument modified and upgraded in many ways, I've been corresponding with owner John Southern for 2 years. He originally bought the guitar from Archtop,com - then sent it to Gibson, where it was completely refinished and upgraded. Mickey McGuire did the refinish. This is a Hutch labeled guitar. The upgrades are strikingly beautiful.

Here is the original archtop.com listing

2000 Gibson ES-350 Custom-

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**Dennis D** · 03-02-2022, 08:55 PM

Originally Posted by QAman

This is truly a gorgeous instrument modified and upgraded in many ways, I've been corresponding with owner John Southern for 2 years. He originally bought the guitar from Archtop,com - then sent it to Gibson, where it was completely refinished and upgraded. Mickey McGuire did the refinish. This is a Hutch labeled guitar. The upgrades are strikingly beautiful.

Here is the original archtop.com listing

2000 Gibson ES-350 Custom-

(( Scratching my head ))

Sorry, I can't seem to connect these dots......

So John S bought this new ES - 350 from Archtop, then sent it to Gibson where they refinished it etc etc and made it like it is now for sale.
But then what's that article w/ photos etc etc of a different 350 that got thrown at a wall years ago, by someone's wife, and all that ??? Is this that same previously wrecked 350 ??

Thanks....

**Dennis D** · 03-02-2022, 09:01 PM

Originally Posted by vinnyv1k

10 years ago I asked the Crimson shop to build me a replica 3 knob ES350.
They wanted $9K back then when a new Tal was under $4K.
If I lived close to Oklahoma I would be one my way. It won’t last long.

Thanks for sharing Dick. Gorgeous !

Man Vinny, I'd think about getting a deposit on the way to that dealer......There won't be another story like that for a while......

Road trip ??? : )

Dennis

**QAman** · 03-02-2022, 09:14 PM

Originally Posted by Dennis D

(( Scratching my head ))

Sorry, I can't seem to connect these dots......

So John S bought this new ES - 350 from Archtop, then sent it to Gibson where they refinished it etc etc and made it like it is now for sale.
But then what's that article w/ photos etc etc of a different 350 that got thrown at a wall years ago, by someone's wife, and all that ??? Is this that same previously wrecked 350 ??

Thanks....

Don't know anything about the wife throwing a guitar. My information is from conversations with John. In fact, shortly after he purchased it from Archtop he had it posted on his Facebook page, with a comment alluding to the fact that his friends thought he was crazy for having it refinished/ modified.

He actually sunk alot of money into the upgrades, and it's the finest looking ES-350 I've ever seen. The Bourbon burst is just extraordinary !!! It's truly a one off example with high end appointments throughout.

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**Dennis D** · 03-02-2022, 09:21 PM

Originally Posted by QAman

Don't know anything about the wife throwing a guitar.

Sorry - - I confused it with that earlier reference ' Raising of Lazarus '. This was describing a 350 which was damaged etc, and restored.....

Sorry again.

Thanks

**QAman** · 03-02-2022, 09:25 PM

Originally Posted by Dennis D

Sorry - - I confused it with that earlier reference ' Raising of Lazarus '. This was describing a 350 which was damaged etc, and restored.....

Sorry again.

Thanks

No apologies needed Dennis. Sometimes these posts lead our minds in different directions.

This is truly a fabulous looking instrument.

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**vinnyv1k** · 03-02-2022, 11:09 PM

Actually this is a modern day ES-5 with just 2 P90's instead and some very nice upgrades.
Gibson did a beautiful job.
When Gibson goes outside the box there is always a big wow factor.

**wintermoon** · 03-02-2022, 11:51 PM

Originally Posted by QAman

This is truly a gorgeous instrument modified and upgraded in many ways, I've been corresponding with owner John Southern for 2 years. He originally bought the guitar from Archtop,com - then sent it to Gibson, where it was completely refinished and upgraded. Mickey McGuire did the refinish. This is a Hutch labeled guitar. The upgrades are strikingly beautiful.

Here is the original archtop.com listing

2000 Gibson ES-350 Custom-

Sent from my SM-P610 using Tapatalk

Personally I like the original finish better than the cherry

**Woody Sound** · 03-02-2022, 11:59 PM

I wonder what kind of acoustic pickup is in the bridge.

**Doctor Jeff** · 03-03-2022, 11:03 AM

My Peerless Sunset is approximately the same burst color, though of course less figure to the wood. These bursts are really pretty in person, and always get a lot of attention from the crowd.

I can't believe I'm saying this, but that seems like a really good price for that guitar, when "mere" 175s are going for $5K+.

**wintermoon** · 03-03-2022, 11:09 AM

8K is pretty high to me, this isn't a carved L-5. It's a refinished modified lam..

**QAman** · 03-03-2022, 03:27 PM

Originally Posted by wintermoon

8K is pretty high to me, this isn't a carved L-5. It's a refinished modified lam..

I agree. I’ve been unable to negotiate with the seller after 2 years of this guitar aging on Reverb. Additionally, he never disclosed the refinishing.

I pieced that together by visiting his Facebook page two years ago. That’s when he posted the original link from Archtop, along with more info.

When I asked him for the serial number of his refinished guitar- it matched the Archtop.com listing.

I then confronted him and told him to disclose the refinishing - and he didn’t want to.

Just figured I’d share my research with everyone.

**wintermoon** · 03-03-2022, 04:30 PM

honestly I wouldn't touch this guitar for 1/2 the price.
if you ever had to sell it, there's way too many issues/stories to disclose.
one man's "upgrades" are another's devaluing negatives.
probably why it hasn't sold in all that time.

**customxke** · 03-03-2022, 04:33 PM

Originally Posted by wintermoon

honestly I wouldn't touch this guitar for 1/2 the price.
if you ever had to sell it, there's way too many issues/stories to disclose.
one man's "upgrades" are another's devaluing negatives.
probably why it hasn't sold in all that time.

"The longer the tale, the harder the sale"

**omphalopsychos** · 03-03-2022, 05:25 PM

I'm also not feeling it. It started as a unique and potentially collectible guitar, modeled after one of Gibson's great ones. But it's heavily personalized in ways that we all agree would detract value from a vintage guitar. I find the mods a bit saccharine and I don't sense that I'm alone. I wouldn't want a Loar L5 refinished in 60's Iced Tea burst (1930 Gibson L-5), and this one is equally bizarre.

**Doctor Jeff** · 03-03-2022, 06:56 PM

OK to play devil's advocate, this is a laminate yes but full size and unique custom shop order. IIRC, no standard 350 production occurred after 1993.

So A) we have a beautiful archtop, which Gibson is just not making anymore, B) in pristine condition with some attractive upgrades, and C) upgraded/refinished by Gibson Custom Shop. It is 22 years old, though of course not comparable to truly historic guitars. If one is going for historical accuracy, sure it suffers, but if one is going for looks and playability, it seems to stand out.

$8000 does not seem out of line with other 350s on Reverb, in fact it's way below what most are selling for, which are no more rare or in better condition than this guitar.

Where would you find a Gibson full size archtop in mint condition with these specs for under that price?

(OK there are some 175s listed as "mint" for $5-6K, but you will admit this guitar knocks them out of the park on looks, if nothing else.)

**omphalopsychos** · 03-03-2022, 07:06 PM

A car dealership will not pay a premium for the "upgrades", e.g. muffler delete, new spoiler, lowered suspension, new rims, on a Honda Civic. If someone wanted to spend a bunch of money to personalize something, that's cool, but it's not sensible to call these modifications "upgrades". The guitar started as a Gibson product and ended up as an individual consumer's passion project.

**vinnyv1k** · 03-03-2022, 07:23 PM

I have a couple high end Gibson's factory refinished under warranty. Not only did they come back finished far better than new they also came back with the frets crowned and polished to a chrome like finish.
If that guitar was in my hood it would already be at my house. Too many people are so worried about resale. I could care less.
Guitar are musical toys to me not investments to flip for a profit. I am not in this game to make money. I am in this game to make music.
Also to make a profit off a fellow musician I consider just wrong. It's almost like trying to make a profit off a family member.
Musicians should see each other as a Band of Brothers.

**omphalopsychos** · 03-03-2022, 07:34 PM

Totally agree Vinny. That's why I would hesitate to call them "upgrades", insisting that somehow the guitar is worth more because someone preferred a modern fruit-punch-burst over the original finish. This guy should be open to selling this player's instrument it at fair price to his band of brothers, rather than insisting on his high asking price for 3+ years on Reverb & refusing to disclose the refinish.