Gibson (59) ES-335 - Years With The Best Quality Control Part II

**wmachine** · 12-13-2022, 12:59 PM

10 years after this thread Gibson ES-335 - Years With The Best Quality Control , what is the present evaluation? First, I want to limit this to Gibsons, please and thank you. And more specifically to 59 Historics/reissues, because these were considered (by Gibson, at least) to be the pinnacle of ES-335s at the time they were produced over the years. Since this thread, there were many years of Memphis production with some really good ones coming from there. Seems they were getting to be so good, that few were actually made in the Nashville Custom shop in the latter years of Memphis production. Of course now all of the Historic/reissues (of all types/years) come out of the Nashville Custom Shop. Over the years Gibson has claimed at various times that the 59 Historics of that year were the best and most authentic (to date). Of course you would expect them to say that, and to some degree that seems to be true. But is that really true? That would mean the newer the better. Or are some years generally better than others? A big general disclaimer is needed here to acknowledge one thing that has not changed: With all these ES guitars, there remains variation from one guitar from the next (of the same model and year) that could even overshadow changes over the years. But I'd like to get opinions based on experience on the Gibson 59 ES-335 over the years.

**wmachine** · 12-22-2022, 01:45 PM

Nobody wants to weigh in on this now?

**DawgBone** · 12-22-2022, 04:06 PM

I think the OP in the linked thread was on the money in his first post. Early 2000's. I had an early 2000's ES-333 that was a player. Was it flawless? Well, I bought it used and it wasn't flawless when I got it. My old man has a 355 from the early 2000's and it is also a very nice guitar. Those are running around 5k now, which is nuts to me.

Are you looking for a player or a collector? Did you want a case queen investment piece or something that plays and sounds great? Flawless guitars are often duds which is why they sat in a case and changed hands since the early 2000's. I've never come across a bad sounding or playing early 2000's Gibson but yes some of them had minor construction flaws, like binding that wasn't scraped perfectly etc etc.

Sorry to violate your thread rules but I have an Edwards E-SA that is a superior instrument in every way for about 1/3 of the cost of a Gibson. Even has the open book headstock and an actual carved maple top. Yep it has some cosmetic flaws as well but it relegated my Gibson to a life of ease sitting in it's case so I sold it to fund an archtop which should be arriving today or tomorrow. I'm not sentimental about brand names and I hate junk collecting so I'm currently down to one electric until it gets here.

**bluejaybill** · 12-22-2022, 05:07 PM

Originally Posted by DawgBone

Flawless guitars are often duds which is why they sat in a case and changed hands since the early 2000's. .

Sorry if I disagree. I've played many mint guitars over the years, and other than the fact that they might not have the worn-in sort of patina that a well played guitar might have, they are often spectacular. When it comes to golden age instruments from the '50's and early '60's, I would even say the vast majority of minty guitars are awesome, and I have several friends who have accumulated nice collections of these.

It is IMHO an internet myth that these guitars were stuck in their cases because they are dogs. A million things could have happened. Little Johnnie lost interest. Frank went off to Vietnam and never came back. Bob and Bobbie got divorced and the guitar ended up under the bed. Or maybe someone just took great care of their guitar. Etc. All of them reasons that are independent of whether the guitar was any good or not.

As I said, the one thing they aren't is played in, and I tend to prefer ones like that that. I have sold some nice guitars for that reason, or because the guitar was so clean I didn't want to take it to the local roadhouse. But not because the guitars were in some way dogs. YMMV etc.

EDIT: Oh, so get back closer to topic, I have a friend who has two (!) minty '59 ES335's, (real ones), I mean they look like new Historics. They are both phenomenal instruments in every way. And sorry about the rant, this is one of my pet peeves!

**Gitfiddler** · 12-22-2022, 05:08 PM

The inquiry about 59 ES-335 Reissues might gather more responses over at the Les Paul Forum. There should be a great number of actual owners who can assist with specifics about their experience with this model as well as which years are better than others.

Good hunting.