How to "refurb" early 70's 335T

[activa]

Ok, so my buddy with GAS (who repairs tube amps) kept ragging on me for getting rid of my mint Am Deluxe Strat because I never played it because I was afraid to scratch it up, meanwhile another buddy says "invest in something you know and love," so I picked up an early 70's ES 335T. It's not mint, so I don't mind playing it. I plan to play it a while and if I fall in love with it keep it, or flip it if I don't. Either way I want to clean it up and replace missing/non-original parts.

 

The original pickguard is gone, as is the original truss rod cover, and the tuners were replaced, and the trapeze replaced with a stop. Other than the changed/missing parts, it's in decent shape, with the typical finish crazing, and a stable crack in the very top of the headstock. I intend to disassemble it to clean it up and set it up nicely. There was a brass sustain plate glued to the back of the headstock, etc.

 

What I want to know is, what should I do to restore/maximize its value? Vintage parts are outrageous, but if they will restore the guitar to its original value so I could get $2500 for it I'd do it. Or am I better off with reproduction parts? What about an OHSC? Is a fret job (quoted $250) worth it? What is it worth as it is?

[L5Larry]

The guitar as described and pictured is a player, and will never have any "collector value", due to the mods and repairs that have been done to it, plus the early 70's Norlin era Gibsons get a (undeserved) bad rap on the market. So as it may be a fine player (as is, or restored), it's going to be a hard sell on the other end, and also why you picked it up at (I'm assuming) a good price.

 

It shows having been drilled for at least three sets of different tuners, a headstock crack, and the body bored for the stop tailpiece. None of these are reversible. There is really nothing you can do to add "market value" to this instrument. Although period correct replacement parts such as Kluson repro tuners, reproduction pickguard and TRC, will make the guitar look more original, it won't add to the value, nor will "vintage" parts. The pickguard and TRC are readily available through AllParts, and Kluson repro tuners are available everywhere.

 

This is most likely a 1973 made instrument. I had a 74/75 sunburst that was one of the finest playing Gibsons I've ever owned. Do what YOU want to make this guitar look and play the way YOU want it to (as a player). There is no return on investment on spending a lot of money on it for resale purposes.