johnnyvn Posted January 10, 2015 Share Posted January 10, 2015 I notice that on the Gibson website, when you choose "ES", it says "limited run" by the ES-330 "59" Memphis. AND, on the scroll list of guitars at the top of that page, where it says "Browse the 2015 line", the ES-330 isn't even shown (of course, neither is the Luther Dickinson, which apparently isn't "limited run"). Any thoughts? Is this the final year of the ES-330 "59" model? I just bought one used, and it sure is sweeeeeet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jayyj Posted January 10, 2015 Share Posted January 10, 2015 With some of the ES models Gibson's policy seems to be to release a model, let it run for a couple of years until sales start to fall off then suspend production. A lot of people who wanted this model already have one, some dealers are sitting on inventory of 330s from 2013/14 that isn't selling through very quickly, and there are a lot of used ones on the market from people who bought first time round on impulse and are now moving onto the next hot thing. As soon as the market dries up and reps start getting requests there will be another run. The 355, my other favourite from the ES range, seems to do the same thing but it's never gone for too long: hopefully we'll see the 330 again in the not too distant future. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnnyvn Posted January 10, 2015 Author Share Posted January 10, 2015 With some of the ES models Gibson's policy seems to be to release a model, let it run for a couple of years until sales start to fall off then suspend production. A lot of people who wanted this model already have one, some dealers are sitting on inventory of 330s from 2013/14 that isn't selling through very quickly, and there are a lot of used ones on the market from people who bought first time round on impulse and are now moving onto the next hot thing. As soon as the market dries up and reps start getting requests there will be another run. The 355, my other favourite from the ES range, seems to do the same thing but it's never gone for too long: hopefully we'll see the 330 again in the not too distant future. Yeah, you're probably right...although what strikes me as odd is that the P90 version has only been here for one year. And I *believe* that the humbucking version was only with us for 2013. Just strikes me as odd, but I haven't been following these guitars for too long. I guess I'm even more happy to have gotten one...and a rare one at that, I guess...a P90 bigsby model in sunburst...I don't think these were ever even officially offered...there was an interview in a mag recently with the creator of these reissues and he did say they made a small run of sunburst bigsby's...but mine is the only one I've ever come across. Just wasn't into the cherry that much. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jayyj Posted January 10, 2015 Share Posted January 10, 2015 As far as I know the '59 was available from 2012-14, preceeded by a cheaper version called the 330L without the VOS treatment and with a 335 style 19 frets to the body join. I don't recall ever seeing a humbucker version, but if you search this sub forum for 330 posts there has been lots of discussion of changes to the '59 over the three year period: laminated fingerboards, tops with a centre join etc. Ultimately supply and demand is the key to the longevity of models like this. With the 330, the points i made before are also affected by the fact that for the price of the reissue you could find a nice example of a '66-'70 330, or a '64/'65 with minor issues, without having to search too hard - add those to the left over 2014 inventory and the number of used Reissues currently on Ebay and I suspect the 330 market is pretty well served without Gibson producing more batches. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stein Posted January 10, 2015 Share Posted January 10, 2015 Yea...Gibson makes different things at different times. One cool thing about haw they make guitars and what they make, they actually DO pull out from their history and reissue things from time to time, and you can always be sure there is something in the catalog that may not merit continued production, but worth making for a brief time. Glad you found yourself a gem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobouz Posted January 10, 2015 Share Posted January 10, 2015 As far as I know the '59 was available from 2012-14, preceeded by a cheaper version called the 330L without the VOS treatment and with a 335 style 19 frets to the body join. I don't recall ever seeing a humbucker version, but if you search this sub forum for 330 posts there has been lots of discussion of changes to the '59 over the three year period: laminated fingerboards, tops with a centre join etc. To my knowledge, the above is correct. I'm fortunate enough to have both a blue 2010 ES-330L, and a natural 2012 ES-330 VOS. Very different instruments, and both are worth owning for their variations in tone & playability. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Versatile Posted January 10, 2015 Share Posted January 10, 2015 IMO any ES 330 is in a niche market....particularly today... Pitched somewhere in the jazz/blues arena... :unsure: Up against the myriad offerings called 'Casino' with it's superficial extra 'cache' And priced from very low MIC upwards.... V Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4Hayden Posted January 13, 2015 Share Posted January 13, 2015 I hope not Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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