qwertypants Posted December 16, 2015 Share Posted December 16, 2015 I saw this listed and I wanted to see if the price was fair before i go and take a look Its a 1968 335, only 2 owners. 100% Original. According to the listing it was bought in 1968, and stored since 1973 before purchased by the 2nd owner. Price is $5000 USD Also even though i think its awesome to own a vintage 335 would anyone think i'd be better off spending less and getting a later 335? Appreciate any help. Pics: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdgm Posted December 16, 2015 Share Posted December 16, 2015 That price would be a steal in the UK. $5k = £3,330 (GBP)....unmissable for a guitar like that if it all checks out ok. Looks good! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
L5Larry Posted December 16, 2015 Share Posted December 16, 2015 You can buy TWO really nice 335's for that price. There is nothing really "vintage" or collectible about a '68 335. Gibson built nearly 5000 of them that year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
qwertypants Posted December 16, 2015 Author Share Posted December 16, 2015 You can buy TWO really nice 335's for that price. There is nothing really "vintage" or collectible about a '68 335. Gibson built nearly 5000 of them that year. Yeah i totally get that. I am after something that plays well, feels great and has a trapeze tail piece and i am wondering if i am better off giving this a miss even though its a pretty good price! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IanHenry Posted December 17, 2015 Share Posted December 17, 2015 Qwerty, I'm thinking if the price is right in the U.S for that guitar, then you'd be better of with it rather than a new one, simply because it will hold it's value. I know it's an older 335 but a mate of mine here in the U.K just traded his 1962 335 for a Porsche! Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stein Posted December 17, 2015 Share Posted December 17, 2015 You can buy TWO really nice 335's for that price. There is nothing really "vintage" or collectible about a '68 335. Gibson built nearly 5000 of them that year. Yeah i totally get that. I am after something that plays well, feels great and has a trapeze tail piece and i am wondering if i am better off giving this a miss even though its a pretty good price! Qwerty, I'm thinking if the price is right in the U.S for that guitar, then you'd be better of with it rather than a new one, simply because it will hold it's value. I know it's an older 335 but a mate of mine here in the U.K just traded his 1962 335 for a Porsche! Ian It's really hard to judge what these are worth, and what they WILL be worth. During the "vintage craze" and the following "crash", I've seen values for old 335's all over the place. Heck, NEW prices are all over the place the past 5 years or so. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jayz Posted December 17, 2015 Share Posted December 17, 2015 Are you buying it as an investment? Or something you plan to play frequently and enjoy. I'm not really into collectibles - yeah, they generally increase in value but if 5000 similar units were made that year I doubt you will see your "investment" do much better than inflation. For my $ - buy a later model used 335 that you will love to play, take care of it and it will hold its value just a well -IMHO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C-RAM Posted December 17, 2015 Share Posted December 17, 2015 From the photos, it looks like a 'Time Capsule' guitar, and I'm surprised it hasn't already been snatched up @ $5K; a true bargain at that price, in my humble opinion... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
L5Larry Posted December 17, 2015 Share Posted December 17, 2015 From the photos, it looks like a 'Time Capsule' guitar, ... This may be true, but from a "vintage/collectible" standpoint (quotes used intentionally), this 335 contains almost all the UNDESIRABLE features in the history of 335 building: Double-ring Klusons Block inlays Plain top, plain back Witchhat knobs Trapeze tailpiece The only things it doesn't have from the dark era is a maple neck with a volute. These are all features which were changed for the original "reissues", and most production models to this day. This is the way this guitar is viewed in the "market". These features don't necessarily have anything to do with sound, condition or playability, and it may be a great guitar, but... unfortunately for the seller, it has a lot to do with "market value". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C-RAM Posted December 17, 2015 Share Posted December 17, 2015 *shrugs* - you know a lot more about it than I do, Larry; seems like an awfully sweet axe to me, though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
qwertypants Posted December 19, 2015 Author Share Posted December 19, 2015 well i went and played it today, fell in love and long story short i'm the new proud owner of a '68 335! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4Hayden Posted December 19, 2015 Share Posted December 19, 2015 well i went and played it today, fell in love and long story short i'm the new proud owner of a '68 335! Congrats 4H Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stein Posted December 19, 2015 Share Posted December 19, 2015 well i went and played it today, fell in love and long story short i'm the new proud owner of a '68 335! THAT'S the way a guitar SHOULD be bought! You have my respect, and as far as I am concerned, a completely fair price whatever it ended up being. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
qwertypants Posted December 19, 2015 Author Share Posted December 19, 2015 here she is joined by my Greco SA700 and ES-325 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C-RAM Posted December 19, 2015 Share Posted December 19, 2015 "fell in love" And isn't that really what it's all about? She's a gorgeous 'closet queen' and will bring you enjoyment for years to come! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A.T. Posted December 21, 2015 Share Posted December 21, 2015 Qwerty, I'm thinking if the price is right in the U.S for that guitar, then you'd be better of with it rather than a new one, simply because it will hold it's value. I know it's an older 335 but a mate of mine here in the U.K just traded his 1962 335 for a Porsche! Ian You can sleep in your Porsche. You can't drive a house. Heck. You can't drive OR sleep in a 335. Um. Oh what the heck. Get the 335! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C-RAM Posted December 21, 2015 Share Posted December 21, 2015 You can't drive OR sleep in a 335. Alvin Lee could sure drive a 335. B) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A.T. Posted December 21, 2015 Share Posted December 21, 2015 Well done. Sure, you could have bought a couple of new ones for that but I don't think anyone will dispute that the older guitars have a particular vibe. Also, I disagree with the gentlemen who felt that that era had all the least favourite features of a 335. Maybe to collectors but they don't always actually play their instruments. I'm pretty sure Larry Carltons 335 was a '69 (not 100% sure). It has block inlays. It had a trapeze. He replaced that but it gave him the option to locate the stop tail piece very specifically. I'd love to know what the significance is. It's almost twice as far from the bridge as stock. For sure that positioning will decrease the angle of the strings over the saddles. ( Personally, not only would I be interested to hear the difference a trapeze would make to the sound of my dot reissue but I'd love to see what a floating wood bridge would sound like.) I also think the '69s have a very narrow neck, narrow across the nut. If you like a narrow neck I think your going to be happy. I'm envious. Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A.T. Posted December 21, 2015 Share Posted December 21, 2015 Qwerty, I'm thinking if the price is right in the U.S for that guitar, then you'd be better of with it rather than a new one, simply because it will hold it's value. I know it's an older 335 but a mate of mine here in the U.K just traded his 1962 335 for a Porsche! Ian It was a tragic mix up. He thought he was getting a super rare ES356 but he ended up with a clapped out 356 Speedster! :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C-RAM Posted December 21, 2015 Share Posted December 21, 2015 Personally, not only would I be interested to hear the difference a trapeze would make to the sound of my dot reissue but I'd love to see what a floating wood bridge would sound like. What's nice is you can experiment with both a trapeze tailpiece and wooden bridge without making any physical modifications to your guitar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A.T. Posted December 21, 2015 Share Posted December 21, 2015 What's nice is you can experiment with both a trapeze tailpiece and wooden bridge without making any physical modifications to your guitar. Is a trapeze only held in place by the strap lug or does it need more screws? I haven't looked at one for a while. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C-RAM Posted December 21, 2015 Share Posted December 21, 2015 Is a trapeze only held in place by the strap lug or does it need more screws? I haven't looked at one for a while. Yep, the strap button is the only thing that secures it to the guitar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparquelito Posted December 22, 2015 Share Posted December 22, 2015 qwertypants, Not that many people hold much stock in what the Blue Book has to say, but you paid the right price for that ES-335. I kind of like that the guitar was made in the same year that we were all enjoying hearing such great music on the a.m. radio. Green Tambourine, by The Lemonpipers Hey Jude, by The Beatles Sunshine Of Your Love, by Cream Mony Mony, by Tommy James and the Shondells Great guitar, great times!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jayyj Posted December 22, 2015 Share Posted December 22, 2015 Is a trapeze only held in place by the strap lug or does it need more screws? I haven't looked at one for a while. Trapeze tailpiece are not held in place by the strap button, no: there are three extra screws holding it in place. I've installed Bigsby B6s on to guitars that originally had trapezes and got away with using only the top two holes plus a long strap button screw and they work fine but just the strap button screw on its own would worry me. I've seen a tail gut give up the ghost on a double bass and it was a pretty heart stopping moment - better to be safe than sorry when it comes to tailpieces! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A.T. Posted December 23, 2015 Share Posted December 23, 2015 Actually I think Larry's IS a '68 as well. Thanks Jayyj. I kind of suspected. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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