[Gibson Murphy Lab ES-335 58/59/61/64 Neck Questions]

Looking at the ML ES-335's. 

The specs seem to say "Medium C" for the neck profile for each of these unless I am mistaken.

My understanding was that the 58/59's were chunkier then thinner in 61, then larger, but not quite 58/59 for 64. It sounds like 64 is regarded by many as the best of the bunch. 

I'm not 100% decided yet on color as well as dots vs blocks, so I wanted to know the differences in the neck profiles on these if anyone knows? 

The specs don't seem to differentiate between them and I am not located anywhere remotely close to a guitar store that I can put my hands on these.

What do you guys think?

Thanks!

[Need some help on this guitar - very confused with naming and differing model lines]

What are you guys' opinions on quality of instrument compared between the Custom Shop in Nashville or a historic/reissue such as this 61 from Memphis?

[Need some help on this guitar - very confused with naming and differing model lines]

Maybe a stupid question, but with the Memphis factory closing in 2019, I imagine several employees unfortunately were let go... What would that mean, if anything, for the quality of a made in 2018 ES type guitar? Would this one still be a high quality instrument? Or did they have quality issues in the final year(s) there?

I've seen a lot of threads on Nashville vs Memphis, but never really read them.

Thanks!

[Need some help on this guitar - very confused with naming and differing model lines]

5 hours ago, Twang Gang said:

I think I can help a little.  (and I agree Gibson models and descriptions can be very confusing).  From the serial number we can tell that it is a Custom Shop Guitar built in 2018 for the 2019 model year.  It is a recreation of a guitar built in 1961 in Kalamazoo.  Before they closed the plant in Memphis all ES style guitars were built there (regular and Custom Shop) the Custom Shop in Nashville built all other custom shop guitars that weren't ES style.  Les Paul Customs, SG Customs etc. were all built in Nashville's Custom Shop, but anything semi hollow was built in Memphis until they shut Memphis down.  Memphis Historic just means they were trying to recreate a guitar from the past by finding an old guitar and then carefully measuring everything and trying to use the same materials that the old one had and copying it very accurately.

So, the big question - Are you going to buy it?

Ah, okay, that clears things up a bit - thank you so much for explaining all of that!

Would absolutely love to, but struggle a bit with the custom shop cost, as I'm sure others do. I mainly stick with the USA standard lines on nearly all of my Gibson's/Fenders. Custom Shop stuff is pretty much "bucket list" for me, maybe someday. 

But the naming and origins make a lot more sense now, thanks Twang!

5 hours ago, Twang Gang said:

 

 

[Need some help on this guitar - very confused with naming and differing model lines]

Was just clicking around on Chicago Music Exchange for fun and came across this guitar. I realized that I really am very confused on the different model lines and naming that Gibson uses.

https://reverb.com/item/66913661-gibson-memphis-historic-series-61-es-335-kalamazoo-vintage-burst

This guitar for instance. Serial 80689. I'm not sure how to read this as far as deciphering a year of manufacture?

I asked the guy at CME what year it was and he said he did not know. That he would have to reach out to Gibson to find out. So I asked him to. He came back and said it appears to be a 2018. I googled it and find the "Kalamazoo" 61' on 2019 models but no 2018's. 

Also, where would this have been made? Memphis, or at the Custom Shop in Nashville? I think that Memphis shuttered in April of 2019, right? Also what's the difference between the Memphis and Memphis Historic in this case? 

I apologize for all the questions, it's just kind of confusing how they do it - to me anyways. 

Thanks all. 

[Gibson ES-335 Satin vs Plain Top (Gloss) vs Figured]

Looking at the ES-335's. 

Just curious the differences in these, is it just the finishes and tops? The figured appears to have the block inlay's which I like more than the dots, personally. 

There is about $1,000 difference between the satin and figured with the plain top gloss falling in the middle. 

Does it just come down to personal preferences for the aesthetics? Or are their hardware/fit and finish/care differences as well?

I thought I read somewhere that folks had concerns over the satin models not receiving the same level of attention to detail as the plain tops and figured tops, is this true?

Just trying to understand the differences between these 3 335 models. 

Also, is it best to buy a new one from Nashville, or find a used one from Memphis?

That seems to be an opinionated topic as well... 

Thanks!