AlanC
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Posts posted by AlanC
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Mine is a 82 Tobacco burst. According to the Blue Book, they were manufactured from '78 to '91.
That's yummy. Congrats.
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1346725323[/url]' post='1249955']
No, it's not too late... I am using some inheritance money for this and it hasn't arrived yet. It's one last present to me from my grandmother, who I was very close to.
I think I'm pretty sold on the 330L at this point, but I'd love to see some pictures and if you had any way to photograph or measure the thickness of the necks that would be great. I like a lot of things about the VOS models, mainly the pickups. I like the thought of the underwound ones with the '59 reissue. My fear is that the ones with the 330L might be kind of overwound for me... it's crisp and clean I'm wanting out of this guitar, not a bluesy growl. Of course, changing the pickups is not impossible.
Let me ask you, do you notice any real difference in the sound of the two? Thanks for all your help!
Hi Larry,
Pics below. Sound wise they are close but I find the ES 330L maybe a little cleaner.
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Hi all, I've been looking at this purchase for a long time now and think I have figured it all out, but I thought I'd throw it out there since it's a big purchase and (officially) the last guitar I ever intend to buy (it'll be my fifteenth).
I'm probably going to get one of the 2010 or so Custom Shop reissue 330L models that are new but have been sticking around for a while. The main reason for this is the 60/30 neck, which I think I will enjoy more than the '50's neck that is found on the current '59 reissue models. Otherwise, I would probably prefer the current reissues, since I like the thought of the underwound pickups as well as the neck joining at the 16th fret. But I'm a little leery of the bigger neck.
But to be honest, my experience in guessing which of these two I would like is based on other Gibsons: I have a current Les Paul Junior which has the '60's Slim-Taper neck that I absolutely love, and a current Melody Maker that is said to have a generically described '50's profile (no idea which one from that decade) that is OK for what I use it for. But that's mainly for playing in open C tuning, which means that I don't do a lot of chording, mainly fingerpicking.
And I really can't comprehend what the '59 style neck would be like, exactly, and no way to find out.
I am skipping the thought of a vintage instrument for two reasons: first is, I don't want to feel a sense of dread if I use this as just a guitar, and also I understand that the width of the neck as measured across the nut can vary quite a bit. I recently gave away a Casino because it measured a full three millimeters narrower than what my other Gibsons did, and I was just stumbling over simple chords on there. I knew I'd never play it enough to actually get used to it, so I let it go.
I seem to read over and over on forums that the ES-330s in which the neck joins at the classic 16th fret have the best sound, but the ES-335 is never said to lack in tone due to the longer neck join, so I'm not sure how much it'll really matter.
Any thoughts? I'd love to hear from other ES-330L owners, if possible.
Hi Larry,
It's probably too late to respond, but I own both guitars. I bought an ES 330L about 6 months ago thinking it was a '50's reissue. The retailer told me it was but after about two weeks I realized it was an ES 330L Custom Shop. After complaining that I'd been mislead, I liked it so much that I decided to keep it.
However I still wanted an ES 330 '50's reissue and about 4 weeks ago I got one. I had quality control problems as there was significant buzzing but after 2 visits to the tech it was great.
Both guitars are really good. As you know no two guitars are the same. They all sound different and as well there is the personal taste of the owner. Having said that I prefer the ES 330L because it sounds great and I prefer the neck. I play jazz standards and both are excellent but by a very small margin I prefer the ES 330L.
I must say having read comments above about the size of the neck on the '50's reissue that I don't have any trouble with the neck on the '50's reissue. THe neck is really good.
I can post pics if you want.
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Just got home with mine after buying it at Guitar Center in Sacramento, serial number #14.
You were right about the tone, plus the neck is unbelievable!
Sure looks sweet. Congrats. Love the Vintage sunburst.
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Thankyou for your good advice l5larry.Please refer to my response to stein .I agree that it is the guitar rather than the pickups and I'll try replacing the 8/9K Fralins with a more specific archtop type pickups like Benedetto or Fralin pure paf.-regards -Neil
At the very least look at the Benedetto's before you buy anything else. You will be surprised and pleased. They are really good. Good luck with the journey.
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I started to post a long-winded response to your other thread, but I'll try to keep it short here.
Your "unwanted resonance" may be the guitar, not the pickups. The Fralin pickups may be enough more sensitive to be picking up sympathetic frequency resonance of the guitar itself that the original pickups didn't.
That said....... when I think of jazz guitar pickups Fralin is not exactly a name that comes to mind. There is one standard humbucker that I know of that is designed specifically for archtops, the Benedetto A-6. They are specially made for him by Seymour Duncan, and if Bob Benedetto is willing to put his name on it, then he hasn't found anybody that can build anything better for the purpose.
http://www.stewmac.c..._Humbucker.html
I've got a Benedetto S-6 (suspended pickguard mount) on my '47 L-7 and couldn't be happier.
Hi Larry,
How are you? Long time since we chatted. Hope all is good.
I also have fitted Benedetto Seymour Duncans to a couple of my guitars. They are really good. After buying a Herb Ellis ES165 brand new, I had problems with the pickup when the volume was turned up to 9 or 10. It got a really harsh sound. I hated it. It was thin, brittle and slightly distorted. I put a black Seymour Duncan Benedetto floating pickup in it which I think is an S-6. Great pickup.
I also have put Gold A-6's in my L4 CES and a B6 into my 2010 ES 175 SP. All very good pickups.
However about a year ago I bought an acoustic D'Aquisto New Yorker and ordered a D'Aquisto New Yorker floating pickup at the same time. Reason was that I couldn't get an electric New Yorker and I thought that I should take a chance. It took about a year for the pickup to arrive but the sound is both unique and great. As good a jazz sound as I've got. Beautiful through my Polytone or my Heinriksen 110.
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It's a reissue copy from Atkins' period as a Gibson endorser.
Hi Bobouz, you are correct. Gibson reissued a limited number of L10's but I'm not sure when. I bought it about 3 years ago from a guitar collector. It's in perfect condition and has hardly been played. I find the guitar a real go to guitar as it's got a great neck and plays like an electric guitar with a wonderful loud archtop sound. I absolutely love it. It's also really well made by Gibson.
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I don't own a Country Gentlemen but I do own an L10 Chet Atkins.
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Hi,
There are really good Norlins and I still own a '74 Les Paul Custom which I bought brand new and it's a great guitar. Great neck and great sound albeit a bit on the heavy side. It has been refretted with slightly bigger frets and I replaced the machine heads as soon as I bought it with Schallers as the Gibson machine heads at the time were very variable in standard. I'll never sell it!!!
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In most all cases it is more economical to buy an off-the-shelf product and have it "personalized" locally by an independent craftsman.
I sort of agree with L5Larry's comment but sometimes it's just not possible to have what you want personalized locally. In my case I wanted a single pickup ES 175. Gibson don't make these any more. I know they made them in the '50's and I have been looking to buy one second hand but after 18 months of looking I have more or less given up. Also vintage ES 175SP's seem to be very pricey for a good one.
Further it's not easy dealing with stores that sell vintage guitars. They are always telling you about the guitar that they have just sold and you just missed. The other thing that seems to happen is that when you put your name down they always seem to forget to contact you when the guitar that you want arrives. Having said this when you place a Custom shop order you lose your ability to negotiate a good price. You seem to pay list price which currently is a bit more than you would normally pay for an 'off the shelf' guitar.
Overall I am so pleased with the quality of my 'one-off' Custom shop order that my next guitar will also be one. My ES 175SP is a real beauty and you can see the evidence in the quality of the Custom Shop's workmanship. The neck, finish and sound quality of my guitar is extraordinary and worth the extra dollars.
For my next medium term project I want another Custom shop order - a L5 Thin-line like Danny W owns!!! I can't wait.
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I had the Custom shop make a single pick up ES 175. It took about 4 months from order placement with my local Gibson dealer to having it in my little hands. Outcome was great. Love the guitar. Plays great.
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Lowdown said - "I hate Schaller's"
I'll keep that in mind. Regards,
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My standard -
Gibson ES 347 - The Red-Headed Stepchild of the Gibson Line?
in Gibson ES
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Lol. I didnt notice that. Geez by now the owner might be interested in selling it.... to me