[Gibson 355 new or vintage]

From what little I know, vintage -355s have a varitone and an ebony fingerboard. Modern -355s do not have the varitone and have a Richlite fingerboard. Those choices are up to your personal preferences. I have a modern -355 and she's a keeper.

[pickguard disintegration and corrosion of gold parts]

I guess we are not going find out what the warranty dealer said.

 

IF he even called, I'm guessing it went something like this:

MaxiumburnN: "Dear low level staff person, I demand you give me warranty service because I didn't properly care for my guitars."

Gibson: "Bwahahahahahahahaha"

 

 

[Gibson les paul traditional 2014 ocean blue]

Beautiful! Welcome to the club!

 

[buying a Custom, when you're outside US]

Keep in mind that you might be obliged to pay duty or other taxes on a new instrument you import yourself. Additionally, the case the guitar comes in may not be adequately protective for air travel; you may find you need a proper flight case in addition to, or in lieu of, the case the instrument is ordinarily sold with.

 

The Music Zoo, on Long Island in New York, always has a large inventory of CS instruments.

 

Customs fee come into play depending on the value of the instrument. There is typically a base value below which there is no fee. I got nailed here on Guam for my ES-355 coming from Arizona.

 

Also I've had two guitars shipped via FedEx. Both arrived in perfect condition in there original Gibson cases. Tho on the last shipment the shipper added some extra bubble wrap inside the case.

[Les Paul traditional or standard?]

I have both a '13 Standard Plus and a '14 Traditional. Love them both. The weight relief is quite noticeable on the Standard and more comfortable to play standing. But I like the heft of the Traditional and it's thick neck. I don't consider the 60s neck easier to play, just a different feel.