Wmachine
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Posts posted by Wmachine
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7 hours ago, Carloshoek said:
So essentially a regular run guitar sold as a "custom" do you know where I can find the specs for this run?
Just for future reference for you or anyone else looking for specs for years previous to 2015, I've had some pretty good luck digging up old Gibson web site pages using the Way Back Machine. Way Back Machine
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57 minutes ago, Carloshoek said:
I was able to get the serial and called Gibson, the guy who wasnt really in the mood to talk to me said the serial belongs to a factory, also said is not a reissue of any year, and did not said anything else (like pups, radius, materials).
See this thread for what a "2011 custom es335 from the memphis" really means. Too bad you got someone at Gibson that was less than helpful.
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On 5/20/2023 at 4:26 AM, NoelP said:
Hello all, I would be very grateful for any help/advice.
I am looking at a 2011 custom shop 335, with the model number HB061m. It is listed as a 59 reissue, but nothing suggest it is on the paperwork. this is not necessarily important, more just to know exactly what it is.
I found this in searching, I found https://www.rainbowguitars.com/guitar/gibson-custom-shop/es-335-curly-maple-vintage-sunburst-coil-tap/HB061M/GB which looks the same, though the seller has put pick up covers on, some pics were without. When I saw the guitar, I didn't know/notice that it the coil split option, I am mainly an acoustic player, is this unusual for a 335, am I better sticking to something more straight forward?
Also, the back of the guitar has some stand reaction, would this affect the value much? It is otherwise perfect.
Many thanks for any insights!
We are still paying for the shenanigans Gibson played circa 2011 in Memphis. For a couple years, they intentionally mislead customers by using "Custom" and "Custom Shop" on some of the Memphis 335 models. Even putting the words "Custom Shop" right on the neck. And using "Gibson Custom" COAs. Problem was, there never was a Custom Shop in Memphis. Why did Gibson do such a misleading thing? It was a marketing ploy. These particular guitars were all regular production guitars that Gibson all but secretly admitted were "Custom Shop Series" models. So it was Custom or Custom Shop in name only. Pretty shameless marketing there knowing it would be misunderstood. And still having to be explained today and forever. The real shame is Memphis quality was really good and they really didn't need the deception to sell what are really good models anyway. Pretty easy to tell what. If the label inside says Memphis, it was not made in the Custom Shop. The Custom Shop is and always has been in Nashville. There never was a Custom Shop in Memphis.
9 hours ago, IanHenry said:You need to bear in mind that all Memphis 335's came with "Custom" on the case but they were not "Custom Shop", so you need to be careful that someone is not misselling a guitar.
Absolutely not true. The vast majority of Memphis 335s did *not* have "Custom" on the case. Only *some* of the ones I mentioned above had those cases.
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Must be a dealer model as they are not shown on the Gibson site. Do you know the specs? Hard to know what yours is just from your description.
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I'm by no means an expert, so I can't say anything for sure. But it looks spooky to me too, I would certainly contact Gibson. Too many things I question here.
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On 5/2/2023 at 8:14 PM, ADClope said:
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?
I can't speak from personal experience with new Custom Shop ES models, but I really don't think there would be any appreciable difference. They should be very comparable. Should come down to what feels and sounds better to you.
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11 hours ago, Twang Gang said:
I didn't say where I thought it was made. But being built in 2018 before the Memphis plant shut down I too believe it would've been built in Memphis.
You said "From the serial number we can tell that it is a Custom Shop Guitar" . No, it was not a Custom Shop Guitar. The Custom Shop is in Nashville. There was never a Custom Shop in Memphis. The serial number is a Historic/Reissue number.
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7 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?
Twang, I don't think you are correct about where it was made. I think you are right about the date, but the ad says Memphis and I think the orange label inside the body will confirm that it was made in Memphis, And that would also confirm that it is not a Custom Shop model. Which is by no means a bad thing. Because of the difficulty of otherwise identifying these models, the seller *should* show a legible pic of the COA and the orange label. And if they gave it, the inspection tag. That would clear up a lot!
1 hour ago, ADClope said: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!
Not much of the skilled labor actually left Memphis before the closure, so I've seen no drop off in quality of the last of production there.
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2 minutes ago, Dub-T-123 said:Yeah that’s a classic headstock break following the grain very much unlike this finish checking
I don't know what grain you think it is following.
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13 minutes ago, Dub-T-123 said:
You didn’t learn anything you just experienced a mild case of confirmation bias. This finish checking literally is not even following the grain direction of the supposed break
So you say. You can try learning now yourself. This was just posted on this very forum.
https://forum.gibson.com/topic/173736-re-adam-jones-les-paul-standard-broken-headstock/
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Normally, I don't get excited by finish cracks. They happen. But that crack is in exactly the right place and the right shape for a headstock break.
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Interesting story, and well told. Unfortunately, I just traded away the perfect guitar for you, and they are not that easy to find. A 2015 ES-175D '54 Reissue VOS. A real beauty, and it sings. It won't be easy to find one because they only made 50 for worldwide distribution. Ironically, I traded it for a 2015 ES-335 '59 Reissue in Natural. I'm not really a jazz box guy, so that was a good trade for me. FWIW, I still have an EPI ES-175 Premium which is really decent in its own rights.
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Write to Gibson or call. Give them the s/n and they will give you the specs.
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Congrats. But you may have to wait until number 37,
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Not show as such in the specs.
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7 hours ago, Twang Gang said:
I would be more concerned with how the guitar plays and sounds rather than a rough fingerboard. Can you actually feel these little knicks as you play? Most authorized dealers have a 30 day return policy for any reason, usually don't have to justify your regret but just say you want to return it. Are you within 30 days or have you had it for longer than that? Gibson has already told you after seeing your photos that it is acceptable condition so I don't think you're going to get anywhere with them.
Seems as though maybe you just aren't all that enamored with the guitar, are having some buyers remorse, and now are sort of nitpicking looking for an excuse to return it. I know whenever I buy a new guitar I don't put in the closet for a few days after I get it. I am excited to play it as much as I can each day. You need to review why you bought it in the first place. Does it do what you wanted it to do in terms of sound?
You also don't mention where you are. It seems that many (not all) of these cosmetic issues seem to show up on guitars that were bought outside the USA.
If you can't live with it, then sell it (since returning it seems unlikely). I will grant you the fingerboard is rougher than most, but if it plays and sounds good then just play it and forget about the fingerboard.
^^^This^^^ Finally a voice of reason. And not the typical chest pounding "send it back" mentality.
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On 1/2/2023 at 5:49 PM, SteveFord said:
I only have received one COA over the years.
I don't know what the criteria is for them issuing one with the guitar. Dollar amount?
On 1/3/2023 at 10:36 AM, merciful-evans said:I don't know either but is certainly not cost. There is no easily recognisable criteria and I suspect there isn't one.
Sure there is a criteria. All (Nashville) Custom Shop get COAs. All Memphis after a certain date got COAs. Don't recall when that was, maybe 2009?
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21 hours ago, Larsongs said:
The Steinbergers are really excellent Precise no slip Tuners..
Absolutely. The only "problem" with them is they are not Banjo tuners. They are worthy replacements though as far as concerned. Banjo tuners are not better tuners.
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12 hours ago, Sgt. Pepper said:
Just wait until the ES-175 comes back into production. Over 7k ya think? The last time I played a new one was 2014 maybe. and it was $5499 or so. I know for certain the first number was a 5.
Maybe not $7K, but I think you've got the right idea, It will be undoubtedly be Custom Shop. Now that they have set precedent splitting up Memphis models with the higher end models going to the Custom Shop. I really believe Gibson's strategy will be to run as much though the Custom Shop as possible. More or less making Custom Shop models regular production models. Increase gross sales $$ and theoretically increase profits. As long as they can sell Custom Shops at Custom Shop prices they will, They already have plenty of guys willing to have them beat up guitars before buying them. "Affordable" is not part of the plan. Yeah, probably over $7k the more I think about it.
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Another good time to remind guys to keep the labels from the original shipping boxes. They contain the model number and s/n (like on a COA) and more.
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On 12/28/2022 at 2:48 PM, Sgt. Pepper said:
Here is what will happen. They will discontinue them, and then bring them back with an inflated price tag. .............
That's essentially what Gibson is doing right now like I said in an earlier post.
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On 12/28/2022 at 2:19 PM, Coachmoe said:
Crow, I've had two of those Epi's. IMHO, best bang for the buck out there. Real CTS pots, orange drops. Only complaint I had was why did they cheap out on the switch and jack? I replaced mine with Switchcraft ones and it's good to go!
For sure. The only switches I've replaced (2) were on otherwise decent EPIs. Fortunately a easy fix.
On 12/28/2022 at 2:25 PM, CROWB8 said:".....why did they cheap out on the switch and jack?
Edit again,
You realize this is all your fault. At least thats what I'm telling the wifey. 🙃
Yes it is CROWB8's fault. But you still owe us a review when you get it!
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12 hours ago, Sgt. Pepper said:
Custom Shop models are the new USA ones.
I don't know if you are serious or not, but but no, they are not the new USA models. But as I said earlier the Custom Shop is becoming more of a production line for Gibson. There are still new USA Firebird models. Except you can't get one right now.
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9 hours ago, Larsongs said:
This is the current new Inventory at Sweetwater.. Glad I bought my V when I did..
https://www.sweetwater.com/c589--Gibson_Custom--Firebird--Electric_Guitars
8 hours ago, Sgt. Pepper said:Wow those are not cheap.
Sure, because they are all Custom Shop models. USA ones are what can't be found.
NGD, a double-cut of all things
in Gibson USA
Posted
Those are great guitars! I have one I got in 2016 when they were blowing out the 2015s. I also got a Junior at the same time. The Junior is amazing with its well earned reputation. I thought this LP Special would be pretty much the same thing but a little more versatile with the second pup. But it really seems to be a different animal.