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Nice! Is the one in the center a Premiere?

Sorry, I pulled the 2014 339 by mistake. Actually by poor eyesight! Here is the 2014 335 https://web.archive.org/web/20140923163717/http://www2.gibson.com/products/electric-guitars/es/gibson-memphis/2014/es-335-studio.aspx

All you need is a time machine: https://web.archive.org/web/20151014213735/http://www.gibson.com/Products/Electric-Guitars/2015/Memphis/ES-335-Studio.aspx https://web.archive.org/web/20141019141951/http://www2.gibson.com/Products/Electric-Guitars/ES/Gibson-Memphis/2014/ES-339-Studio.aspx BTW, I have a 2016 and I'm really impressed with it.

I believe a 2005 from Nashville would automatically make it a Custom Shop model? That means "special attributes" in itself.

I am neither. But obviously you're not interested in the real message. No matter who you hear it from.

It means they are not going to tell you, period. They've also said "they don't know" as another way to deflect the question. But at least "not available" is a lot more honest answer. Sometimes some detective work can yield numbers when they are more limited. First, there are certain models that when released, Gibson said right off the bat there were "XX" number made. And those are generally more well known and documented as such. But there are other ones that when released, dealers were sent info on the models that said, for example, "60 made for world wide distribution". I have personally searched old websites and found some of these cases. I have a 2015 and 2016 reissues that I traced to claimed production for 50 and 60 respectively. In both cases, when I contacted Gibson to confirm those numbers, they would neither confirm nor deny the numbers. For the record, I saved screen shots of the old web pages to keep as documentation.

https://reverb.com/ca/item/40453-gibson-custom-shop-1961-es-335-vos-reissue-2012-61 A quick search for a start

The more you can tell us the better. Where do you get the model number? How do you know it is a '61 reissue? Are you sure it is not a '59 reissue? Always start by contacting Gibson by phone or email as they can verify what it is and give you info on it.

Are you absolutely positive of the W in the NW1? Pic? That digit should be the tailpiece, and being a stopbar should be H. Other ones of that model I looked at were NH. Could be a mistake.

Almost. N = Nickel Hardware H = Hardtail 1 = Gibson distribution code

gnappi can indeed tell you quite a bit about it. That's a great ES-330 '59 reissue you have there. Not sure where you get the "hand made at Memphis Custom Shop" from, as there was never any Custom Shop in Memphis. Gibson did say some really misleading things, though. Here is a nice review on it: https://www.sweetwater.com/insync/hands-on-review-gibson-memphis-1959-es-330-historic/

Hard to describe, but I would say less hot. Not better, not worse. Just different.

Thanks, you've illustrated that the deception is even worse than I was aware of. Not only a moving target, but inconsistent. Sure, they had a genuine "need" to try to identify special models, ones that were supposed to be a cut above the average ones. But their use of "Custom" and "Custom Shop" especially the sporadic use, was serving only their marketing and sales, and was doing their discerning customer a disservice. Understanding the models became quite difficult.

Right, so they we "custom shop" by name only. Which is totally misleading. I don't think that was a fair thing for Gibson to do. They were intentionally being deceptive. It is hard to argue they weren't. FWIW, this was also done with some Gibson USA models. Even more deceptive there to me. I do take exception to what you said, I don't believe any of them came with CS serial numbers. and the COAs did not say Custom or Custom Shop. CS still means true Custom Shop. I should also be noted that even though those Memphis models were not true Custom Shop, Memphis generally made really great guitars. Though made in the same plant in the same lines, those "Custom Shop" models, the Reissues, and the higher end models like Lucilles were really outstanding. So even though they are not true Custom Shop models, they really shouldn't be dismissed as pedestrian models.

I believe the difference in pups alone would be enough to make it quite different. I have an SG with 490s and one with '61 zebras. When I got the latter, I was surprised how different it is.

You can debate anything, doesn't mean it does or may have existed. There is good reason for this question to come up. But the answer, with answers to the questions to back it up, is that there was never a Custom Shop in Memphis. That's a fact, so debate away if you like.

Not familiar with this particular "Custom Shop" reference, but I do know this was done in Memphis with some ES models. They used the same "Custom Shop" reference. In this case it was technically a model that was "Custom Shop Series". A well hidden detail making one think they were made in the Custom Shop. But they were made in Memphis. And Memphis never had a Custom Shop. I didn't know they pulled the same shenanigans with some Gibson USA models.

No I didn't go back to the other thread, I addressed what you posted here which was misleading. That's why I qualified what I said with "unless there is more to it". My point is still valid whether or not I read the prior thread. Obvious now that you had more major problems. Regardless, I'm glad you persevered and got satisfactory results. One shouldn't have to go through all of that, but in the end, it is what you end up with that matters. That may sound rather obvious, but it is too easy to lose sight of that when you are in the middle of problems.

If one pays for a new guitar, I guess one can reject one that isn't perfect. But unless there is more to it than that little chip in the finish, I probably would not have sent it back. If the real world of what can be expected, that is really no big deal. Only due to forums full of chest beaters that demand rejection of anything that isn't perfect that those little things now loom large. The first thing to do when something like this is encountered is to play it an fully, and objectively evaluate. Unless you bought it for display, how it sounds and plays is the most import thing about it. And determining if it a good one is more important than anything else. Pretty simple from there. If it is a good one, you can go to great lengths to keep it. If it is not a good one, then it shouldn't take much to make a return out of it. Forums must be full of wall-hangers, because I rarely see "whether it is a good one or not" come up in threads about whether to return a guitar or not. But tons of posts that say "demand perfection, send it back". Personally, I'm much more interested in getting a good one than trying to make a statement about quality expectations.

No, NH definitely does not mean nickel hardware. N is for nickel hardware, but the H is not for hardware, it has to do with the bridge/tailstock. That is widely believed and misstated, but not true. That misinterpretation probably came from Les Paul circles where there is rarely anything other than a hardtail. All you need for proof is look at any Gibson model number for a guitar that has anything other than a hardtail. Floyd I believe has an F there. I know Maestros has an M there. Totally disproves the H is for hardware. That's hard proof, not a belief.

You know the rules. Pics or it didn't happen! You may want to consider Steinberger tuners like some of the newer Birds have, like my 2015. Don't know if these are exactly the right ones, but like these: https://www.stewmac.com/parts-and-hardware/tuning-machines/solid-peghead-guitar-tuning-machines/steinberger-gearless-tuners.html

Search old threads here. This has been discussed. ME is a legit s/n. The custom shop logo in not on all the models/years, that was only done for a limited time. FWIW, that custom shop logo simply means that it was a "Custom Shop Series" model made in Memphis. There was never a Custom Shop in Memphis. Yes, intentional deception by Gibson marketing. Don't get me wrong, they are still great quality guitars.

I suggest you listen to some current playing reviews of Strats that you are considering. That should tell you if the Strat sound is what you want or not. The rest should be self-explanatory.

Huh? Wrong (8 year old) thread?

Yeah, except there was no Custom Shop in Memphis. Ever.