tknmarco Posted January 3, 2014 Share Posted January 3, 2014 Hi Everyone, I am new here, and would like to seek your views/comments and even experience here on ES335. I am not a active follower on Gibson website but I found that there are Memphis Custom shop and Nashville Custom shop producing same 335 model (but with different prices) i.e. 1959 reissue. Does anyone have expertise and knowledge for what is going on here? Thanks in advance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j45nick Posted January 4, 2014 Share Posted January 4, 2014 The lines are blurred, and everyone has his/her own opinion. I have a Nashville '59 Historic ES 335, and it is flawless. It was worth the significant amount extra compared to the Memphis ES 335's to me, but that's just me. Your experience may vary. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spitball Posted January 5, 2014 Share Posted January 5, 2014 I wouldn't be too concerned which plant your guitar came from. I get the impression that Nashville is supposedly the premier plant, but the ES-345 I own is from Memphis, and it couldn't be any better than it is...just amazing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
senojnad Posted January 6, 2014 Share Posted January 6, 2014 I dug into this same question late last year while shopping for an ES-335. I had been reading a lot of negative comments about quality issues at Gibson, with several indications that the quality of Nashville guitars was significantly better than those made in Memphis. During that time I was able to play examples from both Memphis and Nashville -- I could not detect any differences. I did some pretty detailed comparisons of specs from Gibson's website and came up with nothing of consequence to differentiate one from the other. I finally contact Gibson's customer support group -- I was told that Nashville models are "...more historically correct..." For my personal interests, that did not justify paying an extra $1500 to $2000 for my guitar. My dealer (whom I have known well for several years) told me that he had seen no differences in quality between the two locations. He said that most Gibsons (both factories) need varying amounts of set-up work out of the box. I ended up ordering a Memphis ES-335 50th Anniversary (1963). When it arrived, it did need about 20 minutes of set-up work, including some nut filing for the lower strings. Other than that, it was (and is) flawless. The build and finish workmanship were/are as good as any guitar I've ever played. As a custom cabinet and furniture maker, I know what to look for in build and finish work. Having played guitar for over 60 years, I have played a LOT of guitars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie brown Posted January 6, 2014 Share Posted January 6, 2014 I'll can only say, what I always say: "Case by case" basis. Regardless of factory, brand, or model! CB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zigzag Posted January 7, 2014 Share Posted January 7, 2014 I've never played an ES-335 from Nashville. I've never played a flawless ES-335 from Memphis. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LysanderSky Posted January 7, 2014 Share Posted January 7, 2014 Having worked in a guitar shop as a student, here are my observations. * Most Memphis 335's require more set-up work than Nashville 335s. Out of the box, Nashville guitars already have a pretty good set-up. The Memphis ones generally require some more work (nut-filing, intonation, also Memphis 335s have quite big, squared fret-wire which a lot of players-including me- find uncomfortable so you might want to have those buffed out). After bringing it to a good luthier for those things to be done, a Memphis is still considerably cheaper than a Nashville, however some people don't buy Memphis guitars for the reason that "if you spend that kind of money on a guitar it should be flawless". I get that argument but it's not my line of thinking... * Nashville 335s don't vary as much as Memphis ones. For example, the neck angle on Nashville guitars is more consistently shallow which a lot of people prefer because it allows the bridge and tailpiece to sit lower. Personally, I think that this stuff is a bit overrated. I don't like high set-ups and overly steep neck angles either but more for aesthetic reasons. In terms of sound, S U S T A I N and playability - those certainly are not the only determinants. * The Nashville models all have the full center-blocks, Memphis ones have a cutaway below the bridge PU to fit the electronics. * As of 2011 or so, Memphis guitars have become a lot better (maybe because the plant got a new manger around that time). The neck-joint is more solid (long tenon) and general construction has improved a lot. Which doesn't mean you can't find a nice used pre-'11 Memphis though... Finally, I think you should play as many as you can (obvious) and see which one speaks to you, as previously mentioned, the lines are increasingly blurred as Memphis QC has improved. Just prepare to give it to a luthier when you buy a Memphis model. In terms of sound, you can get Memphis ones that are just as good as Nashville ones, the Nashville ones are more consistent though. Final thought: I actually don't know if any of this stuff is useful for you as its my personal experience and anecdotal truth... Enjoy the hunt for the right one! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
STLOUIEPLAYA Posted January 17, 2014 Share Posted January 17, 2014 Having worked in a guitar shop as a student, here are my observations. * Most Memphis 335's require more set-up work than Nashville 335s. Out of the box, Nashville guitars already have a pretty good set-up. The Memphis ones generally require some more work (nut-filing, intonation, also Memphis 335s have quite big, squared fret-wire which a lot of players-including me- find uncomfortable so you might want to have those buffed out). After bringing it to a good luthier for those things to be done, a Memphis is still considerably cheaper than a Nashville, however some people don't buy Memphis guitars for the reason that "if you spend that kind of money on a guitar it should be flawless". I get that argument but it's not my line of thinking... * Nashville 335s don't vary as much as Memphis ones. For example, the neck angle on Nashville guitars is more consistently shallow which a lot of people prefer because it allows the bridge and tailpiece to sit lower. Personally, I think that this stuff is a bit overrated. I don't like high set-ups and overly steep neck angles either but more for aesthetic reasons. In terms of sound, S U S T A I N and playability - those certainly are not the only determinants. * The Nashville models all have the full center-blocks, Memphis ones have a cutaway below the bridge PU to fit the electronics. * As of 2011 or so, Memphis guitars have become a lot better (maybe because the plant got a new manger around that time). The neck-joint is more solid (long tenon) and general construction has improved a lot. Which doesn't mean you can't find a nice used pre-'11 Memphis though... Finally, I think you should play as many as you can (obvious) and see which one speaks to you, as previously mentioned, the lines are increasingly blurred as Memphis QC has improved. Just prepare to give it to a luthier when you buy a Memphis model. In terms of sound, you can get Memphis ones that are just as good as Nashville ones, the Nashville ones are more consistent though. Final thought: I actually don't know if any of this stuff is useful for you as its my personal experience and anecdotal truth... i would think of it as kind of a musical theme in this way i guess ,,,i would think a guitar from memphis might have a more of a bluesy feeling or sound & a namshville guitar would have more of a brighter bite kind of guitar ....everyone has an opinion [thumbup] [thumbup] Enjoy the hunt for the right one! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrfett Posted February 3, 2014 Share Posted February 3, 2014 Memphis '59 ES-335 Reissues no longer have the "window" (center block cutout). Aesthetically the vintage Klusons of the two factories have different color tips as of now. The Nashville ones are more transparent, the Memphis are a little more opaque and yellowed. The ear shapes are different. Other than those two differences, I'd take a lot of what you hear on the internet about this topic with a grain of salt. People who've purchased these guitars over the last several years have spent a lot of money on their instruments, and Gibson guitars in particular are sold at the prices they are because of the marketing surrounding the guitars. For a long time Gibson wanted people to think Nashville-finished ES guitars were better than Memphis-finished ESes. Now they've switched that, and want you to think Memphis guitars are the premier ones. I think the only way to find a good guitar you'll be sure to love is to play it. It's important for people to be honest with themselves about what kind of Gibson customer they are. Are you more interested in buying a guitar, replacing the plastics/pickups/switch tips and then posting pictures to brag about all the extra money you blew on making a perfectly wonderful guitar better meet some imagined ideal, only to then flip the guitar once Gibson releases another model year with an even more "authentic" ear shape? If that's you spend the money on whichever Gibson is charging more for so that you can get the most enjoyment from posting your guitar porn on the interwebs. You're only going to play it for a few hours before you'll be on to lusting after some other new shiny thing so who cares? If however you're buying the guitar to play it: none of this matters a bit. You just need to find one that speaks to you! Do you like the way the pickups sound? Is the neck comfortable for you? Do you find the guitar inspiring to play? If so then you can safely forget about everything else, buy the guitar! There are many, many of stories of our guitar heroes finding a special guitar among a bunch of others serendipitously. Look at Nile Rodgers' Hitmaker. Or that red Les Paul Clapton got from George, or Johnny Marr's first red ES-355. I think the Edge even has a story about his Explorer, and he still plays it even after the headstock broke off! Great guitars are coming from both places, and depending on where you're shopping/time of year/how long the guitar's been stored you might not get a perfect out of the box experience. One of my most treasured guitars (ES-359 made in Memphis) came to me sounding remarkably horrid! Totally dead! It certainly needed a bit of TLC, but now it sings wonderfully. My '56 Les Paul Reissue (made in Nashville) had a broken jack plate, wreaked of cigarettes and had dings on the back of the neck. That one required quite a bit of help but it's now near and dear to my heart (I usually buy used). Sorry for the rambling, I think my point could've been made more simply: are you buying a trophy or an instrument? Only you can answer that honestly. There's no shame in enjoying collecting guitars, Gibson is certainly marketing their high end instruments to collectors more than players. I record my ES-359 but I don't think I'd ever gig it. It's too pretty/unique/valuable (due to the Pelham Blue color). The Les Paul already had some dings so I've been much more comfortable taking it out (I did buy a beater case that doesn't say "Gibson Custom" for it though so as not to attract attention). Guitars are very individualized instruments. We all play differently, play different styles of music, have different aesthetic tastes, etc. Is it important to you that your binding is perfectly finished? What if there's a tiny bit of orange peel, will that annoy you to no end even if the guitar sings the sweetest songs? If so, you need to be prepared to excercise your retailers' return policy because you might not get a perfect guitar the first time. Then a few months or maybe a year later, your frets are going to start making cracks in your binding. Be prepared. You might not notice though if the GAS for that guitar has worn off and it now spends most of its time in its case under the bed or on a hanger on the wall. If you're playing it, you'll have broken it in and will be unlikely to care. Just depends on what kind of a buyer you are :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RevDavidLee Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 I'll can only say, what I always say: "Case by case" basis. Regardless of factory, brand, or model! CB Simple and oh so true. Thanks CB! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rocketman Posted February 15, 2014 Share Posted February 15, 2014 Maybe this thread will bring back Murph. Murph, are you out there?!? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4Hayden Posted February 16, 2014 Share Posted February 16, 2014 I have a Memphis ES335 , I replace the factory nut with a bone nut as I was having problems with lower strings. I've enjoyed it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sada Yairi Posted February 16, 2014 Share Posted February 16, 2014 That is one stunning looking guitar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveFord Posted February 17, 2014 Share Posted February 17, 2014 If they're making the Lucille in Memphis I wouldn't be too concerned which factory actually makes the guitar. It looks like they can both turn out a real high quality product. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimmyl51 Posted February 17, 2014 Share Posted February 17, 2014 I absolutely agree with Nick here. I have the same guitar a Nashville '59 historic reissue ES-335 in faded cherry. Absolutely a gorgeous guitar not only from a build standpoint but also from a playing/tonal viewpoint also! jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j45nick Posted February 18, 2014 Share Posted February 18, 2014 I absolutely agree with Nick here. I have the same guitar a Nashville '59 historic reissue ES-335 in faded cherry. Absolutely a gorgeous guitar not only from a build standpoint but also from a playing/tonal viewpoint also! jim And here's what my Nashville '59 Historic looks like, in non-faded cherry..... (That's it's older sibling, a 1968 ES 335-12 next to it. Kalamazoo-built, of course.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4Hayden Posted March 4, 2014 Share Posted March 4, 2014 That is one stunning looking guitar. Thank You Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4Hayden Posted March 4, 2014 Share Posted March 4, 2014 And here's what my Nashville '59 Historic looks like, in non-faded cherry..... (That's it's older sibling, a 1968 ES 335-12 next to it. Kalamazoo-built, of course.) That's one sharp 12 string you have Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrfett Posted March 5, 2014 Share Posted March 5, 2014 And here's what my Nashville '59 Historic looks like, in non-faded cherry..... (That's it's older sibling, a 1968 ES 335-12 next to it. Kalamazoo-built, of course.) yeah wow, cool 12 string! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j45nick Posted March 7, 2014 Share Posted March 7, 2014 yeah wow, cool 12 string! It's a pretty funky guitar. Different, to say the least. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. X Posted March 9, 2014 Share Posted March 9, 2014 Or that red Les Paul Clapton got from George I must correct you; even though I believe you know, you just mistyped. That 1957 red Les Paul was given to George from Clapton in 1968. Clapton bought it from a guitar store in Manhattan. The Manhattan guitar store acquired it when it was traded in by its owner, Rick Derringer. Derringer got it in 1966 when it was a gold top, and had it refinished at the Gibson plant in Kalamazoo to its current red color. Prior to Derringer owning the guitar, it was owned by John Sebastian. Quite a history, on quite an historical guitar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrfett Posted March 10, 2014 Share Posted March 10, 2014 I must correct you; even though I believe you know, you just mistyped. That 1957 red Les Paul was given to George from Clapton in 1968. Clapton bought it from a guitar store in Manhattan. The Manhattan guitar store acquired it when it was traded in by its owner, Rick Derringer. Derringer got it in 1966 when it was a gold top, and had it refinished at the Gibson plant in Kalamazoo to its current red color. Prior to Derringer owning the guitar, it was owned by John Sebastian. Quite a history, on quite an historical guitar. lol right good catch. Clapton gave it to George who then used it while recording the White Album I believe right? Apparently John Sebastian also owned that famous Spoonful Burst too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. X Posted March 11, 2014 Share Posted March 11, 2014 lol right good catch. Clapton gave it to George who then used it while recording the White Album I believe right? Apparently John Sebastian also owned that famous Spoonful Burst too. Yes sir you are correct. Lucy wept on the White album. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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