Advice on Buying a vintage ES Guitar

[Joe W]

I am a bit of a Newby and acoustic guitar player but recently picked up an older ES-335 and loved it. Unfortunately it was way out of my price range! I have been reading the forum and checking out various used guitar sites and see ES 125, 135, 140 335 etc. Could anyone recommend the best model...say under $3,000? I am also a collector (means a poor guitar player!) so would prefer a 1950s or 60s model. Thanks for the help!

[Jayyj]

As far as $3000 335s are concerned, you're might be able to pick up a player grade late '60s guitar - if you can cope with the skinny neck. Some are skinnier than others, so it's worth playing a few and see what you think.

 

If you're prepared to stray further from classic vintage territory, '70s 335s (in the real world, not Gbase and Buy-It-Now Ebay-land) would generally come in under budget and there are good examples to be found if you can live with a guitar that is quite some distance in spec from the classic early versions. Early '80s Dot Reissues are old enough now to have a nice patina, if not really vintage by most people's standards, and worth having a look at - prices have gone up quite a bit on these recently. If it's a 335 you're after I'd probably rather try to pick out a good '70s version than go with an ES-125 or similar.

 

The ES-330 is every bit as good a guitar as its big brother, albeit with a slightly different personality. Again, late '60s examples are most likely to be within budget, but you might get something cleaner and more original than you're likely to find in a late '60s 335 for $3000, and you might also find a player grade earlier model within the budget. My ES-330 is a 1965 with a few issues, and cost £1800 - roughly your budget - and that's at the inflated prices we Brits have to pay for guitars. The single pickup versions are really cool as well, although the prices asked for them seem to be creeping up. But if you could live with one pickup you could get a genuine dot neck 330 from Gibson's golden era for close to your budget.

 

If you're looking at 335s and 330s, don't forget the Epiphone 335 style models, made from 1959 to 1969. Casinos are a bit of a lost cause because of the Beatles connection that drives the price up, but Rivieras are simply a 335 with mini humbuckers, and often sell for significantly less than the Gibson version. Similarly you have the Sorrento, which is an ES-125TC double and can be found for reasonable prices even from big name vintage dealers.

 

If you're looking at vintage 335s then this blog is an incredible resource for anything 335 related. There's even a recent entry on getting a vintage 335 for $3K. http://www.es-335.org/

[JimR56]

Fantastic post by Jayyj. I was going to suggest a vintage Epiphone Riviera also.

 

Joe, the other models you mention are quite different from a 335, which is a "semi-hollow" instrument with a solid block down the center (as you probably know). You may also want to consider those other models, if you have a chance to try them out, but they're going to feel and sound different from a 335. Fortunately, as Jayyj points out, there are still good values out there in vintage guitars, as long as you're not fixated on the most popular models.

[Joe W]

Agreed. Jay, Thank you so much for the advice. I have spent the last 2 hours checking out guitars and really enjoyed reading the blog per the link you supplied.

[Joe W]

So I chickened out on purchasing a more expensive ES guitar. Being a Newby to electric guitars I am not sure I am talented enough or "worthy" (per Wayne's world) yet of owning the nicer ES 335 or some of the other wonderful guitars folks recommended or I have played. I decided to purchase the new Epiphone "1962" Sorrento and work on my skills. It is a blast to play and seems to be a nice choice for now. I am sure it won't be long before I "have to have" the ES 335 or something similar.

 

Here is a pic.