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Post by colan on Feb 16, 2016 17:59:18 GMT
I'm teetering on the edge of buying a Gibson Memphis 2015 ES335. Any knowns ?
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Post by lavaman on Feb 17, 2016 7:54:01 GMT
Let me push you over the edge.  I haven't tried the new Memphis models, but I have an ES 335 Dot that I bought new in 1988. Marvellous guitar with bags of tone. A great gigging guitar suitable for many styles. If you crank it up loud through a valve amp you can feel the air puffing out the f holes.  Make sure you buy a good quality wide strap, its very heavy. |
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leoroberts
C.O.G. 
Posts: 26,133 
My main instrument is: probably needing new strings
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Post by leoroberts on Feb 17, 2016 10:17:16 GMT
Or have a word with colins who makes a guitar based on the 335. It won't have 'Gibson' on the headstock, but it will be handmade just for you. (I actually have no idea about the relevant pricepoints, mind you!) Colin's 335... |
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Post by colan on Feb 17, 2016 20:48:37 GMT
Thanks chaps, interesting and informative contributions. However I've just found a really good review.
I think I'm hooked. What she's going to say I can't imagine. Well- I can but I've dropped the shutters .
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Post by colan on Feb 18, 2016 17:29:32 GMT
OK, holding deposit paid. Bloody good price- £200 cheaper at £1700 than any UK dealer I could find. I think we get ripped off something rotten. These stores, Anderton's, GAK, Reidys etc. must operate like a cartel. They all charge the same- too much. The ' thing ' about 335s and similar, Leo, is that they're traditionally pressed laminates for that nice 'cello ' curvature. My own local luthier couldn't do that simply because he doesn't have the pressing equipment. He makes beautiful 335-ish guitars, mind, but they're solid woods and flat. I wanted a curvy.  |
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Martin
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Post by Martin on Feb 18, 2016 17:52:12 GMT
That is one sexy guitar, colan  Hope you're getting it in red  |
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Post by colan on Feb 18, 2016 20:33:26 GMT
Most certainly, Martin- satin faded cherry. Almost a song in itself. I confess that I've been playing a Wesley Tupelo '335' in a local 'American roots' band and it sounded like the real thang with bronze-wound 11-50s on it. It sucked me in a bit so I bought one of these to see if I could really get to identify myself as a 335 player; Now that is one mighty nice guitar - and almost unbelievably good for the money- four hundred quid including fitted Gretsch case. It's a new model, just out in January.  www.andertons.co.uk/semi-hollow-amp-hollow-body/pid43317/cid670/gretsch-streamliner-g2622-centre-block-double-cut-walnut-satin.aspI visited a local vintage guitar shop and this Gretsch is infinitely superior to those old guitars that folks pay multiple thousands for. Anyway, truly bitten by the 335 bug I've committed all my pocket money for the year on the Gibbo. Unseen. May the gods be kind to me. I think my collection is complete now- so I've got about twenty guitars to sell ! |
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Post by dave100 on Mar 5, 2016 22:32:00 GMT
Most certainly, Martin- satin faded cherry. Almost a song in itself. I confess that I've been playing a Wesley Tupelo '335' in a local 'American roots' band and it sounded like the real thang with bronze-wound 11-50s on it. It sucked me in a bit so I bought one of these to see if I could really get to identify myself as a 335 player; Now that is one mighty nice guitar - and almost unbelievably good for the money- four hundred quid including fitted Gretsch case. It's a new model, just out in January. www.andertons.co.uk/semi-hollow-amp-hollow-body/pid43317/cid670/gretsch-streamliner-g2622-centre-block-double-cut-walnut-satin.aspI visited a local vintage guitar shop and this Gretsch is infinitely superior to those old guitars that folks pay multiple thousands for. Anyway, truly bitten by the 335 bug I've committed all my pocket money for the year on the Gibbo. Unseen. May the gods be kind to me. I think my collection is complete now- so I've got about twenty guitars to sell ! These new gretsch streamlines are ok for the money but to say they are better than the original ones is down right ridiculous |
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Post by colan on Mar 6, 2016 19:41:47 GMT
Au contraire, matey- they are definitively superior to the old ones as the old ones exist today In comparing this particular Gretsch to the dozen or so ' old timers ' I tried I wouldn't swap it for any of them- and they were all eight to ten times the price.
I'll go further and say that I now suspect that these old guitars are for trading purposes only- like World War 2 tinned sardines. You're not supposed to gig with them.They are certainly worth a lot of money- because people will pay a lot for them- but that value is more in their history and rarity than in their tone or playablity. In fact, I'd rather take my £160 Wesley 335 copy to a gig than any of those vintage items .
Of course there will be exceptions. Some old guitars will have been cared for, oiled, suitably strung, humidified, etc. but anybody thinking that they're going to get a well-actioned , perfectly-intoned , sweet-sounding classic just because it's old will be very, very disappointed according to my recent experience.
I also tried some vintage acoustics, Gibsons, Martins- warped necks, loose struts and all. My 2008 Alhambra destroys them for tone- at half the price.
Anyway, I showed my Gretsch to my local luthier and he was very impressed. In fact he suggested that , rather than build me a 335-ish as was his intent, we simply upgraded the electrics on this one as the build of the guitar was near-perfect. He could NOT believe the price. I not saying that high-output factory guitars are better than customs, of course. Chalk and cheese.
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Post by dave100 on Mar 6, 2016 22:52:47 GMT
It's down to taste. But You can't compare a cheap far east made guitar with a vintage guitar. They are two completely different animals. What's made me laugh is that this guitar that your raving on about you have took to a luthier for him to advice to swap the pick ups. I do agree that the price of most vintage guitar are getting stupid (not just gretsch ). But there is something about these old guitars. (Mojo) Just look at all the great player that use them. Some are dogs but if if own i good one there is nothing better. |
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Post by colan on Mar 6, 2016 23:41:41 GMT
Aye, it is that. Sure you can. You just have to cast off your preconceptions, listen and feel. I'm not actually raving about it- I'm saying that it's proven to be a better-sounding and better-handling guitar than the much earlier models. Of course, anybody handing over quids by the thousand for a worse sounding/handling guitar will be inclined to disagree. Besides, my luthier knows more about pick-ups than I ever will- so I'll take his advice and the proof is in the pudding. The oldie pick-ups might well be superior- but that's meaningless if the guitar has aged well past its best. Yes, you're right there- but that's business. Until I actually sat down and tried a whole bunch of vintage guitars I was a bit of a hype-victim myself. Nah, Seasick Steve's guitar cost him twenty bucks and thousands cheer when he waves it about. That's more ' mojo ' than legends of star-owned guitars that could cost half a million quid and insurance companies won't let out of the safe. Working-class mojo seems more authentic to me Good for you- but I'm a new guitar fan from here on. I'm the same with cars. |
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Post by dave100 on Mar 7, 2016 0:25:41 GMT
Well I hope u enjoy the streamliner. Regards dave |
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Post by colan on Mar 7, 2016 11:01:30 GMT
Well I hope u enjoy the streamliner. Regards dave It's a great guitar for the money- but it's just a stop-gap 'til I get the new Gibson ES-335. |
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Post by dave100 on Mar 7, 2016 13:07:08 GMT
Cool. I'm not a massive fan of gibson but I have a chet atkins signature model that's is a outstanding guitar.  |
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Post by colan on Mar 8, 2016 11:23:25 GMT
That's a very beautiful guitar. Of course, I'd like red knobs, a red arm-rest and the scratch-plate gone. |
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Jo whoever he is.
