Getting my new '66 Gibson ES-335 on Friday!

[TRGuy]

Can't wait, really looking forward to picking this up! Put down a holding deposit last week and collecting it on friday. The guy selling gave me a full scratch by scratch rundown, and i've been in the shop to look at it twice, but anyone care to give me any advice on what to double check on when im there?

I printed off 2 Gibson Serial number guides to check the year, plus I will check all the obvious things, neck breaks, seriel number on sticker matches neck, twisted neck etc...

Any advice would be cool! And of course pictures will be posted

Cheers.

 

[teleman1]

Stare up & down the neck for any evidence of a professional repair.If there, it might not even be easily noticeable.

 

[Rossl]

Are the pickups and tuners original?

Is the shop reputable?

Are representing it as original?

If it plays good, looks good and sounds good, enjoy it. Don't worry about repairs. I wouldn't unless it had some hideous repairs.

 

[gadzooka]

Well, alright!! What color is it? It will be nice to see pictures when you get them.

I'd expect your '66 to have (stock): low and wide frets, a narrow 1-piece mahogany neck, tune-o-matic bridge with nylon saddles, trapeze or Bigsby tail, double-ring Kluson tuners, chrome-covered Patent-numbered pickups, wide-barrel reflector knobs.

 

[TRGuy]

Are the pickups and tuners original?

Is the shop reputable?

Are representing it as original?

If it plays good, looks good and sounds good, enjoy it. Don't worry about repairs. I wouldn't unless it had some hideous repairs.

Yeah I think this is what it comes down too really. They guarantee its all original with nothing but a bit of bucklerash and some small chips on the headstock... But for the price, for a 60's gibsons, I cant really complain too much, seems like a good deal, not a steal, but a good deal

Well, alright!! What color is it? It will be nice to see pictures when you get them.

I'd expect your '66 to have (stock): low and wide frets, a narrow 1-piece mahogany neck, tune-o-matic bridge with nylon saddles, trapeze or Bigsby tail, double-ring Kluson tuners, chrome-covered Patent-numbered pickups, wide-barrel reflector knobs.

Cherry Red The best. Of course, pictures will probably be on the internet before I play it! (Thats not true, but y'know how quickly us gearheads like to show off a little )

I will keep those specs in mind!

Cheers.

 

[WahmBoomAh]

I once bought a project `59 355 refin ... Sounded great and was cheap .
It wouldn`t stay in tune despite lots of trips to a tech.
Well ,,,, I finally realized that if I flexed the neck to get a detuning ...it really flexed!
It was what we call "spongy" and in just playing it I was flexing the neck ...hence the feeling it was always out of tune .
Ever since ...(especially on a 335 ) I gently rock the neck up by the headstock to see how much the note varies.
enjoy

 

[danelectro]

Should be cool! I've got a Cherry '66 with a stoptail conversion and it's a very "bluesy' sounding guitar. My only reservation about the guitar is the narrow neck, but I've found that I adjust to it after a short while of playing. I think most '66's have T-top patent # pickups, but mine has the non-t-top bobbons. Looking forward to seeing photos!

 

[gadzooka]

Should be cool! I've got a Cherry '66 with a stoptail conversion and it's a very "bluesy' sounding guitar. My only reservation about the guitar is the narrow neck, but I've found that I adjust to it after a short while of playing. I think most '66's have T-top patent # pickups, but mine has the non-t-top bobbons. Looking forward to seeing photos!

I think T-top bobbins came after 1966. My 1967 doesn't have the T-top either. I assume my guitar is from the earlier part of '67, because it has the older reflector knobs (like those on a '66), not the amp dials.

 

[mad dog]

My well-used '66 ES-335 is red, with the stock trapeze. Danelectro called it ... "bluesy" is the right word for it. Maybe there was something about that year, I don't know, but several of the best instruments I've played were '66s. Mine is one of those, hope yours is too.

 

[TRGuy]

Cool info, cheers!

Getting it first thing tomorrow morning, so any last words of advice?

Cheers!

 

[Loobster]

Cool info, cheers!

Getting it first thing tomorrow morning, so any last words of advice?

Cheers!

Don't get it.

 

[paul1122]

Post lots of pics

 

[gadzooka]

Hope you're having a happy NGD as I type this!