NGD: Less is more? Custom Shop ‘59 ES-335!

[tolm]

Sorry, bit of an essay ...

I had a 2005 Memphis ES-335 that was pretty decent and was my #1 for a good number of years. Then, when I got a Gretsch and an SG, I started messing with it ... converted it to P90s (which I love) ... and ... hated it!! Was a big surprise but I just didn’t like P90s in that guitar. Like an idiot I’d converted it to dog-ears (which admittedly looked AWESOME) so the mod was non reversible. Thankfully I managed to sell it for a decent price. Bought a nice Supro amp. All was well ... except ... I missed having a 335 ...

I sat down and thought about what I “needed” from my stable of guitars:

- My #1 Guitar : Double-cut, humbuckers, Bigsby, probably a semi-hollow ...

- My #2 Guitar : Also a double-cut but ideally with different pickups for some variation whilst still capable of covering a full set

- My #3 Guitar : A Les Paul. Because I grew up wanting a Les Paul and they’ll always be special to me. But I can’t justify an expensive one now that I play double-cuts with my band for lead work.

All 3 should be “vintage leaning” in style and have neck profiles on the chunky side.

I realised I already had #3 (an awesome Epi 50s Goldtop LP) and my Gretsch Duo Jet could arguably cover #1 or #2 but my remaining guitars (Gibson SG, Gretsch G5420 and Epi Firebird) - whilst great guitars - did not quite tick the right boxes: the SG has a skinny neck; the G5420 is a massive hollow body single cut and the Firebird only has 1 pickup and is hugely impractical to take anywhere!

Essentially, when I broke it down, my #1 was describing a 335, so I started looking around for one. Was hugely encouraged by the fact that post 2016-or-so the Memphis ones seem to come which a “rounded” neck profile but they didn’t seem to be in stock anywhere. But the Custom Shop ones were ... including a lovely ‘59 reissue: Sunburst finish; rounded 50s neck profile; Custom Buckers ... yeh, it was expensive, but if I sold at least two other guitars I had enough to cover the difference ... so I went for it ... ordered a Bigsby B6 and Towner kit and ...

This guitar is superb. Neck profile is gorgeous: just the right amount of chunky but rounded and oh-so comfortable. Crucially it sounds incredible too: bridge pickup has a nice bite to it, a little bit SG with some drive on the amp, and the neck is sweet and almost Strat-y if you back off the gain a little. The middle position can even get a little quacky if you set the volumes just right. Hugely flexible ... just as I remember a good 335 to be.

The SG and G5420 are sold and, whilst I will miss them looking cool hanging on my wall I now have 3 guitars that cover all my bases and will get played more regularly.

Firebird I is also still with me at the moment. Was a 40th birthday present from my wife so, although she was happy for me to sell it to chase “the dream”, I’m gonna hold on to it if I can.

 

[reelaroundthefountain]

this is gorgeous! just to ask, was it a matter of what was in stock or did the custom shop make the difference vs the production models?

 

[dspelman]

Interesting choices. I have two 335s from '67 (one is a 12-string that was my first guitar) that have been around a long time. I'm not a fan of Bigsbys but...

I'm also an LP fan, but I like Floyds on those (heresy, I know), so one is an Axcess Custom. I found some Agiles that are 24-fret versions (with the 24th fret about where the 22nd fret is on your Epi) with a tilted neck heel that does away with the clunky body corner you run into on most LPs. Floyds, of course, and Sustainers on a couple of them.

And recently I picked up a G5222 Electromatic. It's the cousin to your Duo Jet (no Bigsby), and it's just now having its bridge Broad'Tron pulled and a TV Jones Classic Plus replacing it. It's got a "vintage natural" top that's meant to mimic Malcolm's guitar, I believe.

 

[mdubya]

Beautiful '59 RI!

Is it one of the new Nashville ones?

My 2018 '59 RI is great. I don't know exactly what makes a good 335 so versatile, but there sure are.

I am seeing a lack of P-90s in your collection.

 

[tolm]

Beautiful '59 RI!

Is it one of the new Nashville ones?

...

I am seeing a lack of P-90s in your collection.

Yes, it’s one of the new Nashville ones. Don’t get me started on P90s ... that kinda thinking is how I screwed up my last 335 ...

this is gorgeous! just to ask, was it a matter of what was in stock or did the custom shop make the difference vs the production models?

I couldn’t find anywhere with a “standard” 335 in stock but I’ve played quite a few - including my old 2005 Memphis, a lot! Figured I might as well try one of the “stupid money” options ... and it just felt “special” and sounded amazing. Going in, I was really wanting a Cherry one but those really seem to vary from “nice vintage grain” to “whoa, it’s red” and predictably I ended up finding a Sunburst that I really liked.

 

[TM1]

I have a wonderful 2020 `64 ES-335TDC. I had a 2014, but sold it & I had a 1981 Dot neck reissue. The 2020 is the best out of the three. I've played alot of old ones, and they are all each different. Some great, some not great.. But I think the work that the Nashville Custom Shop is doing is phenominal!