Should we ???

gasket

Ambassador of the Guitarded
Today my dear wife and I go to our local shop for a Line 6 G10 wireless connector.
I tell the staffer the negotiated price is an acceptable deal but I want to test run it, all good.
We are sent into the room with the good stuff and told to grab a guitar and test away ... BIG MISTAKE!!!
My dear wife has chosen a Gibson 335 to go with the Line 6 :-(
I talk a Gibson deal and decide to sleep on it and do it tomorrow but bring the Line 6 home.
Question ... 2018 335 new as in the photo, thin on the ground in Australia, are there (other than colour) different models I should consider or given my wife loves this guitar take it?

20181227_151029.jpg
 
I know what a 2018 ES 335 would cost in the US. Probably another 1500 in Aussie $$$. To help your decision, I would need a translation on what "thin on the ground in Australia" means. Also, what about that sweet 10 top PRS? Made about 40 minutes from our house hehe.
 
"Thin on the ground" means Gibson canned the Australian distributor and only limited numbers of Gibson guitars are getting into the country. Those that turn up tend to be lower end product.
The guitar my wife is holding in photo is discounted to Aust $4,900 and I've arranged an acceptable trade in. Bottom line is if there is (or arriving soon) a nicer model I can stretch more dollars into it as this kind of guitar should be a once in a lifetime guitar, a keeper.
 
Gasket, that is just about what I figured an ES 335 might cost you in Aus, WOW. that is a big ouch.
I might suggest talking to IvanH over there. He may also have other sources he has dealt with acquiring guitars and could suggest your options.

I absolutely love ES 335's but just to give you an example, I also like ES345's 135's 175's and various similar guitars by Ibanez etc.
While I might find a 335 for $2k-$3500 US, I managed to score a nice used ES 135 with 57 classics for around $1100 if I remember right.
If you could somehow find a used 335, you might do lots better price wise.
Just a thought,,,,,,,,,,,,,

PS, If I had a choice of ES 335, 345 or 355, I would be all over a 345 like this 1972


Gibson72ES345Walnut_2.jpg


Or this
ES456415HBGH1_MAIN_HERO_01.jpg
 
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The ES335 is a classic that is tough to beat. If she likes the size, go for it. Other wise, I am an owner and big fan of the CS336. Also, the Gibson Studio ES339 is a very good deal

As for the color, of course it is personal, but I like it. I also like natural for the ES line
 
Chili, I know of Ivan's guitar supplier, he and I have PM'd some time back, thanks for the comment. I will do more looking about but recently I've only seen crazy asking prices on used Memphis guitars over here.
Ray, she is fine with the 335 size and loves the burst. I'm a black guitar fan and she can't tell the difference between any of my black guitars, they all look the same to her :-)
Hack, Yes I am blessed, thanks.
I'm in no trouble at all but, tomorrow we have a meeting with financial ramifications, one result will be "why not we only live once" the other result will be "this doesn't sound like a responsible decision". Then we have to decide if at our age being responsible is all it's cracked up to be HAAA haaa.
 
Chili, I know of Ivan's guitar supplier, he and I have PM'd some time back, thanks for the comment. I will do more looking about but recently I've only seen crazy asking prices on used Memphis guitars over here.
Ray, she is fine with the 335 size and loves the burst. I'm a black guitar fan and she can't tell the difference between any of my black guitars, they all look the same to her :)
Hack, Yes I am blessed, thanks.
I'm in no trouble at all but, tomorrow we have a meeting with financial ramifications, one result will be "why not we only live once" the other result will be "this doesn't sound like a responsible decision". Then we have to decide if at our age being responsible is all it's cracked up to be HAAA haaa.

I fully understand. Good Luck G

Also, without knowing Ivan personally, he has been of great assistance to me clear over here in the US. Albeit it was amplifier tech related, he and I also discussed some of his guitar desires and his search for a Telecaster he could give 2 thumbs up to and then acquire it. I believe he had a number of sources he could try within driving distance of his area.

I forget, what part of AUS are you in?
 
Here is my 135, Gasket

B71CFLd.jpg


I was looking at one of these just before getting the 135

m6snviekrm2331mwfvxv.jpg


But I really wanted one of these Alex Lifeson Sig models. ( too procey for little me tho)

Alex Lifeson’s Gibson Guitars – ES series

Lifeson was lucky enough for his first “proper” electric guitar to be a Gibson ES-335. “I was into people like [Jefferson Airplane’s] Jorma Kaukonan, and Alvin Lee,” he told Premier Guitar. “And that guitar was always a beautiful guitar. I’ve always really liked that whole ‘60s San Francisco music scene, and that guitar was probably the prevalent guitar at that time. So to me it seemed like a natural place to go. And I just grew with the instrument.”

In the ‘80s and ‘90s, Lifeson dabbled with other makes, but now he’s back on Gibsons. Rush fans audibly cheer louder when Lifeson straps on his white Gibson ES-355.

“I got that [white ES-355] in 1976, so I’ve had that guitar for quite some time, and I used it almost exclusively from that period up until around the late ‘70s. And I guess maybe that it’s so connected to me? That white 355, you really don’t see them around. I can’t think of anybody else that uses that particular model. “

Lifeson’s original ‘70s ES-355 had a “small” neck, but 2011’s “Inspired By” Gibson ES-355 had a thicker one, “almost like a Les Paul.” Lifeson says.” This was a model that was probably more in the background of their [Gibson’s] catalog. So it was nice to bring that to the forefront, because it really is such a beautiful instrument. It just sounds great.”

new_custom_alex_lifeson.jpg


Lifeson also became known in the ‘70s for his use of a double-neck Gibson ES-1275, just like Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page. “I loved everything about Jimmy Page,” he admits. “The way he looked, the way he played, everything. And certainly his use of the double-neck got a lot of exposure; you probably saw more pictures of Led Zeppelin with him playing that than probably anything else.”

************* Like the others have said, if it works for you and your wife, you won't go wrong with the ES 335, I guess the choice of the particular one, at the price you are comfortable with, and if you decide this is the one, or it is best to wait and shop around, that whole decision will be up to you and how this ES or any guitar sounds and feels and performs for your $$$$$
 
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I can offer no help but must say I cant put into words how great it is your soulmate is also one of your music / guitar buddies.
You have your cake and eat it too or the pot callin' the kettle black and they both like it, I dont know what cliche to even use.

If my wife ever said, "you should spend more time playing guitars and building amps" or "if you really want it and you swung a good deal, then buy it"
I might just fall over dead.

Both you and the missus:

:bow::bow::bow::bow::bow::bow::bow::bow::bow::bow:
 
If my wife ever said, "you should spend more time playing guitars and building amps" or "if you really want it and you swung a good deal, then buy it"
I might just fall over dead.

Both you and the missus:

:bow::bow::bow::bow::bow::bow::bow::bow::bow::bow:

My wife isn't into music or guitars, but she encourages me to do anything musically that I want.

When I got the silly idea to try and build my own line of guitars, she gave me a credit card just for the project that read "Von Herndon Guitars."

She's super supportive.
 
When I got the silly idea to try and build my own line of guitars, she gave me a credit card just for the project that read "Von Herndon Guitars."

That's super cool.
I don't have a special guitar account. Sob sob sob :-(

Any purchase over about $500 we run past each outer and she always says OK but this is the last one. She says that a lot :-)
 
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