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DasBeef
Gold Member
United Kingdom
704 Posts |
 Posted - 12/07/2009 : 23:46:49
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I'm trying to set up meeting a guy who's wanting to sell a Gibson ES 335 in Walnut, from 1969/70 era. Basically my dream guitar. The age isn't as important to me as the Walnut finish. Anyone have any advice on what to look for, with regard to counterfeit Gibsons? I have never owned a Gibson, so any advice would be appreciated. Anything to look for on that particular model as well.
I have the serial number. Anyone know a good site for decoding the older gibsons? I tried a few on google, but couldn't find a really good one.
Cheers in advance..... |
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Scarymonsta
Bronze Member
United Kingdom
90 Posts |
Posted - 12/08/2009 : 08:53:00
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Hi Das Beef
I seem to remember at one point the Gibson website there were a list of things to check regarding counterfits, might take a bit of trawling on their website to find it though. I am sure there is a way to check old serial numbers as well...
Chris |
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sp-1
Platinum Member
Germany
1454 Posts |
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DasBeef
Gold Member
United Kingdom
704 Posts |
Posted - 12/08/2009 : 09:45:37
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Thanks guys. I actually found another serial number decoder when I simplified my search. Sometimes too much information hinders the results. Anyway, the seller reckons it's a 69/70, and this decoder reckons it's a 68. Oddly enough, that flying V site also dates it to 68.
Here's the link I found....
Gibson Serial Number Decoder
If anyone knows the date of their Gibson's manufacture, any chance you'd punch the serial into the decoder to see if it matches up. Just want to have a bit more faith in the decoder... |
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sp-1
Platinum Member
Germany
1454 Posts |
Posted - 12/08/2009 : 10:09:41
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All gibsons I have are 8 digit serials, you don't need a decoder to figure them out.
I don't know anyone with a pre '77 gibson.
Maybe you can find some data on eBay, but if those sellers used the same decoder you still know nothing.
Nice guitar by the way 
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FRANZONI
Double Platinum Member
Ireland
3543 Posts |
Posted - 12/08/2009 : 10:12:54
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Hi DasBeef..can't help with the decoder or serial numbers but i always bring someone(another guitar playing buddy with a bit more knowledge if possible) for a second opinion with me when looking at something expensive like this....i can't really tell you what to look for but to be honest you will know a real Gibson when you see/hear it... especially something this old,there is a lot of forgeries of Les Pauls doing the rounds at the moment but i haven't heard of any 335's especially something like the walnut finish 335 from the late 60's...,i see the LP ringers all the time on ad's in Gumtree but i've heard there easy enough to spot if you have any knowledge of real guitars,check the machine heads,pickups and all hardware to see if it gives any clues or look for 'upgrades' as these would all devalue the guitar.... what i see now is people dropping the price and admitting in the ad it's a knock off...i know if i drove and considerable distance to look at a guitar and i got there and found it was a ringer i would be pretty f*****g angry... ...and in the current climate remember....cash is king...so don't be afraid to haggle and walk away if you have to...  |
Edited by - FRANZONI on 12/08/2009 10:14:10 |
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sp-1
Platinum Member
Germany
1454 Posts |
Posted - 12/08/2009 : 10:15:13
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You probaply found this site already but it claims that walnut was available in '69 , so '68 could be right.
http://www.provide.net/~cfh/es335.html
You can also date the pots, but that's not easy on a es 335 I guess  Maybe you can try to get one out through the f hole.
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Edited by - sp-1 on 12/08/2009 10:23:03 |
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FRANZONI
Double Platinum Member
Ireland
3543 Posts |
Posted - 12/08/2009 : 10:31:14
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| Yep Walnut finishes were big back then near the end of the 60's...Harrision had a solid Rosewood Tele custom made by Fender for him,you can see it on the last Beatles gig on the roof of Abbey Road... |
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zerksies
Double Platinum Member
USA
3406 Posts |
Posted - 12/08/2009 : 13:24:07
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| Well i hope you have good luck with the gibson |
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Laurie
Double Platinum Member
Canada
4854 Posts |
Posted - 12/08/2009 : 14:19:20
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Not sure if you will be able to work with the seller to manage logistics to do this...
I was given a 1989 SG (1962 reissue) for my birthday this year and I emailed Gibson to confirm the date. They asked for pictures of the serial number, the hand-written numbers in the pickup cavity, and pics of the pots and pickups. They kindly confirmed it - very responsive and helpful. I just used the "contact" info on their site.
They also have this:
http://www.gibson.com/en-us/Support/SerialNumberSearch/
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DasBeef
Gold Member
United Kingdom
704 Posts |
Posted - 12/08/2009 : 17:48:06
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Thanks for the input guys. Here are the pics the seller sent me..
I also e-mailed Gibson for advice, and here's the response I got. Some handy info in it...
quote:
Originally e-mailed by Gibson Guitars
Unfortunately, we don�t have records about serial numbers of these days to be more specific with the production year of the guitar in question. If there is no MADE IN USA below the serial should be for a guitar made in the period 1963-69. If the MADE IN USA is present should be for a guitar made in the period 1970-75.
We suggest you in any case trying to check at the electronics of the guitar. If they are originals would be present a 7 digits code on the potentiometers, the 4th and 5t digits are for the production year of the pots and eventually can refers to the production year of the guitar.
Anyone know how to get one of the potentiometers off so I can have a look. I thought there would be a recess on the back of a 335, but evident-ally not...
Thanks again guys for your input. |
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Laurie
Double Platinum Member
Canada
4854 Posts |
Posted - 12/08/2009 : 17:52:41
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The pots come out the F-hole... tricky, and fiddly.
Not sure if all the pots need to be unscrewed and pushed back into the body to get one of them out, but I suspect so. |
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DasBeef
Gold Member
United Kingdom
704 Posts |
Posted - 12/08/2009 : 18:03:59
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| That is kind of what I thought, and I don't know how keen a seller would be about me taking a screw driver to his guitar before I've bought it. In saying that, he's going to be getting a fair wedge for it, he's advertising it saying it's only for sale as he's skint. If he knows I'm willing to part with the cash should I be happy with my findings, it may sway him. Two of the pots are right near the F holes, so hopefully it wouldn't be too bad a job... |
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DasBeef
Gold Member
United Kingdom
704 Posts |
Posted - 12/08/2009 : 18:06:25
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| Damn it, a dentists mirror would even do the job. Where the hell will I get one of those though..... Hmmm, off to work shortly. May have to see what I can bang together... I may even have to break some of the girlfriends make up contraptions to knock something together.... |
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Laurie
Double Platinum Member
Canada
4854 Posts |
Posted - 12/08/2009 : 18:38:25
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quote:
Originally posted by DasBeef
Damn it, a dentists mirror would even do the job. Where the hell will I get one of those though.....
Most electronics parts wholesalers sell them - for just this type of work. |
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FRANZONI
Double Platinum Member
Ireland
3543 Posts |
Posted - 12/08/2009 : 18:59:24
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quote:
Originally posted by Laurie
quote:
Originally posted by DasBeef
Damn it, a dentists mirror would even do the job. Where the hell will I get one of those though.....
Most electronics parts wholesalers sell them - for just this type of work.
I used to use one as well for inspecting the backs of welds i did on pipework if it was tight to a wall or some other obstruction..the one i used had a small telescopic arm with a hinge at the top to let the mirror angle to the desired position... a small mag-lite might also be a good thing to bring to inspect the inside for any labelling...the mirrors aren't very expensive....personally i wouldn't let anyone start pulling tone or volume pots off a vintage guitar i was trying to sell especially a guitar that in notoriously hard to work on as Laurie pointed out,due to everything electrically having to come through the F holes...i had to fix the 3 way switch on my '67 Fender Coronado II and it was a b*****d to do....
Have to say it looks pretty authentic from the pics..if it was a ringer it's a pretty good one....
would you not rather have a 335 with a stop tailpiece rather than the trapeze type..?......
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Might be away to buy my dream guitar...
