1967 Gibson ES 335

[lennon211]

Great looking Gibson! Congrats!

[deaconblues]

Nice guitar, Kira! All the coolest ES-335 features, too!

[kiramdear]

Thanks, Matthew.
She's already a looker (at least in front view) but eventually we'll have the right tuners and stuff. I want to check the electronics to see if they may be replacements, since so much else has been swapped. The trapeze and pickguard (special bevel in that year) appear to be original.
I should shoot some more pics since I gave her the scratch-x/zymol treatment. There's about a thousand dollars difference in appearance.

Thanks, too, Dan! I keep expecting to wake up and find it was a dream.

[goofyfoot]

Wow, now THAT is one sweet score, man! Okay, commit to practicing a bit and you can join this cat with his on this song.....

Peace, out.....Goofyfoot.

[kiramdear]

Goofyfoot, I have been thinking about this very video. Kudos to you Brother. I thought that second solo was going to melt my monitor This is one that everyone should see if they don't understand why Clapton was called God at one time. The other guys aren't bad either

[goofyfoot]

Kira.....A few of my middle-schoolers are into guitar-playing. When they ask me who I was listening to back in the day, this is one of the vids I show 'em. They sit there in stunned silence, the look of awe splashed across their faces. I get the same response with Hendrix, natch. It's all copacetic. Keep on keepin' on, brah. BTW, still thinking about that jam jingle_jangle is hosting on the 10th. Wish I could strum it up with you folks. I live vicariously through you. Peace out, man.....Goofyfoot.

[CrestingWave]

Hey, Kira:

That nice Gibby ES335 has a trapeze tailpiece... a Bigsby B7 would look just right on there; piece of cake to install, and it would give you a whole new set of options, tone wise. Have you given that possibility any thought?

Just wondering...

JR

[kiramdear]

Well, of course that's the classic accessory for the '67 ( Gary's has one in the previous pic that I think he added ) and with the covers taken off the humbuckers to show the black coils, that machine looks all business. That's the real sixties style ES 335.

I'm not adverse to adding a B7 at all, but first I'd like to see and hear her in as close to original appointments as possible.

[collin]

Congrats Kira!!

What a great guitar- an absolute stunner.


Speaking of God, here's my favorite Clapton 335 moment (and my favorite supergroup) :




Typical Clapton- he makes it look like he's taking a walk in the park, like it's absolutely nothing to him...amazing technique.

[kiramdear]

WOW! You nailed it Collin. That's about as good as it gets

Rock & Roll Circus is on my short list of desert island videos. Love, love, love it. If one could wear the grooves off a DVD I'd be replacing this one about now

[customxke]

The knobs look like later replacements, too, as they don't match the ones on my 1967 ES-335TDC (recall that I bought mine in 1969 from the original owner through a consignment shop):

P2190102.JPG

If it has the neck I think it does, it's a sweetie! Congrats, Kira!

The knob's on Kira's guitar are most certainly correct.

[kiramdear]

Jonathan,
Thanks; you're right about that. Both styles left the factory in 1967 and the (former) owner has sworn that these were not replacements, unlike the bridge and tuners. I still may put on the prettier bell knobs because I prefer their feel, though. Pickups, all wiring looks to be 100% original

I had her apart for a good cleaning and installed some vintage RI tuners and a real ABR bridge from 1967 (thanks and hugs Frank). Next week she's off to the tech shop for a proper setup and fret job. You should see how she looks after a couple of doses of Scratch-x and zymol OK pictures coming ...

[customxke]

I'm sure this guitar will suit you, and serve you well Kira. In certain circles, I'm known as "the Rickenbacker guy", but my collection of 50s and 60s Gibsons is much larger. I often replace the "witch's hat" knobs on late 60s Gibsons. They're ugly, and my hand's don't fall on them naturally like bonnet knobs, but they are original. Keep 'em in the case pocket. Enjoy your guitars!!!!!

[kiramdear]

Oh yeah, retain the originals. Thanks, Jonathan. Good luck with your collection. There is really nothing like a sixties' Gibson.

[spitball]

Hi kiramdear,

Thanks for sharing your find. It looks like a guitar that would be hard to put away. The slightly understated elegance is fabulous.

My only electric guitar at the moment is a stock '67 ES-335. In talking about that guitar with the Gibson vintage crowd, I would often sort of apologize for the narrow fretboard it has (unlike pre-65 ES-335s). Yet, I have always found it very comfortable, almost the same comfort as with the wider 1 11/16" nut. In fact, my guitar's neck profile couldn't have been carved better to fit my hand. It's nice to hear someone else get excited over that particular feature.

It is obvious that the guitar is well-made, despite Gibson's surging output in those days. Mine weighs little more than 7 pounds. And, most importantly, the pickups have a clear, articulate, and yet warm quality that I haven't heard in any of the newer humbucker guitars I have owned. When I plug it in, I know immediately that it is going to sound good. It just "has it".

I wish you many years of joyful playing with your 335.