Gibson 50th Anniversary 1963 ES-335

Made in Memphis, TN, right out from Gibson’s Custom Shop workshop
2013 50th Anniversary Limited Edition.

Product name : Gibson 1963 ES-335TD 50th Anniversary ltd
Category: Guitare Electrique Semi Hollow Body
Series: Custom Shop Electric Spanish
Made in : the USA
Top: 'Plain' laminated maple
Back: 'Plain' laminated maple
Sides: 'Plain' laminated maple
Center block: light maple
Neck: solid mahogany with a 60 profile identical to the original
Fingerboard: single-piece Indian rosewood with "historic block" cellulose inlays
Neck fit: set, mortise & tenon, hide glued.
Frets: 22 Medium Jumbo
Scale length: 24.75"
Radius: 12"
Nut width: 1.6875" - 42.86 mm
Nut: Corian (acrylic polymer), plek technology
Bridge pickup: Gibson Burstbucker 2 Alnico II Humbucker
Neck pickup: Gibson Burstbucker 1 Alnico II Humbucker
Controls: 1 volume and 1 tone control per pickup, 3-way switch
Electronics: Switchcraft toggle switch & jack, CTS pots (volume: 300k linear, tone: 500k non-linear), Black Beauty capacitors
Bridge: aluminium Gibson ABR-1 Tune-O-Matic Lightweight with nylon saddles.
Tailpiece: Gibson Lightweight Aluminum Stopbar Tailpiece.
Tuners: Kluson™ Deluxe Vintage tulip double rings, ratio 15:1
Hardware: nickel aged
Colors: Sixties Cherry (also available in Historic Burst)
Lacquer: V.O.S. (Vintage Original Specs) nitrocellulose
Accessories: comes with a 1963/64 model copy Gibson Custom Shop Memphis hardcase (golden inside), an authenticity certificate, quality control sheet and keys.
Recommended string gauge: 010.046, 010.052
Gibson SKU reference: ES63SBNH1

Link on Gibson’s website:
http://www2.gibson.com/Products/Electric-Guitars/ES/Gibson-Memphis/50th-Anniversary-1963-ES-335.aspx

USE
The guitar is pleasant from the moment you hold it. The neck’s shape was carefully reproduced from the original, making it closer to the brand’s “rounded ’60” than the thin and flat “slim taper” (as announced on some websites). Let’s describe it as thin and shortened at the nut but not too much, for an awesome contour thicker at the 12th fret. Il falls perfectly right in the hand.

I was astounded by how lightweight it was (3.3 kg). Considering how ergonomic this 335 is, needless to say the highest notes are easily reached.

As for its sound, it’s balanced, woody and warm – especially with the switch in the middle position.
I would have preferred the warm sound of a Classic '57 set (way more adapted to an ES to my taste) instead of these Burstbucker 1&2, which I consider not to allow this beauty to give all it has. Probably the sole upgrade I’m considering, it’s really worthy of a Sheptone Tribute set

SOUND
It perfectly fits my favorite musical genres which are Blues, Rock'n'Roll... By the way, it adapts to just any style.
The CTS potentiometers are reactive and rather precise, I like to exploit them to get from a crystal-clear clean to a fat crunch.

When plugged on my Marshall JTM 45, it brings me a rather wide sound palette, even without any added effect – except for a Weber attenuator aimed at providing me a nice crunch sound at a “reasonable” sound level at home, without making my cat go through the roof in sheer panic ^^
Think everything from classic Chuck Berry to Crossroads-era crunchy Clapton, Alvin Lee, Freddy King and many other historical references so dear to our musical hearts.

I’ve also used it with my '57 Fender Twin – and this is sound heaven! The sound is even woodier, more organic and warmer. From time to time I use a Fulltone OCD for perfect crunch sound with a Strymon Flint tremolo/reverb, and here we go, back to the 50's/ 60's!

OVERALL
I’ve use dit for a short time now and may complement my review later on, when I’ve replaced the Burstbucker pickups by another set more to my taste – which this guitar really deserves.

After ordering it, I had to wait for two (very) long months to finally lay my hands on it. Mind you, such a guitar can’t be built one day for the other. ^^ But my patience really paid

Of ocurse, I have owned and tried many an ES335 model before (Historic '63, Block, dot), and even had an opportunity to try for a long moment an Eric Clapton Crossroads Signature 335 at Guitar Center US, which features are close to those of this model – except that of course it was way out of my budget as it’s a signed collector’s model in a very limited edition.

To be really picky, I’ll say that except for the stock pickups I love absolutely everything in that guitar.

In a nutshell:
Aesthetically, its horns are thinner and "Historically correct" (from the middle of the year '63), it’s a real lightweight! The neck ("hide glue" and so on) isn’t as thin as a slim taper, but rather round and close to that of a '60's LP (which is a good thing), nylon saddles as on the original...
The finish is neat and perfect!

Wit hits « goldie » finish, the hardcase is nice, very sturdy and efficiently protects and maintains the guitar. This copy was made respecting the standards of the original’s period, and it sports no Gibson Custom logo on the outside.

Its value-for-money is excellent, compared with a more expensive Historic Nashville model (no less great a model, though) which is also made in Memphis TN just like the ES, then assembled and tweaked in the Custom Shop workshop in Nashville TN.

In the end, a real high-end instrument - and a real achievement by Gibson!

Made in Memphis TN, workshops Custom Shop
Limited Edition 50th Anniversary.

Product Name: 1963 Gibson ES-335TD 50th Anniversary
Category: Semi Hollow Body Electric Guitar
Series: Custom Shop Electric Spanish
Origin: USA
Table: Maple laminate 'Plain'
Back: Laminated Maple 'Plain'
Sides: Laminated Maple 'Plain'
Central block: Light Maple
Handle: Mahogany, Profile 60 reproduces the original
Rosewood Indian one piece marks "historic block" cellulose.
Body-neck joint: glued, mortise & tenon, glued hide.
Frets: 22 Medium Jumbo kind
Scale: 24.75 "
Radius: 12 "
Nut Width: 1.6875 "- 42.86 mm
Nut: Corian (acrylic polymer) technology plek
Bridge Pickup: Gibson Burstbucker 2 Humbucker Alnico II Humbucker
Neck Pickup: Gibson Burstbucker 1 Humbucker Alnico II Humbucker
Controls: 1 volume by micro, 1 micro tone, 3-position selector
Electronics: micro switch & jack Switchcraft CTS potentiometers (linear 300k volume, 500k tone nonlinear) capacity. Black Beauty
Bridge: Gibson ABR-1 Tune-O-Matic Lightweight aluminum, nylon saddles.
Tailpiece: Gibson Lightweight Aluminum Tailpiece Stopbar.
Tuners: Vintage Kluson Deluxe ™ double tulip rings, ratio 15:1
Hardware: nickel aged
Colors: Sixties Cherry (also available in Historic Burst)
Verni: nitrocellulose VOS (Vintage Original Specs)
Accessories: delivered in Memphis Gibson Custom Shop case, repro 1963-1964 within goldie, Booklet certificate of authenticity, record control keys.
Recommended tie strings: 010046, 010052
Gibson SKU: ES63SBNH1

Gibson link:
http://www2.gibson.com/Products/Electric-Guitars/ES/Gibson-Memphis/50th-Anniversary-1963-ES-335.aspx


UTILIZATION

The grip is nice. The shape of the handle has been carefully reproduced the original approaching the more "rounded '60s" and not the very thin, flat "slim type" (as advertised on some sites) ... Let's close enough & Nut without shrinking too, for a chunkier contour perfectly to the 12th fret. It falls perfectly in hand.

I was amazed by its light weight (3.3kg) greatly appreciated. Access to acute is obviously fairly easy given the ergonomics of this 335.

Sound: Balanced, woody, warm, especially in the intermediate position.
Although I would have preferred the warmth of a set of '57 Classic much more suited to my taste on an ES instead of the set of Burstbucker 1 & 2 certainly not bad, but that does not fully do justice to this beautiful. The only upgrade I'll probably eventually it will deserve a good set Sheptone Tribute

SOUNDS

Suited to my musical styles. Blues, Rock'n'Roll ... It is also suitable for all styles.
CTS potentiometers are responsive and accurate enough, I like to play with them to get a crystal clean to crunch fat.

Plugged into my Marshall JTM 45 I get a broad range of sounds, without any added effect, except a Weber attenuator to get a good crunch volume "respectable" home without my cat to put an end to these days ^ ^ .
From classic to C.Berry crunchy Clapton Crossroads via Alvin Lee, Freddy King and other historical references that are so dear to us.

Also connected to my '57 Fender Twin, there is divine! Sounds more woody, organic and warm.
I use occasionally a Fulltone OCD for crunch the hair along with a tremolo / reberb Strymon Flint for a ride in the 50's / 60's!

OVERALL OPINION

I use it for little return and complete my mind later when the set of Burstbucker pickups has been replaced by a more appropriate set (for my taste) well deserved by this instrument.

After ordering, we had to wait for two (very) long months to finally have this beautiful. A guitar of this type is obviously not factory overnight. ^ ^
My patience was amply rewarded

Of course, I owned and not tried a lot of other models before ES335 (Historic '63, Block, dot).
And even had the chance to try a long one at Guitar Center U.S. 335 E.Clapton Crossroads signature obviously overpriced (model collection signed very limited) with characteristics & other coasts around this model.

To be pedantic, except its origins microphones, I absolutely love everything about this guitar.

To summarize:
Aesthetically, his horns are thinner and "historically correct" (mid '63 period), weight: a feather! The handle ("hide glue" and all tintoin) is not as thin as a slim type, rather close to a round + '60 's LP (and better), like the original nylon saddles ...
Finishes: Cured, perfect!

The case with his inner "goldie" is nice, especially solid, protecting and maintaining the instrument correctly. Reproduction manufactured according to the standards of the time, the Gibson Custom logo outside is not present.

Value / Price: Frankly excellent, compared to a much more expensive model Historic Nashville (no less excellent) also made Memphis TN like all ES, then assembled and refined in workshops Custom Shop of Nashville TN.

Upscale, in short, a great success!