Gibson 1963 ES-335 Block Reissue Cherry 2013 Edition

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 Part 1
Body-neck joint: glued, mortise & tenon
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: Grover Mini, 14:1 ratio
Hardware: Nickel
Colors: Historic Burst, Cherry Sixties
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


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!