Nope, it's not what some folks might expect from me if I ever did go Custom Shop (some sort of stratty thing)...
It's an ES-335 Dot. And it would appear that all Gibson semis are "Custom Shop". This one is kinda like the Faded range, so not swanky as some of the things coming out of the "shop". But I do suddenly have a guitar with a certificate of authenticity now :lol:.
I've also finally broken my "I ain't paying more than a grand for a geetar" rule. I knew it was probably coming, and I knew that if I finally found a 335 I wanted it would definitely break that barrier.
I found it on DV247's website at the weekend, a "1959 ES-335 Dot Reissue in Translucent Black" for £1499. It has a satin finish, and there appears to be one other colour "faded cherry".
I have a feeling it's a new-ish model, I can't find any exact info about these on Gibson's web site. There is a 1959 ES-335 Dot Reissue range on there, but those are mostly glossy and expensive. I've found a few more of this one on sale on the internet, eg Thoman. And some of them seem to call it a "Memphis". The model number is ESDSTBKCH1 if you want to track it down somewhere (and now I have it in my hands I can confirm they're made in the Memphis shop, not the Nashville one).
I asked my local DV to get their one and only unit shipped to their branch so I could try it. I tried it, and it did the business (more than the Orange Thunder-something they got me to play through... Yuk! :lol:), so I bought it.
The blurb DV247 have on their website at the moment is actually for the main range. Eg this has chrome hardware, not nickel. And I'm not convinced this is a 50s neck - but neither am I convinced it's 60s either... it's kind of a cross between my Explorer and and my Faded SG (which has a blocky/clubby feel to it that I love).
Anyway, who gives a sh1t!! It's FAB!! :lol:
I've had a vague hankering for a 335 on and off for years. I used to have a Westone Rainbow, the very first one before they became the Rainbow I, it sounded great, but I only used it for open G stuff live. I sold it years ago when I needed some cash. I tried a more expensive glossy Gibson 335 a few years ago and I didn't like it at all. This one just felt right though.
The "translucent black" isn't that translucent. If you hold it at a severe angle in very severe light you can see the grain through it, but I think that might improve with time.
Trying it in the shop, it sounded ok through this Orange, enough for me to go "Yeah". When I got it home and put it through my trusty Laney CUB12, though... it is utterly god-like. It's unbelievable gorgeous. I believe it has 57 Classics in it. As set-up it was loads more aggressive than my Riff Raff'd SG. But the pickups were a spot close to the strings for my tastes - it was a bit grittier than I like. Out came the screwdriver and it's now even more gorgeous - scrunchy, biting, mellow, clean, raunchy, and all points in between just on the guitar controls. I suspect it will be monstrous through the AC4TV, but I won't be able to run that until the weekend.
The fretwork is amazing compared to the other Gibsons I own. Intonation is perfect at the moment, with plenty travel either direction for when I put my usual 11s on and raise the action slightly at the weekend.
Overall, I'm very pleased with it. Let's say VERY pleased :lol:. I thought it was good and a "must buy" in the shop. When I got it out the case and plugged in at home, it turned out it's even better than I thought. Not always the case, is it? :lol:
Please find enclosed a cr@ppy photograph (I'm a musician not a photographer! 8)).
