Results 1 to 13 of 13

Thread: NGD: It's like déjà vu all over again!

  1. #1
    Forum Member OldStrummer's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2016
    Location
    Northern Virginia, USA
    Posts
    3,928

    NGD: It's like déjà vu all over again!

    Here it is: 2017 Gibson Memphis Limited Edition ES-335 70s Walnut with Case.



    Before I get to the specs, let me just say the moment I cradled this instrument, I felt a sense of déjà vu. For years and years, my guitar of choice was my 1957 Gibson ES-225. When I took this and tuned it up, when I began playing it whisked me back 30 years. It just feels so "comfortable" and familiar!

    Specs:

    Gibson Memphis Limited Edition ES335 70s Walnut with Case Specifications

    • Body: Semi-Solid Construction with Lightweight Centerblock
    • Neck: Rounded "C" Neck Shape with Rolled Neck Binding
    • Fingerboard: Dark Rosewood with Small Block Inlays
    • Pickups: 57 Classic Humbuckers
    • Bridge: Nickel ABR with Titanium Saddles
    • Tailpiece: Die Cast Zinc Tailpiece with Locking Studs
    • Tuners: Kluson Replica Bolt-Bushing Tuners
    • Finish: Nitrocellulose 1970s Walnut Finish
    • Top Wood: Maple, Poplar, Maple
    • Top Pieces: 3-Ply
    • Top Binding: Cream
    • Back Wood: Maple, Poplar, Maple
    • Back Pieces: 3-Ply
    • Back Binding: Cream
    • Average Weight (Body Only): 2.1069 kg / 4.645 lbs
    • Neck Wood: Mahogany
    • Truss Rod: Historic
    • Thickness at Fret 1: 21.59 mm / .850"
    • Thickness at Fret 12: 24.13 mm / .950"
    • Peg Head Type: SP-1
    • Inlay: Mother of Pearl Crown
    • Logo: Mother of Pearl "Gibson"
    • Headstock Angle: 17 Degrees
    • Neck Joint Angle: 4 Degrees
    • Neck Joint Angle Tolerance: 0 deg 0 min 15 sec
    • Nut Style: White
    • Nut Material: Bone
    • Nut Width: 4.2863 cm / 1.6875"
    • Fingerboard Radius: 30.48 cm / 12 "
    • Frets: 22
    • Scale Length: 62.865 cm / 24.75"
    • Binding: Cream
    • Side Dots (Color): Black
    • Fingerboard Inlays: Block
    • Inlay Material: Pearloid
    • Tuning Key Ratio: 15:01
    • Bridge Material: Die Cast Alloy Base / Titanium 2 Saddles
    • Pick Guard: Multi Ply Black ES-335
    • Truss Rod Cover: Black and White Bell with Engraved F-Hole
    • Knobs: Black Witch Hat Volume/Tone with Silver Inserts
    • Case: Hard Shell (Tan)

  2. #2
    Forum Member Don's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2002
    Location
    Massachusetts
    Posts
    11,288

    Re: NGD: It's like déjà vu all over again!

    That's a beauty!

  3. #3
    Forum Member OldStrummer's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2016
    Location
    Northern Virginia, USA
    Posts
    3,928

    Re: NGD: It's like déjà vu all over again!

    Quote Originally Posted by Don View Post
    That's a beauty!
    Thanks, Don. I find it very hard to photograph. The dark shade and nitrocellulose finish either reflect the light or absorb it. Of course, I'm eager to show it off, so I haven't spent a lot of time staging it for photography.



  4. #4
    Forum Member
    Join Date
    Apr 2017
    Posts
    160

    Re: NGD: It's like déjà vu all over again!

    nice!nice! really nice!!! H ow do like the rounded C neck shape? thats what i have on my strat. i love it!

  5. #5
    Forum Member OldStrummer's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2016
    Location
    Northern Virginia, USA
    Posts
    3,928

    Re: NGD: It's like déjà vu all over again!

    Quote Originally Posted by Jeffp View Post
    nice!nice! really nice!!! H ow do like the rounded C neck shape? thats what i have on my strat. i love it!
    The neck is AWESOME! It's a 12" radius, and it feels just like my ES-225. I've been playing 9.5" radii and even a 7.25" lately. I find I like rosewood fingerboards and 12" radii from Gibson, but like maple and 9.5" on my Fenders. Strange, huh?

  6. #6
    Forum Member
    Join Date
    Apr 2017
    Posts
    160

    Re: NGD: It's like déjà vu all over again!

    if it feels good , it is good! Congratulations!

  7. #7
    Forum Member DanTheBluesMan's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2002
    Location
    Southern NH
    Posts
    4,717

    Re: NGD: It's like déjà vu all over again!

    Nice, my next SG has suddenly gotten a competitor for the fourth guitar spot.

  8. #8
    Forum Member ch willie's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2008
    Location
    Tennessee
    Posts
    8,163

    Re: NGD: It's like déjà vu all over again!

    Only thing I see wrong with it is that it isn’t left handed. Seriously beautiful. Well done, OS.
    If we'd known we were going to be the Beatles, we'd have tried harder.--George Harrison

  9. #9
    Forum Member Don's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2002
    Location
    Massachusetts
    Posts
    11,288

    Re: NGD: It's like déjà vu all over again!

    Quote Originally Posted by OldStrummer View Post


    Thanks, Don. I find it very hard to photograph. The dark shade and nitrocellulose finish either reflect the light or absorb it. Of course, I'm eager to show it off, so I haven't spent a lot of time staging it for photography.


    That looks great! I can't take a decent pic of my new ES-335. It either comes out looking like tomato soup, or if the color's right, you can't see the flame.
    I tweaked the action on mine last night. It's amazing how action can affect tone.

  10. #10
    Forum Member melody's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2002
    Location
    The third coast..!
    Posts
    3,667

    Re: NGD: It's like déjà vu all over again!

    I'll bet she sounds/plays as good as she look's... Enjoy!

  11. #11
    Forum Member OldStrummer's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2016
    Location
    Northern Virginia, USA
    Posts
    3,928

    Re: NGD: It's like déjà vu all over again!

    Quote Originally Posted by melody View Post
    I'll bet she sounds/plays as good as she look's... Enjoy!
    Y'know, I have a number of guitars that sound great when I pick them up. "Shimmer," my CS Robin Trower Artisan is an example. But this ES-335 (as yet unnamed) just does something to me. I played it last night -- unplugged -- for an extended period of time (I lost track, which is another sign that I'm captivated) and everything just "fit." The feeling of the neck to me is flawless. It feels so similar to my ES-225, which I played for years and years. I played sitting down, which is how I play the ES-225, and it even feels the same. The sense is kind of "new is old again." My fingers just seem to know where to go on the fretboard.

    This is a special guitar. To me.


  12. #12
    Forum Member Don's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2002
    Location
    Massachusetts
    Posts
    11,288

    Re: NGD: It's like déjà vu all over again!

    If the neck on yours is similar to my 2017 ES-335 (I assume it is) then it's a very nice neck shape. Gibson calls it a Rounded "C" and says it's .850" thick at the 1st fret and .950" at the 12th. Mine measures .852" at the 1st fret and .970" at the 12th. The nut is 1.688" wide. It's quarter sawn mahogany with very straight grain. The rolled neck binding feels great. The neck doesn't have a flat back and big shoulders (more of a "D" shape) like previous production ES-335s I've played.

    My '59 ES-225's neck is similar in shape and only slightly thicker. The neck on this guitar surprised me when I first played it. I had never played a vintage Gibson before and was surprised how much smaller the neck felt compared to reissue Les Pauls.

    The body shape is similar in the waist and lower bout- they fit in the same case, other than the ES-225 requiring a case with an arched to to clear the taller bridge. The body thickness is pretty close as well.

  13. #13
    Forum Member melody's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2002
    Location
    The third coast..!
    Posts
    3,667

    Re: NGD: It's like déjà vu all over again!

    Quote Originally Posted by OldStrummer View Post
    Y'know, I have a number of guitars that sound great when I pick them up. "Shimmer," my CS Robin Trower Artisan is an example. But this ES-335 (as yet unnamed) just does something to me. I played it last night -- unplugged -- for an extended period of time (I lost track, which is another sign that I'm captivated) and everything just "fit." The feeling of the neck to me is flawless. It feels so similar to my ES-225, which I played for years and years. I played sitting down, which is how I play the ES-225, and it even feels the same. The sense is kind of "new is old again." My fingers just seem to know where to go on the fretboard.

    This is a special guitar. To me.

    It's a wonderful feeling when you know a guitar in a spiritual way! That connection is a high for me that no drug can compare to... I have a few I feel that way about still searching for the others but that's half the fun...

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •