Gibson ES355 - No COA?

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  • ICBMICBM Frets: 71956
    edited July 2021
    I assume they originally made them that big because their target market was the guys used to playing huge jazzboxes - ES-5, ES-125, ES-300 etc so they wanted something halfway between those and the LP to tempt them into the new style. 
    The odd thing is that they made the 335 even bigger, because the neck is too far out of the body - joined at the 19th fret. To retain the same geometry as the singlecut hollowbodies it needs to be at the 17th - perversely, the 330/Casino gets it wrong the other way, by having it at the 16th! Although I do find those much less unwieldy.

    They made the same mistake with the ES-135 - 16th-fret joint not 14th where it should be on a singlecut.

    Ironically the only version of the whole double-cut series that's really right are the Korean-made Casinos which did have the joint at the 17th fret, but purists don't like those because they're 'historically' wrong...

    "Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski

    "Just because I don't care, doesn't mean I don't understand." - Homer Simpson

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  • guitars4youguitars4you Frets: 14030
    tFB Trader
    I think they went from the A4 piece of paper to the little A5 booklet thing in around 2003/04.  Gibson do not reissue certificates, unlike Fender with the floor traveler. 
    Fender will only issue a new COA with the current date, so you don't get the original date

    Floor travellers for older models are available on many models but not all - Some CS models, especially Time Machine, were more of a 'catalogue' item, so the spec sheet was in the brochure of the day - As such you might have to google about and find such an old listing 
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  • susbemolsusbemol Frets: 395
    I think it is totally ok for someone to learn that a particular instrument isn't for them and have no interest in it but to suggest that Gibson were mistaken or misguided with the design of an iconic guitar like the 335 seems a bit much, no?

    Plenty of legendary players used it pretty much exclusively for many reasons and I don't think they would if the body was so "wrong". Its body size and other dimensions give it a distinctive sound which I personally find absolutely perfect for me. Obviously, ymmv.
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  • TeleMasterTeleMaster Frets: 10103
    I’m definitely returning it and have gone for a Duesenberg Starplayer TV in Black. I had a red sparkle one previously and it was great, but sparkly. So this should be just the ticket!
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  • Philly_QPhilly_Q Frets: 22516
    I’m definitely returning it and have gone for a Duesenberg Starplayer TV in Black. I had a red sparkle one previously and it was great, but sparkly. So this should be just the ticket!
    Any comparison there in terms of price, or is the Duesenberg much cheaper?  I have absolutely no idea what Duesenbergs cost.
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  • TeleMasterTeleMaster Frets: 10103
    It’s about £2K less. This model is used and £1600 so it’s a fair price. Duesenbergs are awesome guitars. I would definitely say consider one if you are in the market for a semi hollow. 
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  • Philly_QPhilly_Q Frets: 22516
    It’s about £2K less. This model is used and £1600 so it’s a fair price. Duesenbergs are awesome guitars. I would definitely say consider one if you are in the market for a semi hollow. 
    I liked the Flying V models they used to make - sort of Schenkerish but with art deco styling.  I do really like the hardware, pickups and general look of Duesenbergs, but the guitars themselves aren't really my kind of thing.
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  • guitars4youguitars4you Frets: 14030
    tFB Trader
    Philly_Q said:
    It’s about £2K less. This model is used and £1600 so it’s a fair price. Duesenbergs are awesome guitars. I would definitely say consider one if you are in the market for a semi hollow. 
    I liked the Flying V models they used to make - sort of Schenkerish but with art deco styling.  I do really like the hardware, pickups and general look of Duesenbergs, but the guitars themselves aren't really my kind of thing.
    They had to stop making that due to a potential law suit from our old friend Henry
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  • Philly_QPhilly_Q Frets: 22516
    Philly_Q said:
    It’s about £2K less. This model is used and £1600 so it’s a fair price. Duesenbergs are awesome guitars. I would definitely say consider one if you are in the market for a semi hollow. 
    I liked the Flying V models they used to make - sort of Schenkerish but with art deco styling.  I do really like the hardware, pickups and general look of Duesenbergs, but the guitars themselves aren't really my kind of thing.
    They had to stop making that due to a potential law suit from our old friend Henry
    Unsurprising! :)
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  • BlueingreenBlueingreen Frets: 2582
    It’s about £2K less. This model is used and £1600 so it’s a fair price. Duesenbergs are awesome guitars. I would definitely say consider one if you are in the market for a semi hollow. 

    Dealbreaker for me with the Duesenbergs is the scale length.  It's a shame because quality/price ratio the ones I've played have been great otherwise.
    “To a man with a hammer every problem looks like a nail.”
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  • TeleMasterTeleMaster Frets: 10103
    It’s about £2K less. This model is used and £1600 so it’s a fair price. Duesenbergs are awesome guitars. I would definitely say consider one if you are in the market for a semi hollow. 

    Dealbreaker for me with the Duesenbergs is the scale length.  It's a shame because quality/price ratio the ones I've played have been great otherwise.
    I don’t notice any difference. I play Musicman, Strats, Gibsons, whatever. Never have any issues with scalelength. 
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