Archaic guitar purchase leaves buyer shocked - assuming it was safe from malfeasance, the vintage 1960 Gibson ES-335 reveals enduring lessons from bygone instruments.
In an intriguing discovery, a 1960 Les Paul Special with Mallory pots and a recently acquired 1960 ES-335, both sharing the same unique potentiometers, have sparked a debate among vintage guitar enthusiasts.
David Davidson, a renowned vintage guitar expert and owner of Well Strung Guitars in Farmingdale, New York, first brought the Les Paul Special to light in Guitarist magazine. The guitar, with its slim taper neck typical for late 1960, plays great and boasts a distinctive sound due to its hollow body with a solid plank in the middle.
The potentiometers, found to have date codes indicating the 48th week of 1959 and a manufacturer code 235, suggest they were made by Mallory. This is unusual, as Mallory pots are not the standard or usual potentiometers for 1960-61 Gibson ES-335 guitars. Their presence can be considered a known anomaly or less common variation, possibly from a transitional manufacturing batch or a replacement.
The theory is that Gibson used Mallory pots when they couldn't get stock from their usual supplier to keep the production line moving. A colleague's 1960 ES-335, with exactly the same potentiometers, further supports this theory. The colleague had bought the guitar from its original owner in 2021 and it was quite intact, with a lot of play wear.
Interestingly, the potentiometer shafts were found to be nylon, not metal, which was unexpected. Furthermore, both guitars had serial numbers that were very early 1961, with a slight discrepancy that could call them 1960s or 1961s. All control knobs had the same issue, with late-'60s-style deep reflectors and nylon potentiometer shafts.
To verify originality, professional vintage guitar inspection or provenance documentation would be recommended given the rarity of Mallory pots in these models. Consulting Gibson factory records or trusted vintage guitar specialists would provide the most accurate insight.
One of the pickups in the guitar has an opened cover, but there's no evidence of repairs having been carried out. The pickup with the opened cover is a 'zebra' and the other is a double black. This unique configuration adds to the guitar's allure and mystery.
In conclusion, these findings shed light on a lesser-known aspect of Gibson's production history, offering a fascinating glimpse into the brand's past. While Mallory pots may not have been standard in ES-335 models from 1960 or 1961, their presence in these two guitars raises questions about transitional periods or replacement parts. Regardless, these rare finds are sure to captivate collectors and enthusiasts alike.
- The 1960 Les Paul Special, with Mallory pots, and a 1960 ES-335, sharing the same potentiometers, have ignited a debate among vintage guitar enthusiasts.
- David Davidson, a renowned vintage guitar expert, brought the Les Paul Special to light in Guitarist magazine, praising its distinctive sound and playability.
- The presence of Mallory pots, usually not the standard for 1960-61 Gibson ES-335 guitars, is considered a known anomaly or less common variation.
- A colleague's 1960 ES-335, with identical potentiometers, further supports the theory suggesting Gibson may have used Mallory pots during transitional periods or as replacement parts.
- Both guitars have nylon potentiometer shafts, an unexpected finding, and serial numbers that could be interpreted as very early 1961 or 1960, adding to their rarity.
- To confirm originality, professional vintage guitar inspection or provenance documentation is recommended, involving Gibson factory records or trusted vintage guitar specialists.
- The unique configuration of a 'zebra' pickup with an opened cover and a double black pickup adds to the guitar's allure and mystery, making it a captivating find for collectors and enthusiasts.
- These rare finds offer a fascinating glimpse into Gibson's production history, raising questions about transitional periods and highlighting lesser-known aspects of the brand's past in the realms of fashion-and-beauty, books, entertainment, sports, sports-betting, food-and-drink, and home-and-garden lifestyle.
