For Sale
This was the home of OK Guitars in Kent, CT. The retail location is closed. Internet sales will continue as usual. I am now located in Worthington, OH.
All of the guitars in the “For Sale” section are in my possession unless I mention otherwise. They are not all my guitars. Some may be consignments. All of them have been set up by me and played by me to make certain they are everything I say they are. You are entitled to a 48 hour approval period. Buyer pays return shipping and will be charged for the initial shipping if it was free if the guitar is as described. If you just don’t “bond” with it, that’s a legitimate reason to return it but you will be responsible for its safe return to me. It must be shipped back by the same method you received it and must be fully insured. All parts are photographed before shipping and parts that are missing or changed on a guitar that has been returned will be charged to the buyer. It’s not pretty but it happens. Fortunately, it rarely happens. You can also find me on Gbase and Reverb.com. My dealer name is OK Guitars. You can pay using Paypal, credit card, check, cash and bank wire. I will hold any guitar as a courtesy for 24 hours without a deposit. Just call or email me and let me know you’re interested. This isn’t the entire inventory. Check Gbase for more guitars. Amps and parts are on a separate page on this site. Always check Gbase-I usually update that first when I get something new and there are more photos.
I get asked the same question all the time…what is your favorite year ES-335? The answer is late 58. Big neck, thin top, shallow neck angle, long magnet PAFs. This November 58 checks all the boxes. It’s in 9/10 condition and plays great. It has been re-fretted but is otherwise original. No wear, no checking, no issues. $75,000
59 blondes have become the bigfoot of the vintage guitar world. You see one and then it turns out to be a 60. Or a moose. Thin top, big neck and rare narrow top plate Bigsby. All original collector grade blonde. $112,500
Early 58 Blonde ES-335. Unbound neck. Really pretty birdseye top. All original except the bridge. The original ABR-1 on these early 58’s were much thinner than the normal ABR-1 and they all collapsed. Gibson would replace them with a shaved ABR-1. This has one of those. Back of the neck only is refinished. $75000
OK (and just about nobody else) has the blondes. This 60 is in stunning 9+ condition. It had a floating Bigsby (no holes in the top). No other issues. It shows almost no wear and has no issues other than the Bigsby holes at the end pin only. $98,000.
Early big neck (wide nut) ES-335. Much less expensive than a 64 but nearly as good. Still a bargain given that a 64 this clean would cost you $35,000 or more. This 9/10 condition 65 is priced at $22,000
I love a guitar with P90’s. My main non ES player is a 60 Epiphone Wilshire with a pair of P90’s. This is another great choice for a P90 guitar. TV Yellow is a cool color and the double cut Specials-especially the early ones are great guitars. $17000
**SOLD**A great playing later 59 ES-335. The neck is medium. Killer long magnet PAFs. Everybody wants a 59 and I don’t disagree. $73,000
1964 Stratocaster in Fiesta Red. All the right Pre CBS features…green guard, spaghetti logo, clay dots. This one came out of Europe and I believe it could be a Selmer. That means it was shipped to Selmer (the UK distributor) by Fender and was repainted Fiesta red at Selmer. Fiesta was a wildly popular color in the UK (Hank Marvin played one) and Selmer wanted to cash in. Selmer Fiestas are generally priced 25-35% under a Fender finished Fiesta. I recently sold a 64 for $65,000. This one is listed at $34,500. Has the desirable white case.
You are a sweetheart for taking the time to respond to my post, especially so thoughtfully. Maybe there is a way for us to do business together. You have some beautiful guitars, and I realize I’d have to spend more, but with you my gut tells me it would be worth the additional investment. Maybe 64 isn’t right after all. Not sure how far Kent is from Wesrchester, NY, which is where I am, but if feasible a visit to your shop or at least a phone call would seem to make a lot of sense. Thank you again for your gracious assistance. – Dave
Depending on where you are in Westchester, it’s around an hour drive. I-684 to Rt 22 to Rt 55 to Rt 7.
Hey, I stumbled in your website looking for ES-335 dimensions but I didn’t find what I was looking for.
On one hand, I have to admit that since this is a free country anyone can do anything they please as long as they are not breaking the law, of course. Still, I can’t help making a comment that asking $22,000 for an electric guitar with wear markings, scratches, possibly some replaced parts and even a part of the pick guard broken (but still in the case, ha-ha) is -basically- what’s fundamentally wrong with how America has changed (nfor the worse) during the past few decades.
I always thought the vintage market is full of (you know what). It’s mostly hype and very little essence. This site is yet another example positively reinforcing my belief that I am on the right path. I always though Gibson guitars were nicely made but still way overpriced. Now that I saw your prices, well, I had to reconsider.
Nevertheless, I wish you do well with your business, still I’m glad I’ll never be your customer.
Cheers!
Bought a house lately?
Hi Charlie, David from OZ here. Thanks for all your kind help and expertise regarding my new toy which arrived today. It has been a great pleasure to deal with you and I should think we will do so again in the not to distant future. Kind regards, David.
Hi Charlie! Thanks for your help with the 64 Cherry 335. Every time I play it I’m blown away by the tone from those patent #s. This guitar has a bit of that “magic”.
Do the nut widths vary within that year? Mine is 1 5/8″, but I have found it to be comfortable after I play it for a few minutes. I think my muscle memory must be set to 1 11/16″ or so and it is amazing to me that I can even feel that sixteenth.
Jerry in Florida
Hey Charley,
Thank you for responding to my query last night regarding the “58” 335 on Reverb. Not one of your listings.
I feel like a dillweed that I did not see the “reissue” in the description. Then again – I think some sellers attempt to play that down.
– Doug Clavell, Roseburg, OR
Don’t feel bad. I miss stuff like that all the time.
You have beautiful 335s. I would love one .I am to poor
That’s the reason I have them now that I’m old. I was too poor too buy one in the 60’s. If I could have afforded one back then, I might not have so many now.
Love that Lentz!
i would like to get an ES 345 for about 5 k or 6 i play blues guitar and my own fok rock sort of thing im 64 i like used stuff playing 37 years
Look for one from 66-68. Anything earlier will be beyond your budget unless it has some issues.
Hi
is the 61 es335 player grade still available?
thanks
Yes, I still have it.
regarding the 61 gretsch, I would have to say the 58 & 59 are the magic years for the 6120, That said, every guitar has to be judged on it’s own merits and it could well be that the 61 shown here is just such a guitar. Some people can’t live without the full thickness body, theres like the thinner style. At any rate I think the one shown is a bargain. As much as I love the ES Series I would argue that the early Filtertrons are some of the finest sounding pickups ever to grace a guitar.
I don’t think there are any “magic” years for any guitar. Everybody thinks 59 is the pinnacle for 335’s but I’ve played average 59’s and stunningly good 65’s. I don’t play enough 6120’s to know much but the 61 I had was the best I’ve ever played. Perhaps if I had the opportunity to play more of them, I would agree with you but I can only write what I know.
Hello what is the price for the 335 58 (bending neck ?)
Are you interrested by a trade ? Thanks
Send me an email at okguitars@gmail.com. Trades are welcome if they are vintage.
Hi,
I came across your website and I was hoping that you might be willing to offer an opinion as you seem to have a good deal of expertise about ES guitars. I have been thinking about buying one. Actually that isn’t quite true. I want to buy one but I am going to have to convince my wife we can afford it! If I had the money I would obviously want a vintage model but they are way out of my price range. I have been poking around on the internet and I have seen a few that look interesting and affordable. One in particular was made in 2005 while another one was made in 2015. Given all of the troubles Gibson has been having would you recommend avoiding instruments from this era? Or in your opinion are they reasonably good quality? Oh, and unfortunately I live in small town USA and there isn’t a reasonable guitar store within 100 miles so it is kind of hard to shop or get a chance to see a new one. For what it is worth my price range is under $3000 so I don’t have a lot to work with.
Thanks for any advice you would be kind enough to share.
Jim
I would recommend either a 2000-2009 Nashville built Historic or a very recent 2014-2018 Memphis built reissue. They can be all over the place so buy something with a return policy.
Great website – obviously a labor of love.
Learn something new about the 335 family every time I visit.
Keep up the quality work in 2019!
Many thanks
I have a Gibson ES-335. The serial number begins with 83. Does that mean that it was manufactured in 1983? Thanks for your help.
It does not. Between 1977 and the middle of 2005, the serial is 8 digits following this pattern: YDDDYPPP
YY is the production year
DDD is the day of the year
PPP is the plant designation and/or instrument rank.
So if it was made during that period and the first digit is 8, look at the 5th digit and that will complete the year.
I am one of the fortunate ones who seized the opportunity to purchase a once-in-a-lifetiime guitar from Charlie Gelber, the world’s undisputed and foremost expert on 335 style instruments. Charlie got me a 1961 ES-335 sunburst, with factory matching PAFs, and factory stoptail and bigsby plus a factory “custom made” plaque in the case. Very expensive but has become my pride and joy and Charlie schooled me all the way through the selection process. I could not be happier and look forward to returning to his shop to get my next piece.
I have a ES330TDC with serial number 1096_3 and have not found someone who has seen this type of number. I also have it for sale on Craigslist for $4500. Any idea abut the number and is the price fare?
Thanks
Larry A. Pace
541-443-0991
Is there a letter in front of that number? It should be an “S” or an “R”
Send me a photo and I’ll answer the question (and possibly buy it)
okguitars@gmail.com
Hi, what do you think about this 345 ’69 ?
Thank you
Pino …. from Italy
Looks OK in the photos. If you ever want to sell it, be aware that walnut ES guitars aren’t popular (or desirable).
I would look for a sunburst or red. Also depends on the price which isn’t mentioned.
Many thanks for your quickly response for a 345 on Reverb site …
i have a 355 td-sv ’68 and a 335 ’73 …and i want a 355 walnut because i’re a fan of B.B.King and he had this guitar
IHi,
I have to replace the pickguard from my 355 ’68 …what do you suggest me …
Thank you very much
335 Serial number: 729887
I bought this guitar from Olivia’s vintage guitar and
he told me year ’73
but on http://www.guitarinsite.nl/serienummers-gibson_eng.php the year is ’70-’72
thank you
The early 70’s are very difficult to date. They used the same serial numbers over and over again and the feature changes are not so obvious. Also, the guitar dating web sites are all pretty terrible in term of accuracy for the same reason. I can’t tell from the photo which year it is. Olivia’s generally knows their stuff so I would assume they researched it properly.
many many thanks for your response ….
pino
I have a question, I recently picked up a 2003 Es-335 dot. I noticed the horns on mine are very flat with only a little carve on them. While others I’ve noticed are very carved. I’m sure it has to do with what year, where it was made, if it’s a specific reissue etc. But is that normal? I’m not talking Midtown flat, but there is not much. Just wondering.
I’m a vintage guy. I’m not really qualified to comment on the new ones. They aren’t carved, they are pressed. They had a much more pronounced
“bulge” on top of the cutaway horns from 58 to 63 but they were getting too many rejects as the wood was pressed to its thinnest in that area.
The sanding would go through to the second ply and they had to be resprayed to cover or tossed into the reject pile.
They aren’t carved at all. They are formed under pressure and should all be pretty close to the same.
For all of you,
I engaged Charlie with some questions about various 335’s I was considering and I feel compelled to tell you that his thoroughness and responsiveness has been unparalleled. He is engaging, fun and knows this segment of the guitar market like nobody else. He is a treasure to be appreciated.
You want to talk about Nordstrom customer service as the gold standard, well Charlie is Nordy’s on Mark McGwire, Jose Canseco and Barry Bonds steroids!
Thanks Charlie,
Bruce Robinson
PS I coached McGwire and Canseco so I should know! LOL
All baseball nostalgia is appreciated. Happy to help out.
I am enthusiastically on board with you about the early ’69 GTs. I have one that I paid too much for at the top of the market, back in the oughts, and I’ve never regretted the overpayment. It sounds magnificent and plays like butter. The neck is divine.
Always love checking into your site.
I know you’ll remember me because I bought a memorable guitar from you a while back: a beautiful red ’61 330 with black knobs, swapped out by you.
Glad you’re still up and running.
Best regards
Just Found Your Page, Glad I Did! Back In 1969-70 , Purchased A 1969? 12 String Epiphone , by Gibson, Les Paul – Wine Red Semi Hollow Body Guitar With Bigsby Tailpiece, Including Hard Shell Case! Unfortunately It Was Stolen While I Was On The Road With Young Apostles Gospel Ministry! It Was Stolen From My Apartment In Wintersville, Ohio [near Steubenville, Ohio]! Without a Serial# Written Down, I Would Have My Work Cut Out, as It’s Been Nearly 52 Years! But Could Use Your Advice , If I Stand Any Chance Of Finding It? Thank You! Sincerely L.G.I. [4-2-21] Have A Blessed Day!!
Probably not. What might make it possible is the Bigsby. A Bigsby on a 12 string is a monumentally bad idea and few 12 strings have them. I expect that if you see a wine red Epi
12 string with a Bigsby, it’s yours. I’ve never seen one.
Thank you for this Website.
What is your opinion on the Stop tail vs.Trapeze in regards to sound and playability? In the MArket as a first time buyer.
How About Patent# v. PAF? Seems like payign thousands for a sticker.?
Thanks again
I prefer the stop but not by much. Maybe slightly better sustain. Maybe not. I like the look of it better for sure. Stop tail stays in tune better.
Early PAFs are different than patents. Late PAFs (short magnet) are exactly the same as late PAFS, so yes, you are paying for the sticker.
Can anyone tell me what Gibson ES this is? It’s like an ES-335, but about 4″ thick. I think it’s from the late 60’s-early70’s?
It’s in this Bobby Gentry video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qg6IjF4Tsa8
I had to look at the video to get it but once he turned to the side, it was easy. It’s a 69-75 ES-150DC. That’s the deep bodied, full hollow 335 that seemed like a good idea
but never caught on. It looks black but it’s more likely walnut as black wasn’t offered. It certainly could be a special order ES-150 in black. The switch on the treble horn is also indicative of that model but some 335’s had that as well.