1965 Gibson ES-335 Cherryburst, Very Good, Original Hard, $11,000.00

Most of us think of "model years" like we think about cars. We expect the changes from year to year to happen on a set date so we can identify a 64 from a 65 based on the changes that occurred from one year to the next. But that's not how it was at Gibson. There were serial numbers but they kept using the same ones over and over again. We assign "model years" as best we can based on features and serial numbers but there are all kinds of overlap from year to year. We all know that 64 was the last year for the stop tail and that 65's had trapeze tailpieces, right? Wrong. The stop tail continued into 1965 and, while not terribly common, they are out there. These January and February 65's have the big 64 neck, the 17 degree peg head angle, all nickel hardware and stop tails. This one had a Bigsby but was factory drilled for a stop. The only features that identify it as a 65 (rather than a 64) are the truss rod cover (narrow bevel) and the cherry burst finish which was introduced in 65. This is only the third stop tail cherry burst I've ever seen and the second one I've had ("The Mexican" was the other stop tail cherry burst and was 15 serial numbers earlier than this one). This one had its tuners changed to Grovers and I refitted it with vintage correct Kluson. When the Grovers were installed, the Kluson holes were filled and the headstock was oversprayed. Looks kind of odd but there are no breaks or repairs other than the filling of the Kluson tuner holes. The tailpiece and studs are high end repro. Original Gibson badged case.