1959 Gibson ES-335 TDN Blonde $95000

Nearly every 59 dot neck I get is an exceptional guitar. It is no accident that 59's are considered the golden year of the golden era at Gibson. I keep track of the best of the best ES-335's that I get and the difference between the best 59 and an average 59 (if such a thing exists) is really small. But about once a year or so I get one that surprises even me. I keep a mental list of what I call "top ten" ES guitars. The list has mostly 58's and 59's. It has a few 345's and at least one 355. This 59 blonde makes the list easily and it is only the second blonde to crack my top ten. Maybe even top five. Now, considering I've owned around 600 pre 65 ES guitars, making the top ten seems like a big deal but the truth is that these guitars are so good that number 50 would still qualify as perhaps the best guitar you've ever played. This is a mid year 59 with a big fat neck but not humongous. It measure .87" behind the first fret and .97" behind the 12th. Somewhere between wonderful and perfect for me. And the pickups...8.45K double black in the neck and 8.60K double white in the bridge. The guitar is all original except for the tuner tips and the frets. It shows quite a lot of player wear to the neck and fine checking all over the guitar. This is no case queen. This guitar was played and you'll know why as soon as you crank it up. It is loud. It is fat. It is creamy and smooth when it wants to be and brutal and nasty when it needs to be. It is a beautiful thing. Guitars like this one are the reason I do this for a living.