Gibson Custom Shop CS-356 Review & Demo 

Yeah... I'm also kind of tempted to get an ES-339, but I should really sell some of my existing guitars, first. I haven't seem any 339's around, lately. Are they currently being made?

@@GuitarQuackery That's a good question. I haven't seen any new ones lately, Gib OR Epi, in the Dallas/Fort Worth area but there are some used ones in the online markets. They are holding value or appreciating to above-new prices. I really want one but I'm not going to spend ridiculous money for it. Unfortunately I passed on "the One" three years ago during the lockdown and I regret it. The Dallas Guitar Show is happening this weekend and I'd bet there are some nice 339s changing hands, but at prices that are just out of my league.

@@markpell8979 I just checked Sweetwater and the Guitar Center website and they both sell Gibson ES-339 guitars. The plain one is $2,999 and the figured one is $3,499. I have no use for the figured one, but I wouldn't mind a good plain one in cherry. So, I guess they still make them, but I guess they are just not as popular as one would think. BTW, why are they called 339? It's such a bad looking number. And so is 356. I do like 330, 335, 345 and 355 just as number, but 339 is just ugly to look at. I wonder if the fact that it's called 339 might have slightly influenced the lack of popularity.

@@GuitarQuackery I've wondered about the model numbers too. Some Gibson history buff has no doubt written about it. I bet it stems simply from how they numbered models in the shop back in the day, at Kalamazoo probably, leaving gaps in the sequence for new versions in the future. Like in most woodshops, I can imagine numbered tracing/routing/drilling templates hanging on the wall for anything they mass-produced. Maybe somebody suggested, "What about a scaled-down 335?" 🤔 So they drew out a few, built a couple, and when they got it just right they knew it and it turned out to be prototype #339. Makes for a nice story anyway, don't you think? Thanks for the current price info. It tells me the Gibsons are above my budget for at least the near future so I'll stay on the lookout for a nice Epiphone. The fact that the standard ES models' bodies are made from laminates does not bother me and I think there are some worthwhile advantages. A solid top as on the CS-356 you featured is beautiful and aesthetic for sure but to me, a 'plywood' ES sounds just fine played electrically. If I need an acoustic with a pickup for some reason, I already have one. As with you, before I buy another guitar I should get rid of a couple first to make room (and feel justified- ha!) but I don't really have any guitars now that I want to part with, which isn't a bad place to be. Still, I believe I will own a 339 before I'm done. I guess I might settle for the right 335 but for me the size, proportion and feel of the 339 is right on and I don't see why it's not more popular. Anyway thanks for taking time to 'chat' about guitars with me. I appreciate it! Best wishes for continuing success with your business and I look forward to the next video.

Thanks for dropping by.

It really is!

Yup! Thanks for stopping by.

That's why I have a policy to keep guitars like this. Although, quilt top is really not my preference, I have to admit that this one looks really good.

@@GuitarQuackery haha that’s a good policy!

@@aronthompson778 In that case, kindly bring your guitar(s) to Guitar Quackey.

@@GuitarQuackery 😅 I wish! I need you to do a full setup.

@@aronthompson778 Well, you can always have your guitars shipped to the shop. Just don't include a return label. And, BTW, setups are free of charge on all guitars that are kept by the store. It's a limited time bargain deal for those who act quickly.

I believe the best execution is to cut a string groove that nests the string 1/2 way, into a slot that is exactly equal to the actual diameter of the string. That is a theoretical situation, as it is impossible to actually cut a string slot that is precisely the same diameter as the string. But that theoretical situation would offer the best of both worlds, i.e. you could do palm muting, without scratching your hand against parts of the hardware sticking up, you would have the best distribution of the forces against the king in the string (reducing the danger of string breakage), there would be a groove, so you always put the sting in the exact same place, when you change the strings, etc. I'm not sure of others might have other ideas.

@@GuitarQuackery I don’t think I have seen anyone discuss this question at the saddles . Funny though as the nut groove gets all the attention I’m sure the depths of the bridge saddles do something .

Absolutely. Usually from across the room.

It's a $5,000 guitar that was not in a hard case... and it's a Gibson with a mahogany neck and a severe headstock break angle. I really wanted it out of the shop ASAP.

@@GuitarQuackery I saw the break angle and thought “nope.” I might have tried it whilst on a bouncy castle but i haven’t got the space for one, and I would have to inflate/deflate. Impractical. 🙂

@@hannosolo How about a trampoline?

@@GuitarQuackery That is why you are that guitar guy. I will look into it, thanks.

@@hannosolo Here's a true story. Let's start with an old Chinese proverb: "You really can't make that shit up." A customer brought me a Gibson Les Paul with a broken headstock. That's not unusual. The unusual part was how it broke. No, he did not play the guitar while jumping on an inflatable castle, or trampoline... He placed the guitar on the floor and stepped on the nut, to see if it would break. He did this in, what he described as, one of his drunken states, after a friend told him that Gibson guitar necks are so strong, you can literally step on them and they would not break. So, the guy (my customer) was so intrigued at the prospect of his favorite Les Paul being un-destructible, that he decided to check it out for himself, placed the guitar on the floor, put his foot over the nut, shifted his body weight onto that foot, and... CRRRAAACK. It turns out, his friend was mistaken. Woops.

And the sustain is so great, it’s still ringing.