Gibson ES 339 - Guitar Repair

In this video we take a look at a 2017 Gibson ES339. This guitar is in really nice condition but needs to be evaluated for what, if anything it needs to play its best.
We also look at how to measure a neck for its thickness with a simple plastic caliper with slight modifications so the measurements can be taken with strings on.
We give it a quick listen early in the video and again later in the video plugged into a MojoTone Tweed Champ kit I built in 2013. I built the cabinet myself but did keep it to an 8" speaker.
We get a close up look at how to apply Big Bends Nut Sauce to the slots to reduce string binding so the guitar plays and stays in tune longer!
The frets were in great shape with no rocking and no buzzing. All in all it was an easy inspection and spec check.
This guitar is SOLD.

[@googo151]

OH DAM! ALMOST 5 YEARS TOO LATE. LOVELY WORK BROTHER.

[@bbmade]

Way too kind sir! Thanks for the comment.

[@andrewdarnley4608]

Great view of how other guys are doing a general check, very thorough. Amazingly tidy workspace, I wish mine could be like that. Thanks for posting.

[@bbmade]

Thanks! Rest assured my bench doesn’t always look that clean. I’ve gotten better about it over the years and now I find if I just stop and put things away I can focus on the work at hand a little better.

[@montag4516]

Thanks for sharing your check up procedure on this guitar. I played the same model today and I was quite pleaseded by the overall size and feel. The neck felt very comfortable to me, neither too thin or too fat, but just right.

[@bbmade]

Montag Alexis - Thank you for the comment. Glad you liked the video.

[@59panelvan]

I think I see what the customer was talking about on the neck. Look at timestamp 4:09 you can see it in the reflection of the light. Scratches of some sort.

[@tenniswilliam]

I have the same 339 in sunburst. It is really nice and it is better than Epiphone or other clones but of course much more expensive. So for ten or fifteen percent nicer you pay three times. If you can pick up a good one used like this one at a good price then it is recommended depending how much you play or if you are gigging. The guitar obtained at a good price will hold value more than the clone

[@bbmade]

Absolutely. I buy, fix, sell and too many times keep these acquisitions. The thing about the used market (especially Gibson) is that it can be hit and miss. Some of the Gibson’s I’ve flipped have been great, others not so great. A recent ES 335 from 2017 was a train wreck. Lots of video footage to edit on that one. Thanks for the comment!

[@dumbdickler670]

Diminishing returns and whatnot

[@mattgomz2856]

You just pay for the name, no longer the highiest quality craftsmanship of the guitar.

[@bbmade]

I agree in part. They have rested on their name for a long time and as a company have been arrogant and treated dealers horribly. They claim to be superb but the quality controls are not there to justify that lofty attitude. It’s hit and miss when shopping for a Gibson.

[@benink5690]

You can't buy those pickups after market.

[@timmcdowell8280]

Damn...I really just wanted to see the pickup height and intonation adjustment, and that was 8x normal.

[@bbmade]

Tim McDowell - Sorry about that but it’s a good idea for a future video. Thanks for the comment.

[@Adipsia1]

Nice guitar. It's just a shame that Gibson's quality-control is found lacking again.

[@bbmade]

A lot is said about Gibson’s quality and it really is hit and miss. If I didn’t do this type of work I wouldn’t buy one online sight unseen. It’s better to see one in a store and play it in my opinion. I enjoy making the videos and documenting the work that’s done while in my possession. It won’t go up for sale unless it’s as good as it possibly can be. This one found a new home and the person is really happy with it so it makes the effort worthwhile.