My Dream Guitar | '14 Gibson Memphis '63 RI ES-335TD | Faber Tone-Lock Upgrade

Logan with his red one:
• Logan Checks Out His '...
• '58 Fender 5E3 Narrow ...
Steve with his red one:
• Honest Review Part 3: ...
Steve's sunburst one:
• Rewiring a Gibson ES-3...

[@tboneshandy]

Beauty! I just purchased the same guitar from 2013 (50th anniversary '63). Best guitar I've ever played.

[@hekakain4108]

Hi Lyle, I too have seen Mr Koch play guitar on several occasions, I now play the tambourine. 😉

[@davidtreaster4397]

Awesome. Earlier this year I bought a new ES 345. No varitone. I love it! I’m 54, so I was due…enjoy!

[@jjdillon2007]

I did the same top wrapping with my 335 also. I also put in new abr-1 posts, from Faber. They're slightly longer than Gibson's, and can be sunk into the wood a little more. The Stew Mac abr-1 post tool was invaluable! Another thing I did, it that I added an additional thumbwheel to each post, and screwed it all the way to the bottom, to keep the abr-1 perpendicular, and more firm. I got that from Bonamassa, as well as his tech, Mike Hickey's trick of adding an extra ball end to string, before top-wrapping. That way, the wrapped part of the string stays in the stop tail, and the pure string will be hitting the back of the stop tail.

[@michaelgriffith6641]

Congrats on getting your dream guitar. And thanks for sharing the info on the guitar. Upon watching I had to inspect the bridge on my 1981 Westbury SA-260. The SA-260 is a very well made in Japan ES-335. I learn a lot from and enjoy watching your videos. Thanks again for sharing so much information. Unfortunately my burst doesn't follow the shape at the horns like yours does. I'll be okay, It's my favorite guitar anyway. Have a great day

[@tommacdonald6295]

That is a really sweet 335, I got lucky and have a dot board from the early 80s and your absolutely right some are fantastic, some are dogs. I got lucky 👍.

[@gben2457]

Nice, I have a 2009 Memphis Custom cherry dot, great neck and tone. Congrats on your purchase.

[@prtjazz]

My dream guitar too

[@khillsy4489]

You're not the only one. 😉👍

[@billydelacruz1500]

Congrats! Have some vintage guitars but 14 Rich Robinson Es quickly became my No.1!! Amazing quality! Your Es is gorgeous!

[@wrongSoRight]

I love the info on how you aged your bridge parts. I'm happy that you top-wrapped the strings over the tailpiece so you could seat that to the body. I've been watching your channel for the amp repair content but your guitar content is awesome too. Congrats on that great 335!

[@joekyleboston]

Congratulations Lyle! Very happy for you. Enjoy.

[@vadenk4433]

Yeah I’m a sucker for a 345 too.

[@boojbah1]

I have a 2013 Les Paul that was plek'd by Gibson. I had the same issue you mentioned regarding the nut; it was awful. The string nut height was high and the 10-46 set i dropped in kept binding. After filing the nut a bit it played like butter. And Faber rocks! Beautiful guitar....Congrats!

[@54macdog]

Superb choice. Mine is similar and is a BEAST!

[@butchlauer]

I'm always all thumbs when I see an old school gibson burst. 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@viktor86bt]

Congrats on finding your dream guitar. This was very informative. I really look forward to your appearance on Tone Talk!

[@sgt.grinch3299]

Congratulations on the new guitar. She sure is a beautiful instrument. I look forward to many years of great videos.

[@mattjohnson6916]

I'm certainly going to be interested in that Les Paul when it gets posted! Your overview video of it when you first got it was really good.

[@picksalot1]

Congrats on getting close to the dream. Every time I do a Mod on my guitars that works well, I feel like I just got a new guitar. Happy, happy. 😁

[@jeffkellogg76]

I went to high school with a couple of guys , they are brothers, who bought two red 335’s and two Fender Twin Reverbs so that they could perform in the talent show in high school. One of the brothers continued to play in various local cover bands and the other just plays at home for his own pleasure. These were purchased new in 1972 and they both still have their 335s & Twins. I would love to get the rig from either brother but I am sure that they will be WILLED to their kids.

[@palidiciovermingagurainia1760]

Wow- that Les Paul has exceptional tone- someone will be geeked

[@Kevin-the-Just]

That looks gorgeous. I have a 2017 '58' 335 VOS from the Memphis plant. With its 'Mickey Mouse' body and unbound chunky neck it's one of my favourite guitars. Coincidentally, I did the Faber Tonelock bridge and tailpiece mod to my 2016 Les Paul Traditional. The difference was subtle, but it seemed to bring a bit more vibrancy to it. It's a superbly engineered bridge. I even put one on my Collings I-35 LC, but that was really about protecting the guitar's top from falling hardware!

[@jjdillon2007]

I also have the Faber Tone-Lock ABR-1 bridge and couldn't be happier.

[@clarkeblacker]

The Plek system works on the neck and frets only, making the neck adjustment correct and frets perfectly adjusted. The nut and bridge work is all supposed to be a part of the entire setup done after the Plek straightens out the neck and levels fret height perfectly. The company that did my Epiphone SG Custom included the setup with the Pleking. I paid about $245 for it and they let me watch the entire process. They should have set it up and fixed the nut for you. It wasn't the Plek, it was the tech.

[@PsionicAudio]

This guitar was pleked at the factory 6 years ago.

[@VERBANDTREM]

That's my dream guitar alao. I've owned a 2012 and 2015 ES335 but the 63 or 64 spec is the best in my opinion.

[@david25876]

I think Gibson USA is doing a great job these days. I bought a ‘21 50’s LP and it was flawless. It plays and sounds amazing.

[@peteloomis8456]

Interesting that you used white vinegar to age those parts to match the rest of the guitar. I often use apple cider vinegar to remove rust from things like rust inside old motorcycle gas tanks or small chrome pieces that have light rust on them that takes the rust off and the part can then be buffed with chrome polish to look like new again . If you have hard water and don't have a water softener and you get hard water deposits in your toilet I use the apple cider to fill the tank after I drain the water out then shut the water valve off and I slightly flush the toilet to get the apple cider vinegar down into the bowl of the toilet and then fill the tank up as far as possible with the cider vinegar then let it sit overnight and the next day flush the toilet with the water turned back on and it cleanes the inside of the toilet just like new again flushing any crud or hard water deposits down the toilet without having to scrub . The other thing vinegar works good for is on weeds like sticker weeds that where I live can get pretty good sized and all you have to do is pour some right at the base of the plant especially if it hasn't rained in a few days and in a few days to a week they die turning brown and burnt up looking lol . I've even used it on a old 41 Ford hubcap that had rust on the back of it to clean that rust out so I could make a mount to mount it to 1 of the 6 big pine trees I have at the turn in my driveway that I have other old antique old hubcaps attached to those trees that are all stainless steel so at night when I come home with the headlights on it actually helps light up the driveway at the turn more . Enjoyed the video and enjoy the new guitar to add to your collection !

[@tommacdonald6295]

Thanks, excellent info 👍.

[@scottwilcox6313]

Yes you're not the only one I definitely love guitars. Oh yeah the honeymoon with the new one

[@mattjohnson6916]

Awesome guitar! I'm looking forward to hearing it being played through interesting amps in the years to come!

[@markmcqueen1882]

Nice job matching up the metal parts. You can also neutralize the vinegar (acid) by rinsing in a solution of baking soda and water.

[@pedraw]

Congrats...........................That's a beauty.

[@jamesf2918]

Happy new guitar day!!!

[@bernardparent8340]

That’s a great 335 you have found, my pet peeve is the long guard I was looking for in my ‘14 330 , (upgraded with Lollars, of course).I Hope your honeymoon will last à lifetime. Bernard

[@simonfreer9076]

Congratulations Lyle. She's a looker

[@Panhead49EL]

If you bring a goldtop right up to you face and relax your eyes the top turns into a golden ocean. Yes, you are not alone.

[@LPCustom3]

I had one of those until last year. Only sold it to buy one of the new Nashville Custom Shop ‘64 ES-335TDC block inlay which is one of the best ES-335’s I’ve played over the last 50 years..

[@3745green]

Top wrapping the tail piece is life

[@ryanfulldark2775]

Fantastic guitars! I have the same one, just a TDC. I, too, sold my Les Paul because the 335 just did everything better. Great video, as always!

[@Busyfingers24]

Congrats! Hard to beat the sound of a sweet semi hollow👍

[@LPCustom3]

BTW, Congrats on the guitar Lyle!👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻🎵🎵🎶

[@weschilton]

Really nice ES-335, Lyle. Congrats! NGD is the best!

[@HeyjAjSayJ]

Semi-perimeter sunburst (as opposed to teardrop), kluson style tuners, topwrapping, the neck angle-bridge/tailpiece height relation... Yep, I see you're a fellow 335 enthusiast. Great taste sir.

[@gringopig]

Lovely thing! Hope you enjoy it 👍

[@danielsaturnino5715]

That's a really nice guitar. I'd stare at it also.

[@JONNIE_ROCKER]

Beautiful guitar

[@erajad]

I'm totally with you on the "contour" of the 'burst pattern following the outline of the guitar, rather than the "teardrop" shape. That looks like a lovely "tobacco burst" - my own first choice, too. Congrats, Lyle! Hope you enjoy it.

[@kevinalfrey2633]

Beautiful guitar ‼️ now your gonna have to pick up some chris cane licks .congratulations. One day ,hopefully not in my afterlife I’ll have one

[@jameswhite1450]

Hell yah!. My tastes are tied to my ‘59 Nashville reissue 335 but I can dig your choice.

[@matthewf1979]

A man of fine taste! I’m after a 64 TDC reissue myself.

[@PsionicAudio]

I would have settled for a cherry. ;)

[@matthewf1979]

@@PsionicAudio I’m picking up a custom shop Strat tomorrow that I’ve been after for two decades. Olympic white 59, AAA flame neck, slab board, 59 Esquire neck shape. Absolutely pumped I found one close by. I’m still searching for the perfect ES, which could be a 35, 45 or 55. Just depends on how it catches my eye. Then there’s the 54 LP Custom….. I just can’t get that out of my head. I’m entirely guitarded.

[@PsionicAudio]

I get it. Have you played a ‘50s LPC? “Fretless wonder” is an apt name. I can’t deal with them.

[@richclayton5785]

Congrats!

[@robertbarnes9745]

Enjoy my friend. Well earned. Greg's last name , as he often admonishes, rhymes with chalk.

[@AJMjazz]

That's a nice Gibson! I'm not a fan of Gibsons (Too many bad experiences), but that's a nice looking and sounding Gibson.

[@halhawkins7641]

Excellent!!!!

[@jephjacques]

Beautiful guitar :)

[@upload2352]

I wasn't happy with the MHS neck pickup tone from my '18 339 - it sounded thin/trebly, relative to the bridge (and relative to the HB neck pickups on my Gib 390 and LP, Agile LP, Ibanez ASV10A, etc.). Using the guitar and amp tone knobs knocked down most of the treble, but it didn't sound "right," somehow - just light and thin, not a full HB sound to my ear. I wondered if the tone issue was due to the MHS-spec winding, magnets, etc., and found others considered it a bright pickup, relative to others. I noticed that the 339's neck pickup orientation was unique among my other HB guitars in that it had a pretty severe tilt toward the headstock due to the pickup surround's size/slant, while the bridge pickup was parallel to the strings. On all of the other HB guitars, the neck pickup lies parallel with the strings. Adjusting the neck pickup's height was always strange because to get the screw side close enough to the strings, the non-screw side of the pickup appeared too close to the strings. Some research suggested having the non-screw side of the pickup too close to the strings resulted in more treble (could only find one such reference, though, and can't re-find it now). I then researched the Gibson tilting neck pickup issue (not limited to the 339, but extends to 335s and some LPs) and found 2 schools of thought - (1) Gibson designed the tilt into the 339 and other semihollows for a reason, so leave it alone, (2) Gibson was too lazy/cheap to use and adjust flat pickup rings on today's "rack" guitars like they used to do on their vintage stuff, and still do on their current Custom Shop stuff, so change it so the pickup is parallel to the strings. Sub-ssues arose - (1) whether changing the pickup orientation affected tone (Responses - not surprisingly, "yes" and "no"), and, (2) if change was desired, how best to pursue it - simply flip the stock ring around, or get a new, taller (bridge) ring and sand the bottom to conform to the 339's top, while making the pickup's top parallel with the strings. I decided I didn't like the stock pickup orientation (tilt), and I wondered if tone could be improved with a change. Because the "flip the stock pickup ring around" pics simply placed the pickup off-level the other way (screw side now too close to the strings, non-screw side dipped too far down), I elected to go the new Gibson bridge pickup ring route and took the ring down to a little more than 3/16 and then I tailored it so the bottom followed the guitar contour while leaving the top parallel to the strings. Took about an hour of sanding/adjusting/checking to get it just right. Results? Well, I also changed the dead strings, so that's a variable to consider, but I really like the change, would do it again, and can recommend it. Could be placebo, I readily acknowledge, but I like it better now, regardless. The neck pickup's tone is a now much less trebly, and it's warmer, more full sounding, more like a high quality HB PAFish pickup should sound. There is also greater articulation/string separation that could be due in part to the new strings, and/or the pickup adjustment. Plus, it's easier to adjust the height, and it now looks "right." To know if the outcome is placebo, or real, it would be interesting to learn the issue bugged you enough that you applied your gear and scientific method to determining whether the pickup tilt makes any measurable/noticeable difference.

[@palidiciovermingagurainia1760]

We all stare

[@tacmason]

Naw the 335 is the one-you did great brother !

[@palidiciovermingagurainia1760]

I heard a Heritage last year that had same tone shape

[@palidiciovermingagurainia1760]

Or “voiced pickups”

[@richardlynch5632]

Congratulations Lyle😃😎👍 Are you gonna get a bone (cow, mammoth etc...) nut? My '58 ri has the Mickey ears because I was a Do-Bee🤣😎👍 GREAT vinegar trick....!!! Did you have to use ball ends to keep windings on ball-end of strings from coming up over STOP bar? It's a beautiful guitar for sure👍

[@PsionicAudio]

Bone if Bobby can’t just make the nylon better. I kind of like the idea of the original material. You don’t have to use the extra ball ends with the Faber tailpiece (they don’t get wedged in like most Gibson TPs) but I will next string change.

[@richardlynch5632]

@@PsionicAudio Looking forward to hearing a lot more from this guitar👍👍👍 There are few things in life that are as satisfying as a properly set-up and toneful 335😁 Score indeed😎👍❤🖖

[@charbelalkobtawy3544]

Congrats Lyle! Beautiful guitar, and great little amp. I want to get a vibro champ as a first tube amp. I like the Fender reissues that are 10” + reverb, but I’m afraid the build quality will give me trouble. Do you suggest getting one and taking it to a good tech to address common issues? Or maybe look for a small builders HW ones like Carl’s or Allen’s which could be around double the price of a Fender? Thanks!

[@jimshomestudio4669]

I have a 14 Lemonburst I’m fond of. There’s a Watermelon that I also wanted to get til I saw the price. The Lemon will do.

[@guitardunc]

You may think the neck pickup surround is backwards, but that's the way I have it on my original '65 ES-345. I guarantee that if you swap it around to the "correct" position, you will not be happy.

[@guitardunc]

Oh... you did swap it around. Must be just me.

[@David.S.]

she's a beaut! just need a Lifeson 355 and you're set..

[@PsionicAudio]

I don’t think I could play one of those. Tiny narrow necks.

[@David.S.]

@@PsionicAudio ah, true. Makes you wonder how Lerxst even managed to play it..

[@ouphrontisco.]

Lyle, I have a Memphis 335 with the MHS PAF's. that I absolutely love the guitar. BUT, I'm having a really hard time controlling feedback from the unpotted PAF's. I'm not talking super high gain, merely pushing my Matchless Nighthawk pretty hard with maybe a Klon on to boost. & it's just uncontrollable. They are incredibly microphonic. I can hear my the knocks from my belt buckle on the back of the body coming through the amp. Curious how yours behave with an amp turned way up. It doesn't seem to be the covers as I did the hack of adding some wax there & the problem persists. Appreciate any thoughts.

[@tracyc7813]

I am rather found of my ES-339. I am a short little fart so the smaller size of the ES-339 is more comfortable for me. I like it so much that when I decided I wanted a Casino I got the Coupe version because it is the same size as my ES339. :o)

[@tacmason]

use the middle for rhythm , the bridge for overdriven leads-and the neck for everything else !

[@Henni63]

She's a beauty and sounds fine, too. And yes, Greg Koch is insane :-) .

[@andoros.7017]

Nice guitar! Is there a correlation between this guitar being "the one" and its premier to the world being your only video that doesn't bless us with the saxophone line from Gerry Rafferty's "Baker Street"?

[@PsionicAudio]

I love that song but I’ve never played it in any of the videos. So I’m not sure what you mean.

[@jjdillon2007]

LOL! I have a 2005 Memphis 335 and I also removed the stock Grovers, in favor of double ring Klusons. To me, it just looks better.

[@WayneMemphisMojo]

Most all of my Gibson guitars have Faber USA bridges.

[@jcsfsb]

Nice !!

[@Relayer6a]

Gibson seems to regularly not cut the nut low enough. I "think" that's because if they cut them too low the nut's screwed. So they err on the side of caution and leave them high. These are mass produced instruments. They make hundreds of guitars a day. So as much as they like to talk about the hand labor involved, they can't really spend a lot of time on each guitar getting them perfect. That's just my theory. But since I never hear about them cutting the nut too low, which if it were just in error you would have "mistakes" in both directions, I have to think they leave them high on purpose.

[@PittsS2C1]

Hey Lyle. Beautiful guitar. When you picked out the one Eric sold me, I knew then it wouldn't be long before you got something like this. Good choice. Want to trade?

[@PsionicAudio]

I really did like playing your guitar, but no. This one is never going anywhere. ;)

[@Chuffin_ell]

I’m going to my grave regretting selling the 65’ ES330TD my father left for me when he died in 1969. He was living in Pasadena in 65-66 and got a Bigsby from the man himself….

[@BradsGuitarGarage]

I wish I loved guitars as much as you do. I have gynecologist's syndrome. LOL!

[@bernardparent8340]

Did it come with the hippie strap?😅

[@chickenlickin3820]

is your sg bridge pickup high enough!?

[@HeyjAjSayJ]

"Please don't make me shill VPNS" LOL

[@harleythespider852]

have you played one of the marcus king signature 345s? those things are a treat

[@PsionicAudio]

Those have the sideways vibrola? Not my cup of tea.

[@harleythespider852]

@@PsionicAudio Yea it has the sideways on it. You can't really use it though without scratching the finish which just makes it a cosmetic feature for me. Overall sounds and plays nice, has the split diamond inlays and the varitone switch in it

[@sharkair2839]

alvin lee elvin bishop bb king eric clapton chuck berry. lyle.......

[@geemac7267]

Shill VPNs? No, gold, man. Or Raid Shadow Legends.

[@tracyc7813]

Where did you get that T-Shirt? I want one. :o)

[@PsionicAudio]

staxmuseum.com/

[@JONNIE_ROCKER]

What % on the vinegar,?

[@PsionicAudio]

Not diluted. It isn’t contacting the parts. Just the vapor is.

[@russellesimonetta9071]

I,d say bye to the sg.

[@russellesimonetta9071]

I didn,t want to sound like a smart ass, I know of everyone,s quest to find' the' Les Paul and that one sounds great!

[@brianmorton4127]

Gibson has ALWAYS been inconsistent with neck angle/bridge height. When you buy a Gibson you have to look for it otherwise you get one with a bridge on stilts. They should switch to CNC for neck pockets like the rest of the world has. I've never seen an import guitar with a crazy neck/body angle like that.

[@ryanfulldark2775]

They should be handmade! They should be CNC! Holy moly… Gibson can never win, can they?

[@shckltnebay]

Its just funny to me that Gibson is so set in their ways they never corrected the stop tail location