Buying an ES 335 today... help me choose!

[mdubya]

AMS has brand new 335's with block inlays for $2999.

https://www.americanmusical.com/ItemSearch--search-Gibson-Es-335--srcin-1

Here's a Wine Red with Blocks for $2499.

https://www.americanmusical.com/Item--i-GIB-ESDS18-WRNH1

Not great prices, but better than the used prices OP is seeing.

 

[wmachine]

Try reverb.com for Chicago Music Exchange I nabbed a 2016 limited Green Memphis 335 new for $1650 last fall maybe they have some overstocks left

Those blowouts are long gone. There is always a chance they could get a couple more in the future, but that is highly doubtful. (That was an outrageous blowout!)

 

[SoCal Flood]

Problem is I’m looking to trade my guitar in so it’s much easier for me to get offers from local stores. Also I really want to get some good test drives in with them before buying. For me it’s worth paying even a couple hundred dollar premium to buy from brick and mortar. Looks so matter for me but my playing has come around enough that I feel like I can adequately feel if a guitar suits my playing style now. I like thin/medium necks for instance. I know a lot of guys here like a thicker neck but it’s not my jam. I wouldn’t want any thicker than my R9.

 

[Dilver]

Older guitars that got played a lot tend to have a fair amount of fret wear. A refret on a bound neck will run you anywhere from $300-500, depending on where you are and who does it. Keep that in mind when making your decision.

 

[SoCal Flood]

Well the 335 will have to wait for another day. I had a guitar to trade and the place I originally bought it gave me the full value that I bought it for whereas other stores were giving me 40-65% of what I paid for it. They also had an insane deal on a PRS that I couldn’t pass up so I went for it. They had some 335s but none of them spoke to me. I’m now the proud owner of a 2017 PRS Custom 24 10-Top. It is in mint condition and has a case and all the candy. I wanted a 335 so damn bad but I couldn’t pass up this deal and the PRS feels and sounds great.

Thanks for all the great advice on this guys. I’ll come back to this thread when I go searching for my 335 again!

 

[SoCal Flood]

 

[anticarnist]

You’ll find the right 335 someday - but in the meantime enjoy that sweet, sweet, sweet ass PRS!