Trea
Senior Member
- Joined
- Sep 8, 2009
- Messages
- 547
- Reaction score
- 186
Well this one was a total surprise. A while back I had stopped in the store to look at a few semi hollows and as my wife put it, "played half the inventory". There were a few guitars that I liked but none that I felt strongly about buying. I made mention that I liked the color of a Pelham blue 339 pro that they had and I guess that stuck in my wife's head or at least partially. The guitar itself was really just ok, they had a couple more in natural that seemed better.
When she got home yesterday she stuck her head in the door and said she needed help getting some things out of the car so I went out and as she opened the car door there sat a gorgeous Pelham blue 355. I was completely taken by surprise, even though it was my birthday I was not expecting a guitar, much less one I had never even looked at before. But enough story, what about the guitar itself you ask?
I've never owned an Epi before and honestly the last time I looked at them was several years ago and I was not impressed with the quality. I must say that she either picked a great example or that things have really changed for the better. Other than a horrible setup, this guitar is really nice. The fretwork and finish is miles away from what I had experienced before. I can't find a high fret or a sharp end anywhere. The pickups actually sound nice, much better than the ones in the lower end Ibanezes that I had tried. Granted this guitar is more expensive but I fully expected to have to do a pickup swap. I don't think that will be the case here. The finish is nice with no bad spots or orange peel. I wish Gibson could manage that. Once I spent a few hours setting the guitar up, I am really happy with it. The only thing I am likely to change is the nut. It is plastic and cut a little high, so I may as well have a bone one put in. The Grover tuners are really nice and smooth. The Bigsby looks cool but is not something I imagine I will use much.
The cons really only seem to be the lack of a case and the plastic nut. Both easily remedied. The setup was pretty bad but I've bought very few guitars that didn't need a setup. The action was high with a ridiculous amount of relief and I might change the bridge if that damn wire starts to rattle but for now all is good.
Anyway here is a quick picture
When she got home yesterday she stuck her head in the door and said she needed help getting some things out of the car so I went out and as she opened the car door there sat a gorgeous Pelham blue 355. I was completely taken by surprise, even though it was my birthday I was not expecting a guitar, much less one I had never even looked at before. But enough story, what about the guitar itself you ask?
I've never owned an Epi before and honestly the last time I looked at them was several years ago and I was not impressed with the quality. I must say that she either picked a great example or that things have really changed for the better. Other than a horrible setup, this guitar is really nice. The fretwork and finish is miles away from what I had experienced before. I can't find a high fret or a sharp end anywhere. The pickups actually sound nice, much better than the ones in the lower end Ibanezes that I had tried. Granted this guitar is more expensive but I fully expected to have to do a pickup swap. I don't think that will be the case here. The finish is nice with no bad spots or orange peel. I wish Gibson could manage that. Once I spent a few hours setting the guitar up, I am really happy with it. The only thing I am likely to change is the nut. It is plastic and cut a little high, so I may as well have a bone one put in. The Grover tuners are really nice and smooth. The Bigsby looks cool but is not something I imagine I will use much.
The cons really only seem to be the lack of a case and the plastic nut. Both easily remedied. The setup was pretty bad but I've bought very few guitars that didn't need a setup. The action was high with a ridiculous amount of relief and I might change the bridge if that damn wire starts to rattle but for now all is good.
Anyway here is a quick picture
HNGD/BD !!!
