Conference napalm::guitar

    forgot dtn 226-6430

    A *mint* '61 355 is worth $2000-$2500.
    
    An average condition one $1500-$2000.
    
    From the serial #, yours does appear to be a 1961.
    
    Danny W. 

Danny,
    
    	What's the price range of some of the non-collectable 355's
    more towards the end of production? 
    
    							Rick
    

    $750 -$1000 for non-vintage ES-355's
    
    The best 355's I've seen are from the very last production between
    1979 and 1981. I have a 1981 sunburst that is far better than my '59, and
    a custom '81 Blonde one that is painfully beautiful, though not quite
    as nice-sounding as the sunburst, which is from the last factory
    order built. Both of these are substantially better in materials
    and workmanship than 355's from the '70's (I"ve owned a number of
    those, too) and have nice, wide necks.
    
    Danny W.
    
    

    DANNY
    
    I was going to ask you to date this guitar for me on note 1242,but
    seeing my guitar is much like the one in this note,I thought it
    a more fitting place. Its a ES345-TD STEREO,all the hardware is
    gold,it has gibson deluxe tuners with greenish pegs,pearl or mother
    of pearl double parallelogram position markers,a flower type design
    and gibson logo in the same material on the head.The tailpiece is
    what I believe they call a TRAPEZE.The body is tobacco with two
    "f"holes,4 knobs,and three way toggle.OK here is where the mystery
    begins.There is one cord plug hole and one empty hole,the guitar
    does not function as a stereo anymore so the mystery hole could
    have been somekind of varitone switch or another cord plug hole?
    The binding is white with a black stripe.The serial# is 126888
    There is a #2 stamped above the serial# which refers to a flaw in
    the instument (I THINK) though I cant find one,exept for the empty
    hole which I believe happened after the original sale.
    I've been wondering about its age and value for a long time and
    would appreciate any information you can give me on it.
                                                            THANKS
                                                               TOM G.
    

    No mystery about the hole--the Varitone switch used to be there.
    Sounds like someone did a homebrew mono conversion and removed the
    control. Dumb idea--it's easy enough to disconnect and leave in
    place, unless you believe its mere presence hurts the sound.
    
    This is starting to sound like a litany, but...
    
    does your guitar have a volute? "Made in USA" stamp? Wood headstock
    overlay?
    
    So far, all the features you've described are typical of all '64 to
    late '79 345's and the serial number was used more than once.
    
    Danny W.

    RE:.6
    
    It has a little sticker inside the upper F hole that says what model
    it is,made in U.S.A,Kalamazoo.ect.But I dont recall seeing any kind
    of stamp on the headstock other than the serial#. I'll check it
    tonite to make sure,but i dont think it has it.
                                                     TOM G.
    

    What color is the "little sticker"?
    
    Gibson used oval, orange labels until 1970, then rectangular,
     white "Norlin" labels.
    
    Danny W.

    I'm closeing my eyes and trying to see it but its not working.I'll
    have to check it when I get home tonite and get back to you tomorrow.
                           
                                                                 THANKS
                                                                  TOM

    Made in the U.S.A. "IS" stamped on the headstock under the seriel#.
    The tag in the "F" hole is rectangular,its white on the right and
    left (looks like a bow tie) black on the top and sort of pink on
    the bottom.The tag says  GIBSON INC. union made,model#,guarantee
    ect. (It didn't say Norlin anywhere)
     

    Okay, it's an early '70's model. Hard to pin closer than that without
    seeing it.
    
    Current dealer prices on these run $750-$900 in nice condition.
    
    Danny W.

    Thanks for the info,I paid $600 for it about 10 years ago,its still
    in real nice shape,I hope I never have to sell it,but its nice to
    know I can still get some good money for it if I do.
    
                                                         TOM G.