1 Topic by TonyK (edited by TonyK 2016-03-16 08:47:01)

  • From: Longfield, Kent
  • Registered: 2010-02-02
  • Posts: 14

Topic: Got hold of a JB Custom Shop 335

Just got an ES 335 JB Custom Shop.   Really pleased with it. 

Back in Spring 2012, I went to see Joe play at Brighton, south coast of UK. I'd seen him many times before and wanted to take my other half.  It's a 1.5 - 2 hr drive from where I live near London so my other half and I made a day of it and headed early in Brighton.  We spent some time on the beach in the afternoon, drank coffee, visited the local guitar shop (GAK) and bought a Gibson Les Paul '59 RI - as er you do!  OKay that was unplanned and extravagant but it is lovely. Wide flame top. Superb guitar.   Anyhow, enjoyed the day and as 7pm loomed we headed for the BICC to join the queue...

My problem is that the ticket - the official ticket - just said BICC.  Which I thought was Brighton International Conference Center. But, No, in Brighton it's the Brighton Center (BC).  BICC is in Bournemouth - also on the South coast but a two hour drive away.  So my thoughts were that Joe would probably come on stage at 9pm and we could still make most of the show.

We arrived at our seats in Bournemouth around 9:45pm only to find that Joe had started pretty much on the dot at  7:30pm.  We'd sat down for just 2 mins before Joe finished the song he was doing and said "Thank you and Goodnight".  Fortunately we got the encores but nevertheless you can imagine I was sick as a parrot and feeling really stupid.  Furthermore, I'd dragged my beloved all the way to see Joe and she didn't see very much of him.  Fortunately she's a good natured soul and [was the only one who] saw the funny side of it.

Wind on four years, I've taken my better half to see Joe a few times now - and she likes him (phew) - but the 59 Les Paul just doesn't get played because I have neck issues and find it too heavy - although for a Les Paul it's not too bad.   I need something lighter and have been hanging out for just the right 335 to come along.  I find the 335 '59 necks too big and the '63 necks too slim and most of them still too heavy.   Then had a Goldilocks moment when I stumbled on a '61 one; albeit it too was too heavy for me. Others that I've come across have had too much flame.  As chance would have it someone advertised a used JB 335 - lightweight, lovely colour and slimmer neck than a usual 59'.    Bought it and am pleased as punch.

Just to complete the loop, I had to collect it, 1.5 - 2 hrs away, from someone in Brighton who bought new in 2012.

The things we do ..

Guitars: Gibson CS JB ES-335, Fender Tele
JB UK Shows: May 10 - Bournemouth; Jul 10 - London;  Jul 11 - London (BCC); Mar 12 - Bournemouth; Mar 13 - London; Mar 16 - Birmingham
  • RickB
  • RickB
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  • From: San Diego
  • Registered: 2009-10-30
  • Posts: 12,198

Re: Got hold of a JB Custom Shop 335

Great story! Congrats and enjoy.

Free download from Vienna! http://mbsy.co/bNLR
Lots of unique videos of Joe http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cwd5vL8fXTw
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  • Registered: 2015-02-24
  • Posts: 14

Re: Got hold of a JB Custom Shop 335

Nice, I recently acquired one these myself.

One thing I learned with Joe....he starts his shows on time.

  • RickB
  • RickB
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  • Registered: 2009-10-30
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Re: Got hold of a JB Custom Shop 335

Slick64 wrote:

Nice, I recently acquired one these myself.

One thing I learned with Joe....he starts his shows on time.

You can set your clock by his first note.

Free download from Vienna! http://mbsy.co/bNLR
Lots of unique videos of Joe http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cwd5vL8fXTw
Buy Joe's merchandise here. http://www.jbonamassa.com/affiliates/id … hp?id=1381

RickB's Website

  • Devan
  • Devan
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  • From: Darwin, Australia
  • Registered: 2010-04-13
  • Posts: 1,304

Re: Got hold of a JB Custom Shop 335

LOL Tony - that is a great story, and please don't feel embarrassed about it, as I have done EXACTLY the same thing about 4 years ago.

It was to Deep Purple's reunion world tour, and their first concert opener was in Brisbane.  I flew 4000km to Brisbane to meet a good friend of mine and we drove to the Brisbane Entertainment Centre.  As part of our pre concert ritual, we arrived early in the car park and sat on his car bonnet and opened a few beers and chatted to the thronging crowd that was gathering.  Eventually we moved into the building and looked around and though - wow, this is quite a different type of crowd that DP are bringing in these days.  It was only when we got near the front of the line that we realised that the concert we were at was for another Brit pop band, and not actually Deep Purple.

A ticket agent looked at our tickets and said - No, your tickets are for the Brisbane Convention Centre - all the way in the city, about 45 minutes away...

My friend and I sprinted back to the carpark, jumped in his car and we raced - and I mean RACED to the city to make the start time.  As he did his best Michael Schumacher impersonation, we tried overtaking a BMW in front of us, but realised that HE was racing too.  Then we noticed about 10 other cars race out of the old venue heading into town, and we realised that we were not the only ones to make such a mistake.

End story, we made it just in time for the start, and we were so pumped that we didn't even go to our seats, but ran to the front of the venue where the standing room was, and managed to get to the very front where I stood about 5 feet away from Steve Morse and watched him play the whole night.

The mistake and the drive into the town features very high on the "funny stories we tell at parties" for my friend and I.  He now lives in Colorado, and like me, is a big Joe B fan too.  He has seen Joe several times, including at Red Rocks and rubs it in my face each time.

JBLP Gold Top #129 - redubbed "#1 in Oz"
  • From: Longfield, Kent
  • Registered: 2010-02-02
  • Posts: 14

Re: Got hold of a JB Custom Shop 335

Devan wrote:

LOL Tony - that is a great story, and please don't feel embarrassed about it, as I have done EXACTLY the same thing about 4 years ago.

It was to Deep Purple's reunion world tour, and their first concert opener was in Brisbane.  I flew 4000km to Brisbane to meet a good friend of mine and we drove to the Brisbane Entertainment Centre.  As part of our pre concert ritual, we arrived early in the car park and sat on his car bonnet and opened a few beers and chatted to the thronging crowd that was gathering.  Eventually we moved into the building and looked around and though - wow, this is quite a different type of crowd that DP are bringing in these days.  It was only when we got near the front of the line that we realised that the concert we were at was for another Brit pop band, and not actually Deep Purple.

A ticket agent looked at our tickets and said - No, your tickets are for the Brisbane Convention Centre - all the way in the city, about 45 minutes away...

My friend and I sprinted back to the carpark, jumped in his car and we raced - and I mean RACED to the city to make the start time.  As he did his best Michael Schumacher impersonation, we tried overtaking a BMW in front of us, but realised that HE was racing too.  Then we noticed about 10 other cars race out of the old venue heading into town, and we realised that we were not the only ones to make such a mistake.

End story, we made it just in time for the start, and we were so pumped that we didn't even go to our seats, but ran to the front of the venue where the standing room was, and managed to get to the very front where I stood about 5 feet away from Steve Morse and watched him play the whole night.

The mistake and the drive into the town features very high on the "funny stories we tell at parties" for my friend and I.  He now lives in Colorado, and like me, is a big Joe B fan too.  He has seen Joe several times, including at Red Rocks and rubs it in my face each time.

Excellent story there too Devan. Sounds like you got a great night.   I certainly learned a lesson on that one.  These days the tickets go on sale about 6 months before the gig.  At the time I'd booked it (Planet Rock Pre-Sale) I would have known in was Bournemouth. It's just that in between booking and going, I'd been to see Bad Company at Brighton and had just lost the plot.  Happy to say I'm more careful now....   Oh no, that's jinxed it.

Guitars: Gibson CS JB ES-335, Fender Tele
JB UK Shows: May 10 - Bournemouth; Jul 10 - London;  Jul 11 - London (BCC); Mar 12 - Bournemouth; Mar 13 - London; Mar 16 - Birmingham
  • Registered: 2012-05-30
  • Posts: 485

Re: Got hold of a JB Custom Shop 335

Nice story. I'm really jonesing for a 335 at the moment. Will be in a position to get a new guitar in a few weeks and it's between a Les Paul and a 335...choices, choices, choices...

Guitars: Fender American Original 60s Strat, Fender American Vintage 52 Tele, Gibson Les Paul Traditional
FX: Various including - Ceriatone Centura, Fire Custom Shop Carpe Diem
Amp: Fender ML212 Deville + 212 extention cabinet
  • From: Longfield, Kent
  • Registered: 2010-02-02
  • Posts: 14

Re: Got hold of a JB Custom Shop 335

Adrian J wrote:

Nice story. I'm really jonesing for a 335 at the moment. Will be in a position to get a new guitar in a few weeks and it's between a Les Paul and a 335...choices, choices, choices...

Tough call.  I've the '59 RI Les Paul in my story on ebay at the moment as I need to fund the JB 335 purchase...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Gibson-2011-L … 335413501?

I'm looking forward to taking my new baby to a local-ish blues jam so I can hear what she sounds like with a bit of volume. Have to wait another couple of weeks though for the next one; although that does gives me a bit of time to get used to her ways.

Guitars: Gibson CS JB ES-335, Fender Tele
JB UK Shows: May 10 - Bournemouth; Jul 10 - London;  Jul 11 - London (BCC); Mar 12 - Bournemouth; Mar 13 - London; Mar 16 - Birmingham
  • Registered: 2012-05-30
  • Posts: 485

Re: Got hold of a JB Custom Shop 335

TonyK wrote:
Adrian J wrote:

Nice story. I'm really jonesing for a 335 at the moment. Will be in a position to get a new guitar in a few weeks and it's between a Les Paul and a 335...choices, choices, choices...

Tough call.  I've the '59 RI Les Paul in my story on ebay at the moment as I need to fund the JB 335 purchase...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Gibson-2011-L … 335413501?

I'm looking forward to taking my new baby to a local-ish blues jam so I can hear what she sounds like with a bit of volume. Have to wait another couple of weeks though for the next one; although that does gives me a bit of time to get used to her ways.

Oh how I wish I could stretch to your asking price, but alas it's about £1000 over my budget!! I'd either be looking at a Traditional Les Paul or a ES335-Satin (do love the red 335 with block inlays look)... Whichever I buy this year, I'll likely get the other next year!!

Guitars: Fender American Original 60s Strat, Fender American Vintage 52 Tele, Gibson Les Paul Traditional
FX: Various including - Ceriatone Centura, Fire Custom Shop Carpe Diem
Amp: Fender ML212 Deville + 212 extention cabinet