Brand: Gibson
Instrument Categories: Archtop, Electric, Guitars, SOLD, Thinline
There’s a small mystery around this Gibson Memphis ES-339s Compact Thinline – the meaning of the ‘s’ after the ES-339 on the label. A first suspicion is to indicate a Spruce top, but that’s not the case here.
Built like its full sized relatives ES-335, the Gibson Memphis ES-339s uses scaled-down body dimensions but full neck dimensions and scale length. The body is built of Maple Laminate with a Maple center block and kerfed Spruce shaper blocks, with Mahogany for the neck and Indian Rosewood for the bound fingerboard. Tuners are Kluson Deluxe style with plastic keystone buttons, while a standard ABR-1 style bridge and stop tailpiece are at the body. When introduced, the ES-339 used Classic ’57 pickups, eventually shifting to MHS (Memphis Historic Spec) models. The wiring at this point is the ‘Memphis Tone circuit’, very similar to 1950’s Gibson wiring.
Gibson introduced the Memphis Custom-Shop built ES-339 in 2007 and it remained in production until the entire plant was closed in 2019. For some reason, the serial numbering system used is CS and five digits (CSYNNNN), with the first digit representing the year and the remaining numbers the production rank. Consequently, serial numbers must repeat every decade, at least. The serial number on this Gibson Memphis ES-339s is CS82257, permitting interpretation of it being either a 2008 or 2018 model. The included Certificate of Authenticity lists the serial number but is not dated. Given the near pristine condition of the nitrocellulose lacquer finish – with very little natural oxidation or colour fading – we place this as 2018 model. Similarly, there is very little fret wear.
The original Gibson branded black hard shell case by TKL is included, and contains the Certificate of Authenticity, case key, and 5/16th truss rod adjustment wrench.
- Model: ES-339s
- Year: 2018
- Finish Tobacco Sunburst
- Class: Used
- Serial Number: CS8225, built during 2018 in Memphis TN
- Country of Origin: USA
- Condition: Very Good
- Date Posted: 13/12/2022
- This instrument has been sold
- Consignment Item
- Including original Hard case
- Instrument Weight: 7.656lbs 3.48kg
- Scale Length: 24.75in 628.6mm
- Nut Width: 1.689in 42.90mm
