QUESTION
I have a 1959 Gibson Es-335 Dot neck guitar. The guitar is all original I had a dealer tell me at a guitar show that the tuners were period correct but not correct for this instrument. I took them off they are single line single ring Kluson tuners with the correct d-6400 pat number on bottom. The lunatic said the oil hole was small and al l 1959 guitars had a large oil hole. Honestly I looked at him and wanted to whack him and said are you kidding me ( i used a few golden words I Will not repeat) I am the original owner and told him to get a life. I went home and now this has been bothering new for months what is the real story of this oil hole
REPLY
Give me a break you have an all original 59 Gibson ES-335 and he is complaining about an oil hole . You are a more patient man than me my friend but I will tell you what I have found to be true after 30 years of studying these guitars.
For the the beginner the kluson tuner changed in 1959 from having the pat applied for stamped on bottom to now carrying the pat number D-6400. around this time the tiny little hole on back of case tuners know as the oil hole got slightly bigger. most would not even notice but it did. and since the price of guitar has gone up so much people have become anal on all these facts. I would like to make a few things clear that I have found and found over and over again over my years in the business.
Yes the oil hole changed officially in 1959. but I have seen large hole tuners on late 1958 guitars and have seen small hole in 1959. Lets get real here. nobody through anything out just as Fender and Gibson did there was a slight overlap . There is nobody I know who is worth his word who can tell you ALL 1958 has small oil holes and All 1959 had large . People have taken this insanity too far,
Buying a 1959 guitar with a small oil hole tuner would never stop me from buying it or for selling one for a penny less than a large oil hole guitar. If the tuners are original they are original period there are other ways to tell but I Will not go into it in this article. So your guitar is correct I ma sure you can tell him I said so and if you want you can bring guitar and I will verify it in writing for you.
What the hell ever happened to playing guitars. Does Anyone play them anymore,. I am a vintage guitar dealer and a vintage guitar parts dealer but people who argue over the size of an oil hole make me want to just pack up my bags and run . This business is a great business guitar are one of our few last enjoyments in life DONT LET AN OIL HOLE RUIN YOU FUN !! If you have any further questions please e mail me at THE PARTS DRAWER and I will be glad to answer any further questions . please enjoy your guitar !!!!
By the way any vintage dealer who thinks I am wrong please sell me your small hole 1959 at a discount please !!!
JIm Pasch