Need Your Input on this ObG 335

BNR · Post by **BNR** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 11:39 am

Hi folks this is my first posting on this forum. I have been reading the many post and found valuable insight and information.

I am looking for a MIJ 335 copy. Came across a ObG 335 on e-bay. Be patient it takes awhile to load the 80+ pictures.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Orville-By-Gibson-E ... 7C294%3A50

Can you share with me your thoughts if this is a worthy guitar? I am not looking for a vintage score, but a good sounding, proven, well made 335. I read so much about the great 335 copies that came (or comes) from Japan and the ObG are highly praised. Yes, so are the Tokais and Grecos from what I read.

I noticed a few minor items such as the pitting hardware, separation in the laminate over the headstock, and the strap pins. But the overall guitar looks in descent shape. Frets look to have still long useful life and the neck looks straight. My concerns are the pitting of the hardware. The bridge and saddle look to be chrome plated. Are these originals? I thought they came with nickel plated hardware. Also the slight separation of the strap pin on the side looks a bit wider in the gap then it should be.

Any thoughts?

Thank you

JohnA · Post by **JohnA** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 1:23 pm

OBG reissues are top flight guitars, the guitar looks in excellent shape, and the price is really good too, you wouldn't lose money if you came to re-sell.

I thought OBG's had nickel HW too, but could well be mistaken, not a big issue IMO though either way.

BNR · Post by **BNR** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 2:06 pm

Hey JohnA:

"OBG reissues are top flight guitars.."

Is this a typo about the reissue? Was there a reissue of a ObG?

marcusnieman · Post by **marcusnieman** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 3:14 pm

BNR wrote:Hey JohnA:

"OBG reissues are top flight guitars.."

Is this a typo about the reissue? Was there a reissue of a ObG?

Orville By Gibson are top flight compared to the standard Orville brand. OBG has US electronics - Orville uses Japanese.

Reissue is the simple term of the word - meaning a reissue of a Gibson USA ES335. There is no reissue of an OBG

BNR · Post by **BNR** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 5:30 pm

Thanks Marcus

Any other inputs, opinions, etc. on this guitar?

MIJvintage · Post by **MIJvintage** » Sat Jan 24, 2009 7:56 am

just a few observations ........

AFA any of the issue you are concerned about, the delam of the head stock face veneer is very curious to me; never seen this & I wonder what the cause is.

No hard case, just a gig bag......

weighs 8.6 lb.

IMO, if you're set on an OBG 335 I would pass on this one, and seek one without some of the small issue, that taken as a whole add up.

I have seen these with OHSC, in better shape, and with a lighter weight, and selling for less:)

BNR · Post by **BNR** » Sat Jan 24, 2009 8:41 am

MIJvintage:

Thanks for the input.

I looked up on the web, but couldn't find what the abbreviation AFA meant. Please clarify.

I tend to agree with what you wrote. I am very curious as to why the veneer was separating. Aslo the significant pitting on the HW. I am wondering if this is the original HW because I thought these came stock with nickel plated HW, but not 100% sure on that. And that small but obvious gap next to the strap pin along the side seam.

The plus about this guitar is the seller. First off I don't come across too often a ObG 335. Some of the ones I seen (or saw) were on the web. The ones on the web post anywhere from 3 to 6 photos. This seller is willing and able to post 80+ photos, which at least tells me he is doing the full disclosure. I saw on E-bay about a few weeks back a purchase for about $1,100 (or slightly less IIRC). It looked okay but only a handful of photos.

marcusnieman · Post by **marcusnieman** » Sat Jan 24, 2009 9:53 am

BNR wrote:MIJvintage:

Thanks for the input.

I looked up on the web, but couldn't find what the abbreviation AFA meant. Please clarify.

Let me guess on that one.....it's probably a text message type of abbreviation for "As Far As" - a variant of AFAIK (as far as I'm concerned)

I've already popped off how much I hate those - due in large part because there seems to be a new one every day and I'm expected to know them. I don't reply to cell texts if I can't understand them and I'm not going to bother to learn all the new hip abbreviations.

Sorry for my curmudgeonly reply

MIJvintage · Post by **MIJvintage** » Sat Jan 24, 2009 10:22 am

BNR wrote:MIJvintage:

Thanks for the input.

I looked up on the web, but couldn't find what the abbreviation AFA meant. Please clarify.

I tend to agree with what you wrote. I am very curious as to why the veneer was separating. Aslo the significant pitting on the HW. I am wondering if this is the original HW because I thought these came stock with nickel plated HW, but not 100% sure on that. And that small but obvious gap next to the strap pin along the side seam.

The plus about this guitar is the seller. First off I don't come across too often a ObG 335. Some of the ones I seen (or saw) were on the web. The ones on the web post anywhere from 3 to 6 photos. This seller is willing and able to post 80+ photos, which at least tells me he is doing the full disclosure. I saw on E-bay about a few weeks back a purchase for about $1,100 (or slightly less IIRC). It looked okay but only a handful of photos.

Marcus has it right; AFA = as far as.
AFA texting, never done it & probably never will.
IMO, acronyms were pretty much bastardize by the 'texting generation' ...........

AFA the guitar, I can only guess as to why the head stock face veneer is coming of; maybe it took a hard hit at the very end of the head stock, on the top edge?

For my taste, the HW wouldn't be an issue, as I prefer it aged looking.

The seam at the body end is likely no big deal.

Jim P does list a ton of photos; I'll give him that, and he's also very quick to reply to any & all questions.

Innadaze · Post by **Innadaze** » Sun Jan 25, 2009 9:22 pm

BNR wrote:Hi folks this is my first posting on this forum. I have been reading the many post and found valuable insight and information.

I am looking for a MIJ 335 copy. Came across a ObG 335 on e-bay. Be patient it takes awhile to load the 80+ pictures.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Orville-By-Gibson-E ... 7C294%3A50

Can you share with me your thoughts if this is a worthy guitar? I am not looking for a vintage score, but a good sounding, proven, well made 335. I read so much about the great 335 copies that came (or comes) from Japan and the ObG are highly praised. Yes, so are the Tokais and Grecos from what I read.

I noticed a few minor items such as the pitting hardware, separation in the laminate over the headstock, and the strap pins. But the overall guitar looks in descent shape. Frets look to have still long useful life and the neck looks straight. My concerns are the pitting of the hardware. The bridge and saddle look to be chrome plated. Are these originals? I thought they came with nickel plated hardware. Also the slight separation of the strap pin on the side looks a bit wider in the gap then it should be.

Any thoughts?

Thank you

Hi, I'm not sure if I replied to you on that other forum or not but I've got three OBG ES-335s and a few other OBGs as well.....

I'm pretty sure the hardware is nickel on all of them.
The cherry's an '88, the natural's a '91 and the sunburst is a '94 and a reissue with the fret-edge binding, fat neck and deluxe tuners.
They are all very well-made, excellent playing and sounding guitars--very similar to the ones that Gibson was making in the early 60's.

I've never seen the headstock veneer coming loose like that on any of mine. Otherwise that one looks pretty nice.

BNR · Post by **BNR** » Mon Feb 02, 2009 6:43 pm

Can anyone give me their advice on this ObG 335? This is a different guitar from the original posting. Overall it looks pretty good and no reserve price. I am not familiar with this seller.

Thanks

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... SS:US:1123

leadguitar_323 · Post by **leadguitar_323** » Mon Feb 02, 2009 9:11 pm

All i can tell you is that it is a 1989 Terada made G Orville by Gibson MIJ 335.
I have never used the circuit board pickups before but i'm sure someone else will fill in the gaps....

Mick

BNR · Post by **BNR** » Mon Feb 02, 2009 9:16 pm

Thanks lead........

Anyone else with input on this 335? Much appreciated.

japanstrat · Post by **japanstrat** » Tue Feb 03, 2009 1:42 am

All of the Semi Acoustic and Acoustic Orville by Gibsons and Orvilles were made only by the Terada guitar factory.
Terada have also made most of the Japanese Gretsch Semi Acoustics from the late 80s and most Gretsch players think they are very good guitars.

Terada specialize in making Semi Acoustic and Acoustic guitars and are very highly regarded by most people.

BNR · Post by **BNR** » Tue Feb 03, 2009 8:21 am

Thanks japanstrat.

Do any of you have any input on the circuit board pickups? I never heard of this type of pickup before, and I am wondering what are your thoughts of this pickup.

So I know that this guitar was made in the Terrada factory, but do you see anything good or bad about this specific guitar for sale? He claims to be a 1988 model, but the sticker and serial number punched on the back of the headstock indicate 1989 model.

Anyone familiar with this seller?

Reposting link to avoid confusion with the very first link.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Orville-by-Gibson-1 ... 7C294%3A50

Thanks for your time.

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Need Your Input on this ObG 335

Need Your Input on this ObG 335

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