How much less is it worth?

[davidd]

I have a 1967 Gibson ES-335. It was originally a trapeze type that someone prior to me changed to a stoptail. I am wondering: What does that one (significant) modification do to it's value. Pristine, unmodified ones are listed for around 5K on the bay. Opinions?

Thanks,

David

[murkat]

well, that procedure was done many times. Depends on the quality of work, mod was done. Not uncommon, not uncommon for the instrument returned to Gibson and have it done. Pics please.

[GaryT]

By all means lets have a look? O-O

[RoyB]

While the quality of the install can really hurt if it's done badly the hit to the value of that kind of mod is big because it takes a vintage collectable guitar into the player grade level. It can hurt the value by as much as $1500 in a tough market like there is now.

[JohnnyB]

While the quality of the install can really hurt if it's done badly the hit to the value of that kind of mod is big because it takes a vintage collectable guitar into the player grade level. It can hurt the value by as much as $1500 in a tough market like there is now.

Well, what if you put the trapeze tail back on and cover the holes left by the stop tail with bottlecaps or thumbtacks? Or maybe putty?

[RoyB]

While the quality of the install can really hurt if it's done badly the hit to the value of that kind of mod is big because it takes a vintage collectable guitar into the player grade level. It can hurt the value by as much as $1500 in a tough market like there is now.

Well, what if you put the trapeze tail back on and cover the holes left by the stop tail with bottlecaps or thumbtacks? Or maybe putty?

Nothing can undo drilling two 1/2" holes right in the front of a vintage guitar. Can they be covered or repaired? Sure, but the lost value won't come back. I'd say now that the job is done it's better left alone and try to get all the market will stand because from a players standpoint it's better now.

[GaryT]

Well we have to take a look at it also. Without a doubt your point is well taken Roy. But the guitar may be a pro job or a butcher job also? That point isn't clear in the first post.....Just Sayin.

Dave do you have photos of this semi-hollow or what?

[BadgerDave]

I remember when Gibson actually shipped guitars from the factory with these Custom Made plaques covering the bridge mounting holes.

If you wanted a bigsby, they just pulled a fixed bridge production guitar, slapped a piece of plastic over the holes and mounted the vibrato!

I guess the "custom made" referred to the plaque, not the guitar.

$199 BIN on ebay:

ebay link

[GaryT]

Ah..............Your right, I remember those. Good idea Dave.

I like the Trap Tail 335s. I think they sound awesome. Myself I'd go back to stock and go with the plate like BD has mentioned? Nice Idea!

[davidd]

I will try to get some pictures up. It's hard for me to take good ones. It is not a butcher job, but it doesn't look as good on one side as the other. The insert that goes into the drilled hole is slightly above surface level on the treble side, whereas the bass side one is slightly countersunk (which looks more correct to me). It's possible that the hole was not drilled deep enough. I forgot to mention, this is the best sounding humbucker guitar I own. Probably has a lot to do with the age of the wood and the pickups. I would not try to reverse it, but I might think about getting it evened out someday.

David

[RoyB]

I remember when Gibson actually shipped guitars from the factory with these Custom Made plaques covering the bridge mounting holes.

If you wanted a bigsby, they just pulled a fixed bridge production guitar, slapped a piece of plastic over the holes and mounted the vibrato!

I guess the "custom made" referred to the plaque, not the guitar.

$199 BIN on ebay:

ebay link

Good way to hide the plugs, but the damage is still there and a 67 could not even be ordered with a stop tail, so no holes had to be hidden when going from the trapeze to the Bigsby from the factory. Again I'd leave it alone because it plays better now and the mod is done.

[BadgerDave]

I agree.

If it were mine, I'd clean up the bridge mounting inserts and keep it a stoptail. It does effect the value, but the mod makes the guitar more appealing as an instrument vs. a collector piece, IMO.

In general, a major modification can reduce the value by as much as 50%. In this case, I'd guess more like 25-30% since the mod would be seen by most as an enhancement to the functional (not financial) value of the guitar.

Does it have the white nylon bridge saddles? If so, I'd switch out the bridge for a TonePros, making sure to hold onto the original.

[Mike Lee]

I agree that you should clean up the installation a bit and then leave it alone. It's a better guitar with the stoptail than with the trapeze bridge, which is why this mod is not altogether uncommon. Or I should say, it's more like the late 50's dot neck ES-335's that are so valuable now.

The devaluation might not even be as bad as BadgerDave indicated.