FS: GIBSON ES 295 Custom Shop guitar made for and owned by Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top

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GIBSON ES 295 Custom Shop guitar made for and owned by Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top. This is a one of a kind guitar in excellent condition made approximatley 1997. Serial Number 91437007. Billy named this guitar ' The BIG BLUE BABY '. The unique Baby Blue color and gold hardware sets it apart from other ES 295s and is the only one I know of. It comes with the original case and supporting documentation of Billy Gibbons ownership. The guitar plays perfectly as the set up used by Billy Gibbons has not been changed. The strings are the same ones as when I purchased the guitar and still in good shape. Additionally, being a Gibson Custom Shop guitar, it is of Gibson's highest quality materials and workmanship. The guitar has no visible play wear and has a fresh appearance. There is some checking at the base of the neck which is normal for these guitars. (See photos) Other than that, the guitar is in perfect condition. I am a private owner and in no way representing Billy Gibbons in this transaction.

I can see why Billy didn't hang on to it....

Additionally, being a

Should that be considered a positive, or negative characteristic ?

The guitar has no visible play wear and has a fresh

Not for a guitar only 7 years old which, presumably, had been kept in adequate climatic conditions and not exposed to rapidly changing temperatures.

(See photos) Other than that, the guitar is

Ok tells us why Billy Gibbons didn't hand onto the guitar?

That doesn't look like checking to me! Checking that I'm familiar with doesn't appear at stress points and doesn't show as long cracks. It doesn't look normal to me. I gotta wonder if there hasn't been some impact or stress to the neck.

Also, if it's sooo nice, why is there no play wear and why did Billy dump it? Why would he name a guitar that he didn't play?

I'll pass...

(See photos) Other than that, the guitar is

And the long cracks are on both sides of the lower neck. There seems to be two cracks on one side of the neck (upper side if your holding the guitar) and only one crack on the other side (lower side if your holding the guitar). These cracks may go all the way through either side of the neck, but I can't tell for sure from the pictures. The side of the neck that appears to have one crack is not photographed clearly; the picture was taken at an angle so that it's hard to tell if it has two or one crack.

It

If it did have a stress crack going all the way through the lower neck how would that affect the sound?

I think it's kinda purty, but the detailing and finish looks to be down to modern Gibson's usual crapola standard.

Thump

That pick-guard looks like it would be better suited to an accordion.

O-tay, Buckwheat. It looks like SHIT...

C'mon guys - haven't you owned any set-neck hollowbodies that went out in the real world to gigs? Those are plainly finish cracks from exposure to extreme cold (i.e., for long enough to chill the instrument down to 0F or so), or possibly extreme heat sitting in its case in the sun, etc., not structural, & it's common. 'Letting it warm up (or cool down) in its case first' doesn't prevent finish cracking when temps are extreme. If it's a good finish material they aren't hard to fix; if it's poly (like one of mine) it's almost impractical. They're ugly but 'affect the tone' is little silly, yes?

Epi's recent (but discontinued) Korean knockoff of the ES-295 is a great axe (if an Es-295 is what you're into) sounding as good as the originals at a small fraction of the price. They also come with a Bigsby. I was impressed with a friend's I played (that is, for a 'Scotty Moore' thing or clean country-pickin' working axe (a la Gretsch). Don't diss these axes until you've tried 'em.

Even the price: I wouldn't buy it, but how does $4K-ish for a custom-shop Gibson (regardless of their quality of lack of same) compare with, say, $3k for normal-production Gretsch model that's no better? Guys are snapping up run-of-the-mill 335's and their new uglier variants for $2K+ street, haven't you noticed?

If B.G. really ordered this axe, or if it was a promo deal to him from Gibson, it'd be reasonable to consider that it doesn't fit with anything he's known for playing. It's the kind of axe guys play through a TR on 4 with the 'verb on 4 & sound like Duane Eddy or '50's sidemen. You may laugh at that but some of these guys can pick circles around the average blues/rocker.

I think many of you just don't like to see someone else make a reasonable buck or make a profitable sale.(?)

Time left: 2 days 21 hours 10-day listing, Ends Apr-10-05 12:18:00 PDT Start time: Mar-31-05 11:18:00 PST

History: 0 bids

I guess no one's biting. I can't see any sense in spending that kind of money without playing it.

I suppose a guy could refinish it in gold.