Monday 28 September 2009

Pete Back Bubinga 335 (2004)


First of all, a quick apology for the short enforced hiatus in this blog - suffice to say I'm back now and I'm ok.

Anyways, I've had a few emails from some fellow Pete Back fans, which I'm going to share with you over the next couple of days.

First up, a chap called Gareth wrote to me earlier in the month, with some details of three Reeth-era axes bought by a friend and bandmate of his:
My friend and bandmate purchased three guitars from Pete at his shop at 8 Silver Street, Reeth, Richmond a few years ago:
  • a dreadnought (large) steel string electro-acoustic, spruce top, mahogany (I assume) back & sides, herringbone purfling, grover tuners, Fishman pickup & preamp
  • a solid body "super strat" type guitar with 22 (vintage) fret maple neck, mini Grover tuners, 2 Seymour Duncan Humbuckers and a Wilkinson tremelo system
  • and a Gibson 339 type semi-acoustic, mahogany body, Bubinga top, 22 fret ebony fingerboard mahogany neck, Kent Armstrong Humbuckers, Gotoh bridge & tailpiece & Grover tuners
After many months of hounding him about the guitar, I finally managed to buy the 339 from him last night, as he has a Yamaha semi-acoustic which is his main guitar. They are all lovely guitars, but I fell in love with the 339 - the tone, looks and playability are fantastic.
Gareth goes on to attach some photos of the 339, which I've reproduced here.


Now, correct me if I'm mistaken, but Gibson didn't actually start making the 339 body (like a smaller version of a 335 - similar dimensions to a les paul) until 2007. This guitar on the other hand has a serial number which dates it to October 2004, so I'm guessing this must be a 335 shape guitar.

The 335 shape was a very popular guitar for Pete, and this is a particularly nice example. The bubinga (so-called "african rosewood") top looks great, and i'm assuming will give the kind of woody sparkle and depth to the guitar as it does when used on the back and sides of acoustics.

It looks in fantastic condition, with the cellulose binding already beginning to age to that beautiful yellowy hue. Great guitar which, like all Pete's guitars I've encountered, apparently plays beautifully. Thanks to Gareth for letting us have a look.