2015 History TH-SA ES-335 - Heritage Cherry Lacquer - All Original - Heritage Wood - With Original Case - Made By Fujigen in Japan MIJ

Used 2015 History TH-LC Les Paul Custom in beautiful Wine Red finish - With original History hard-shell case - Made in the famous Fujigen factory in Japan - MIJ.

• Serial Number: D150658 (April 2015)
• Body: Maple with Heritage Wood Hard Maple Centre Block
• Neck: 3 piece - Mahogany / Heritage Wood Hard Maple / Mahogany (14 degree head angle)
• Fretboard: Very Dark Rosewood
• Fretboard Radius: About 12"
• Fret Edge Binding: No
• Inlays: Real mother of pearl dot inlays
• Frets: 22 x Jumbo (1.26mm tall x 2.66mm wide) Jescar FW47104-NS frets - with C.F.S. technology
• Nut Width: 43.7mm
• Width at 1st Fret: 44.2mm
• Width at 12th Fret: 52.9mm
• Thickness at 1st Fret: 20.5mm
• Thickness at 12th Fret: 23.5mm
• Nut: Oil soaked cow bone
• Tuners: Original nickel Gotoh SD90-SL
• Bridge & Tailpiece: Original nickel Gotoh GE104B bridge, and Gotoh GE101A aluminum tailpiece
• Pickups: Original nickel covered History FH-10D neck and bridge pickups (AlNiCo 2 magnets)
• Neck Pickup Resistance: 7.15K ohm (3.60K ohm when the tone push/pull knob up)
• Bridge Pickup Resistance: 7.14K ohm (3.59K ohm when the tone push/pull knob up)
• Pots: Original CTS inch volume pots, and original Bourns push/pull tone pots
• Strings: Ernie Ball Regular Slinky 2221 10-46 strings - E Standard tuning
• Weight: 8.68lbs
• Non Original Parts: None
• Case: Original History "alligator skin" Les Paul case with crushed red interior and key, warranty card, hangs tags, original truss rod wrench
• Truss Rod: Works as expected with room in both directions

If you're not familiar with the History brand of guitars, this is the house brand for Shimamura Music in Japan - one of Japan's largest musical instrument retailers. This brand has been around since at least the mid 1990's and is still around today. The History brand is used for their higher end models, while the Cool Z brand is used for their more affordable models. All of the History instruments are made by the world renowned Fujigen factory in Japan - the same factory that built vintage Greco's and Ibanez guitars, and still builds the Prestige and J Custom line for Ibanez today, as well as their own FGN brand.

This TH-SA model is of course History's ES-335 model. At the time, this was their top ES-335 model, it was their most expensive guitar in their 2015 lineup, and this is possibly the highest quality ES-335 model that History every produced. I would call this a modern evolution on the ES-335 rather than trying to make it a historically accurate model like many other brands do.

All of the components on this guitar are top shelf - including the nickel Gotoh bridge & aluminum tailpiece, nickel Gotoh SD90-SL tuners, CTS inch standard pots & Bourns push/pull tone pots, Orange Drop tone capacitors, Switchcraft 3 way switch, and Switchcraft jack, and oil soaked cow bone nut. These features alone are rarely seen on Japanese made guitars, and only on the high end models.

But that's not all that makes the TH-SA model so amazing - what really sets the TH-SA model apart from other models is the Heritage Wood Maple used for the centre block of this guitar, along with the centre strip in the neck.

The Heritage Wood Maple that History used during this era is old stock North American hard maple that apparently sank to the bottom of the great lakes while it was harvested. The slow growth means that the growth rings within the wood is much finer and tighter, which results in a more pleasing and unique tone.

You can read more about these features in the 2015 History Catalog (you'll need to translate it from Japanese to English if you don't speak/read Japanese).

All History brand guitars use the Fujigen proprietary C.F.S. (Circle Fretting System) - which means that the frets are slightly rounded to match the radius of the fretboard, nut and bridge, instead of perfectly perpendicular to the fretboard. This technology is supposed to help with intonation across the entire fretboard. To me, playing it doesn't look or feel any different than a typical Les Paul, so the difference is subtle and you don't have to worry about it feeling off, but it does play extremely well and the C.F.S. technology may be part of that reason.

The frets ends on this guitar are finished incredibly well, like what you'd expected on an Ibanez Prestige.

The 22 JESCAR FW47104-NS jumbo frets play effortlessly and bends on this guitar seem to only reach the limit of the strength in your fingers. This guitar feels like it's playing itself at times.

Everything on this guitar appears to be original, and this guitar is in very good player grade condition. There are some dings, dents, and scratches over the entire guitar - but nothing major that affects the tone or playability, and no signs of a heel or headstock crack or repair. This guitar has been played, but not abused.

All of the nickel hardware including the bridge, tailpiece, pickup covers, pickguard bracket, screws and tuners are all in great shape, with only minor areas of of tarnish and corrosion, but everything works as expected, and there is still lots of shine left in most spots.

The finish on this guitar is a beautiful Heritage Cherry red. It is a Lacquer Finish, as observed by the stamp on the back of the headstock, although the finish doesn't react to acetone, so it's either a catalyzed lacquer or has some additive added. It looks and feels great in the hands while playing.

The 3 piece Mahogany / Heritage Wood Hard Maple / Mahogany neck is a joy to play on, and has a down the middle neck carve - not super thin, and not super thick, and is wide and relatively flat in the hands. The neck has a few scratches in the finish by the heel, but nothing that you can feel or affects your playing. This guitar has a really nice dark brown rosewood fretboard with real mother of pearl dot inlays.

The 22 jumbo frets have been played, but there is minimal fret wear on the fretboard and frets, and it plays extremely well up and down the fretboard.

The original History FH-10D/n and FH-10D/b pickups are low output AlNiCo 2 magnet humbuckers. They are incredibly warm and creamy, very expressive and dynamic. The volume and tone pots are very interactive on this guitar, and you can recreate many tones you're looking for. History mentions: "A vintage tone achieved by using a magnet with slightly reduced output and pure iron pole pieces that maximizes the guitar's original high-quality sound." and I would say that's an accurate statement. You won't be disappointed with these pickups.

But wait - there's more! Each tone knob has a push/pull switch - pull up on the corresponding tone knob (neck tone knob for neck pickup, and bridge tone knob for bridge pickup) and it taps the pickup, giving you a smooth and sparkly single coil type tone. It's incredibly useful. The bridge tone volume is slightly bent, but works without any issue (you'll only notice it when you turn it while looking at it).

All the guitars I sell, I test, thoroughly clean, and setup completely before I list them. Anything that is missing, damaged, or non original is mentioned in the listing.

I setup all my Gibson style guitars to Gibson factory specs - including neck relief, action, pickup height, intonation, and tailpiece height. So this guitar will be ready to play out of the box (after you tune it up - I ship my guitars with the strings loosened).

Of course with an instrument of this caliber, it came from the factory with a high quality case - and that is also included with this guitar, along with the original warranty card, both hang tags and truss rod wrench. The case is in players grade condition - it has some scuffs and stains, there is a slight rip in the interior lining by the lower strap pin, and the treble side lower latch is missing, but all of the other latches and hinges are in tact and working, and the key is attached to the handle.

Overall, this is an extremely high quality professional grade guitar made by one of the best guitar factories in the world.

If you're looking for a Japanese made ES-335 that can compete with the best, grab this one today!

CONDITION ------------

Overall it's in very good player grade shape.

I've tried to capture all of the flaws in the photos and in the description - if you want more photos or details just let me know.

Across the entire body, top, back side, neck, and headstock, there are numerous dings, dents, scratches, and swirling in the lacquer finish.

There is a dent in the binding on the bottom edge of the body.

There is a small finish crack by the input jack - but the jack is solid and so is the top - this is just in the finish.

There is a chip in the finish on the low E side of the headstock.

There is a larger scratch close to the heel of the neck, on the low E side bout of the top of the body, and a few on the back of the body.

All of the nickel hardware, including the bridge, tailpiece, pickup pole pieces, tuners, pickguard bracket and screws are all in great shape, with some minor areas of tarnish, pitting and corrosion, although everything works as expected, including the tuners and bridge saddles, and there's still lots of shine in most areas and it has a consistent patina.

The black plastics are in tact with typical scratches and pick marks.

All of the Gotoh SD90-SL nickel tuners are working properly, and tune smoothly. The D string tuner is slightly bent, although it works properly with no issues.

Around the strap buttons there's typical strap marks/swirling.

The bridge tone pot is slightly bent, so it wobbles slightly when turning, although it works properly without any problems - you'll only notice it when you're watching it turn.

The 22 jumbo frets have been played, but have minimal play wear across the entire fretboard, and have lots of life left in them.

There's no signs of a headstock, heel or any other repair.

The truss rod works as expected with room in both directions.

SHIPPING ------------  

Every shipment is expertly packed with great care and includes tracking, signature required on delivery, and full insurance coverage for both the purchase price and shipping.

Every guitar is fully wrapped in bubble wrap, in a cardboard box meant for guitars, with proper support inside. To reduce environmental impact, the packing material (paper, newsprint, gift wrap, bubble wrap, air packets, foam, carboard boxes and/or tube supports, etc...) used may be recycled.

Package dimensions are 131cm x 53cm x 23cm

Note: if you want an exact shipping quote, just send me a note with your postal/zip code, and I'll get a proper quote for your address. 

Note: If you're buying from outside of Canada, you as the Buyer may be required to pay import duties, tariffs, taxes and/or VAT upon delivery, depending on your location and the purchase price.

QUESTIONS ------------

Any questions? Want more photos or detailed shots? Measurements? Shoot me a message, and I'll be happy to answer them, or send more pics, or take any measurements you want/need.

Thanks for looking!