CRR & CRS Registry
“Country Rock Regular” & “Country Rock Stereo” ES-335 TD
Today, July 2nd, 2011, I trade both of my CRRs for a ’60 Les Paul Special. They’ll be missed, but I will be playing this far more than those two guitars. I’ll continue to maintain this page, CRRs are amazing instruments and should be cherished.
In 1979, Gibson along with others, Gibson released two new ES-335 models; the CRR and the CRS which stood for “Country Rock Regular” and “Country Rock Stereo” respectively. With their high output Dirty Fingers pickups, designed by Tim Shaw, these guitars seemed aimed for one thing only: very loud and very driven sound. In practice they turned out to be a far more subtle and versatile instrument.
Limited to a run of 300 each, the each of the guitars were meticulously crafted. Both guitars featured cream binding, pick guard, and exposed pickups. The three piece maple neck with medium block inlays on a cream bound rosewood fretboard. The tuning heads were Grover rotomatics and the nut came out of the factory in brass. In addition, the bridges featured brass saddles and a Gibson TP-6 fine tuning tail piece.
The CRR’s exposed coil Dirty Fingers pickups had cream bobbins to match the rest of the instrument’s styling. Dirty Fingers pickups were equipped with two rows of adjustable pole pieces. This feature was done with coil tapping in mind, so that the output of the tapped coil could be adjusted to match the overall output of the pickup. The CRR had a standard two volume, two tone wiring scheme, with the factory installed coil tap located at the treble horn cutaway and the pickup selector knob near the bridge.
The CRS was slightly different in appearance with it’s covered pickups. Though they were Dirty Fingers, only one row was accessible to adjustment, despite the factory coil tap. The CRS also varied in that it came with a master volume and two tone knobs. It also featured a mono and a stereo input jack, giving it its name.
While the CRR was limited to a finish dubbed Antique Burst by Gibson, the CRS came in Country Tobacco, Dixie Burst and solid Black.
Each CRR/CRS I’ve played has featured a different neck profile. The two I own are vastly different, one being a 60′s slim neck, the other being a flatter, more ’70s style Norlin influenced neck. While I prefer the slim taper neck on some applications, the wider neck is better suited for slide playing to me.
Useful Links for more info on the Country Rock Regular.
- Thread on Gibson Talk about CRRs
- A snippet on Flying Vintage about it.
- Review on Harmony Central.
- Another thread on Gibson Talk
- The CRR gets a mention here at the Telecaster authority.
- A page from the Gibson Book with info on the CRR.
- A thread on MyLesPaul.com “Other Gibsons” forum.
Fast Forward to 2:30 to see a CRR in action.
CRR and CRS Registry
CRR
| CRR | 72849019 | 10/11/79 #019 | $1,950.00 | Seattle, WA | 100% original | jkk |
| CRR | 71349009 | 05/14/79, #009 | $1900.00 | Seattle, WA | 100% original | jkk |
| CRR | 71189108 | 04/28/79, #108 | Last seen, Hoboken Guitars, 1990s. | 100% original | ||
| CRR | 71349063 | 05/14/79, #063 | Denver, CO | 100% original | Wilywelch335 | |
| CRR | 71349015 | 05/14/79, #015 | Westminster, UK | added p/u covs | 1979crr | |
| CRR | 71189141 | 04/28/79, #141 | $2,995.00 | Marietta, GA | 100% original | ebay (did not sell) |
| CRR | 71439181 | 05/26/79, #181 | $3,300.00 | Brookfield, WI | Pickguard / knobs not original | ebay (did not sell) |
| CRR | 71439121 | 05/23/79, #121 | Highlands Ranch, CO | Classic 57 pickups (saved Dirty Fingers) | Thomas Cleveland | |
| CRR | 71439151 | 05/23/79, #151 | Gregory Simmons |
CRS
| CRS | 71359075 | 05/15/79, #075 | $2,900.00 | ebay | did not sell | 100% original | |
| CRS | 71219112 | 05/01/79, #112 | 2850 Euro | Kilkenny, IRL | sold in 2006 | 100% original | didn’t sell. |
| CRS | 71289099 | 05/08/79, #099 | $3k (asking), $3.5k BIN (unsold) | Muldrow, OK, United States | Ebay user: gandolff | ||
| CRS | n/a (prototype) | 1978 | $2,199 ebay (unsold) | Duarte CA, US | Ebay user: jacqueslilavois | ||
| CRS | Unknown | 1978 | $2,600 ebay (unsold) | Dallas, TX US | Black! | Ebay user:dallasvintageguitars |
Parent page: CRR & CRS Registry
I have a crr, how do I register it like you have others above? tom.
Simply email me the serial number, where you live, and anything else you want to add. I’ll put you on the list. I want to account for as many CRRs as possible. Also, let me know if it’s all original, or if anything has been changed on it. Thanks for stopping by!
Gibson ES-335 CRR
Serial Number 71439121
Kalamazoo Plant, USA
May 23rd, 1979
Production Number: 121
have original pickups, classic 57′s in, otherwise all original.
oh, highlands ranch, colorado.
I put mine on the cover of amy first CD in 2005. Notice the phase switch missing? Thank you Photoshop. Serial number 71439151. Guitar now belongs to a family member with a covenant to never sell.
@ Gregory Simmons
funny. you’re guitar was made on the same date as the guy who submitted just before you. yours was #151, his was #121 in the production of all guitars for that day. – By the way, the switch you removed in Photoshop was a coil tap to make the pickups single coil; not phase. (unless you rewired it.)
Single coil, yes. Never rewired the guitar – it’s unchanged since i bought it new. These guitars sound beautiful if you lower the pickups. My CD has received a lot of good comments on the tone of the guitar from the press. That’s the ES-335 CRR straight into the board most of the time!
I traded a PRS for mine sometime in 2004. 100% original as far as I can tell. Serial# 71499045
CRR
71439119
May 23rd, 1979 #119
$3,200.-
Houston Texas
All Original
Jerry Cochran
Thank you for your blog ! Very interesting.
Well, I live in France, but go back to Mississippi each and every year. I lately bought this guitar : http://cgi.ebay.fr/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170511693021&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT
Dated december 1978… What do you think ? Stamp on back of the headstock : “original gibson prototype”. Do you know what it means ?
If you want more pictures, let me know.
I fell in love with my 335 CRR, for the reasons you explained.
Best regards.
François
$3,200 is absurdly overpriced, unfortunately. I’ve never actually seen one sell for more than $2,200.00.
Yours would be the second prototype I’ve seen. There was one on United States Ebay for quite some time, but the owner was far too proud of it and was asking too much. Glad to hear about another!
About my CRR :
serial number :73388128 10/11/79 #019 $2,050.00 Marseilles, France 100% original
About what you say : I’ve seen another prototype lately on US ebay, but seemed to be a CRS (?).
Do you think it’s possible to place covers on the pick-ups ? Interference possible with adjustable pole pieces, but how they did on CRS ?
Regards.
FR.
Sorry I mispasted my post. Wrong date, sorry… But Serial number is right…
I have seen the CRS prototype on the USA ebay. Thats probably what I was thinking of. Interesting that you have a CRR prototype.
If yours has covers, they may not be original pickups, or they may be CRS type DFs. I couldn’t be sure unless I looked at it first hand. Hopefully they’re original.
The pickups are orginal, without cover. I was just wondering if I could place covers on it now. What do you think ? Would it alterate the sound ?
In theory, it will attenuate the sound a bit. The tone may darken a little, but I doubt it will be noticeable, considering the power of the Dirty Fingers. They’re very high output pickups.
I have been offered a ES335TD blonde colour serial No. 72009137. The guy is looking for 2000 Euro what I want to know is this a good price.
That’s a regular ES-335TD, not a CRR: I’m no expert, but I imagine 2000 Euro is a good price if the guitar is in good shape and all original.
I have a CRS 335TD Serial no. 71289100 seems all org with org case
I have one on it’s way to my house right now! It’s going to be a long couple of days waiting! Serial 372229136
CRS TD, No. 71429100, owned it a long time, can’t remember when I bought it or how much I paid for it. All stock.
Hello,
searching the web I’v seen you have an ES 335 ’79.
I’m searching this model: GIBSON 335-PRO, sunburst color, produced in the period 1979-1982 with Dirty Finger blacks pickups.
If you have this model and you are interested to sell it I can make an offer to buy it!
Contact ne only here: andreajf86@hotmail.it
I wait news.
Thanks
Andrea
I have just acquired a 1979 ES-335TD CRS, Tobacco Sunburst in extra fine condition. Serial # 71429072
Purchased/traded in 2011 from Gruhn Guitars in Nashville for a ’73Guild F412 & $1400 ($2750 on tag.) Gruhn’s rated it EXF, which is 1 small step below mint.
The guitar is now in Memphis, TN.
PS: I forgot to say it is 99.5% original. Gruhn put a bone nut on it, an improvement in my book…
I bought the guitar from Tom Cleveland and have had the original Dirty Fingers pickups reinstalled.
ES335 CRR
Ser#: 71499102
Original Owner: Rick Page Giles
New Owner and Friend of Rick’s: Rob Cameron
History: Giles played this guitar professionally, an believed to have bought the guitar new. At his passing, was handed down to Fernandez, childhood best friend and professional player. Have photograph if interested