1978 Vesta Graham VGC-1000 - Tobacco Sunburst - ES-335 Clone - Ebony FB & Thrōbak Custom MXV Duane Allman PU - Superior Premium Japanese Vintage Boutique Gibson Killer - Pro Set Up w Perfect Frets

Sale Price:$2,550.00 Original Price:$2,750.00
sold out

1978 Vesta Graham VGC-1000

Tobacco Sunburst Nitro Finish

Gibson ES-335 Clone w Ebony FB

Upgraded Bridge PU - Thrōbak Custom MXV Duane Allman

Superior Premium Japanese Vintage Boutique

A True Gibson Killer

Comes with a Hard Shell Case


$$$ It has just been professionally set up and dialed in for optimal tone and playability. It has low action with no buzzing. The frets are in perfect condition and polished to shine like a mirror, it is truly stage or studio ready/worthy. (Including new Strings,  perfect Intonation, truss rod adjustment and low action) Read Our Feedback and Rest Assured, The Dude Abides!


Thing get interesting at the shop now and then when something truly special walks in the door. I admit this was our first time seeing a Vesta in person and everyone has been blown away. I rarely if ever use the term Gibson killer but this tone monster is just that. This VGC-1000 is a work of musical art and visually as stunning as the Mona Lisa. While no longer making guitars, Vesta Graham was a very high end, one at a time custom guitar brand created by one of the original founders of ESP, Hidesato Shiino in 1978. After leaving ESP, Hidesato founded Shiino Musical instruments, with Vesta being the first brand launched to meet the needs of the most discerning professional musicians. Vesta Graham guitars were very high-end, small batch, hand made instruments using the best tone-woods, building materials and electronics. Which is an attribute very common with the brands Shiino Hidesato created.

No expense was spared when making these guitars and quality was the first order of business. As such it was made to an incredibly high standard, for example it sports a one-piece mahogany neck, solid ebony fretboard and mother of pearl fret inlays, with a design unique to Vesta Graham. If you look at the back of the headstock, you’ll notice there are no wings. The neck is bound with the frets featuring fret edge binding, as well as fret over binding, a classy touch. The tuners are American made Grovers, which was an expensive addition at the time. The nut is somewhat unique as well, with an angled (rather than flat) bottom, as was done on Martin guitars prior to their going to CNC. The neck profile is pretty large, especially for 335 style guitars made at this time. I would say it feels like a '59 Les Paul profile.

One of the nicest features of this baby is the full-length center block and long neck tenon for enhanced sustain and resonance. The center block is made of Honduran Mahogany, rather than maple. (an upgrade in my opinion from maple because of the the warmth of the sound) The body is three ply laminate flamed sycamore on all sides and book matched to a reverse chevron on the top and back. The ABR-1 style bridge is solid brass, a nice touch that adds sustain. When you talk about the sound of this guitar, that is where the magic truly happens. The neck pickup is the original Gotoh PAF, listed as 'Vesta Graham original' in the catalog, which has a nice balanced, bright and clear tone. The true peanut butter to the jelly of this sonic masterpiece is the bride pickup, which has been tastefully upgraded to a super sweet and somewhat rare Thrōbak Custom MXV Duane Allman Humbucker, which sounds excellent in this guitar. The body has a beautiful and vibrant Tobacco Sunburst nitro lacquer finish. There is a little bit of weather checking that add to the overall vintage MOJO and looks cool. There is light playwear, including a few small dings and a very small and completely cosmetic/insignificant finish crack on the back of the neck. As you can see from the pics, it is SUPER Clean overall. Other than the pickguard and bridge pickup, everything is 100% original.

Vesta Graham’s are exceptionally well-made, Custom Shop grade instruments for professional musicians that feel and most importantly sound the part.

These guitars are seldom seen outside Japan, are usually kept and rarely moved. I have sold virtually hundreds of Burny, Greco, Tokai etc... but this is the first Vesta We have come our way and I can confidently say that this is clearly better that those other copies. It is a rare bird and ready to fly, all it needs is a worthy player to bring it home.


This guitar is professionally set up and dialed in for optimal tone and playability. It has low action with no buzzing or dead spots and is an absolute joy to play. It has been deep cleaned and detailed. All guitars will arrive looking and playing great. The frets have been leveled / dressed / polished and the fingerboard was cleaned. (Unfinished Rosewood and Ebony boards get treated with Fret Doctor - a proprietary all natural oil that is the best on the market) It has brand new strings, the action was adjusted, the intonation is spot on and it plays excellent. All the electronics work flawlessly.


**** We stand behind every guitar we sell and have consistently delivered quality that beats most people expectations, earning us a reputation for quality that is unrivaled. Simply put “good enough” is not good enough for The Guitar Dude’s standards. We try and make every guitar be at its absolute BEST to deliver on our promise. We take great pride in what we do and we are always trying our best. 


* Neck is perfectly straight and the truss rod works with no issues


* Intonation is spot-on


* It has been professionally set up with nice low action & new American made strings.


* If needed, the frets will be dressed leveled & crowned


* All frets are polished prior to shipping when they are set up - They will shine like new!



* All Guitars Are Professionally and Safely Packed and Fully Insured. We Normally Ship Via UPS


***Please note that international shipping prices listed are minimum quotes in some cases. Certain countries are more expensive and will require additional shipping costs. Express services such as UPS, DHL & FedEx are also available, Please contact me for a personalized quote.

About Us


The Guitar Dude is a THREE time NAMM Top 100 Dealer in the world  who has been selling some of the best guitars on the planet since 2009. Known for the most Killer Flame Top Gibson 1959 Les Pauls Reissues and classic Fender guitars of all eras. I make beautiful guitar porn, please follow me on Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter. @TheGuitarDude 

Search for The Guitar Dude 

Often copied & imitated, but never duplicated.


Like what you see? Let me go to work for you.


I offer the best consignment sales on the planet! Find me online, just look for The Guitar Dude

For in-hand description, to propose a consignment sale or anything else please contact us 

954-448-2413


I offer a super relaxed layaway plan on certain guitars, that can be custom built to fit your budget and needs. It can be extended beyond 45 days in certain situations. If you are interested in a layaway plan, please contact me for full details.


Terms For Returns & Re-Stocking Fee’s

We recognize and accept a 7 day return policy as per Reverb guidelines, BUT intentions of the return must be communicated in writing within 3 day of receiving the guitar as indicated by the tracking. Unless the guitar is not as described, ORIGINAL & RETURN SHIPPING COSTS WILL NOT BE REFUNDED. There is a 10% Re-stocking fee for ALL guitars that are returned for ANY reason outside of damage from shipping or it arrives significantly not as described. Please note that we record demo videos to make sure our guitars go out exactly as we describe them with zero issues. We understand that feeling comfortable is vital to the purchase of a guitar/bass so in any case, additional measurements or in hand descriptions are available prior to purchase/shipping. Thats said, guitars travel a great distance some times and in transit things can happen. Also guitars acclimate to new environments and this can cause a need for a new set up or minor adjustment. It is acceptable and normal if there is for instance a tiny bit of buzzing or the need to adjust a truss rod. We are in south Florida and if you are in a colder or less humid environment it is almost to be expected. Please read our feedback and see what our customers say. The guitar MUST BE RETURNED IN THE EXACT CONDITION it was advertised/received or it is subject to additional costs & or repair fees. We are not a big chain shop, I hope you understand. If you are uncomfortable with these terms please do not purchase. There are plenty big chain shops that can absorb free trials and shipping. 

Payment - Shipping - International orders - Import Duties


ALL ITEMS CAN BE SHIPPED INTERNATIONALLY. - BUYER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL IMPORT DUTIES.

I accept many forms of payment including PayPal Credit & Affirm. I always pack extremely well and ship within the USA via UPS or Fedex, all packages are fully insured with tracking & signature confirmation.


Add To Cart

1978 Vesta Graham VGC-1000

Tobacco Sunburst Nitro Finish

Gibson ES-335 Clone w Ebony FB

Upgraded Bridge PU - Thrōbak Custom MXV Duane Allman

Superior Premium Japanese Vintage Boutique

A True Gibson Killer

Comes with a Hard Shell Case


$$$ It has just been professionally set up and dialed in for optimal tone and playability. It has low action with no buzzing. The frets are in perfect condition and polished to shine like a mirror, it is truly stage or studio ready/worthy. (Including new Strings,  perfect Intonation, truss rod adjustment and low action) Read Our Feedback and Rest Assured, The Dude Abides!


Thing get interesting at the shop now and then when something truly special walks in the door. I admit this was our first time seeing a Vesta in person and everyone has been blown away. I rarely if ever use the term Gibson killer but this tone monster is just that. This VGC-1000 is a work of musical art and visually as stunning as the Mona Lisa. While no longer making guitars, Vesta Graham was a very high end, one at a time custom guitar brand created by one of the original founders of ESP, Hidesato Shiino in 1978. After leaving ESP, Hidesato founded Shiino Musical instruments, with Vesta being the first brand launched to meet the needs of the most discerning professional musicians. Vesta Graham guitars were very high-end, small batch, hand made instruments using the best tone-woods, building materials and electronics. Which is an attribute very common with the brands Shiino Hidesato created.

No expense was spared when making these guitars and quality was the first order of business. As such it was made to an incredibly high standard, for example it sports a one-piece mahogany neck, solid ebony fretboard and mother of pearl fret inlays, with a design unique to Vesta Graham. If you look at the back of the headstock, you’ll notice there are no wings. The neck is bound with the frets featuring fret edge binding, as well as fret over binding, a classy touch. The tuners are American made Grovers, which was an expensive addition at the time. The nut is somewhat unique as well, with an angled (rather than flat) bottom, as was done on Martin guitars prior to their going to CNC. The neck profile is pretty large, especially for 335 style guitars made at this time. I would say it feels like a '59 Les Paul profile.

One of the nicest features of this baby is the full-length center block and long neck tenon for enhanced sustain and resonance. The center block is made of Honduran Mahogany, rather than maple. (an upgrade in my opinion from maple because of the the warmth of the sound) The body is three ply laminate flamed sycamore on all sides and book matched to a reverse chevron on the top and back. The ABR-1 style bridge is solid brass, a nice touch that adds sustain. When you talk about the sound of this guitar, that is where the magic truly happens. The neck pickup is the original Gotoh PAF, listed as 'Vesta Graham original' in the catalog, which has a nice balanced, bright and clear tone. The true peanut butter to the jelly of this sonic masterpiece is the bride pickup, which has been tastefully upgraded to a super sweet and somewhat rare Thrōbak Custom MXV Duane Allman Humbucker, which sounds excellent in this guitar. The body has a beautiful and vibrant Tobacco Sunburst nitro lacquer finish. There is a little bit of weather checking that add to the overall vintage MOJO and looks cool. There is light playwear, including a few small dings and a very small and completely cosmetic/insignificant finish crack on the back of the neck. As you can see from the pics, it is SUPER Clean overall. Other than the pickguard and bridge pickup, everything is 100% original.

Vesta Graham’s are exceptionally well-made, Custom Shop grade instruments for professional musicians that feel and most importantly sound the part.

These guitars are seldom seen outside Japan, are usually kept and rarely moved. I have sold virtually hundreds of Burny, Greco, Tokai etc... but this is the first Vesta We have come our way and I can confidently say that this is clearly better that those other copies. It is a rare bird and ready to fly, all it needs is a worthy player to bring it home.


This guitar is professionally set up and dialed in for optimal tone and playability. It has low action with no buzzing or dead spots and is an absolute joy to play. It has been deep cleaned and detailed. All guitars will arrive looking and playing great. The frets have been leveled / dressed / polished and the fingerboard was cleaned. (Unfinished Rosewood and Ebony boards get treated with Fret Doctor - a proprietary all natural oil that is the best on the market) It has brand new strings, the action was adjusted, the intonation is spot on and it plays excellent. All the electronics work flawlessly.


**** We stand behind every guitar we sell and have consistently delivered quality that beats most people expectations, earning us a reputation for quality that is unrivaled. Simply put “good enough” is not good enough for The Guitar Dude’s standards. We try and make every guitar be at its absolute BEST to deliver on our promise. We take great pride in what we do and we are always trying our best. 


* Neck is perfectly straight and the truss rod works with no issues


* Intonation is spot-on


* It has been professionally set up with nice low action & new American made strings.


* If needed, the frets will be dressed leveled & crowned


* All frets are polished prior to shipping when they are set up - They will shine like new!



* All Guitars Are Professionally and Safely Packed and Fully Insured. We Normally Ship Via UPS


***Please note that international shipping prices listed are minimum quotes in some cases. Certain countries are more expensive and will require additional shipping costs. Express services such as UPS, DHL & FedEx are also available, Please contact me for a personalized quote.

About Us


The Guitar Dude is a THREE time NAMM Top 100 Dealer in the world  who has been selling some of the best guitars on the planet since 2009. Known for the most Killer Flame Top Gibson 1959 Les Pauls Reissues and classic Fender guitars of all eras. I make beautiful guitar porn, please follow me on Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter. @TheGuitarDude 

Search for The Guitar Dude 

Often copied & imitated, but never duplicated.


Like what you see? Let me go to work for you.


I offer the best consignment sales on the planet! Find me online, just look for The Guitar Dude

For in-hand description, to propose a consignment sale or anything else please contact us 

954-448-2413


I offer a super relaxed layaway plan on certain guitars, that can be custom built to fit your budget and needs. It can be extended beyond 45 days in certain situations. If you are interested in a layaway plan, please contact me for full details.


Terms For Returns & Re-Stocking Fee’s

We recognize and accept a 7 day return policy as per Reverb guidelines, BUT intentions of the return must be communicated in writing within 3 day of receiving the guitar as indicated by the tracking. Unless the guitar is not as described, ORIGINAL & RETURN SHIPPING COSTS WILL NOT BE REFUNDED. There is a 10% Re-stocking fee for ALL guitars that are returned for ANY reason outside of damage from shipping or it arrives significantly not as described. Please note that we record demo videos to make sure our guitars go out exactly as we describe them with zero issues. We understand that feeling comfortable is vital to the purchase of a guitar/bass so in any case, additional measurements or in hand descriptions are available prior to purchase/shipping. Thats said, guitars travel a great distance some times and in transit things can happen. Also guitars acclimate to new environments and this can cause a need for a new set up or minor adjustment. It is acceptable and normal if there is for instance a tiny bit of buzzing or the need to adjust a truss rod. We are in south Florida and if you are in a colder or less humid environment it is almost to be expected. Please read our feedback and see what our customers say. The guitar MUST BE RETURNED IN THE EXACT CONDITION it was advertised/received or it is subject to additional costs & or repair fees. We are not a big chain shop, I hope you understand. If you are uncomfortable with these terms please do not purchase. There are plenty big chain shops that can absorb free trials and shipping. 

Payment - Shipping - International orders - Import Duties


ALL ITEMS CAN BE SHIPPED INTERNATIONALLY. - BUYER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL IMPORT DUTIES.

I accept many forms of payment including PayPal Credit & Affirm. I always pack extremely well and ship within the USA via UPS or Fedex, all packages are fully insured with tracking & signature confirmation.


1978 Vesta Graham VGC-1000

Tobacco Sunburst Nitro Finish

Gibson ES-335 Clone w Ebony FB

Upgraded Bridge PU - Thrōbak Custom MXV Duane Allman

Superior Premium Japanese Vintage Boutique

A True Gibson Killer

Comes with a Hard Shell Case


$$$ It has just been professionally set up and dialed in for optimal tone and playability. It has low action with no buzzing. The frets are in perfect condition and polished to shine like a mirror, it is truly stage or studio ready/worthy. (Including new Strings,  perfect Intonation, truss rod adjustment and low action) Read Our Feedback and Rest Assured, The Dude Abides!


Thing get interesting at the shop now and then when something truly special walks in the door. I admit this was our first time seeing a Vesta in person and everyone has been blown away. I rarely if ever use the term Gibson killer but this tone monster is just that. This VGC-1000 is a work of musical art and visually as stunning as the Mona Lisa. While no longer making guitars, Vesta Graham was a very high end, one at a time custom guitar brand created by one of the original founders of ESP, Hidesato Shiino in 1978. After leaving ESP, Hidesato founded Shiino Musical instruments, with Vesta being the first brand launched to meet the needs of the most discerning professional musicians. Vesta Graham guitars were very high-end, small batch, hand made instruments using the best tone-woods, building materials and electronics. Which is an attribute very common with the brands Shiino Hidesato created.

No expense was spared when making these guitars and quality was the first order of business. As such it was made to an incredibly high standard, for example it sports a one-piece mahogany neck, solid ebony fretboard and mother of pearl fret inlays, with a design unique to Vesta Graham. If you look at the back of the headstock, you’ll notice there are no wings. The neck is bound with the frets featuring fret edge binding, as well as fret over binding, a classy touch. The tuners are American made Grovers, which was an expensive addition at the time. The nut is somewhat unique as well, with an angled (rather than flat) bottom, as was done on Martin guitars prior to their going to CNC. The neck profile is pretty large, especially for 335 style guitars made at this time. I would say it feels like a '59 Les Paul profile.

One of the nicest features of this baby is the full-length center block and long neck tenon for enhanced sustain and resonance. The center block is made of Honduran Mahogany, rather than maple. (an upgrade in my opinion from maple because of the the warmth of the sound) The body is three ply laminate flamed sycamore on all sides and book matched to a reverse chevron on the top and back. The ABR-1 style bridge is solid brass, a nice touch that adds sustain. When you talk about the sound of this guitar, that is where the magic truly happens. The neck pickup is the original Gotoh PAF, listed as 'Vesta Graham original' in the catalog, which has a nice balanced, bright and clear tone. The true peanut butter to the jelly of this sonic masterpiece is the bride pickup, which has been tastefully upgraded to a super sweet and somewhat rare Thrōbak Custom MXV Duane Allman Humbucker, which sounds excellent in this guitar. The body has a beautiful and vibrant Tobacco Sunburst nitro lacquer finish. There is a little bit of weather checking that add to the overall vintage MOJO and looks cool. There is light playwear, including a few small dings and a very small and completely cosmetic/insignificant finish crack on the back of the neck. As you can see from the pics, it is SUPER Clean overall. Other than the pickguard and bridge pickup, everything is 100% original.

Vesta Graham’s are exceptionally well-made, Custom Shop grade instruments for professional musicians that feel and most importantly sound the part.

These guitars are seldom seen outside Japan, are usually kept and rarely moved. I have sold virtually hundreds of Burny, Greco, Tokai etc... but this is the first Vesta We have come our way and I can confidently say that this is clearly better that those other copies. It is a rare bird and ready to fly, all it needs is a worthy player to bring it home.


This guitar is professionally set up and dialed in for optimal tone and playability. It has low action with no buzzing or dead spots and is an absolute joy to play. It has been deep cleaned and detailed. All guitars will arrive looking and playing great. The frets have been leveled / dressed / polished and the fingerboard was cleaned. (Unfinished Rosewood and Ebony boards get treated with Fret Doctor - a proprietary all natural oil that is the best on the market) It has brand new strings, the action was adjusted, the intonation is spot on and it plays excellent. All the electronics work flawlessly.


**** We stand behind every guitar we sell and have consistently delivered quality that beats most people expectations, earning us a reputation for quality that is unrivaled. Simply put “good enough” is not good enough for The Guitar Dude’s standards. We try and make every guitar be at its absolute BEST to deliver on our promise. We take great pride in what we do and we are always trying our best. 


* Neck is perfectly straight and the truss rod works with no issues


* Intonation is spot-on


* It has been professionally set up with nice low action & new American made strings.


* If needed, the frets will be dressed leveled & crowned


* All frets are polished prior to shipping when they are set up - They will shine like new!



* All Guitars Are Professionally and Safely Packed and Fully Insured. We Normally Ship Via UPS


***Please note that international shipping prices listed are minimum quotes in some cases. Certain countries are more expensive and will require additional shipping costs. Express services such as UPS, DHL & FedEx are also available, Please contact me for a personalized quote.

About Us


The Guitar Dude is a THREE time NAMM Top 100 Dealer in the world  who has been selling some of the best guitars on the planet since 2009. Known for the most Killer Flame Top Gibson 1959 Les Pauls Reissues and classic Fender guitars of all eras. I make beautiful guitar porn, please follow me on Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter. @TheGuitarDude 

Search for The Guitar Dude 

Often copied & imitated, but never duplicated.


Like what you see? Let me go to work for you.


I offer the best consignment sales on the planet! Find me online, just look for The Guitar Dude

For in-hand description, to propose a consignment sale or anything else please contact us 

954-448-2413


I offer a super relaxed layaway plan on certain guitars, that can be custom built to fit your budget and needs. It can be extended beyond 45 days in certain situations. If you are interested in a layaway plan, please contact me for full details.


Terms For Returns & Re-Stocking Fee’s

We recognize and accept a 7 day return policy as per Reverb guidelines, BUT intentions of the return must be communicated in writing within 3 day of receiving the guitar as indicated by the tracking. Unless the guitar is not as described, ORIGINAL & RETURN SHIPPING COSTS WILL NOT BE REFUNDED. There is a 10% Re-stocking fee for ALL guitars that are returned for ANY reason outside of damage from shipping or it arrives significantly not as described. Please note that we record demo videos to make sure our guitars go out exactly as we describe them with zero issues. We understand that feeling comfortable is vital to the purchase of a guitar/bass so in any case, additional measurements or in hand descriptions are available prior to purchase/shipping. Thats said, guitars travel a great distance some times and in transit things can happen. Also guitars acclimate to new environments and this can cause a need for a new set up or minor adjustment. It is acceptable and normal if there is for instance a tiny bit of buzzing or the need to adjust a truss rod. We are in south Florida and if you are in a colder or less humid environment it is almost to be expected. Please read our feedback and see what our customers say. The guitar MUST BE RETURNED IN THE EXACT CONDITION it was advertised/received or it is subject to additional costs & or repair fees. We are not a big chain shop, I hope you understand. If you are uncomfortable with these terms please do not purchase. There are plenty big chain shops that can absorb free trials and shipping. 

Payment - Shipping - International orders - Import Duties


ALL ITEMS CAN BE SHIPPED INTERNATIONALLY. - BUYER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL IMPORT DUTIES.

I accept many forms of payment including PayPal Credit & Affirm. I always pack extremely well and ship within the USA via UPS or Fedex, all packages are fully insured with tracking & signature confirmation.