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I'm interested in buy a gibson 335, used; but I don't know very well how many type of that guitar are on the market: I found a wide range of price.
dot, anniversary, glossy, etc.: what are the main difference?
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12-04-2012 09:02 AM
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If we're talking about sound, the main functional differences I feel are pups, HB' or P90's. Everything else is cosmetic. If you can get upgraded tuners on a used one they are a plus, some of the stock ones are less than wonderful, but most of the stock tuners have given me no problems.
Originally Posted by gianluca
I personally like shiny nitro type finished bodies and necks, I don't know how well the dull satin finished ones will last over the years.
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perfect! Originally Posted by GNAPPI
thanks
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if you want to save some cash (and are able to find one, an es-333 is the same thing with a satin finish and a panel in the back (like a les paul). go for around $1000-1300 here in the states. you can polish up a satin finish to a dull shine- looks kinda like an old guitar. it isn't so bad.
aside from that, i don't know. there are regular ones and custom shop ones and some are made in memphis and others in nashville. i think they keep things vague on purpose. maybe check out some videos and compare specs here:
Gibson Custom Shop Hollowbody Series Guitars | Electrics - Gibson Custom Shop | Wildwood Guitars
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You'll not find many . . if any ES335s with P90s. They were usually on the ES330s. Also, beware of the neck profile!! The dot finger board inlay are usually a much fatter neck profile than the block inlay fingerboard. AQlso, if you're looking vintage used . . some of the mid to late '60s guitars had a terrilby thin nut width. Some were 1-9/16"!!! Really horrible for a guy with larger hands in the lower register.
The Historic Reissues that come out of the Nashville Custom shop are just super. The Memphis Custom Shop is now producing some real nice 335 also. Unless you have very large hands, It might be best to avoid the ES 335 Fat Neck model out of Memphis.
Sound wise . . you'd be very hard pressed (difficult) to find one that sounded bad . . IMO.
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are all 335's 24.75" scale, or were some built with 25.5"?
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Agreed on both points, however... while rare, here's a link to one on EBAY. Originally Posted by Patrick2
Gibson ES 335 2011 with P90's RARE | eBay
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AFAIK, they are all 24.75". Gibsons with a 25.5" scale tend to be big-box archtops. An alternative could be to look at G&L ASATs (their Tele-style guitars). You can get them in a semi-hollow version with a Seymour Duncan Seth Lover pup in the neck position (the "Bluesboy") or jumbo single coils (the "Special" -- the pickup is not a P-90, but fat-sounding and clean). A nice thing about G&L USA models is that you can custom order them with options for the price of a USA Fender Tele: things like neck contour (like a 1.75" nut!), fretboard wood (ebony!), binding, body contour cuts, and about 50 finishes. Originally Posted by Bill C
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do some research on the different model numbers, eg, 335, 355, 347, etc...
the 347's with ebony 'boards from the late 70's seem really cool.
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This is not a 335 and NOT a plug for a Heritage guitar. This just to let you know if you want a 335 style guitar with P-90s, Heritage makes them.
This is my personal guitar, a 535 P-90. Just trying to help.
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^^^ Gorgeous!
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The narrow nut (1 9/16") actually extended through the early '70s. During the latter period, the center block actually stopped below the pickups. They are not horrible guitars. As with any, there a lively ones and darker ones. I have a '73 that is awesome.
I have smaller hands and can navigate the neck just fine; it's only narrower at the end of the neck. I also love big fat necks as well, as in my Nocaster RI. Just depends on your technique.
Generally, other than vintage '50s and '60s, I believe the most highly regarded are the early to mid '80s ones and the custom shop ones in the 2000s to recent. There are websites dedicated to the 335 that have excellent information. Also, OK Guitars has a blog that has a ton of info and the owner is very responsive. Definitely research before you buy.
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I was a little concerned that I might offend someone who might have a 335 with the narrow nut. That's whay I said "horrible for some guys with larger hands when playing in the lower register. Originally Posted by Encinitastubes
Poorly chosen wording on my part. "Somewhat uncomfortable" might have been better.
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Oh, I was not offended. I would imagine some of those big-handed dudes might find them horrible. Also, some guitars from that era are horrible. I used to bum out about my 335 when I learned that the nut width was not so desirable. Then, I decided that it was stupid to bum out about something that was not a bummer until I read it on the Internet. That, and seeing Itzak Perlman have no trouble with the neck on his axe made me just worry about playing it better. It's actually a more hollow sounding 335, which I like more these days.
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Originally Posted by Bill C
ES-335/345/355 - all have 24 3/4" scale. Originally Posted by BigDaddyLoveHandles
One 16" Gibson semi with a 25 1/2" scale is the Gibson Chet Atkins Tennessean.
Neat guitar:
- unbound ebony board;
- 1 3/4" at the nut;
- maple neck,
- maple block
- single cutaway, neck meets body at 16th fret
25 1/2" scale double cutaway semis with ES-335-like construction include a few from other makers:
- Hofner Verythin Standard or Verythin Classic
- Crafter SEG 450 / SEG 480
- Eastwood Joey LeoneLast edited by Hammertone; 12-05-2012 at 12:08 AM.
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But they exist. Here is mine: Originally Posted by Patrick2
Last edited by Flint; 12-07-2012 at 12:55 AM.
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Yup, here's another on the bay: Originally Posted by Flint
Gibson Custom ES 335 Dot Plain Top Electric Guitar | eBay
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How about an Epiphone Casino? Slim neck, P90s and not a lot of money - around £300-£350 ($400-$500)?
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The cheapest real Gibson ES-335 would be the ES-333... if that makes any sense :P But is has the same woods, same features, just less fancy ornaments and they originally came with 498t/490t humbuckers. (But most of the 333s in the used market have those already replaced)
This is how mine sounds:
And this is how it looks:
By the way, several manufacturers produce P90s in HB-size, so they can be dropped in without modification, if you want a P90. (But a Casino or ES-330 is also a great guitar.)Last edited by Little Jay; 12-07-2012 at 08:45 AM.
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Yeah . . . I guess my comments were more aimed at the vintage ones than the reissues. I'd forgotten about those. The Custom Shop is doing many different things with some of their reissues . . . offering spec's that were unavailable during the late '50s and early '60s. Originally Posted by GNAPPI
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I'm with you brother, I have a '74 335, its wonderful, owned it for 20+ years. My hands aren't huge & don't find the narrow nut to be an issue. Originally Posted by Encinitastubes
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do you believe there is a big difference between 335 and a epiphone for some scofield type tone?
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I am not able to answer this question, but it seems you are looking for a Scofield type tone. In this case why don't you buy an Ibanez As200 or the new Scofield model Originally Posted by gianluca
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I need a not clean tone for some gigs I do where I play at high volume. something with more sustain and less acoustic than my L-5. a guitar that may like a very light distortion. not exactly the scofield tone...
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One big variable in 335's the bridge/tailpiece. It originally had a stop tailpiece and a few years later switched to a trapeze-style. Among 335 players I believed that's considered major demarkation in the lineage.
In terms of builders and value, I've always heard good things about the higher end Yamaha and Ibanez 335 types.Last edited by Jim Soloway; 12-09-2012 at 02:26 PM.
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