Impulsive entry into the Gibson ES-335 club

**timmer** · 08-03-2024, 01:46 AM

I was certainly not looking to spend on a Gibson. I wasn't even sure a 335 size axe would work for me. (I'm on the short side; I have an Epi 339 which is fine, though I still prefer the egonomics of my Teles.)

But today I ran into a late 2023 Gibson 335 on clearance for $1k off list price. Put it through its paces in the store and it seemed great. Now it's home.

One thing I hadn't noticed is the B string buzzes, but hey, sounds great if you love the sitar. It will be annoying as hell until I figure it out, but I'm sure that will eventually happen.

Otherwise the action is great, and the intonation is rock solid. And it will get "that sound" when you roll off the neck tone. Even the tele that has humbuckers keeps sounding bright until you've rolled off so much that it's just totally muffled.

The 335 pickups do seem like they're voiced a bit more in the rock direction than jazz. (It's the ES3500SCNH1 model.) Nonetheless I feel like I got an incredible deal.

**Oscar67** · 08-03-2024, 03:04 AM

Congrats! Sweet guitar, sweet deal. The B-string buzz is probably due to an improperly shaped slot in the bridge saddle and/or a too-low nut slot. Best to have it looked at, it’s usually something a pro fixes in 10 minutes and might save you hours of annoyance.

**Greywolf** · 08-03-2024, 08:00 AM

Congrats , I agree on the B .. quick fix and worth the effort

I picked up one a couple of years ago , it has the MHII pickups, and agree the pickups have a bit of growl to them but love it. The MHS II is based on Gibson mid-60’s patent number humbuckers. Both coils have the same number of turns, the wire is 42 gauge poly coated and the magnets are short Alnico 5.

Enjoy that classic.