'64 Gibson ES-335 Reissue

[Ukena]

I have a young friend who is an accomplished player, and he has some questions I am not knowledgeable enough to answer.

He's looking at a new '64 Gibson ES-335 Reissue, and is wondering about the different types of 335 that exist. He likes the sound Adam Rogers gets from his (1999?) 335, but is wondering if the reissue is worth the investment, rather than getting an Ibanez Art Star or a D'Angelico that plays like a 335.

Any thoughts?

[jads57]

All guitars even the same spec ones feel different from each other.
So are you looking for a tool or a lifetime investment?
The Newer Gibson ES-335 models USA models are really good imo. And I think are a great value,especially used.
On semi hollows that fit those same spec type builds,Heritage 535 is a great option as well. Again used is your best bet!

Other 335 type of instruments Ibanez,etc can also be some wonderful guitars as well. They do vary in some aspects,and that can be good or bad depending what you like.
If you are looking for great value and a really good entry level semi hollow guitar checkout both Eastman T386 as well as recent Epigone semi hollows built in the last 2 years or so

Again always buy used and from a reputable dealer,source. Try Dave’s Guitar in La Crosse,Wisconsin.

[John A.]

The different 335’s are all subtle variations of the same thing (e.g. slight differences in neck dimensions, pickups, fret sizes, finish, inlays, etc.). Which one is better is a matter of subjective preference.

As far as other brands go, some come close to being exact copies of a 335, some are a little more their own thing. Again, it comes down to subjective preference.

WRT value, if you genuinely prefer the more expensive one and it makes a real difference in your music, it’s worth it. If you don’t, it’s not. It happens both ways.

[Jimmy Mack]

Hi Ukena, I see you are in the NY area, like I and several and other members here.

I have had good luck at the Guitar Center store in Manhattan and the one in Brooklyn. I have bought new and used Epiphone semi-hollow guitars there as well as a new Gibson 335, a 2023 model in November '24.

I was there today and did not see any used 335's. But you have to keep checking with them, here today - gone tomorrow. What's really great about them, the return policy of 45 days really works in the buyers' favor. I have taken advantage of that twice. Sometimes the guitar you love at first experience doesn't live up to expectations. Also, it allows you time to take the instrument to a reliable tech and get the lowdown on the guitar.

The '64 RI Gibson should be a fine instrument. But they're not cheap, so you have to be secure in your purchase!

Also you can shop Guitar Center online, order the desired guitar shipped to the store (safer than to your home), try it out, and return it immediately if not satisfied. (Saves you the buyer from having to ship a guitar to return it)

All the guitars you mention can be great or they can be so-so. That's why a return policy and a "play before you pay" opportunity is best.

Best of luck and you are in a good forum here for info and support.

[213Cobra]

I have a 2024 Gibson ES-335 1964 Custom Shop Reissue, Murphy Lab Ultra-light-aged. I also have an excellent 1990 Gibson USA ES-335 that I got 35 years ago. I've played the lower-price Gibson USA ES-335 60s Cherry current model and over the decades many other 335-style guitars. My 1990 was really good in build quality and sound when I bought it new. Back in those days, buying guitars was mostly a retail brick & mortar locations endeavor. And in L.A. you could walk into many Gibson dealers and have 10 or 12 335s and three dozen Les Pauls to pull down and play till you found the best of the lot. Early Henry-era Gibson had shaken off its Norlin funk by '88, '89, '90 and those circa 1990 guitars were really good in every way.

My 1964 Reissue is better in its execution but not by miles. The 1990 has 490R/T pickups, which were very close to what became the '57 Classic and I was never tempted to change them out. The 1964 Reissue has Custombucker Alnico III pickups, which sound pretty vintage-y, but they have a little more chime than the '57 Classic and the 490. And I think the 1964 Reissue body feels and sounds somewhat more resonant (unplugged) in a fuller-spectrum way than the 1990. On an inflation-adjusted basis, my 1990 guitar new would cost more than today's 60s Cherry and less than a 1964 Reissue, Murphy Lab'd or not. Which is fine because to me the 1990 is better than the 60s Cherry, though the latter is very good. Is the '64 Reissue worth the extra outlay? To me, yes. BTW, I also had, for 23 years, a 2000 Gibson Custom Shop 1963 ES-335 Reissue alongside my 1990, and it was also a charmer except I never really liked the pencil neck on the '63. The '64 neck is more filling, the 1990 just a little moreso still.

Which brings me to the alternatives. You can get 335-style guitars with Ibanez, Guild, Eastman, Heritage, Collings and many other names on the headstocks. None of them really feel or sound exactly like Gibson's 335. That doesn't mean they're deficient. I'm a big fan of Guilds, for instance, and have owned 18 or 20 over the decades. But I never wanted to give up my real 335s for a Guild equivalent. I like the Heritage 535. Never been a fan of Ibanez but not because of any quality problem in that kind of guitar. You can get great sounds out of all of them, but not exactly Gibson sound, IMO. So if you're inspired by what you hear from a Gibson ES-335 player, then a 1964 Reissue 335 should make you happy. Or you can spend less shopping the fairly robust selection of used Gibby 335s from various eras here, on Reverb, or elsewhere.

One more thing: For a less expensive alternative that still has that sound, a used Gibson ES-137 (has the mahogany centerblock) can be had typically for less, in very good to excellent condition. Most people here couldn't live with the 498T bridge pickup, which is pretty hot. But you can find a 490T to put there, matching up to the 490R and have a firmly Gibson ES semi-hollow sound at relatively little variance from a 335, but in thin-175 form for a thousand less.

Phil

[Herbie]

I have not played them but I have read somewhere that contrmporary models are ’60s Cherry and from Custom Shop there is Reissues from ’59, ’63 and ’64.

Pickups can be changed but the biggest difference is in necks. Chunkiest one is 59, slimmest is the 63 and the 64 is in the middle.

I suppose all sound more or less ES-335!

Except ES-137 that has a maple neck. I guess it won’t sound like an ES-335.

Correct if I am wrong!

[213Cobra]

I have not played them but I have read somewhere that contrmporary models are ’60s Cherry and from Custom Shop there is Reissues from ’59, ’63 and ’64.

Pickups can be changed but the biggest difference is in necks. Chunkiest one is 59, slimmest is the 63 and the 64 is in the middle.

I suppose all sound more or less ES-335!

Except ES-137 that has a maple neck. I guess it won’t sound like an ES-335.

Correct if I am wrong!

Nah, the maple neck difference is overwhelmed by the pickups choice. Legend has it that the ES-137 Classic stock is closer to the Les Paul than to a 335. That's not my experience but you can conclusively shove that notion aside by dumping the 498T pickup (if you use the bridge pickup at all). The maple neck *maybe* gives the 137 a little more snap than some 335s, but this is not a front-and-center matter nor true all the time. Anyway, I recommend a real Gibson 335 for someone who is referencing that sound, but for someone who needs to spend less and might like the smaller thinnish-175 form factor, the 137 with a bridge pickup change will put the player in the 335 zone for less. I have one, alongside two 335s extant, and others in my past, so it's not a view conjured from thin air.

Phil

[Average Joe]

People have better ears than me if they can tell the difference between a Heritage, an Epiphone or a Tokai and a Gibson given the same pickups and electronics. Ibanez, Yamaha, and the few Eastmans (Eastmen?) I've tried use different woods, so there is a bit of difference there.

Semis vary considerably even within the same model. Some are chimy, others darker. Something as expensive as a RI Gibson I'd absolutely advice against buying without trying first.

[John A.]

Except ES-137 that has a maple neck. I guess it won’t sound like an ES-335.

Correct if I am wrong!

When I was on my semi hunt (granted, quite a while ago so my memories may be off) I played a 137, a 335, and a 339, in one sitting, all through the same amp. They all sounded pretty much the same to me. Someone else might hear big differences, but I don’t.

I have a D’Angelico EX DC, which has a maple neck and laminated spruce top. I’ve played it side by side with a friend’s ‘93 ES-335 dot neck countless times, including swapping guitars, amd swapping amps. By far the biggest difference in how they sound is who’s playing which guitar. He plays his and I play mine and it’s “wow, these sound pretty different”. I play his and he plays mine and it’s “wow, these sound the same.”

[pilotony]

In December, 1965, I purchased a new ES-345 TDC SV at Sam Ash in Hempstead NY, I still use and love it.

The 335, 345 and 355, are all semi-hollow "thin line" bodies that in my opinion, are the best all around guitars for most players. I also have a new issue ES-330 which is a "thin-line" but a full hollow body with a tone that is slightly brighter than the semi-hollow versions.

There are a lot of used "three thirties series guitars" on the net. Your friend shouldn't have any trouble finding one-new or used.

But, if he can wait a short while, purchase a Campellone and you'll have a guitar that sounds better each time you play it.

Happy Landings!

Tony D.

[Herbie]

Nah, the maple neck difference is overwhelmed by the pickups choice. Legend has it that the ES-137 Classic stock is closer to the Les Paul than to a 335. That's not my experience but you can conclusively shove that notion aside by dumping the 498T pickup (if you use the bridge pickup at all). The maple neck *maybe* gives the 137 a little more snap than some 335s, but this is not a front-and-center matter nor true all the time. Anyway, I recommend a real Gibson 335 for someone who is referencing that sound, but for someone who needs to spend less and might like the smaller thinnish-175 form factor, the 137 with a bridge pickup change will put the player in the 335 zone for less. I have one, alongside two 335s extant, and others in my past, so it's not a view conjured from thin air.
Phil

I learned the dilemma of maple neck with a 1979 Les Paul Deluxe I had once. It had a maple neck and the mini 'buckers. Didn't like the sound nor the feel, I missed something "deep lespaulish" similar to my other Standard LPs.

Swapped them for Antiquity P90s and the some else P90s. Didn't like the sound nor the feel. Then I realised that maybe it was the maple neck which made the guitar sound "glassy and bassy" and made me miss "depth" (yes, this is highly exact and scientific!).

Then I sold it, bought a mahogany neck LP and loved the the sound with stock P90s.

But I played rock with .010 roundwounds with it, maybe playing jazz with thicker flatwound strings is a different story.

[jim777]

Tokai makes an excellent 335 copy for less than half the price of a Gibson, and they do hold their value (though their value, like their price, is still less than Gibson's). You also don't need to try a few to find a good one, they're all good.

[jads57]

And after all of the semi hollow 335 choices it just comes down to what feel you prefer and how much you want to spend!
I agree the 64 and other Historic 335’s are my favorite but the newer USA models are just about as good, imo.

Have fun in the chase!

[Ukena]

Thanks for all the replies and the great opinions. My friend read them all. He had been concentrating on Rudy's Music, but today he visited TR Cranston, and fell in love with (and bought) this one, I believe:

2017 Gibson Custom Shop ES-335 64 RI Hand Select Semi-Hollowbody Guitar – TR Crandall Guitars

[213Cobra]

Very good. Our work here is done and your friend brought another Gibson into the family. -Phil

[Woody Sound]

Also you can shop Guitar Center online, order the desired guitar shipped to the store (safer than to your home), try it out, and return it immediately if not satisfied. (Saves you the buyer from having to ship a guitar to return it)

I think those also have the 45 day return policy.

[dconeill]

... He's looking at a new '64 Gibson ES-335 Reissue ... He likes the sound Adam Rogers gets from his (1999?) 335, but is wondering if the reissue is worth the investment, rather than getting an Ibanez Art Star or a D'Angelico that plays like a 335.

Any thoughts?

Yes. The sound and the "plays like" are distinct. Which does he want, the sound or the feel? They're not the same.

And just to beat a long-dead horse, he could have the same kit as Adam Rogers, play on the same stage as Adam Rogers, and have the same bandmates as Adam Rogers, and still not sound like Adam Rogers. He might sound similar to Adam Rogers, but he's going to sound like himself.

And no, I would say that Gibsons are not worth the money. I say that as someone who's used Gibsons most of my life - I'd never buy one again because they cost too much for what they are. Maybe if I were wealthy.

[was: "a dentist ...", but some, with justification, objected]

[213Cobra]

The dentist thing, again. Guitar players and dental blight.... Pick another occupation to villainize. Average general dentist income before taxes in the US is ~$191,000 in 2024. It's not that much, given the percentage that live in metro areas and incur substantial education debt to get there, and have families. In inflation-adjusted dollars, I got there within 3 years of entering the software industry in the mid-80s. So that still might seem rich to a working musician, I grant. But I could have afforded *one* exceptional guitar when I was making half that much earlier. For a 335 style, a Gibson Historic was worth it to me, but that's just me.

Gibsons cost too much for what they are? OK, yeah Les Pauls do. But archtops and semihollows cost what they cost for exactly what they are in the minds of the people who want them and recognize that genuine alternatives are limited.

If you read the thread, the beneficiary of the OP found and bought a 1964 Gibby reissue on the secondary market.

Phil

[bluejaybill]

The dentist thing, again. Guitar players and dental blight.... Pick another occupation to villainize. Average general dentist income before taxes in the US is ~$191,000 in 2024. It's not that much, given the percentage that live in metro areas and incur substantial education debt to get there, and have families. In inflation-adjusted dollars, I got there within 3 years of entering the software industry in the mid-80s. So that still might seem rich to a working musician, I grant. But I could have afforded *one* exceptional guitar when I was making half that much earlier. For a 335 style, a Gibson Historic was worth it to me, but that's just me.

Gibsons cost too much for what they are? OK, yeah Les Pauls do. But archtops and semihollows cost what they cost for exactly what they are in the minds of the people who want them and recognize that genuine alternatives are limited.

If you read the thread, the beneficiary of the OP found and bought a 1964 Gibby reissue on the secondary market.

Phil

Yeah, that doctor/dentist trope is getting kinda old. I've got some news, there are some folks that can afford $120,000 for a blonde '59 ES335. Or even more for a burst. I've known quite a few of those people, and none are in the medical profession. They are almost all successful entrepeneurs who clawed their way to success, though some of the most famous collectors did it the old fashioned way- they inherited it. Hey, some of them are even successful musicians!

Either accept it or be bitter about it, that's up to you. Certainly in my life I have been in both camps at different times.

But either way, at least come up with better jokes!

[Christian Miller]

FWIW I have a 335 and can’t sound like Adam Rogers on it. It may not, in fact, be the guitars fault.

It a specific touch, technique and I suspect probably less treble roll off than you might think.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Rickco]

I have not played them but I have read somewhere that contrmporary models are ’60s Cherry and from Custom Shop there is Reissues from ’59, ’63 and ’64.

Pickups can be changed but the biggest difference is in necks. Chunkiest one is 59, slimmest is the 63 and the 64 is in the middle.

I suppose all sound more or less ES-335!

Except ES-137 that has a maple neck. I guess it won’t sound like an ES-335.

Correct if I am wrong!

Just curious here, so the diff btwn the reish's is principally neck diameter? Any chance of finding corresponding measurements of thickness? My '74 175 (mahogany 3pc neck) is .8 at the first, if I wanted a 335 with a simular neck dim what years would be the closest ?

[213Cobra]

The '59 reissue has the thickest 335 RI neck, the '63 the thinnest; the '64 in between. I don't know the measurement for the current '60s Cherry 335 but I don't think it's as thin as the '63 RI. I'll measure my '64 335 RI to give you a reference. Standby. -Phil

[jads57]

The 64 has more of a tapered neck shape. .830 to .980” C shape.

The 59 is .90” to 1.0” or thereabouts. And the 1960 is the slimmest with .80” to .90”

These are all average measurements of each year model.

[213Cobra]

The 64 has more of a tapered neck shape. .830 to .980” C shape.

The 59 is .90” to 1.0” or thereabouts. And the 1960 is the slimmest with .80” to .90”

These are all average measurements of each year model.

I seem to have temporarily misplaced my digital caliper but using analog methods, my 2024 E-S335 '64 Reissue comes out a tad thicker, but in that realm. I've never played a 1960 RI nor original, but the '63 RI was noticeably slimmer than any other '60s neck I've had my hands on, and I know mine did not quite reach the heights (depths) of .8" - .9", but OK close to that. There are some guitar-to-guitar minor variations within reissue years. Of the three ES-335s I've owned since 1990, the 1990 GIbson USA feels fullest in hand, followed by the '64 Custom Shop RI, with the 2000 era Custom Shop '63 RI trailing subjectively by a lot, feeling comparatively like a twig in my hand.

Phil