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On the Chinese version that I bought the fret ends were sharp and needed filing, the neck was flexible enough to cause intonation problems, and the paint was leeching into the binding. It did sound pretty good though. I didn't keep it.
Originally Posted by jzucker
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04-19-2015 09:10 PM
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Catch Emily Remler playing "Tenor Madness" on Youtube. She's playing what she thinks is a 1962 Gibson 330, which is a true hollowbody, with no central piece inside the body. She said she likes the light weight (6 lbs) and the thin neck. Also it has the really nice tone that comes from a hollow guitar. I have a 330TDC just like hers (I believe it's a '63 model) which I bought in 1968 from a guy that bought it new and I paid him $175 I believe. He immediately joined the navy right after he bought it and it stood in his parents closet for a few years before he sold it to me. I love the lightness of it and have never had an uncontrollable feedback problem with it, even when I ran it thru a Marshall stack. In '72 I took the P90's off it and put on Humbucking pickups. It looks like Emily did the same thing. Real coincidence! The amp I liked best was a Fender Twin Reverb. It got old and I got a new Fender Hot Rod Deluxe. I also have a Fender Jazzmaster and 3 other great guitars, but the es-330-TDC is my baby. I got into Django Reinhardt, Charlie Christian, Charlie Parker. I like bebop but I also really got into guitar when I heard The Ventures, then Eric Clapton (up thru Cream). Anybody that plays with their heart in it, plays with confidence, I like. See Emily on Youtube starting with "Tenor Madness" by Sonny Rollins and you can tell she was really on her way. John LeDuc
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What you guys do?
I am kinda GASing for a tobacco burst 335, I got 3 already. I am keeping the 2 for sure, my Rusty Anderson and my 87 Ebony 335. I also got an 84(?) 335 in almond burst even though it sounds killer and I always wanted a tobacco burst, I feel like moving it.
In any case, get a 4th one , 1991 335 or trade in the 84 335, add some cash and get a Collings i35 LC Deluxe?
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Personally, I think Hofner had the right idea when the Verythins were less "335" like...minibuckers and a Fender scale, like mine...
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Very nice. I recently played a Hofner T4 prototype. That looked a lot like that They stopped making them a long time ago but it reminded me very much of the verythins. Anyways, it was a very versatile guitar and sounded great. Unfortunately, it was not for sale.
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I sympathize with Robertm2000. I haven't picked up many new 335s that have seemed to be anywhere in the ballpark of the vintage instruments. If you get the chance to play a 335 made between '58 and '68 (I know, that covers a lot of territory and quite a few changes in appointments on the instrument) you will discover that the ES-335TD was simply a stunningly great guitar for just about any kind of music. It is one of those, "if I only had one guitar..." types of instruments.
This is not to say that _all_ of the first decade 335s are great--but MOST are. After that, you really need to examine the individual instrument. I think that in the 90s, Gibson started getting things back together with the 335 line. However, things got pretty varied and pretty fancy. Gibson took a Swiss Army knife guitar and made it over into something with fancier woods, etc. They also came up with lots of different entry-level "Dot" guitars. No matter.
Of course, the market proliferated with copies and tributes to the original 335. There is a semi-acoustic, thinline, double-cutaway guitar out there for everybody.
If you get the chance to try a trapeze tailpiece guitar, check it out. Gibson made them for about 15 years. They are now the more rare models. They sound more semi-acoustic than the stop-tailpiece models, IMO. They cover more of the waterfront--jazz, country, rock, blues. Check them out.
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What greentone and robertm are saying.
The biggest challenge in semi shopping is weight. my ´66 es-335 is light. never weighed it, but feels nowhere near 8 - 9 pounds. Ive picked up many of the later 335s ... so many are just too heavy. That guitar does not feel or sound right to me heavier. Just my taste though.
If weight really matters to you, check out the Godin Montreal Premiere. It´s a light guitar, well balanced, feels good in the hands. The sound is even airier than a good 335, due to the scalloped, light centerblock. IMO, the pickups probably have to change for maximum utility. It´s on the bright side stock. Someday soon i´ll have seth lovers in there.
Some semis seem excellent despite weight. The Guild VI <i owned was not particularly light ... outstanding guitar anyway. Same goes for the elitist riviera.
md
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I agree. Originally Posted by mr. beaumont
Personally, I think Hofner had the right idea when the Verythins were less "335" like...minibuckers and a Fender scale, like mine...
25 1/4" scale, not 25 1/2" scale.
German made:
- Verythin Classics (minis, spruce block, trapeze tailpiece),
- Verythin Standards (minis/spruce block/stop tail OR full-sized humbuckers/spruce block/stop tail OR
full-sized humbuckers/mahogany block/stop tail)
can occasionally be found on the used market at attractive prices.
They are all very lightweight instruments.
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Collings i35 LC Deluxe or early 90s 335?
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Yep...the earlier ES-335 guitars are lighter than the Norlin-era guitars, on average. It makes a difference.
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That's disturbing considering how much their instruments cost. I expect an unfinished product from $300-$500 Korean-made guitars but not Gibson US products -- that's nuts man. Makes me feel better about owning a lot of (far) cheaper instruments that I have worked on tweaked for myself. Originally Posted by robertm2000
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Originally Posted by robertm2000
Present state, 15 plus years ago, whatever. Originally Posted by wildschwein
I've had pretty good luck with Gibsons, newer and older. Throw back the little ones and pan-fry the big ones. Use tact, poise and reason, and gently squeeze them.Last edited by Hammertone; 04-21-2015 at 09:50 PM.
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I haven't played a late model Gibson. My es-330-tdc was made ca. 1963, and I bought it in 1968.. For me, it's been a wonderful instrument that I play for hours at a time. In fact, all my guitars were made between the late 1940's and mid '60's. (I have seven guitars. I even built an autoharp I'm very proud of). It's sad to say, but it seems to me a lot of American workmanship has declined. I'm just sayin', if you find a '60's model Gibson es-330-tdc that's been treated right, I think you'd like it. The body is completely hollow so it's very lightweight, about 6 lbs., and I've never had any feedback I couldn't control. Also, two of my students (around 13-15 years old), have brand new Fenders that the frets stick way out over the edges of the neck. Gotta do a lot of work on these. This is the thing: there are just too many guitars in this guitar-crazy world. When I play a job, I take my Jazzmaster and my 330. I usually play my 330 all night. John LeDuc
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The basic construction, type of woods and pickup make the sound. And more then anything: who plays it!
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and what boss digital preamp you run it through.
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Jack is right, that video comparison of the Epi and the Gibby have so much signal processing that it is hard to tell the difference. I would like to hear the difference between the two guitars plugged straight into a Fender Twin, same strings, same cable, same player.
Regarding weight, 335's are all over the board, from 7.5 - 10 pounds depending on year, appointments etc. There is a lot of variation, find one you like!
I have a gig this afternoon. It is an outdoor event and I might need to get loud. I was going to take my Les Paul, but this thread has changed my mind. I think I will take the 335. One of the classic guitars for sure.
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I second the Eastman T386. I've only had mine less than a week, but really liking it so far. I got it new for $675. A guitar this good for that price is hard to beat.
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Hi,
for a couple of months im thinking of buying an ES-335 type of guitar.
but as everyone knows the gibsons are expencive.
so I was looking for an alternative.
In my Search i came across some articals and forum topics. But most articals are about low prince range alternatives.
so here is the question what kind of alternatives are there in the price range of 1000-1500.
I know there is the eastman t386, ibanzes js10 and dangelico Ex-dc. But are there others witch I Should check out?
Also are the guitars i named better than the Gibson es 335 studio? ( is it worth to save some extra money for a studio?)
gr juri
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A Gibson can be had for that kind of money. My ES-139 was $1200 new and I see those on Reverb for what, $800? Used Gibsons might be worth looking into.
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Look towards Japan for the Made in Japan ES-335 types. Tokai, ESP Edwards, Seventy-seven Guitars, Epiphone Casino Elite/Elitist. Or a Yamaha SA2200.
Tokai and Edwards have a strange way of naming their models after their retail price tags. So, for example, the Tokai ES-120 in one year becomes the Tokai ES-138 in another year becomes the Tokai ES-166 in 2016. The Edwards e-sa-125LTS of 2010 is the e-sa-160LTS in 2016.
You don't look to be residing in the USA. Importing from Japan is easy-peasy as there will always be someone who answers in English on some level. Shipping by Japan Post EMS is usually an affordable JPY15000 to JPY 20000 (South America).
I like Gibson because I have been a Gibson nutter since 12. But the Japanese make better copies of Gibson guitars than Gibson does itself today. So, you get African Mahogany instead of Fijian-grown Honduran Mahogany. So, you get thin polywhatever instead of goopy nitro. Proof is in the playing and listening.
I won't buy a Gibson Memphis semi-hollow without seeing it and playing it first. But I will gladly buy a Tokai, Edwards or Seventy-seven Guitars or Yamaha sight unseen.
If you are on a budget, smart money is on a used Made in Japan copy. When you find a Gibson ES-335 that you absolutely must have then that is the time to buy one.
PS Send me a PM and I can guide you towards getting one from a reliable Japanese dealer or ten. I can help you search for one in Japan online.Last edited by Jabberwocky; 04-02-2016 at 02:13 PM.
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Tokai ES-120 with $350 Peter Florance Voodoo 59 pickups.
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You can find used ES-335s for around $1500 or a bit less. Check Craigslist in particular.
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Having had a:
Epiphone Chet Atkins (Elite) Japan
Guild SF 3 USA Westerly (90's)
Guild SF3 USa Westerly 90's
Gibson Howard Roberts Fusion III (early 2000's)
Ibanez Am205 (early 80's)
Tokai ES-100 (Japanese Market early 90's)
Gibson Es-330 VOS 59
Gibson 350-T (Early 90's)
Yamaha SA-2200 (2009 Japan)
I also have a Guild SFII (Westerly late 90's), a chambered Tele hand made in the USA at about $2500 new; and have have had an ibanez AS100. I have also played many 70's and 80's Japanese semi's and US made guitars.
IMO get the Guild SF4, they are untouchable for value and price. I prefer them to Gibson's 335.
Guild take the time to design things right and that allows for greater control and adjustment. The woods are nicer and the finish is always flawless. Guilds are also very easy to set up, with action that even the Japanese would be envious of.
The Guild Sf4 is really a guitar that lets you do the playing. It's wonderfully responsive with a nice woody, sustaining voice. ideal for jazz or country and everything in between :-)Last edited by Archie; 04-02-2016 at 05:09 PM.
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Everything Jaba ses is also true. I am a huge fan of Japanese guitars but sometimes they miss the mark a little. It's rare that I play a a Japanese semi which makes me feel like I'm playing a US one. The sound can be quite different, as well as the feel and look.
This is where Guild offers the best of both worlds. It's about 80% of the Gibson sound but imo improves on it by offering clearer notes, with a wider tonal range. I have never found any QC problems with Guild!
The Yamaha Sa2200 is a very fine guitar and so was the Tokai, but the Toaki would bring mixed responses. My friend and fellow member here didnt like it at all. He said it was thin and light and didn't have the umphh of a Gibson. I actually thought it was much more responsive because of that so liked it more. It had more the weight and feel of a vintage 335 but it didnt have the look.
May fav out the lot is actually the Chet Elite which is odd considering it's such an outlier but I would recommend a Guild SF4 any day of the week and its probably the top pick of the lot.Last edited by Archie; 04-02-2016 at 05:26 PM.
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A used Heritage 535 should be better than most Gibsons
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