Gibson ES-335

**snoskier63** · 10-19-2018, 11:21 PM

Definitely play all the guitars you can. What feels and sounds good to me may not to you. There are so many good options today, and many that are very affordable and even downright inexpensive. My suggestion is to ignore the name on the headstock and simply play everything you can get your hands on that is at or below your budget. A higher budget will give you more options, but not necessarily a better guitar for you.

**MrGiraffe** · 10-20-2018, 04:57 AM

I pretty much only buy custom shop gibsons now. The quality is generally higher and the prices are good on the used market. You can always buy one, try it out for a while, flip it if it doesn’t do it for you. Repeat until you find the right one.

**Ray175** · 10-20-2018, 05:31 AM

Adding to the ideas you've already had, you might want to take a look at Seventy Seven Guitars and more specifically the Exrubato model. It's at the lower end of you price range but despite the low price tag the two that I have been able to play sat head and shoulders above other guitars selling at almost double the price. Will they hold their value in the same way as a Gibson? Unlikely, but that's the nature of the beast - with Gibson there is a mystique and history that bolsters the second hand value.

In the same vein, you could look at an early Ibanez AS200 (1980, 1981 etc) carrying the first edition super 58 pickups which to my ears come very close to a PAF sound. I have both a 1961 ES175D with PAFs and a 1980 Ibanez AS200 so I am talking from experience of guitars going through the same amp and being played by the same player. As I've said on other posts, the super 58s are marginally hotter than the PAFs (on my guitars anyway), so breakup come in earlier in the AS200 than the 175. A 1980 model can be found for around 2k$. Here's a video of my guitar being played by Gregor Hilden (I bought it from him) on his youtube channel - he goes for a brighter sound than me, but it will give you an idea of sound capabilities

**znerken** · 10-20-2018, 06:52 AM

Now what would you chose here? Haha :-) I am not quite sure about body shape and pickups.

**stevus** · 10-20-2018, 07:39 AM

Why spending so much money on a Gibson? I own a Seventy Seven Exrubato Custom, it's a perfect guitar. I don't think any current US made 335 model can match its price/quality. Listen to this custom one in blue, played by Alexis Kasinos:

Also, check the Archtop Tribute AT130 in the lower price range. I have tried them, really good quality. And if you want to go to a higher level and price, then check Westville guitars too. Fabulous guitars, I just bought one. You need to order these from Japan but, as has been my experience, that is no issue at all these days.

291054

**Alter** · 10-20-2018, 12:41 PM

I could play them all and decide myself, but for that to happen, I would have to take a airplane, to find a store that has those guitars in stock

with a 5k budget and wanting a great 335 that's what i would probably do! Travel arrangements to a city with lots of used 335s, maybe a couple of emails to shops to see what's available before hand, and off you go for 1-2 days.

335s foe me are like ES175s. Lots of alternatives, some are great guitars, but if you want THAT sound, you pretty much have to check out the originals.

**BigDaddyLoveHandles** · 10-20-2018, 08:48 PM

Are there any Gibson (or even better, Epi) semis with a 25 1/2" scale? I know there's the Johnny A Signature, but that is 6K.

**znerken** · 10-21-2018, 01:10 PM

Can’t really understand that finish where the neck meets the body though. Looks like it is undone. And I also hate those glossy necks. Wonder if Gibson will make a matte 335 if you order custom?

**znerken** · 10-21-2018, 01:52 PM

Originally Posted by El Fundo

I’d be all over that sunburst beauty in a heartbeat. But then I really only like sunburst—no cherry or blonde for me. My only concern would be the neck. Does the description list the dimensions?

It’s a Nashville guitar, which I’ve heard is way less good?

**El Fundo** · 10-21-2018, 01:53 PM

Also, any idea of the production years on those?

**El Fundo** · 10-21-2018, 01:56 PM

Originally Posted by znerken

It’s a Nashville guitar, which I’ve heard is way less good?

Not according to these guys:
ES-335 Memphis VS Nashville - Gibson Brands Forums

**ThatRhythmMan** · 10-21-2018, 05:24 PM

I’ve played a LOT of 335s. Overall, the Nashville builds have been superior to the Memphis guitars. Although the best 335 I’ve ever played was made in Memphis.

**rintincop** · 10-21-2018, 05:44 PM

I got rid of my 335 and replaced it with a fully hollow body coupe and am much more satisfied now. My 335 was too heavy at 8 1/2 pounds and had that center block that killed the acoustic quality I love in a jazz guitar. The 335 body was wider than need be. My coupe is 5 1/2 pounds and has a 339 size body but is hollow like a 330, light and resonant. The 335 humbuckers were muddy to me, I prefer P90s with warm clear mids.

**73Fender** · 10-21-2018, 07:59 PM

That Nashville 59 looks nice. And if it's like my 2011 Nashville 335 59 VOS it has a nice fat neck. Not way huge like an R8 but just right, at least for me. And the Nashville builds were thought to be superior in general (very subjective of course and there are exceptions). They used to command a higher price than the Memphis builds as well. I have heard of many great Memphis builds as well.

**snoskier63** · 10-24-2018, 12:05 PM

A 1956-1959 Guild CE-100 would be first on my list. After that, a 335 style guitar: Guild Starfire IV, Eastman T486, Yamaha SA2200, Epiphone Sheraton II Pro, or Heritage H-535.

**floatingpickup** · 10-25-2018, 12:58 PM

I have a 50th Anniversary ‘63 Reissue ES335 (Memphis, 2013). I have owned originals from the mid 1960’s and I feel that my Reissue is a very accurate replica of an original. It is stunning to look at with a nice “aged” look due to the VOS treatment. The only thing I’m not sure about is the electronics. I find that the volume rolls off very quickly between 10 and about 8. Below 8, I find the sound a little thin. Also, I find the burstbuckers a little hot, tending to overdrive slightly more than I want for a jazz guitar. These aren’t huge issues - I just have to be careful about my guitar and amp settings, especially in a low volume situation. On louder gigs, the guitar actually performs really well. I notice that the Sixties Cherry one in your link has MHS pickups. I have never tried those, but perhaps that will eliminate this minor issue. That could be an amazing guitar.
Keith

**cosmic gumbo** · 10-26-2018, 04:18 AM

So, another guy who says he's serious, but didn't grab a Citation....oh well....

**pingu** · 10-26-2018, 09:19 AM

Originally Posted by floatingpickup

I have a 50th Anniversary ‘63 Reissue ES335 (Memphis, 2013). It looks like the one in your link is basically the same guitar, except for the pickups (the 50th Anniversary came with burstbuckers). I have owned originals from the mid 1960’s and I feel that my Reissue is a very accurate replica of an original. It is stunning to look at with a nice “aged” look due to the VOS treatment. The only thing I’m not sure about is the electronics. I find that the volume rolls off very quickly between 10 and about 8. Below 8, I find the sound a little thin. Also, I find the burstbuckers a little hot, tending to overdrive slightly more than I want for a jazz guitar. These aren’t huge issues - I just have to be careful about my guitar and amp settings, especially in a low volume situation. On louder gigs, the guitar actually performs really well. I notice that the Sixties Cherry one in your link has MHS pickups. I have never tried those, but perhaps that will eliminate this minor issue. That could be an amazing guitar.
Keith

I once had an actual 63 335 ...
Paf in the neck position
Very sweet singing tone from the middle of the neck on up

For what it's worth ....
The volume control did the same thing on mine
Linear taper pots i guess ?

**Greentone** · 10-26-2018, 09:57 AM

I owned a '75 ES-335 for a long time. My vintage dealer/best friend/bandmate owned a '64 and a '67 ES-335 that he let me gig with on a regular basis--until he sold the '67 to another friend, that is.

I have to admit that the two '60s guitars were better than my Norlin-era instrument. They just smoked--and they were beauties.

They were right for just about any kind of music, but I never got to restring either to my advantage--duh. The strings were nines or tens, and a bit light for my purposes. I love elevens on a 335.

**floatingpickup** · 10-26-2018, 09:40 PM

Thats interesting. They say the electronics are supposed to be typical of the originals. Maybe that’s true.

**floatingpickup** · 10-26-2018, 09:58 PM

Originally Posted by Greentone

I owned a '75 ES-335 for a long time. My vintage dealer/best friend/bandmate owned a '64 and a '67 ES-335 that he let me gig with on a regular basis--until he sold the '67 to another friend, that is.

I have to admit that the two '60s guitars were better than my Norlin-era instrument. They just smoked--and they were beauties.

They were right for just about any kind of music, but I never got to restring either to my advantage--duh. The strings were nines or tens, and a bit light for my purposes. I love elevens on a 335.

My first good guitar was a 1967 or 1968 ES-335. I remember it sounded great but it had that pencil neck which felt skinny and was unstable. I didn’t keep it long because of the neck. Later, I had a 1965 ES-330 which was fantastic (it had a 1 11/16” nut). I regret selling that one. I also had a Norlin era ES-347 which was just ok - didn’t sound or feel as good as the sixties ones I had. I actually like my ‘63 Reissue a lot. I would rather have my 330 back, but it’s long gone. The point of all this is that I think the reissues are great guitars at a fraction of the price of vintage ones, and not all vintage guitars are perfect.
Keith

**CTG** · 10-26-2018, 10:56 PM

Good luck with your decision. It's a tough choice and really depends on how the guitar feels in your hands.
I just went through this because I have been playing larger full size archtops and wanted a smaller lighter guitar that had that warmth. I finally went with the Comins GHS1-ES. Which is really a very nice guitar and came setup really well. I would highly recommend it.
A second guitar that you might consider is the japanese Seventy-Seven brand Exubarato Custom. It also has a beautiful feel on the neck and a great tone.

All the best with your search!

**patshep** · 10-27-2018, 02:34 PM

i'd never buy a 335 without testing it first, lots of duds out there
there are quite a few great options, but do yourself a favor and try before you buy, unless the deal is so good, you know you can sell it without a loss

**GNAPPI** · 11-06-2018, 12:25 AM

Sounds like a done deal... a 335?

ES-335's are consistently inconsistent. The neck profiles may be different from year to model year. Add to that there may be MHS, 57's, BB's or a host of pups made in the days before anyone knew or cared what they were, players either liked or disliked them.

To date I own or have owned 335's (and a 345) from the 60's, 90's, early 2000's and a 2018 and all have been shades of good, some a bit better than others but the ones I have I keep, those I sold or traded I regret losing.