Gibson ES-335 feedback problems

[mads4258]

Hey everyone,

I recently bought a Gibson es-335 because I needed a guitar that was able to get a jazzy clean sound but also handle overdrive and loud volume. And I've been very happy so far, but recently the guitar has started to produce feedback even when playing without any overdrive. For some reason it is typically chords which include Eb - especially when the Eb is being played on the G string - that starts the feedback.. The same kind of feedback that I would get from my full hollow-body when playing loud. It's very annoying because it was after all the problem that I intended to avoid when I bought the guitar. Do any of you guys know why this problem has suddenly occurred? And more importantly do any of you know how to get rid of it?

I really appreciate any help you can provide

[neatomic]

feedback is frequency dependent...a certain note feeds back because the frequency is overdriven at that exact spot...try rolling back your tone control and changing your amps eq settings a tad...feedback is also dependent upon distance and space/angle from speaker...move around a bit

i've always thought the idea of a center block in a guitar as a feedback preventer was a bit of over enthusiasm...anything with f holes is prone to feedback..center block or otherwise, if specific frequency is pushed to hard

you can always pour some plaster of paris into the f holes..NOT!..(weirder horrific things have been done!!)


cheers

ps- replacing pickup height adjustment springs with surgical tubing might help as well

[mads4258]

Thank you for the response I haven't tried to roll back the tone control yet. I've been playing on different amps though and with different eq settings but I still keep having the same problem...

I wondered if it could have anything to do with my pickups? Maybe they need to be waxed or something like that? Or the height of the pickups maybe?

[Greentone]

What pickups do you have? How high are the pickups in their rings?

[Alder Statesman]

Feedback is why the Lucille model has no f-holes. After BB switched from a Telecaster to the 335, he battled feedback and would stuff the body with towels. When Gibson offered the signature model, BB asked for no f-holes which minimized feedback.

Commonly known story, but just in case.

[neatomic]

microphonics..ie. pickups needing wax potting is really a seperate issue..and doubtful that problems would develop suddenly..unlikely culprit

height..no

pickup vibration..perhaps...try the surgical tubing as i mentioned...

and try repositioning yourself while playing in relation to amp..feedback has its sweetspots..in old rock days, players would deliberately produce feedback by positioning guitar to amp at certain angles and distances

cheers

[feet]

it isn't entirely impossible to make my sheraton feedback, but with it, as with all of my guitars that feedback, its about volume, proximity and whether or not i'm facing the amp.

as noted above, try and experiment by turning up to full volume and wandering around and see where you get controlled, uncontrolled and no feedback. then try it while playing. find the quiet spots and park yourself there. or play with volume and positioning in the noisy spots to try and mitigate it.

[GNAPPI]

Not that I like BB king, I don't, but even a broken clock is right two times a day (OUCH!) he said too much BASS makes feedback. Judging by the piercing tone he had, he would rather have no feedback than eardrums. I'm sorry BB fans, I'd rather hear two cats screwing than trebly "tone"

[mr. beaumont]

Gnappi...what the hell are you talking about?

We're going to need your guitar player card, right now mister.

[Stringswinger]

LOL Gary,

I like BB, but his tone was a bit bright for my taste. He played Ebony Boards with super light strings and with his tone control on 10 on the bridge pickup.

It sounds like the OP would be better served with a Les Paul or a Telecaster than a 335.

Plugging the F holes and turning down the bass will help some. A solid body will solve the problem.

[neatomic]

whatever means neccesary..bb was goin for sustain, wanted to make that 12th fret b sing



cheers

[Greentone]

I saw BB live in the 60s, 70s, and 00s. His tone was brighter than Jim Hall's or Herb Ellis', but not overly bright. He used the bridge pickup to sit in the mix with a big band, not to make ears bleed.

[GNAPPI]

Gnappi...what the hell are you talking about?

We're going to need your guitar player card, right now mister.

I already turned it in after saying something pretty critical of Yngwie Malmstein when he commented that he "learned everything about Ritchie Blackmore's playing" Yeah except how to play something interesting and worthwhile hearing in many tunes... sheesh :-)

[feet]

I already turned it in after saying something pretty critical of Yngwie Malmstein when he commented that he "learned everything about Ritchie Blackmore's playing" Yeah except how to play something interesting and worthwhile hearing in many tunes... sheesh :-)

copy that. its just listenable.

i also got yelled at for saying blackmore sounded better with a vox and a 335

remember that lucille has the varitone switch dealie thing, which may also account for some of bb's brightness/shrillness, depending on your point of view.

[Dedalus]

I already turned it in after saying something pretty critical of Yngwie Malmstein when he commented that he "learned everything about Ritchie Blackmore's playing" Yeah except how to play something interesting and worthwhile hearing in many tunes... sheesh :-)

Can't agree about BB. Saw him about twenty years ago, all I remember is enjoying the whole experience, still have the tickets...
Yngwie on the other hand, I thoroughly agree with that assessment.

[mads4258]

I think I will try to bring the guitar to a tech. I've also thought of changing the PU's for some while, so at the same time I could maybe try the surgical tubing trick

I have a gig both tonight and tomorrow and I will try to experiment with my placement at the scene (I'm not always offered much space though :P). And I'm also going to bring my strat, just in case. Thanks for your replies!

[TOMMO]

I don't think that it's appropriate to compare B.B.King to jazz players - definitely not in the tone / sound department. A blues guitarist is definitely after a different sound/tone and most of them prefer a good amount of treble.

As for the OP's problem: sounds to me as if the guitar's inherent resonant frequency (or one of them) is where the Eb sounds. No stuffing etc. would solve that problem because that Eb will still be louder and have more sustain. You could try a different type of string or even experiment with different bridge saddles (or entire bridges). Sometimes muting the string(s) behind the bridge (between bridge and tailpiece) can help also.

Hope you get that sorted.

[mads4258]

Actually I haven't really had any issues the last two gigs. It was only when my drummer asked for more guitar in his monitor that I started to get some feedback - but it was always very controllable. And we played so loud, that I think even my strat would have produced a little bit feedback. But I think I'm going to change PU's anyway. My neck pickups is too muddy, and my bridge pickups is too bright I'm thinking about seymour duncan 59 and JB pair. Any thoughts?

[Little Jay]

Actually I haven't really had any issues the last two gigs. It was only when my drummer asked for more guitar in his monitor that I started to get some feedback - but it was always very controllable. And we played so loud, that I think even my strat would have produced a little bit feedback. But I think I'm going to change PU's anyway. My neck pickups is too muddy, and my bridge pickups is too bright I'm thinking about seymour duncan 59 and JB pair. Any thoughts?

Ah! I think you just pushed the ES to it's limits and then do feedback indeed (mine - an ES-333 - feedbacks only with overdrive, very high volume and when I'm close to my amp - in a very controllable way, I like it!)

Now pickups, that's a whole new discussion. What do you have in it now? Classic '57s?

I'm a fan of Gibson pickups, I like the classic '57s in my 333. The Burstbuckers are a bit brighter. I also like the older 'stamped pattent number' ones, still to be had for reasonable prices. Those would be my first choice. Also check your volume pots. If they are 300k you get much less 'muddier' tones with 500k pots, and pots are a lot cheaper than pickups.

[jads57]

I wouldn't rule out your p/up covers being a tiny bit loose causing squeal. I have a new 2015 Historic '63 ES-335 and am having no trouble at all unless I'm directly facing the speaker w/ extreme overdrive at a very loud level.
There is a Youtube by Motor City pickups on humbucking covers.

[mads4258]

I spoke to a guitar tech who also thought the pickups needed waxing (which apparently in some rare cases can cause that kind of feedback) and asked me if I was able to sing through them - which I am So now I've bought some new ones. Hopefully it will be ready for next saturday.