Gibson ES-339

**Anandbhat** · 09-28-2009, 06:53 AM

Was visiting my daughter in Chicago over the weekend and thought I'd check out one of the local GC's.Next thing you know I bought this beautiful small bodied gibson.Gibson's promo with GC that I don't have to pay for it for a year was probably a factor.This GC has a really good tech that comes in as a sub contractor and for $25.00 I got a nice set up done(It's half price for new purchases).The guitar now sells for $1999 most places but the tag on this guitar said $1799,which is what I paid.The 57 classics have a wonderful sustain.It's made by gibson's custom shop in Memphis.The vintage sunburst is absolutely gorgeous!The smaller body (less than 14") is a lot easier on my shoulder than my Artcore AS73 (which I'm still having issues with)
Would love to hear some feedback from anybody else in the forum who has one!
I'll post some pics first chance I get.

**NSJ** · 09-28-2009, 08:51 AM

Haven't played it, but this is what the *Sheets of Sound* guy says on his Semi Hollow review page: five stars, same as the Sadowsky:

"Gibson ES-339 - The 339 is a 3/4 size 335 style guitar with a laminated top and back, full maple block, mahogany neck, rosewood fingerboard. The guitar is alledged by gibson to be a cross between a Les Paul and a 335. It's not quite that but it sounds damn fine and is one of the best bargains in their line, particularly coming out of the custom shop. It doesn't have the airyness of the sadowsky but if you lean more towards the rock/blues side that may be fine. It balances well at the expense of a little extra heft. Gorgeous and bloomy lead tones out of the bridge pickup and acceptable jazzy tones out of the neck. The Classic '57 pickups sound great too. Not quite as twangy as a full 335."

Were you at the Guitar Center on North Halsted?

**Anandbhat** · 09-28-2009, 10:29 AM

Thanks NSJ

That's where I bought it,at the North Halstead store.Were you there too?

**derek** · 09-28-2009, 11:35 AM

I have played a few 339s, and I think Jack's assessment is right on. I prefer the chunkier of the two neck options though, and thought I could hear a bit more depth with the heavier neck. Could be my bias toward a bigger neck though.

Price is pretty sweet, but I have seen a couple show up at the Musician's Friend Clearance Center here that were a bit sloppy from the factory. However, of all the crapolo Gibson has put out in recent years (anyone remember the pierced Goth SG?), this is one of their better new offerings in the past decades or so.

Jazzarian · 09-28-2009, 11:40 AM

Originally Posted by Anandbhat

Was visiting my daughter in Chicago over the weekend and thought I'd check out one of the local GC's.Next thing you know I bought this beautiful small bodied gibson.Gibson's promo with GC that I don't have to pay for it for a year was probably a factor.This GC has a really good tech that comes in as a sub contractor and for $25.00 I got a nice set up done(It's half price for new purchases).The guitar now sells for $1999 most places but the tag on this guitar said $1799,which is what I paid.The 57 classics have a wonderful sustain.It's made by gibson's custom shop in Memphis.The vintage sunburst is absolutely gorgeous!The smaller body (less than 14") is a lot easier on my shoulder than my Artcore AS73 (which I'm still having issues with)
Would love to hear some feedback from anybody else in the forum who has one!
I'll post some pics first chance I get.

Nice guitar and easier to play than a ES335.

Gibson makes a few models of "mini" 335. My favorite being the $$$ custom shop CS336.

**NSJ** · 09-29-2009, 10:37 PM

I went to the GC in Arlington Heights, IL to check one of these out. Not to buy one, because I've already culled my collection.

Very pretty guitar, great size, the neck pickup sounded very nice.

BUT:

the intonation was off, everything was off, sharp, particularly the 1st fret by the nut, the 5th fret, about 20% sharp. Every note was sharp, except for the open strings.

And the frets needed dressing.

Ok, maybe a good setup will solve these issues. But who gave the ok at the Gibson Custom Shop? No way Sadowsky would release his guitars to the public requiring a clear and obvious setup.

Strangely speaking, the *Gibson sticker* inside the guitar near the center block, the piece of paper that gives you the model number, was already peeling off (?). Huh? How does that happen? I actually had to stick it back to the wood myself. And there looked to be obvious excessive glue marks near the center block. Doh.

Finally, there was no way to test the middle setting or the bridge pickup. Because they didn't work. Something in the circuitry must have shorted the connection or something.

Clearly, if the Custom Shop actually gave a sh*t, this would be a great guitar. Is there no Quality Control at the Custom Shop, even? This was supposed to be a brand new guitar, just arrived from the factory.

I'm perfectly happy with my '74 Gibson Howard Roberts. Think I'll go plug it in, now.

**BigDaddyLoveHandles** · 09-29-2009, 10:46 PM

I've decided to pretend Gibson has folded. Ignore the current offering and just celebrate the vintage Gibbys.

**Anandbhat** · 09-30-2009, 07:10 AM

Thanks for the response,NSJ.
After I saw the guitar I went back and did some homework before deciding to buy.There were several issues that came up similar to what you stated.As far as I could tell this guitar seemed o.k.I knew I was going to have some fretwork done eventually.I have been wanting to get a Gibson for a while and we don't have too many choices in our local GC.Hate to order something without seeing and playing it.Not too many small bodied gibsons that you can find used,especially to play before you buy.From what I have read these are not to be considered "custom Shop' in the true sense.I plan to take it in to my local guitar tech soon.I'll post his opinion when I do.
Here's a link to a nice blues track on the es 339

YouTube - Kanaal van skydog46

**Tom Karol** · 09-30-2009, 08:24 AM

What's the difference between a 339 and a CS336? I played a used 336($2100) in a store when I was trying out amps and was surprised by its goodness. And the size was very comfortable.

**Anandbhat** · 09-30-2009, 11:58 AM

Here's a link discussing the differences:

Gibson ES 336 or ES 339 ??? - The Gear Page

**Tom Karol** · 09-30-2009, 01:51 PM

Ah Ha! Thanks!

**BigDaddyLoveHandles** · 09-30-2009, 01:57 PM

The numbering is confusing. Can I assume that (when they exist) the ES-4XY and ES-5XY are for the most part fancier versions of the corresponding ES-3XY?

**Teobeck** · 10-03-2009, 11:15 AM

I have been playing mine for 2 years. Rather than return it to GC for the dye coming off the fretboard which affected many of the early ones, replacing plastic nut and AVR-1 bridge with Tonepros AVR-2 to keep it in tune, and installing vintage 335 pots and caps as I didn't like memphis Tone Circuit, I had it all fixed and it plays and sounds better than anything I've ever owned.

Logical? No. I sold my ES-345 (paid $3100) to get it, and paid $1600. Loved the tone and action. Spent about $350 to get it perfect. I had earlier purchased Hamer Newport Pro Custom with spruce top and Seth Lover pups, and it was too bright except on neck pup, and didn't balance well as it's neck heavy. The 339 has perfect balance, and I'm addicted to its tone, action, size, balance and controls.

I still have Hamer (similar look and weight), old Epi Sheraton II with '57 classic pups, Fender CP Jazzmaster, and Samick RL-4 with Gibson P-94 pups, which all play well, but 339 excels. I've concluded it must be the maple laminate tonewoods.

It is not necessary to buy a faulty unit, and most buyers have been happy. I was just too lazy to make the return and since pro setup is always needed, I just opted to fix mine. It is a great axe, and well worth its lower price compared to its siblings, and its competition.

**Anandbhat** · 10-03-2009, 05:51 PM

Thanks Teobeck.

Sometimes you go by gut instinct and I think I got a decent piece.My tech had only good things to say about it.I'll keep those mods in mind for the future.Right now I'm pretty happy with the way things are with it.On the whole I think it's good value!

**C.A.JO.** · 09-09-2010, 10:53 AM

Since this is an old thread, I would be interested in knowing if there's anyone who's had success with using this guitar?

On paper it seems like THE guitar for me. The size of a Les Paul, darker pickups, and semi-hollow at the same time.

I've never played one.

My current guitar-candidates are:
- Gibson Les Paul Custom (a black beauty)
- Gibson ES-339
- Gibson ES-175
- Gretsch White Falcon

I almost consider my current Les Paul Custom the perfect guitar, but it's a little too bright for jazz-tone wishes. I would more "darkness with air" in my tone. That's why I consider a 339 or 175. You never go wrong with a 175, but I would like to compare it to a 339. The interest for the White Falcon came after I bought a Samick JZ-233... it's an awesome guitar, and I would like to try the model it was copied after.

Back to topic.... any thoughts or experiences with the 339?

**BigDaddyLoveHandles** · 09-09-2010, 10:57 AM

What about the Eastman El Rey? It's about the size of an ES-339, hollow body (but no f-holes), comes in one or two pickups and trapeze or stop tailpiece (and 6 or 7 string!)

**derek** · 09-09-2010, 11:19 AM

I have played probably 6 339s and would like to own one. The problem is for me, I bought a Soloway Gosling, which is a semihollow, and the 339 would be filling the same slot, so as long as I am still enamored with the Soloway, I will hold off on the 339. If I didn't own the Soloway, I would already have a 339.

As far as comparing the El Rey to a 339, really different beasts imo. The El Rey is a very cool guitar, but solid wood construction vs lam, fully hollow vs semi with a block down the center.

**NSJ** · 09-09-2010, 12:09 PM

I further culled my guitar collection and wound up buying an ES-339 last year (found one that didn't need a setup and didn't have QA issues). $1-2K less than an ES-335.

Swapped out the '57 classic on the neck for a Jason Lollar CC for HB route. Playing it though a Henriksen Jazz Amp convertible, with a delay and reverb pedal, 13-56 round wounds.

Just about a PERFECT, totally sa-weet sound, IMHO. Nice to hear some sustain, too, with an amazing jazz sound.

**BigDaddyLoveHandles** · 09-09-2010, 12:25 PM

A CC on a 339? Mmmm... Have you posted pics?

**NSJ** · 09-09-2010, 12:34 PM

Originally Posted by BigDaddyLoveHandles

A CC on a 339? Mmmm... Have you posted pics?

From God's lips...

**BigDaddyLoveHandles** · 09-09-2010, 12:38 PM

Tasty! By the way, how does the volume level match the bridge humbucker? Single coils can have trouble matching HB output levels, but I've heard that CCs have rather high output.

**NSJ** · 09-09-2010, 12:44 PM

Originally Posted by BigDaddyLoveHandles

Tasty! By the way, how does the volume level match the bridge humbucker? Single coils can have trouble matching HB output levels, but I've heard that CCs have rather high output.

Good question. File under: who really cares? It's really an academic/theoretical question--I've never used the bridge HB and do not anticipate that I ever will. Personally, I wish it would go away, but it's there, anyway, taking away useless space, like a tail humans may have had at one point in their history.

We need an avatar for "One Trick Pony".

**Jake Hanlon** · 09-09-2010, 01:10 PM

I know a few cats that have 339's and they love them. I've tried 3 and 2 of them were excellent, the 3rd was average guitar if you consider what goes into it.

And in the case of all 3 of them, the were not worth the price paid. Gibson overcharges by an insane ammount.

says the guy with 3 Gibsons.

**NSJ** · 09-09-2010, 01:45 PM

Originally Posted by Jake Hanlon

I know a few cats that have 339's and they love them. I've tried 3 and 2 of them were excellent, the 3rd was average guitar if you consider what goes into it.

And in the case of all 3 of them, the were not worth the price paid. Gibson overcharges by an insane ammount.

says the guy with 3 Gibsons.

I seem to remember that you play a old ES-225. I've seen people try to sell these (late 50s blonde versions) for over $5K (USD).

Wow, this guy's trying to sell his non-blonde one for ONLY $5150.

squeaky Clean '59 Gibson ES-225tdc + mint brown case !! - eBay (item 320584911769 end time Oct-02-10 08:22:05 PDT)

**BigDaddyLoveHandles** · 09-09-2010, 04:55 PM

Originally Posted by NSJ

Good question. File under: who really cares? It's really an academic/theoretical question--I've never used the bridge HB and do not anticipate that I ever will. Personally, I wish it would go away, but it's there, anyway, taking away useless space, like a tail humans may have had at one point in their history.

And if thy bridge pickup offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee...