The Jazz Guitar Chord Dictionary

View Poll Results: Which Gibson Should I Get

Voters
85. You may not vote on this poll
  • ES330

    14 16.47%
  • ES335

    12 14.12%
  • ES175

    59 69.41%
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Posts 26 to 43 of 43
  1. #26

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    I wouldn't mind a 330, but only if it had the 16th fret neck joint.

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  3. #27

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    Let me just say this....

    it does not matter how well I play something or what I play it on, my wife will complain that is does not sound as well as my ‘65 ES-335 that I sold is 2003.

  4. #28

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    I'd consider a Gibson Howard Roberts Fusion III. I just picked one up and love it. I wouldn't buy any guitar without trying it anymore. I've just had too many that I didn't bond with and wound up flipping.

  5. #29

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    Quote Originally Posted by cosmic gumbo
    I wouldn't mind a 330, but only if it had the 16th fret neck joint.
    330L. With P90s.

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  6. #30

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    Quote Originally Posted by Brian B
    330L. With P90s.

    Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk
    19th fret neck joint sucks...

  7. #31

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    Quote Originally Posted by 339 in june
    Don't underestimate the ergonomics.
    If you come from Tele/Strat world, the boby thickness and body width of the ES175 will drive you to a complete new world. Make sure that you can feel comfortable with such a body.
    IMO, an ES-339 is the best choice you can do
    As I am already covered in this field, from your list, I'd choose the ES-330.

    But, just a question : has it to be a Gibson ?
    So many other choices.
    I came to say the same. If you have been a Fender player your life (like I was before the jazz bug bit me hard. Now my son is named Gibson) the first time holding a 175 can be shocking. Its become normal to me now, but it is definitely something to consider. It is worth trying to play one, or even a similar option from Eastman or Epiphone if a real 175 can't be found, to see how you feel about it.

    I am in the minority here but I voted for the 330 without a second thought. Its the best of both worlds. Fully hollow, relatively feedback free, and more comfortable to me. Plus the tones, as you referenced with Grant Green, can't be beat. Though my profile picture shows you that I might be biased

  8. #32

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    I am with SS, i can never get a jazz sound out of a 335 like I can with a Les Paul. Just listen to Clint Strong play a Les Paul.

    You just need a 175 and be done.

  9. #33

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    Quote Originally Posted by Alder Statesman
    Let me just say this....

    it does not matter how well I play something or what I play it on, my wife will complain that is does not sound as well as my ‘65 ES-335 that I sold is 2003.
    Your wife, like me has 100% Historical Earshot Auditory Recall Syndrome (HEARS) :-)

    Funny my all time git benchmark is my long gone late 60's early 70's walnut 335 with trapeze TP which I sold way back to pay the rent. I wonder if it really was as good as I remember it, but I'll never know.

    At any rate, I play 335's and a 339 (with a smattering of other brand semi's) more than anything else.

  10. #34

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    If you are a Grant Green fan the 330 is for you. I got the '59 just a month ago and I love it. Such a comfortable little guitar and the P90s are great – very dynamic pickups. My favourite tone ist the neck pickup with tone full and the volume rolled back a bit. Very woody and responsive. I also have a 335 and these are not really comparable – the lack of a center block let the 330 be a real jazz guitar while the 335 (while nice in it's own right) behaves more like a solid body (long sustain, brighter tone).
    I put flatwounds on the 330 and channelling Grant Green is no problemo, senior!

  11. #35

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    I'll chime in again with my opinions.

    Just finishing up a pit band gig for a local fundraiser. Last show is tonight. I dragged out my ES175 for this gig. It's been sitting in the case for three years I only use it for this sort of thing.

    With that said. I can't wait to put it back in it's case and get back to my Eastman AR610. The Gibson is a great guitar and plays like a dream but the Eastman just feels better to me.

    If you must have a Gibson than the ES175 would be the choice.

  12. #36

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    Keep in mind the difference in scale length. Some people will go back and forth between scale lengths with no issues but personally I have a tough time of it because after a lot of practice my muscle memory had me reaching too far when trying to play a shorter scale length. Takes me a while to adjust and I can but switching between them on different days never had me playing my best - I had to make sure I was sticking with one for an extended period. Not sure if this would be an issue for you but if you’re going to still play your Tele or Strat then getting a compatible scale length archtop might be something to consider.

    Being used to Fender you’re playing 25.5” and a 175 or 330 are both 24.75”. There are Gibsons with the longer scale length too but not as many and they are generally more expensive (L5, Johnny Smith, S400 etc.) - if you want a really great laminate Gibson archtop with a 25.5” scale check out the Tal Farlow model. The 175 is of course iconic and has a sound we all know but if you go that route make sure you try before you buy, or if online have a good return policy. They are not all winners sadly but good ones are great.

    You also might want to check out Ibanez. That’s one brand I always felt safe buying online because their quality control is great. I had a 175 and an Ibanez PM100 and when I still had a collection of guitars I sold the 175 first and the PM100 last because it was just a better instrument all around and got the 175 sound (having been based on a 175). There are also some nice vintage 175 lawsuit Ibanez models from the 70s, I had one but with a different name on the headstock (same factory and guitar apparently, just rebranded) and that was a good guitar too.

    Edit: also to repeat what Lawson said, the 175 is versatile. Most two pickup guitars are - I used my L5 for almost everything. Might look a little different playing rock on an archtop (in the pit it didn’t matter for me) but except for the heaviest types of sounds an electric archtop will do just fine.




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  13. #37

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    I once owned over 30 archtops. Now I only own this one


  14. #38

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    I own and really love my L5 CES. It's hollow, has hum buckers. After owning that guitar, I played an Epiphone Casino '61 ReIssue. Immediately fell in love with it, the price was right (used) and it was set up perfectly. It's size is perfect - Great for my blues gigs, lightweight. I dig jazz tones when playing Blues, so this Casino just does it all for me, because it is hollow, and the neck is larger but very comfortable. I've sold some beautiful classic guitars because the necks were too small for me to really play well on. ( I like Fender necks a lot)
    The tone of the Casino's Gibson USA P90's is incredibly good, so much so, that I've considered
    putting P90's on my L5. So check out the better Casinos or a 330, they are wonderful.

  15. #39

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    Only you will know which one suits you best.And there are no wrong choices here. Each one has a different take on a plywood classic!

  16. #40

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    Authenticity demands...a Tele.

  17. #41

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    You want a traditional jazz sound, but you want to sound like Grant Green. The 175 is the traditional jazz sound, and the 330 is a thinner hollow body with a P-90 sound. For me, that's a hard choice, but since I've got a 335 and an Epi Dot with Fralin P-92s (and I suspect it sounds closer to a 330), and since I've always wanted a 175, I'd buy the 175. But, I'm not crazy about a fat neck, so there's that, and that's just me.

  18. #42

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    I'll line up with the majority here - the 175 is the way to go

    I am also a big fan of the 330 too and would take that over a 335. It is, to my ears, much more of jazz guitar and is fully hollow (whereas the 335 has a centre block). I am also a fan of P90s

    I actually find the 330 a bit more versatile than the 175 but again, this is for my purposes

    Maybe the 330 is the way to go then!

    But if you are after a classic jazz sound, then I would go all in and get the 175. I would be very surprised if you regretted it

  19. #43

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    I played a couple of 175's at various vintage shops. I remember my best friends dad had a blonde and he didn't let either of us near it.

    You know what, I didn't like it in my hands. I know it's iconic, and I love what a lot of people do with the 175. But, in my hands--it felt dead.

    This isn't a post to knock all Gibsons--I really want to try the Howard Roberts Oval Hole or a Tal Farlow. I want to find a vintage thin top... I know, I'm weird!

    This post is all about what YOU like in a guitar. Telling the OP to get a 175, no regrets... that guitar might not vibe with the OP.

    It's been said over and over again on the forum. Even if you have to drive 2-3 hours (I know some have traveled 5+ hours) to try the guitars in question--DO IT! You might love that 330 or you might hate how it feels in your hands--and that's totally okay.

    You are buying a guitar for you, not for everyone else on the forum. Figure out what feels good to you. You already narrowed the search down to 3, try them all--maybe a couple of times--and then buy what speaks to you.

    Here's my quick Eastman AR803 story. I went to Jersey a couple of times with my father to look at guitars at Guitars n' Jazz--Hi Lou! When I first went, everyone was telling me to try the Eastman El Ray. Lou said I could try it out for a week at home to see if I liked it. I kept picking it up and it didn't feel right. Mind you, I was shopping for my first archtop. I left with no guitar. After two more visits (I drove my father crazy), I went in with my friend from high school (he's quite the guitarist himself). We get there and I finally fall in love with a guitar--the AR 803. I spent two hours playing it before I bought the guitar. We start driving back home to upstate New York and before we can leave New Jersey... my dad's car breaks down. So, my dad, my friend, my new guitar, and me end up taking a train to get back home.

    Fun stuff! But it was worth it. I still love that guitar, and I'm eager to see how it continues to age (it's 14 years old now?). If I get around to buying another archtop, I'll make the trip to play everything on my short list--multiple times.

    Spend the time with the guitars in question. I'd say that purchasing a guitar is like bringing a woman home... but I think that might be inappropriate and a little sexist.

    I already embarrass myself enough by calling into "You'll Hear It"--argh--I'm not gonna embarrass myself here--at least I hope I won't