Call for moratorium on 335s

**christianm77** · 06-06-2019, 02:08 PM

Originally Posted by newsense

Now that a couple of 335 lovers have fessed up, I can also come out. In my case, my desire for a 335 was sparked by Bill Nelson and this album in 1976.

I was 19, so probably more inspired by the cover than the contents. Some 40 years on, I have never owned a 335, but I am on my 5th thin-line semi. I have never felt inspired to actually part with heard-earned cash for a Gibson, so my current squeeze is the Yamaha SA2200, with which I thought I was happy until Christian started sowing the seeds of doubt in my mind The symptoms of GDS (guitar divestment syndrome) are creeping up on me. I keep telling myself that the Yammie ears are more Wile E Coyote than Mickey Mouse, but I still keep straining my own ears for hints of nasality in the tone. My Tele and Godin archtop are seeing much more of me than usual. Hell I've even found myself looking at PRS ads for a potential solid body replacement ...and, that's just sick.

Christian - what have you done to me ?

Bwahahahahaahahahaahahahaaaaaargh

**Bahnzo** · 06-06-2019, 02:30 PM

Originally Posted by christianm77

(this is a joke, BTW, I know the gear forums get angry)

I was more than a little disappointed to see this. I was really looking forward to a "joe pass isn't very good" style thread.

Maybe I'll start one about tele's?

**Tal_175** · 06-06-2019, 02:50 PM

Originally Posted by Bahnzo

I was more than a little disappointed to see this. I was really looking forward to a "joe pass isn't very good" style thread.

Maybe I'll start one about tele's?

Ha ha. If a new member had posted this thread, all hell would have broken loose. That would've been the last anyone has seen the OP for the next 7 years. Clearly those who cherish ES 335's and it's wonderful legacy are intimidated by Christian.

PS. OK I stirred the pot a bit, let's see if we get some healthy activity going.

**John A.** · 06-06-2019, 02:51 PM

Originally Posted by Tal_175

Ha ha. If a new member posted this thread, all hell would have broken loose. That would've been last anyone seen the OP for the next 7 years. Clearly those who cherish ES 335's and it's wonderful legacy are intimated by Christian.

PS. OK I stirred the pot a bit, let's see if we get some healthy activity going.

25 bonus points for word salad.

John

**Tal_175** · 06-06-2019, 02:54 PM

Originally Posted by John A.

25 bonus points for word salad.

John

See. It took like 4 seconds.

**John A.** · 06-06-2019, 03:05 PM

Originally Posted by Tal_175

See. It took like 4 seconds.

You don't intimate me. Knot won littoral bet.

John

**Tal_175** · 06-06-2019, 03:06 PM

Originally Posted by John A.

You don't intimate me. Knot won littoral bet.

John

I'm glad you got that out of your chest. What prompted you?

**rabbit** · 06-06-2019, 03:14 PM

Lacking exciting airstrike footage and otherwise apropos of nothing, I say...

this thread needs dancing girls (gratuitous 335 content):

**lawson-stone** · 06-06-2019, 04:01 PM

Originally Posted by rabbit

Lacking exciting airstrike footage and otherwise apropos of nothing, I say...

this thread needs dancing girls (gratuitous 335 content):

What is there to say. I mean, this clip has it all. I think the guy playing the 335 was also wearing reading glasses which evidently he removed for his solo. Aging is not for sissies.

**Triple_Jazz** · 06-06-2019, 04:29 PM

I'll hand over my 335 when you pry it from my cold dead hands.

**John A.** · 06-06-2019, 04:45 PM

Originally Posted by Tal_175

I'm glad you got that out of your chest. What prompted you?

Nothing, just entertained by malapropisms.

John

**Hammertone** · 06-06-2019, 06:11 PM

Originally Posted by Greentone

...sometimes my inner voices say "play the semi-acoustic."

Sometimes my inner voices say "Kill, kill for the love of Kali." Other times they say, "It's time for a sammich." I usually go for the sandwich option.

Then I play some guitar. Sometimes even one of these:

**John A.** · 06-07-2019, 11:05 AM

Originally Posted by TOMMO

Just because:

Attachment 62743

Nice, is that yours? What year? It looks like an old one.

John

**christianm77** · 06-07-2019, 12:10 PM

No.

**mad dog** · 06-08-2019, 09:49 AM

I have an oldie, a 66 ES-335. Repaired headstock, well worn and much loved. To play it is is to know why. Probably the best humbuckers ever, at least in my experience. But it's the last guitar I would pickup to practice jazz. Maybe the narrow neck, I'm not sure. Whereas a MIK epi casino gets a lot of practice time. Must be the hollow body vs. semi aspect.

MD

**christianm77** · 06-08-2019, 01:04 PM

No.

**Bflat233** · 06-08-2019, 07:14 PM

Meet the lads - both 1959 re-issues from the Memphis factory. I don't play anything but jazz and I am not a professional. But I play every day and I feel I get great tone from both. In the end I think that's what matters.

Attachment 62784

**rio** · 06-08-2019, 10:57 PM

Yes but it’s a concession because although legitimacy goes down being a semi, it still says Gibson on the headstock.

(Sorry, I couldn’t resist)

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

**Philco** · 06-09-2019, 01:40 AM

Not a 335 but what was Kurt thinking? Such a horrid sound and I'm not sure if it's even jazz....although he does wear a hat....so....

. (you know I look for any excuse to post this video again....and again....)

**zcostilla** · 06-09-2019, 03:37 AM

Originally Posted by Greentone

Christian,

Sure. OTOH, my understanding is that Wes started out with a pick, but used his thumb at night out of consideration to his neighbors--it kept the volume of the guitar down at home when he was practicing. Of course, it gave rise to _his_ voice that the rest of the world has tried to copy.

Never knew this. I started with a pick but moved to thumb and fingers because I got into slide playing (a la Robert Johnson) and then into classical playing. Oddly, I never liked the sound of my nails, so I keep them trimmed short and embrace the warmth of my fingertips, even in my poor flamenco styling. I didn’t get back into using a pick until last year, but only for certain songs where I wanted the attack to be noticeable sharper than the back of my nails.

On the 335 thing, I almost got an Epiphone Casino Coupe but I was worried about acoustic tone and neck sag. I had a chance to try the 339 and if it sagged with a wood block, I felt it would be worse with a true hollow body. Ended up with the acoustic 5th Avenue and putting a custom pickup on it to get the vintage tone I sought and couldn’t be happier. Plus they feel better made to me than the Epiphones at the price point
I can afford.

But I don’t get the vitriol so many jazz players have for things outside their own preferences. Play what feels good and what sounds good to you. I have enough to worry about getting myself to sound good to care if someone likes how it looks or not, but then I’m not a professional musician. If it feels good but needs a tone improvement, modify the electronics. If it sounds good but needs some work to be more playable, get the work done. Unless you’re talking solely about pure acoustic tone, you can get just a good a sound from a middle price point instrument with some work done as a much higher end guitar. I just got a relatively new Hamer Monaco Korina with dual P90s because someone needed cash and let it go for $400 (half MSRP/ 3/4 of MAP). It feels god except I prefer my frets lower. Tone is good but I will eventually upgrade the pickups to customs as my budget allows. It could use a hardware refresh and a belly contour but I don’t care what it looks like. The wood has a tone I love and its lighter than mahogany. Will it take work, sure, but it will be unique amongst those I play with and play for, and it will fit me. Not sure where I was going with this ramble, but the pain meds and insomnia had my mind going but I think I’m going to ramble on my fretboard instead of on the forum.

“Now’s the time, the time is now...”