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You can do jazz and fusion on a lot of guitars of course. The 335 is a good option. Part of the choice has to do with what shape and weight you're comfortable with.
Originally Posted by JonasPaulsen2612
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07-01-2021 02:21 PM
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Probably doesn't matter. Someone snapped it up pretty quickly. Originally Posted by Woody Sound
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This! Originally Posted by Ray175
Shop around and see if you can play one of the above brands.
These days there are many semi-hollow choices, including, but not limited to a 335.
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Originally Posted by Gladders
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Yes a 335 is an excellent guitar. In '93 I had a very bad case of GAS for a 335. Played a number of new and used guitars. A dealer introduced me to Heritage, which at the time was a very young company. I played a 535, that was it, took it home. I preferred it's playability and fit & finish. 28 years later still enjoy playing it. So yes I am a fan of semi-hollow body guitars, find the one that speaks to you.
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Rick Derringer of The McCoys and of Johnny Winter And, and Todd Rundgren, played a ES 335 with great effect for many years. Derringer is a very small dude.
It works well for people of all sizes.
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I have a Johnny A. That model could work well, too.
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I have been playing for 57 years in various styles and often pro. My first really good guitar was a 335 I got when I was 12. My last one is also a 335. To each his own but they are pretty hard to beat for being versatile.
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If 335 type guitar is too large many companies make small body versions like the Gibson339. Also excellent.
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Steve,
True. Again, Rick Derringer is 5'4". He could do anything with a 335.
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You used the word "invest". Buy used. Kitarapaja in Helsinki (www.kitarapaja.fi) often has several samples. These guys have been around for decades and only take in good stuff. With the money saved, buy an Epiphone inspired by Gibson 335, or just about any Ibanez AS. Keep the one you prefer. The result: a guitar you like, a safer-than-new investment, or a lot of money saved. As many other posters have pointed out, there's plenty of good alternatives to "the real thing" - some better value for the money, others better built. In my experience, Yamaha SA-2200 stands out.
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A good 335 is hard to beat, and will hold its value better than a lot of guitars. If you can find a used one in excellent condition, that will be an even better investment. If you'd like a little smaller version of that instrument, an ES 339 is another good choice.
A number of good options have been mentioned in this thread. A high end Ibanez or Seventy Seven or Yamaha or PRS would be a great alternative. If you can find a good shop with a good selection elsewhere in your corner of Europe (maybe Hamburg or Berlin or Amsterdam?), jumping on a train for a 2-3 holiday might be a good investment. There's no substitute for actually getting the guitar in your hands when it comes to finding what you want. Good luck with your hunt.
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If you're one to buy and sell guitars, buy the Gibson and get a great guitar. As others have said, it will hold its value better than almost anything else. If you're one to keep guitars for years- probably until your descendants sell it, like me- then buy one of the others for less and get a great guitar.
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You can’t know before You tried!
I don’t know how the Dannish guitarists sell their used gear but I have had only good experiences with German guitarists selling their used guitars. A lot more to choose from than here in Finland. Try Kleinanzeigen, for ex.:
Gibson ES 335 60's Block Cherry in Nordrhein-Westfalen - Mechernich | eBay Kleinanzeigen
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With respect to value, granted, Gibsons command good money used. But - also true for a few other brands, a Heritage 535 used is selling for more than I paid new for mine. Shouldn't be the deciding factor, playing it should be.
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And if You think about the size of the ES-335 You can compare to Emily Remler. She didn’t apparently think it too big.
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I prefer semis (and have some from a few brands) to other types though I also have and play solid and hollow. There are semi's that are as good as the real deal 335, and even more that are not.
Then again, nowadays 335's are variable in sound and are actually a moving target because Gibson pops new pickups in them on a whim and they still call them a 335. Imagine an L5CES with burstbuckers? Nah...
A 335 with two wire 57's is and was to me the ideal 335 sound. They have eroded the sound to go from sharp piercing (active pups) to shrill burst bucker, to lifeless MHS all without improving the 335.
So, are they "worth" it? Yep, if you find one that works for you.Last edited by GNAPPI; 07-02-2021 at 12:54 PM.
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If you're looking for a great deal on a Gibson, the ES125TC or ES125TDC are great guitars for around $2500. to $3,000. I own both models(1966's) and they are lighter than the 335 and are a true archtop with NO Block in the center of the soundboard. My TC has an amazing sound both acoustically and electronically. I am currently restoring the TDC. Just make sure the top hasn't collapsed and that the neck doesn't need a reset. It's a great guitar for the money and won't loose its resale value as recent price increases on that model can attest. Play live . . . Marinero
Last edited by Marinero; 07-02-2021 at 12:09 PM. Reason: spelling
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Can't comment on a Gibson 335 ,345 or 355 but I had an Epi Sheraton which was a good guitar once upgraded with classic 57 and a new harness.
However, I could never really bind with the neck being too fat for my slim 60s preference and ended up trading it for a Gibson SG Standard years ago...
The neck was not the sole reason I sold it however, it was because I realized I am into either solid bodies like my Les Paul Standard and franken tele for my rock., fusion and metal needs or a full bodied archtop for Jazz.
Maybe if I was more into blues, I don't know; for me a semi is like a compromise, but again it is my humble opinion.
I know many great jazz and fusion players use or used a semi like a 335 at some point in their career with taste and success but they are simply not for me and not at the price they ask for!
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I think eveything Ive read so far is true. My current Gibson335 with Lindy Fralin PAF Classics is my favorite guitar of what I now own. I started with a 355 when I was about 12 years old and came back to a 335 as my last expensive high quality guitar. Oh you might like the somewhat smaller 339 types guitars but try before you buy or at least have return rights is always good.
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I have owned 4 Gibson ES-335's, 2 Guild Starfires (Made in USA), a Heritage 535, a Gibson Pat Martino, a Gibson Howard Roberts Fusion, a Gibson 330 and a couple of thinline Asian made guitars. After years of playing these guitars, I decided that the ES-175 just feels better to me and so I no longer own any thinline guitars. But the 335 was the best of the thinlines that I had, particularly the 2 that I owned which had Gibson 57 Classic PUPs. I would say that the Gibson ES-335 is worth it if you like the sound, looks, weight and playability of a particular example.
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Originally Posted by Greentone
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Appears to have an unusually large noggin for a short guy.
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Well yea, where do you think he stored all those riffs! Originally Posted by lammie200
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Depends on what you're looking for. The Gibson 335 is the king of the particular genre of guitars, and for good reason. A good 335 is something. The Gibsons do have a sound of their own..
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