Sub-forum For ES Based Guitars

[jumpnblues]

Looks like we have some interest in a thread and possibly a "sticky." Mods, is this something that would be appropriate? Not sure how to go about posting a sticky? I guess it would come under Guitars, Amps, and Gizmos. I have a post ready to make regarding my new ES 345. We'll see what the Mods say, if that's OK.

[Cavalier]

I'm not sure what to think, would a single cut Ibanez AGS83 qualify as a ES guitar? Semihollow might be more encompassing.

[blkjazz]

I'm not sure what to think, would a single cut Ibanez AGS83 qualify as a ES guitar? Semihollow might be more encompassing.

ES should mean Gibson ES, or at least ES style regardless of brand. There are fully hollow ES and semi-hollow ES guitars. There are also single cut ES guitars. I would think the Ibanez AGS83 would be ok.

[dconeill]

... Last time I had a jam with my 175 I had to play standing for a couple of hours ... and my back really grumbled afterwards, I can see a semi/thinline might be better from that perspective.

Not much better, maybe heavier.

My ES335, purchased new in about 1986, weighs about 8.6 pounds (3.9 kg). Newer ones, according to Sweetwater, weigh around 8 pounds (3.6 kg).

[Cunamara]

The problem with "ES" in the thread title is that is stands for "electric Spanish" guitar as opposed to Hawaiian style guitars, which were the first electrics. The first ES guitar was, I think, the ES-150 as used by Charlie Christian- a full size archtop. Followed by many others (ES-250, ES-300, ES-350, etc.). If the goal is a thread about ES-335 style guitars, a different identifier might be more specific and helpful. And would it be specific to Gibsons, or would similar style guitars by Ibanez, Yamaha, Eastman, etc. be eligible? How about the GB10? Sorry to seem so picky, but some basis inclusion/exclusion criteria up front would probably be a good idea.

These are great guitars and while I don't own one myself (I do have a GB10 and a semi-hollow Tele with a 24 3/4" conversion neck, but I could see both of those being either included or excluded), I would look forward to an in-depth set of discussions around them. My Monday night jamming buddy has a Epiphone Casino and an Ibanez AS180, which are both wonderful guitars to play.

[BigDaddyLoveHandles]

I could lust after an ES-5, yup.

Numbering-wise, why is there such a big gap from there to the ES-125?

[ccroft]

... Followed by many others (ES-250, ES-300, ES-350, etc.). If the goal is a thread about ES-335 style guitars, a different identifier might be more specific and helpful...

That's what I was trying to get at in an earlier post but you spelled it out better. Along with BigDaddy's examples there's also ES Les Pauls, ES135, 225, 235 etc that maybe aren't exactly what the OP means? And what about ES-150?

Seems the ES most here are talking about is around 1 3/4" thick, is hollow or semi-hollow, has f-holes and Venetian double cutaway. Pretty cumbersome. "Mickey Mouse Style" ain't gonna fly either :)

Might be better as ES335 style since it was the first (?), most famous, and we all know what that means?

Maybe start over or edit the title.

[murrayatuptown]

& there were no-cut, single-cut, double-cut, 1, 2 or 3 pickup.

ES to me usually called to mind f-holes & 1+ pickup, but '335 copies from other brands sold as '335-style call themselves that when they are precise replicas.

I couldn't exclude or include something visually that wasn't a 'replica', so it seems close is close enough.

I would assume people choose a '335-style for one or more reasons where their choice does for them what something else does not. That seems like a definition, but I don't know if that is actually really broadly inclusive. Hopefully such a thread might define what and why people look for, if it's not something I should know as basic knowledge.

I do know I have never heard Electric Spanish music that was labeled as such. Maybe without the label.

I think of '335 as thin, semi-hollow, larger body than LP.

The fully hollow guitars of any body thickness, even those that appear like '335, do not meet the semi-hollow feedback resistance. My naive assumption is that is a fundamental qualifier, more than brand.
ES-135 from 90's-00's meets, but original 50's ES-135 does not.

The old legend of the ES-# scheme coming from the retail price, whether a guitar alone or including an amp, might have seemed 'genius' in the early days. For me, as a time-traveler, this, re-using model numbers, especially with the innumerable mutations of Les Paul's Les Paul had nothing to do with, are just weird and sloppy. Like poor serial number management.

But nobody asked me.

If something meets someone's functionality as a '335-style, I say let it into the thread, whether it's luthier-made, built from a kit, or a shameless...I can't even use the word 'import'. They run the full gamut in quality.

Gap between '5 & '125?

'100 was predecessor (1938-41?) of '125, discontinued for 5:years, then reintroduced as '125. Maybe price increase

[Gitfiddler]

From the wide variety of "ES" related content already discussed in the previous pages,
I think an ES sub-forum might already exist...right here.

[Christian Miller]

I blame Mike Walker's influence, because he's too good and too talented.

I suspect you may be kidding, but I think it’s mostly the influence of the New York guys, Adam Rogers, Monder, Kurt in the 00’s… tbh I think the pendulum may be swinging more towards carved archtops and solid bodies atm.

Mike Walker is a bit underrated. The scene is very London centric. But Mike was one of the first jazz guitarists I heard live along with Phil Robson.


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[Christian Miller]

Yes I must catch Mike Walker some time, I haven’t seen him yet.

I guess it’s quite a versatile type of guitar, a lot of jazz players these days need to cover everything from traditional clean sounds to fusion-type stuff with distortion etc. and the semis seem to fit the bill.

Last time I had a jam with my 175 I had to play standing for a couple of hours (someone took the only chair!) and my back really grumbled afterwards, I can see a semi/thinline might be better from that perspective.

My 175 and 335 weigh basically the same.

335’s and the ilk are pretty versatile. They take pedals very well. They also LOOK like jazz guitars so they are kind of stealthy haha. If you want to go from fusion to straightahead via a blues gig and a commercial pop date a 335 will see you through.

But.. what about a 330? It’s a thinline hollow maybe a bit lighter too


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[customxke]

Does an L-5CES belong in this ES forum?

[deacon Mark]

I never was a fan of the es style guitars like the traditional 335 they never felt comfortable to play. Always sitting wrong as I play. I much prefer a Les Paul if I was going the route of not using a hollowbody guitar. That said I personally don't object but like Wintermoon, this forum is not probably the busiest place for guitar players.

My feeling is this forum hits a home run with the baby boomer crowd who are mostly retired or not working full time. We are old " has been's" that now just play the guitar for pure joy and fun since not usually a lot of money is attached to it. I would guess we have more traditionalist players than not, but if you want an ES forum, go ahead and start a thread.

I have to ask am I the only one who thinks a 335 guitar is completely unbalance to play? To me it is like mowing the grass with a shovel, got to be a better set up.

[wintermoon]

I never was a fan of the es style guitars like the traditional 335 they never felt comfortable to play. Always sitting wrong as I play. I much prefer a Les Paul if I was going the route of not using a hollowbody guitar. That said I personally don't object but like Wintermoon, this forum is not probably the busiest place for guitar players.

My feeling is this forum hits a home run with the baby boomer crowd who are mostly retired or not working full time. We are old " has been's" that now just play the guitar for pure joy and fun since not usually a lot of money is attached to it. I would guess we have more traditionalist players than not, but if you want an ES forum, go ahead and start a thread.

I have to ask am I the only one who thinks a 335 guitar is completely unbalance to play? To me it is like mowing the grass with a shovel, got to be a better set up.

Your not alone Mark, I had a 335 for a little while and couldn't get used to the thin body after draping my arm over big archtops my whole life. That and the short scale meant it had to go, I can't play a Paul either for those reasons.

[Cunamara]

I have found some variability with the few models I've played in terms of comfort while sitting. They're meant to be played standing, I think. Or seated with a strap (but I do that with full sized archtops as well- I only play my dreadnought seated without a strap).

[John A.]

Your not alone Mark, I had a 335 for a little while and couldn't get used to the thin body after draping my arm over big archtops my whole life. That and the short scale meant it had to go, I can't play a Paul either for those reasons.

Different strokes for different folks -- I find 335-sized guitars more comfortable than Les Pauls. I like that it sits up higher on the body (I have to slouch to play a LP) and it doesn't dig into my right forearm the way a LP does. Of course nothing beats a strat for comfort but those are pariahs around here.

[DawgBone]

I'm a taller/bigger person, about 6' 4" and maybe 210 after a big breakfast, haha. The ES 335/345/355 fit me much better sitting down than a Les Paul or strat for that matter. I can curl up on the couch with one, no problem. Strats and LP's kind of look like children's instruments on me. I also like the way the ES hangs on a strap better. They have better upper fret access. As a string bender I prefer the 24 3/4 scale, tuned down to Eb with light gauge flatwound strings.

[Stringswinger]

I have owned many semi-hollow and thinline fully hollow guitars. And a few Telecasters. I have made good music with a 335 or a Tele to be sure, but I prefer a Strat or a Lester. To me a 335 is a cross between a 175 and a Lester and I would rather play a 175 or a Lester.

So my days of trying semi's, thinlines and Teles are in my rear view mirror. But they are great guitars and have been played by many great guitarists. So you guys should do a semi-hollow sticky thread. Why not? Perhaps this is the thread? I would lose the ES moniker as that is confusing.

Perhaps John A. and I can start a Strat sticky thread as well? Of course, that might be a lonely place around these parts.......

[Hammertone]

"Strat sticky thread?" I'm in!

[docsteve]

Somehow I can't believe this. 40 posts ago, I suggested to create a new "ES 335-style love thread, no Telecasters allowed" thread, got 15 likes, posted a picture of my own guitar in the vain hope that others would follow suit, and instead everybody is still arguing about whether this thread should turn into the ES love thread, a new thread should be created, which number ES guitars are eligible or not?


Get a life. Or go over to the Telecaster thread to see how it's done. Or click here: ES-335 style guitar love thread, no telecasters allowed

[blkjazz]

Somehow I can't believe this. 40 posts ago, I suggested to create a new "ES 335-style love thread, no Telecasters allowed" thread, got 15 likes, posted a picture of my own guitar in the vain hope that others would follow suit, and instead everybody is still arguing about whether this thread should turn into the ES love thread, a new thread should be created, which number ES guitars are eligible or not?


Get a life. Or go over to the Telecaster thread to see how it's done. Or click here: ES-335 style guitar love thread, no telecasters allowed

I think the "confusion" might stem from the broad "ES based" phrase in the initial post. In any event, thank you for taking the lead on this. Great idea.

[BigDaddyLoveHandles]

ES Les Paul!

[pingu]

1324019[/URL]]Different strokes for different folks -- I find 335-sized guitars more comfortable than Les Pauls. I like that it sits up higher on the body (I have to slouch to play a LP) and it doesn't dig into my right forearm the way a LP does. Of course nothing beats a strat for comfort but those are pariahs around here.

sorry off topic

i know I’m of an outlier but
I find a 16” x 2.75” thick jazz box
more comfortable that a Strat
(or any other shape)

[murrayatuptown]

1980 Yamaha Super-Axe SA-700