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Post by steamroller on Feb 16, 2021 23:56:10 GMT -7
A bit of background is in order. I have played acoustic guitar for a long time. I now have my first electric guitar and amplifier. An American Ultra Telecaster and a Dr.Z / Z-Plus. Love them! I am having a ball! The guitar and amp are really helping to spark serious musical interest. I bought the telecaster because years ago I played one through a Fender Vibro King. It left quite an impression on me, it was a feral beast. Anyway I also wanted a Gibson es-335 but I could not pull the trigger. The more I researched the guitar, the more cautious I became. For me, the Telecaster was more straightforward, honest if you will. Two pickups, two controls. I did my research, crossed my fingers and ordered my guitar. Perfect outcome, 7 months, I play it everyday, I'm still on the honeymoon. But I want to own that Gibson es-335. Like the Telecaster, it is the sound of my youth! My hesitancy was due to the opinion widely expressed that not all of them were worthy. This one had too thin a neck, this year was too fat a neck, ears too long, neck mortise wrong. Gibson has been making these forever yet only the first six years of production are the only ones you should look at! Well I can't afford those early years. Sometimes I want to just forget it. I like Gretch, and Collings too, maybe I should just move along to one of those. You know, just squash the dream of the es-335. Any advise or comment appreciated. I should never have researched that Gibson forum! This post is way too long-sorry.
-steamroller-
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Post by j4gitr (John) on Feb 17, 2021 4:03:14 GMT -7
I settled on a Heritage H535. Played several Gibsons, but the consistent quality of the Heritage won me over. If your not familiar research their lineage..
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Post by Russell B on Feb 17, 2021 4:34:09 GMT -7
I will also recommend a Heritage H535. They are high quality instruments that sound incredible. I have a couple of them and love them. See my avatar. Do some research on Heritage!
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Post by Jaguarguy (Mike) on Feb 17, 2021 8:37:00 GMT -7
Heritage makes some really good guitars that are reasonably priced. That said, here are my 335s - 2 '66s and an EC (EC is in the middle).
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Post by Ridgeback on Feb 17, 2021 8:42:14 GMT -7
That 12 string with the trap tailpiece looks sweet.
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Post by Don A on Feb 17, 2021 15:09:42 GMT -7
It's true that they vary a lot! I replaced my ES-335 with a Heritage H-535 last summer. My ES-335 was tight feeling and focused sounding- kind of like a Telecaster on steroids. It wasn't a bad thing, but I wanted something with a "woodier" tone. The Heritage is over 1-1/2 pounds lighter and sounds warmer than the Gibson.
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Post by Jaguarguy (Mike) on Feb 17, 2021 15:18:17 GMT -7
That 12 string with the trap tailpiece looks sweet. It's in really great shape. I found it on E-bay for a steal 10 years ago.
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Post by nicholas on Feb 17, 2021 15:50:53 GMT -7
I'd second the comments on trying some out if it's possible. They do have different neck shapes. As far as all the other little details, well... I wouldn't over focus on all that. Sometimes I think those little details get turned into more than they are. All that matters is if it feels good and sounds good to you.
I've had a few 335's. One was a CS block inlay reissue. It had a very thin neck, which I didn't end up liking too much. Then I had a USA dot model and it had a thick neck which was great. More like a 59 LesPaul size. For whatever reason they are both gone and I have a ES339 now. Which has a smaller body and I really like it.
With the pandemic it's hard to try stuff out, and most stores don't stock anything good these days anyway, at least in my area. A place with a good return policy might be your best bet unfortunately. Good luck in the hunt.
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Post by adam on Feb 17, 2021 16:09:43 GMT -7
My only experience is I had a '79 way back when and it was not very good. Now have a 2019 and I think it's a fantastic guitar. I think it's just part of the game with guitars, they are just all different.
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Post by helmi on Feb 17, 2021 16:14:59 GMT -7
I also will suggest a Heritage 535 or 555.
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Post by bryan0418 on Feb 17, 2021 17:20:32 GMT -7
Check out the Collings I35. Pricey but the build quality is top notch.
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Post by Seńor Verde on Feb 17, 2021 18:05:54 GMT -7
If you really want a '335, I don't think the Collings will do it for you. I went to a shop that had Collings and Gibsons. I really wanted to prefer the Collings, but they all didn't sound as big and full as any of the '335 guitars I tried. They are beautiful and had a great neck, but just didn't sound at all the same, plugged in or unplugged. They really are great guitars though and you might actually prefer them. I have no experience with any Heritages.
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Post by steamroller on Feb 17, 2021 19:35:55 GMT -7
I really appreciate the comments, and it gives me hope that others have solved this "problem" of finding the right fit for themselves. I have another question, I don't have a local music store to try-out guitars. I have to travel to a Guitar Center to actually see and play a Gibson es-335. We're talking about 3 hours of driving I usually make a day of. I understand that inventory varies a lot, but how many of these guitars are possibly in stock? I was just wondering. I know I can just call ahead. COVID has kind of messed up guitar shopping for sure!
-steamroller-
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Post by Seńor Verde on Feb 18, 2021 10:18:01 GMT -7
GC's website allows you to filter your search results and it will show what is in stock at that location.
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Post by notscottagain on Feb 18, 2021 10:44:32 GMT -7
I think the best value in 335s is the Fat Neck that was made 10 years ago by Gibson. I sold my dot to buy a used Fat Neck. The Fat Neck has more of a 50s profile neck and has a deeper and thicker sound than the standard 335s. It is about as good as CS quality as you can get for standard line price.
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Post by wraparound (Steve) on Feb 18, 2021 11:02:46 GMT -7
I would look at dealers who stock both Heritage and Gibson. Dave's Guitar and Sweetwater Music come to mind, but there are others. The Nashville area comes to mind as a nice road trip. Other considerations on the used market are the Yamaha SA2000 and the USA made Guild Starfire IV's with the mahogany necks have a great vibe.
I think if I were shopping new Gibson I would check out their 1963 reissue which sort of combines several features from different years.
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Post by Seńor Verde on Feb 18, 2021 21:47:58 GMT -7
I think the best value in 335s is the Fat Neck that was made 10 years ago by Gibson. I sold my dot to buy a used Fat Neck. The Fat Neck has more of a 50s profile neck and has a deeper and thicker sound than the standard 335s. It is about as good as CS quality as you can get for standard line price. I had a fatneck. It was a very nice playing and sounding guitar. It was just a bit heavy for me.
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Post by zpilot on Feb 20, 2021 22:20:43 GMT -7
I have played a buttload of 335s type guitars. Gibsons and other brands. I've owned 3 ES-335s and an Ibanez AS180. The Ibanez was the best of the bunch. There is one thing I firmly believe. Never buy one without playing it first. The response varies considerably from instrument to instrument. There will most likely be at least one dead spot on the neck. It is just the nature of a semi-hollow structure vs. a solid body. It is the down side of being able to get THAT semi-hollow tone. Some are worse than others and it varies which note(s) it will be. It may be where it does not matter much to you. A combination of that and a neck profile you like will be your keeper.
I actually like the smaller bodied semi-hollow models better. The ES-339 and CS-336. Try those if you can find one.
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Post by Seńor Verde on Feb 21, 2021 8:17:55 GMT -7
I have played a buttload of 335s type guitars. Gibsons and other brands. I've owned 3 ES-335s and an Ibanez AS180. The Ibanez was the best of the bunch. There is one thing I firmly believe. Never buy one without playing it first. The response varies considerably from instrument to instrument. There will most likely be at least one dead spot on the neck. It is just the nature of a semi-hollow structure vs. a solid body. It is the down side of being able to get THAT semi-hollow tone. Some are worse than others and it varies which note(s) it will be. It may be where it does not matter much to you. A combination of that and a neck profile you like will be your keeper. I actually like the smaller bodied semi-hollow models better. The ES-339 and CS-336. Try those if you can find one. Something that might be worth trying. Both my current '335 had a dead note, 12th fret G string. I took off the Grover Rotomatics and installed Grover 135 tuners. Dead note gone and I don't notice it moved to a different location.
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Post by JeffG on Feb 22, 2021 21:15:27 GMT -7
I was once in your shoes - looking for the right 335. All of the advice above is excellent. I'd recommend trying as many semi-hollow humbucker guitars as you can. I know guitar shopping is hard in the middle of covid, but it will pay dividends later. Seriously, play all the brands you can at as many price points as you can. You'll start to learn what you do and don't like, what does and doesn't matter to you, and start to get a feel for what's right for you.
FWIW, I ended up getting a Heritage H535. I drove down to Wolfe Guitars and played the entire 535 inventory, about 8 if I recall correctly. All 8 were quite good but there were "only" 3 in my preferred color. All 3 of those were wonderful guitars and I ended up getting the one that I connected with the most. I "downsized" to a Gibson 339 a few years later because I was playing in a cover band that was doing long gigs. The 339 was a killer guitar too.
We live in a golden age for gear. It's simply a matter of finding what works for and speaks to you. Good luck!
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Post by zpilot on Feb 26, 2021 7:54:53 GMT -7
I have played a buttload of 335s type guitars. Gibsons and other brands. I've owned 3 ES-335s and an Ibanez AS180. The Ibanez was the best of the bunch. There is one thing I firmly believe. Never buy one without playing it first. The response varies considerably from instrument to instrument. There will most likely be at least one dead spot on the neck. It is just the nature of a semi-hollow structure vs. a solid body. It is the down side of being able to get THAT semi-hollow tone. Some are worse than others and it varies which note(s) it will be. It may be where it does not matter much to you. A combination of that and a neck profile you like will be your keeper. I actually like the smaller bodied semi-hollow models better. The ES-339 and CS-336. Try those if you can find one. I might add that I also had a Gibson Johnny A for about 10 years that was a great guitar. A step up from a 335. More resonant due to the way the body is made. Mine was a CS model and not one of the newer Epiphones so I can't vouch for those. Speaking of Epiphone, I have played a couple of Epi 335 Dots that were nice guitars. A good choice for a back up or if it is not to be your primary guitar. Probably not what you are looking for as a "Holy Grail" but if you see one in a store I would recommend trying it out.
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Post by nicholas on Feb 26, 2021 8:56:57 GMT -7
. I actually like the smaller bodied semi-hollow models better. The ES-339 and CS-336. Try those if you can find one. I "downsized" to a Gibson 339 a few years later because I was playing in a cover band that was doing long gigs. The 339 was a killer guitar too. I prefer the 339 as well. Mine is a 2016 and the neck profile is called "traditional C". It reminds me of a Les Paul R9 size. Full feeling but not super fat. It's very comfortable for me. Most of the 335's I tried had more of a D shape neck. Thin and flat feeling. Which made it feel real wide to me. I like the body size of the 339's. Very similar to the size of my Les Paul. Super comphy to play. I also like the position of the pickup selector and guitar cable jack location better than a 335. But that's just all user preference. Body size comparison Good luck op.
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Post by KeithA on Feb 26, 2021 8:59:49 GMT -7
^^^^The green Anderson, though
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Post by Jefferson on Feb 26, 2021 12:57:59 GMT -7
You owe it to yourself to go play an Eastman T59 V. Absolutely love mine! Much better that Gibson quality for about 40% of the price.
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Post by j4gitr (John) on Feb 26, 2021 14:10:31 GMT -7
Eastman makes some excellent guitars. The one that caught my eye prior to my Heritage was the T186mx. Great playing and sounding instrument. They are worth a look.
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Post by sharkboy on Feb 26, 2021 17:30:28 GMT -7
I’m still quite happy with my 335. If I remember correctly, it’s a 2013 ‘63 RI. It feels good, plays well and the burstbuckers cut through better than most humbuckers. I have found, though, that the more I pkay guitars, the less picky I get about the neck geometries (aside from action.)
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Post by gbowman on Mar 5, 2021 13:13:54 GMT -7
Lots of love here for the Heritage 535. Me too! I put 36th Anniversary PAFs in it and it is a "keep forever" guitar. If in your travels you stumble across an Ibanez John Scofield, give it a try. I played one for a long time before the Heritage.
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Post by premiumplus (Dave) on Mar 5, 2021 16:59:53 GMT -7
Love my Heritage H-535. I've got a Gibson 335 too but the Heritage is better.
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