The recent grail thread got me thinking about the guitar I'd most like to buy if I was only going to get one other. I'm pretty sure it would be either of these two in Cherry and with a Bigsby. WOuld like to get a 355 with a varitone too.
I know both of these guitars while looking the same are quite different beasts to play and I'm aware of the specs and sounds. But I've never come across owners of either! Has anyone on the forum owned one and did you like it? What did you think of them? Was it a positive experiece?
I'm not particularly interested in comparisons and I know I'll have to go out and play a load to make my own mind up (oh, and save up a load of money). I am interested to know if the ES-355 was worth the extra money for the bling (I admit I do love the look of them and that's my primary reason for wanting one), and also was the varitone useful? I do appreciate the extra switching options on my Johnny Marr Jag so I think I could like it.
I like to play blues and classic rock which I gather both these guitars would be good for, if with different flavours.
EDIT: Also Lucille owners, although don't know if I could get past the headstock...
And you know what else? Those safety lids on bottles of sanatogen. There
I am trying to get the lid off and along comes my six year old and says
"there you are daddy" and it's off in a Jiffy. Someone's gonna get hurt.
Comments
I'll speak for the 330 (also Casino), 'cos I've used one 90% of the time for about *cough*25*cough* years. And I've had a 335 or two, but somehow none of them stuck.
Funny how reputations change. Even as late as the '80s most people would have nothing to say about 330s except "pfff, you can't adjust the pickups", "you can't play really high stuff" and "they feed back".
Truth is they're potentially one of the most interesting, responsive, characterful all-round guitars you can get. For me they've got far more colour and vibe than a 335/345/355. They'll do blues, rock, country. funk, lead, rhythm, jazz, the lot.
It's true about the pickups, and unless you've got an overwound bridge then you'll probably end up following the classic 330 method of switching to the neck P90 for leads, 'cos it's louder. It's also true you can't play REALLY high stuff because of the 16th fret neck join, but there's no money up there anyway. And yes, they feed back compared to a 335, but stage volumes are mostly down from where they used to be, and anyway I've stood four feet from a Twin Reverb on 6 and coped okay. You might have to do a spot of right-hand damping now and then. All part of the fun.
The recent 330 reissues are pretty damn good but pricewise you're almost up with a mid-’60s original… which is what I'd go for. Perfect alternative to a Marr Jag.
The 335s were good but for me just didn't have that tone I was after from a semi solid, maybe it was just the guitars I had, but I didn't go wow when I picked em up.
The 330 on the other hand... Wow, it was light resonant and had a tone to die for, I wish to God I still had it now but I lost my job and so it had to go.
They really are 2 different beasts tho, the 335 can really do anything, I even did a megadeth cover with mine, the 330 with its construction wouldn't go into distortion territory too well but then again, why would you with a fully hollow, but rock, over drive and for pure plugged in tone god dam it was sex!
If you want a jack if all trades, master of most the 335 is king, but just not for me :-)
I'll second that, as the owner of a 1970 330 in walnut and a Marr jag! Careful of the necks on the 330 around that era. Mine is unbelievably skinny. Fine if you have smallish mitts, as i do, but uncomfortable otherwise. The thing has so much tone though
Feedback
http://images.gibson.com/Products/Electric-Guitars/ES/Gibson-Custom/Luther-Dickinson-ES-335/Gallery-Images/ARLDJDBNH1-Finish-Shot.jpg
I may sell this in the not too distant...
We'd be up close to £3k for it though.
*An Official Foo-Approved guitarist since Sept 2023.
And not selling yet- I will need a new car c. Dec. That's when I'll sell it.
*An Official Foo-Approved guitarist since Sept 2023.
*An Official Foo-Approved guitarist since Sept 2023.