WTB Vintage Gibson ES330 or Epiphone Casino

stickyfiddle

DB1 said:

I bought a lovely 2018 ES-330 at the weekend from the equally lovely @camf and had the opportunity to try it against a 1960 ES-330 yesterday. It was remarkably similar considering the 58 years of difference. The 2018 had a slightly chunkier neck, and was more bassy plugged in, but the acoustic tone was so similar that I couldn't tell the difference. The ease of playing on the 1960 version was just as good as on the 2018 version, and I was hard pushed to say that one was appreciably newer (or older).

Not suggesting that you 'shouldn't' get a vintage one in the slightest (far from it!),  but just throwing it into the conversation as I was quite surprised by how similar they were. I couldn't say which one was 'better' - they were both great.

Wis for that. I got the ES330 bug properly after playing a couple of early/mid-60s models in Guitar Centre's "Platinum room" in Nashville. Both wonderful but I didn't love the new frets and travelling with (potentially-brazilian) rosewood was going to be too much hassle so I didn't buy. Instead I picked up a 2018 Memphis VOS model (cherry red FTW!) and that was absolutely brilliant and genuinely just as good an instrument as those old ones. 

I foolishly sold that 330 early last year, then bought another from the same run before xmas and it's just as good if not better than the first.

I understand the business need to centralise electrics into Nashville but it's a shame that they got it so right in Memphis and then stopped. 

tomajoha

For me the biggest issue with Memphis guitars is the frets, I’ve always found them to be uncomfortably square on otherwise superb instruments. The Nashville ES’s always had R9 style fretwork which I find much more comfortable to play. I’d be interested to hear what the frets are like on the new non-custom shop ES’s are like (including the US Casino)?

DB1

I've had seven ES-330's in the past four years - the latest 2018 model, a '61 reissue with a supremely comfortable neck, but (for me, it's just a personal thing) spoiled by a Bigsby as I find that it unbalances them, two CS long necks, a 1968 long neck with a pencil thin neck, a cherry 2018 model and a Wildwood spec '59 reissue with a neck that was uncomfortably fat.

The 2018 model feels just right,and for me the frets are perfect. I've got rid of so many Gibsons because the frets have been big and square as @tomajoha says and genuinely obstructive when playing. I have a 2006 ES-175 which is quite rare and superb in many ways (cherry, two P90's, one of fifty made) but the frets were so blocky that I've had it refretted in a more vintage style.

The frets on the 1960 ES-330 also felt just right, perhaps slightly thinner (understandably) than the 2018 model - actually, I was hoping that either the 2018 model felt terrible beside it (because then I could have a stab at ' justifying' buying the 1960 and selling the 2018), or that the 1960 version felt terrible beside the 2018 version to save me a problem.

Both felt wonderful. Purely as an instrument, there certainly wasn't difference enough to advise buying the vintage version over the 2018 model, but often it doesn't come down to what's 'better' objectively. Certainly the 2018 model didn't feel and sound superior, but at a quarter of the cost of the 1960 version, there's no contest for my eyes and ears as far as value for money is concerned.

In saying that,  a vintage model (if it's a good one) is a wonderful and aspirational  thing to have, and those of us who DO like vintage guitars all have our reasons for wanting one.

tomajoha

Well put Dave, I tend to play my new one over my old largely due to it being less valuable, but I have to say it’s a equally good instrument. Is the 2018 Memphis or Nashville made Dave?

Wazmeister

Im a novice in this field, as was evidenced by my recent P90 thread… but I have owned several 335s and Casinos, all with varying degrees of build quality and specs.

Ironically, my recent search has been fuelled by playing my singers Epiphone Worn Casino - a mere £399 !!

I was searching for a 330, and couldnt find many at any price.

I was recommended to try a humble Eastman T64; again, being a bit snobish I doubted its position against the more expensive options. Nonetheless, I bought one and have been blown away by it.

An incredible guitar - again at any price - which is stable, intonated and sounds and plays effortlessly.

Lightly reliced too, and highly highly recommended.

DB1

tomajoha said:

Well put Dave, I tend to play my new one over my old largely due to it being less valuable, but I have to say it’s a equally good instrument. Is the 2018 Memphis or Nashville made Dave?

 Sorry @tomajoha - been out all day, racking up my 1000 miles on the road since Saturday! It's a Memphis build, and it's pretty perfect - the sunburst is very rich and vibrant, unlike the 1960 version, which is a glorious vintage (obviously) burst. The 1960 version subjectively has the more appealing finish.