Gibson ES335

BigLicks67

Next year is my fiftieth and my better half has promised to get me a 335 to celebrate : > So what is the best ES335 on the market at the moment.
Many thanks in advance.

guitars4you

Assuming you mean new - Then any of the Historic based Custom Shop models are well worth looking at - be it a 59 dot or a 63 block - try both as the neck profile is significantly different and this is certainly a case of which suits you - Gibson keep adjusting the models within the vintage replica profile, so you'll probably find a nice used example be it a 1960 or 61 replica - They generally all have their own key attributes

Don't know what your budget might be there are plenty of nice used examples out there - I'd still prefer a more recent Dot Reissue to many 70's original models with a trapeze tailpiece - I say more recent but anything in the last 20/30 years on the Dot Reissues are worth looking at

Collings i35LC is well worth looking at - depends if you want the G brand logo on the headstock

BigLicks67

@guitars4you The budget is enough to buy a new standard, but that also puts me in the ball park for a Larry Carlton sig or a higher end model second hand.

sweepy

The Carlton sig has a slightly narrower nut than the standard 60's block reissues, worth knowing tbh. 

guitars4you

BigLicks67 said:

@guitars4you The budget is enough to buy a new standard, but that also puts me in the ball park for a Larry Carlton sig or a higher end model second hand.

The Larry Carlton is one of the best signature based 335's - but as 'sweepy' states a slightly narrower top nut/fingerboard width - Suits Larry but might not be the one for you regarding comfort/feel - I gather £2k or 2.5K might be your budget, so a nice used C/Shop is well worth it, or save a bit and look at a gloss finished 335 Dot that might be 5-20 years old or so

Personally I'd stay away from the satin finished models and shall we say the more 'budget' based 335 models

StuartMac290

There are often a couple of 63 Historic reissues kicking around, and they are fine guitars. 

TimmyO

guitars4you said:

Personally I'd stay away from the satin finished models and shall we say the more 'budget' based 335 models

Are the satin models generally lower spec in other ways or is it just the finish that's the difference? 

guitars4you

TimmyO said:

guitars4you said:

Personally I'd stay away from the satin finished models and shall we say the more 'budget' based 335 models

Are the satin models generally lower spec in other ways or is it just the finish that's the difference? 

Can't say they are all bad, or lower spec,as I dare say the odd one will stand out above the rest performance wise, but as the goal of a satin model is to offer a lower priced classic model there are often other cut backs regarding grades of wood

impmann

My Gibson 335 is a satin one.

TBH, it looks like a 335, it feels like a 335 and it sounds like a 335. The hardware is good quality, the pickups are great and the case is lovely. It holds its own against Jack's @meltedbuzzbox 345 - yes they sound a bit different, yes they look different but mine isn't 'inferior'.

Its just got satin paint.

AndyR

I have a satin 335 too. One in trans-black (2011, I think). I've since polished it a bit.

It is gorgeous, but I didn't have much experience of different 335s when I bought it. I loved it and I could afford it... that was about it (oh yeah, and the wife was away on holiday!). I think I lucked out, though, feel-wise and sound-wise, having played others since.

It seems, if you get a nice one, the main difference is the satin finish and no binding on the neck. I have played a more recent faded cherry one, though, that was nowhere near (for me) the guitar mine is. Felt distinctly "cheaper". The finish on mine seems a fair bit thicker, always felt as "warm" as a full finish does, and has polished up nicely (in fact the neck did it from me just playing, so I decided to do the whole thing). The one I played the other day felt dry/cold.

Personally, if budget was over £2K, I would be passing the satin finishes by.

One last thing - I definitely think you need to try the guitar you're going to get, if possible. In my hands, semis seem even more variable than solid-bodied guitars. I've tried two apparently the same, one seemed too bright for my tastes, one seemed too mellow. When you get one you like, though... WOW

impmann

AndyR said:

I have a satin 335 too. One in trans-black (2011, I think). I've since polished it a bit.

It is gorgeous, but I didn't have much experience of different 335s when I bought it. I loved it and I could afford it... that was about it (oh yeah, and the wife was away on holiday!). I think I lucked out, though, feel-wise and sound-wise, having played others since.

It seems, if you get a nice one, the main difference is the satin finish and no binding on the neck. I have played a more recent faded cherry one, though, that was nowhere near (for me) the guitar mine is. Felt distinctly "cheaper". The finish on mine seems a fair bit thicker, always felt as "warm" as a full finish does, and has polished up nicely (in fact the neck did it from me just playing, so I decided to do the whole thing). The one I played the other day felt dry/cold.

Personally, if budget was over £2K, I would be passing the satin finishes by.

One last thing - I definitely think you need to try the guitar you're going to get, if possible. In my hands, semis seem even more variable than solid-bodied guitars. I've tried two apparently the same, one seemed too bright for my tastes, one seemed too mellow. When you get one you like, though... WOW

My satin 335 has binding - one thing I'm not fussed about, as it feels a little square shouldered for my tastes... one day I may get that looked at.

But I definitely agree with your last paragraph...

AndyR

impmann said:

AndyR said:

I have a satin 335 too. One in trans-black (2011, I think). I've since polished it a bit.

It is gorgeous, but I didn't have much experience of different 335s when I bought it. I loved it and I could afford it... that was about it (oh yeah, and the wife was away on holiday!). I think I lucked out, though, feel-wise and sound-wise, having played others since.

It seems, if you get a nice one, the main difference is the satin finish and no binding on the neck. I have played a more recent faded cherry one, though, that was nowhere near (for me) the guitar mine is. Felt distinctly "cheaper". The finish on mine seems a fair bit thicker, always felt as "warm" as a full finish does, and has polished up nicely (in fact the neck did it from me just playing, so I decided to do the whole thing). The one I played the other day felt dry/cold.

Personally, if budget was over £2K, I would be passing the satin finishes by.

One last thing - I definitely think you need to try the guitar you're going to get, if possible. In my hands, semis seem even more variable than solid-bodied guitars. I've tried two apparently the same, one seemed too bright for my tastes, one seemed too mellow. When you get one you like, though... WOW

My satin 335 has binding - one thing I'm not fussed about, as it feels a little square shouldered for my tastes... one day I may get that looked at.

But I definitely agree with your last paragraph...

Yep, the last paragraph is the important bit...

I've only recently got into Gibson's binding with the nibs etc - and now I experience doubts about my beloved 335 with no binding, I didn't mind either way before... How fickle we guitarists are!

meltedbuzzbox

impmann said:

My Gibson 335 is a satin one.

TBH, it looks like a 335, it feels like a 335 and it sounds like a 335. The hardware is good quality, the pickups are great and the case is lovely. It holds its own against Jack's @meltedbuzzbox 345 - yes they sound a bit different, yes they look different but mine isn't 'inferior'.

Its just got satin paint.

it's not inferior at all. 

but (eeeek) I do think mine feels more polished as a product. The fretboard edges are nicely rolled, the nibbing is nicer, it feels like more time was spent on it overall.

that can all be addressed though. 

The one thing that did strike me was that there was a gulf in playability between the custom stuff and the standards in GuitarGuitar. There was something missing on standard stuff but perhaps thats something that is more apparent on all the newer models to justify the difference in the product ranges????

As always though there is a lot to be said for just playing a guitar to see if it is a good guitar. There is no point getting caught up in finishes and vintage correct spec

guitars4you

By the way, I'm not saying all satin finished 335 are 'inferior' as there are some good examples - but that applies to all Gibson Guitars anyway be it gloss or satin, but they don't just save on the satin finish to acquire a more 'affordable' version - So I fully appreciate that what I said will imply negative vibes to some, but the other option is to say nothing or lie - I played a satin finished LP Standard a couple of weeks ago, the version from around 2004/5 (can't recall the date) at it was a corker and played far better than many gloss LP Stds but around the same time I saw one that was awful

of course as stated above in earlier comments and ultimately this is the key point regardless of our views

 'One last thing - I definitely think you need to try the guitar you're going to get, if possible. In my hands, semis seem even more variable than solid-bodied guitars. I've tried two apparently the same, one seemed too bright for my tastes, one seemed too mellow.

impmann

meltedbuzzbox said:

impmann said:

My Gibson 335 is a satin one.

TBH, it looks like a 335, it feels like a 335 and it sounds like a 335. The hardware is good quality, the pickups are great and the case is lovely. It holds its own against Jack's @meltedbuzzbox 345 - yes they sound a bit different, yes they look different but mine isn't 'inferior'.

Its just got satin paint.

it's not inferior at all. 

but (eeeek) I do think mine feels more polished as a product. The fretboard edges are nicely rolled, the nibbing is nicer, it feels like more time was spent on it overall.

that can all be addressed though. 

The one thing that did strike me was that there was a gulf in playability between the custom stuff and the standards in GuitarGuitar. There was something missing on standard stuff but perhaps thats something that is more apparent on all the newer models to justify the difference in the product ranges????

As always though there is a lot to be said for just playing a guitar to see if it is a good guitar. There is no point getting caught up in finishes and vintage correct spec

Totally agree with that - the 345 feels 'nicer' but I'm fairly sure if I spend a bit of time on the 335, I'll get it into the ballpark. But it was twice the price, so I'd expect that!!

guitars4you

http://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/85832/heads-up-gibson-memphis-es-deal#latest

@BigLicks67 - see above and this maybe the answer to your dreams

meltedbuzzbox

impmann said:

meltedbuzzbox said:

impmann said:

My Gibson 335 is a satin one.

TBH, it looks like a 335, it feels like a 335 and it sounds like a 335. The hardware is good quality, the pickups are great and the case is lovely. It holds its own against Jack's @meltedbuzzbox 345 - yes they sound a bit different, yes they look different but mine isn't 'inferior'.

Its just got satin paint.

it's not inferior at all. 

but (eeeek) I do think mine feels more polished as a product. The fretboard edges are nicely rolled, the nibbing is nicer, it feels like more time was spent on it overall.

that can all be addressed though. 

The one thing that did strike me was that there was a gulf in playability between the custom stuff and the standards in GuitarGuitar. There was something missing on standard stuff but perhaps thats something that is more apparent on all the newer models to justify the difference in the product ranges????

As always though there is a lot to be said for just playing a guitar to see if it is a good guitar. There is no point getting caught up in finishes and vintage correct spec

Totally agree with that - the 345 feels 'nicer' but I'm fairly sure if I spend a bit of time on the 335, I'll get it into the ballpark. But it was twice the price, so I'd expect that!!

it was an eye watering price and I am not sure I will ever spend that again to be honest.

but on the flip side I dont think I will ever want from another 3X5 model of Gibson

ennspek

It was a '63 block that picked me, wasn't in the colour I wanted either but it just felt right.
The Collings are truly superb guitars as well.

meltedbuzzbox

I bought a guitar that pretty much ticks all of my dislikes

but it just played so well and sounded great and those are the 2 most important things

Lebarque

Heritage H535

Sporky

I think it's worth clarifying what you mean by a 335.

The answer may be different if you mean  a Gibson 33t, or of you mean a 335 style guitar...