To ES330 or not to ES330?

SunDevil

I think I've read everything on the web on this subject today, so I get that the 330 is a P90 equipped 'proper' hollow body that would be more prone to feedback than a 335.

What I'd love to get some views from 330 owners on is this - I have 5 lovely guitars - LP, Strat, Tele, 335 and LP Special and I play edge of breakup blues rock kinda stuff, so given all that, would a 330 do sufficiently different to earn its keep?

Cheers

Baz

olafgarten

Go for a Gretsch. 

SunDevil

I've never played a Gretsch I got on with tbh ..always seen too shrill

olafgarten

SunDevil said:

I've never played a Gretsch I got on with tbh ..always seen too shrill

It's what the tone control is for. Regarding the 330, I've never played one, but have played a Casino which is essentially the same thing. They sound different to a 335, but not different enough really. It sounds a bit more open and is a little brighter. 

mixolyd

Having played a couple Casinos I'd say that the 330 is like the 335 in looks only - they differ a lot in both sound and feel. P90's, fully hollow and the deep neck (on the originals and latest RI's) are all significant differences.

John_P

I love my 330.   Feedback isn't a problem - it's quite controllable on mine if I don't use really high sounds and even then I can ride the volume pedal.   
P90's and hollow is different to a 335 imo.  

benmurray85

John_P said:

I love my 330.   Feedback isn't a problem - it's quite controllable on mine

This. Feedback isn't really as much of an issue as some would have you believe.

dogload

I concur. I've used a Casino in numerous loud situations and with care feedback is controllable. The sound is well worth the effort 

edbolivar

I have very similar guitars to you ( strat, Les Paul, tele etc) and recently a 335. Tried the 330 thinking it would be very similar to the 335, and it wasn't. Sounds and feels quite different, lovely guitar, and definitely worth a try to see what you think.
It didn't take long to justify getting one alongside the others

menamestom

330's are great, I would say a 335 is much closer to a solid body than a 330.  On lowish blues gain they can go to decent band volumes.   I love the thinline hollow body format, I wish there were more types of this guitar (like the Peerless Rennaisance - a hollow thinlie HB guitar).  Acoustically they sound far jazzier than a semi.

p90fool

330s are fantastic guitars, if anything it'll make your 335 redundant as not being different enough from the Les Paul in comparison.

They sound fine at home and record very well, but they really come alive at gig volume, with a depth and chime you won't get out of any of your other guitars.

Check for dead notes though, some do suffer from this.

pj310

^this. I've played a few CS models in stores and found some to be magical, while others are just meh. Don't sound great on parts of the neck. 

ChuckManual

I went to see Matt Schofield a few years ago - and the bloke that supported him (solo) played a 330 (P90's, Bigsby, full hollow-body - basically everything I've historically disliked about the electric guitar) ...and the tones he got out of it were magical!

I've not only had my mind changed, but I've been on the look-out for one ever since...

Sassafras

Embrace the feedback. It never hindered Neil Young's career.

impmann

Sassafras said:

It never hindered Neil Young's career.

Neither did not being able to sing, tune a guitar or play interesting solos... ;-)

57Deluxe

I don't think that there is much FB difference between a HB or P90, but the 335 does have a block and the 330 don't so there is the rub.

Actually, the FB can be great fun and a nice addition to your tone. It does require some careful muting and choice of material though. But Don't take my word for it though as BOSS even have a dedicated FB pedal for those unlucky enough to have boring old solid guitars...

My Hofner has monophonic HBs AND no center block and delivers the sweetest, bluesiest to darn right knarliest cries of angst

SunDevil

Gents - many thanks for all the input!

You've helped me get to a decision and even more importantly, provided me the leverage to persuade the Management Comittee that I can get just one more guitar past Her

My 330 (Actually a Heritage H530) is now on it's way! - NGD ahoy!

mburekenge

impmann said:

Sassafras said:

It never hindered Neil Young's career.

Neither did not being able to sing, tune a guitar or play interesting solos... ;-)

 Neil young can say more with one note than most with a hundred notes.

mixolyd

SunDevil said:

Gents - many thanks for all the input!

You've helped me get to a decision and even more importantly, provided me the leverage to persuade the Management Comittee that I can get just one more guitar past Her

My 330 (Actually a Heritage H530) is now on it's way! - NGD ahoy!

Congrats.  I was about to say to make sure you pay attention to the two types of 330: larger body/short neck and smaller body longer neck.  The latter gives much better upper fret access but the former is generally regarded as much more mojo-filled and a "true" 330.

SunDevil

Hi @mixolyd - yep, the H530 has the 19th fret join and apparently the 'Ls' are a little brighter

I don't think Heritage ever did one with the 16th fret join, but they are at least built as they were back in '58

mixolyd

SunDevil said:

Hi @mixolyd - yep, the H530 has the 19th fret join and apparently the 'Ls' are a little brighter

I don't think Heritage ever did one with the 16th fret join, but they are at least built as they were back in '58

Yeah their version is more like a hollow 335 than a 330, maybe Gibson/Epiphone took the moulds for the 16th fret version when they left Kalamazoo!