I've been trying to pin down what my next major guitar purchase will be.
I've been set on a Les Paul for a long time - ideally a nicely aged white or black LP Custom, although I've been wondering about sunburst stuff as well. Anyway... my question is, should I do that, or should I look for a 335 or similar?
I've always loved both, and always known there would be a place for both in my collection. But at the current stage my playing is at, and the kind of things I'm enjoying, I'm wondering if a semi-hollow would be a better call for me at the minute. Here's the rest of my collection, electrics-wise:
Blackmachine B6 - swamp ash, bolt-on maple neck, two humbuckers
Strat - alder, three single-coils
Flying V - mahogany, two mini-humbuckers
Tokai - mahogany + maple top, set mahogany neck, two humbuckers
At the minute I have a Les Paul on loan to me, and having compared the two, I can confirm the Tokai (PRS shape with 24 frets) does not sound like a Les Paul - although it's closest to the ballpark out of the stuff I have. I wonder if I would have more sounds available to me from a semi instead of a Les Paul - I hear it said that they're more versatile.
If I did decide on a semi, the next question would be - which one? And how much am I expecting to spend? My two favourites out of Gibson's recent range are the VOS 1958 reissue 335, and the Lucille. Is there anything else I should be looking at? What are older 335s (say, 80s or 90s) like?
It's a tough question, and I suspect it'll turn out to be one that only I can answer, but I'd appreciate some thoughts from others on this.
- "I'm going to write a very stiff letter. A VERY stiff letter. On cardboard."
Comments
BUT - the only thing that sounds like an LP is another LP. Once you've got a good one, you'll love it.
Ultimately you want (neeed?) both
Seriously: If you value it, take/fetch it yourself
Paper list guitar shopping doesn't usually work out that well.
Natural 335's sound better than coloured. Awesome, ha ha. Red cars go faster as well.
I've found a 335 too big compared to what I'm used to although I love them I'm not sure I'd use one that much
(formerly customkits)
All sounds a bit grown up to me. Buy one of the new RG550's in Neon Purple and be done with it.
Seriously though - only a Les Paul get's that girth, depends upon how much you are enjoying the one you have on loan. I like Les Paul's but I can absolutely live without them. They only do one thing for me, and if I did have one it would be P90's for sure.
335's are great too, but the size, man the size is too big, a 339 is a good shout if you find the same.
I do have to agree and say that you have HB's covered though. So easy to fall into the trap of every guitar sounding different, and they absolutely do, but do you really need all those flavours of humbucking sounds.
I quite liked your new trimmed down collection, it has balance. Go on holiday instead.
Appreciate the above is general ramblings of a mad man!
Seriously: If you value it, take/fetch it yourself
Seriously: If you value it, take/fetch it yourself
I can split coil it for strat type tones and in humbucker mode it's like a different flavour of low wind paf, great pickup
I've found a 339 cramped up the dusty end, that's my only complaint
(formerly customkits)
Or there’s always the Gretsch option...
Or Gibson Midtown Custom?