Members HurdyGurdyMan Posted May 14, 2006 Members Share Posted May 14, 2006 Employees at guitar stores often say that the new Gibsons are {censored}ty, low-quality, high-priced turds. But I really want an ES335, and if I spend thousands of dollars on a guitar I want it to be really great. Should I hunt for a vintage ES335, or are the new ones decent? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members PaulS Posted May 14, 2006 Members Share Posted May 14, 2006 If you could afford the price I'd say look for a 63 dot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members hondro Posted May 14, 2006 Members Share Posted May 14, 2006 I wouldnt say go look for a 50's or 60's 335 but play a bunch of used and new ones and see which ones are best I mean not ALL Gibsons are {censored}ty and not all are great just remember, people remember the {censored}ty ones and not the good ones, and thats why you always hear GIBSONS SUCK its not hard to find a good one, just have patience Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members docjeff Posted May 14, 2006 Members Share Posted May 14, 2006 I have an '04. It's very well made with a great neck and fantastic tone. I bought mine at Wildwood. $2000 plus tax. I think it is one of the few Gibsons worth the $2K + asking price. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members theManfromAlabam Posted May 14, 2006 Members Share Posted May 14, 2006 Originally posted by docjeff I have an '04. It's very well made with a great neck and fantastic tone. I bought mine at Wildwood. $2000 plus tax. I think it is one of the few Gibsons worth the $2K + asking price. That guitar is one of the most kickass guitars ever. {censored}ing beautiful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members guitarlady Posted May 15, 2006 Members Share Posted May 15, 2006 I love my ES-335 that I got in 2005. I had to get it in my favorite color cherry red to match my ES-135, ES-330, and Howard Roberts Fusion that I had before it. It plays wonderful. A quite a bit heavier than the others though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members fuzzy4dice Posted May 15, 2006 Members Share Posted May 15, 2006 Again, I think if you take the time to search, you'll find one that's great. I also think the cherry worn satin finishes look nice, and they are cheaper. Try 'em out! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members ECFan Posted May 15, 2006 Members Share Posted May 15, 2006 About a month ago I picked up a sunburst 2006 ES 335 that is just awesome. I'm completely happy with the workmanship, playability, and sound. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Bbreaker Posted May 15, 2006 Members Share Posted May 15, 2006 335's, like many Gibson guitars, vary in quality throughout the years. Try as many as you can. I love 335's. My favorite 335 that I bought new in the summer of '69. My 1984 335......... My 1987 natural 335........ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members chiro972 Posted May 15, 2006 Members Share Posted May 15, 2006 I had one from about 1980 it was very poor quality. I would make sure and play several before you decide to buy one. I don't doubt that most of them are fine, but mine was not and at the time I didn't know any better, but I was sorry after I bought it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members kkyle Posted May 15, 2006 Members Share Posted May 15, 2006 Originally posted by Bbreaker 335's, like many Gibson guitars, vary in quality throughout the years. Try as many as you can. I love 335's. My favorite 335 that I bought new in the summer of '69. My 1984 335......... My 1987 natural 335....... Your 69, like my 66 has that binding bleed. Looks like mine's sister. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members bernardo gui Posted May 15, 2006 Members Share Posted May 15, 2006 Originally posted by docjeff I have an '04. It's very well made with a great neck and fantastic tone. I bought mine at Wildwood. $2000 plus tax. I think it is one of the few Gibsons worth the $2K + asking price. BEAUTIFUL MAN. I want a Gibson Paul Jackson Jr. Signatrure guitar REAL BAD !!!! (looks just like yours) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Ryan Trevisol Posted May 15, 2006 Members Share Posted May 15, 2006 Originally posted by guitarlady I have to ask. . . . do the two humbucker models and the two P90 models sound and/or play significantly differently? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members guitarlady Posted May 15, 2006 Members Share Posted May 15, 2006 Originally posted by Ryan Trevisol I have to ask. . . . do the two humbucker models and the two P90 models sound and/or play significantly differently? They sound signifcantly different. The Howard Roberts Fusion has a completley different body size and different pickups, 490R/490T, and a different type of center wood block, chromyte, and ebony fingerboard, as compared to the ES-335 which has classic '57 pickups, rosewood fingerboard and maple center block. The Howard Roberts Fusion sounds quite a bit jazzier and the ES-335 sounds more bluesier. As for comparing the 2 single coils, the ES-135 is a semi-hollow body and actually sounds more like the Howard Roberts than it does the ES-330, which is the other P90 single coil guitar. The ES-330 is a true hollow body and has a more resonant sound kind of more acoustic sounding than any of the others of these guitars. They all play very similar, except the Howard Roberts which has an ebony board that for me plays better. The ES-330 is definately a nice light weight guitar, whereas the ES-335 is the heaviest and weighs almost as much as a Les Paul. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members docjeff Posted May 15, 2006 Members Share Posted May 15, 2006 Most of the 335's and 135's that I played when I was shopping for mine were very well made and showed good attention to detail. They were more consistent in terms of quality and tone than what I found when I was shopping for my Les Pauls. I think it's because of the nature of the laminated tops/sides/backs, and the mahogany necks. Since they are all laminated from the same vaneers (maple and poplar), they are pretty consistent. Also, I didn't see any neck or fret issues at all. Look for a nice dark rosewood board if you can find one. Mine almost looks like ebony. Don't expect to find one much under 9 pounds though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members MaxHills Posted May 15, 2006 Members Share Posted May 15, 2006 its not often that you find a {censored}ty one, but to weed them out... helps to try them first Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members voneville Posted May 15, 2006 Members Share Posted May 15, 2006 Originally posted by guitarlady I love my ES-335 that I got in 2005. I had to get it in my favorite color cherry red to match my ES-135, ES-330, and Howard Roberts Fusion that I had before it. It plays wonderful. A quite a bit heavier than the others though. The adoptions papers are in the mail, mom. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members HurdyGurdyMan Posted May 15, 2006 Author Members Share Posted May 15, 2006 I'll definitely try a bunch to find a good one before I buy, cause I'm gonna have to sell a lot of my stuff to be able to buy this guitar. I will probably end up with no material possessions other than this guitar and a good amp. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members men's pants Posted May 15, 2006 Members Share Posted May 15, 2006 If you don't feel like you can justify the $2k, go elitist I have one, and not regretting it at all! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members C-4 Posted May 15, 2006 Members Share Posted May 15, 2006 Gibson has made improvements to the Historic ES 335 dot which include a 10-15% weight reduction due to making them more like the originals! For the money you are going to spend, look at the Historic Dot '59 ES 335. They are possibly the best made of any of them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members leopardstar Posted May 15, 2006 Members Share Posted May 15, 2006 Originally posted by guitarlady I love my ES-335 that I got in 2005. I had to get it in my favorite color cherry red to match my ES-135, ES-330, and Howard Roberts Fusion that I had before it. It plays wonderful. A quite a bit heavier than the others though. good god guitarlady how many great guitars do you have? i'm like in love:love: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members wilmer Posted May 15, 2006 Members Share Posted May 15, 2006 Originally posted by guitarlady They sound signifcantly different. The Howard Roberts Fusion has a completley different body size and different pickups, 490R/490T, and a different type of center wood block, chromyte, and ebony fingerboard, as compared to the ES-335 which has classic '57 pickups, rosewood fingerboard and maple center block. The Howard Roberts Fusion sounds quite a bit jazzier and the ES-335 sounds more bluesier.----They all play very similar, except the Howard Roberts which has an ebony board that for me plays better. I agree on your review of the Howard Roberts Fusion. Mine is also jazzier than the ES 335 I had years ago. The tone is deeper and woodier, more like an ES 175, when using the neck pickup. It can still sound somewhat like an ES 335 when using both pickups. And it has a nice fast neck too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Big_Mac_AUS Posted May 15, 2006 Members Share Posted May 15, 2006 Originally posted by men's pants If you don't feel like you can justify the $2k, go elitist I have one, and not regretting it at all! Soon as someone evenn hints the presence of some semi-hollow content, he pulls out the elitist..... and so he should!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members HurdyGurdyMan Posted May 15, 2006 Author Members Share Posted May 15, 2006 Originally posted by men's pants If you don't feel like you can justify the $2k, go elitist I have one, and not regretting it at all! Looks nice, but I'm a total brand whore and I wouldn't spend more than $400 on a guitar made by someone other than Gibson or Fender. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members chevette Posted May 15, 2006 Members Share Posted May 15, 2006 Originally posted by HurdyGurdyMan Looks nice, but I'm a total brand whore and I wouldn't spend more than $400 on a guitar made by someone other than Gibson or Fender. well that's not very smart Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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