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Thread: New ES-335s

  1. #1
    Forum Member ch willie's Avatar
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    New ES-335s

    Has anyone played either a 2018 or a 2019 ES-335? I'm seriously thinking of buying one--boy are lefties hard to find. For a purchase like this, I want to play one, but I'd have to fly to Southpaw Guitars in Texas to do so.
    If we'd known we were going to be the Beatles, we'd have tried harder.--George Harrison

  2. #2
    Forum Member Offshore Angler's Avatar
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    Re: New ES-335s

    Sometimes the Gibson factory store has lefties. That's not that far from you.

    That said, a modern Gibson semi is plywood bodied and CNC'ed so nothing really differentiates it from the imports except the paint job.
    "No harmonic knowledge, no sense of time, a ghastly tone, unskilled vibrato, and so on. Chuck is one of the worst guitar players I know" -Gravity Jim

  3. #3
    Forum Member Don's Avatar
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    Re: New ES-335s

    I've got a 2017 that's a great guitar. They vary a lot- you really need to play before buying. For instance, I was disappointed when I first played mine. It was more focused and brighter sounding than I expected. I hoped it'd be warmer and more open sounding like some others I had played. Then I played it with a band and was blown away by it- it's like a big fat, gigantic Telecaster!

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    Forum Member OldStrummer's Avatar
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    Re: New ES-335s

    I have a 2017 Gibson Memphis LE ES335 70s Walnut. It's a righty, though.

    For decades my go-to guitar was my ES-225, and I've lusted after a 335. I finally landed this one, and the moment I held it, it was love at first sight.

    Having recently gone back to the 225, I realize how much heavier the 335 is. But the neck shapes and feel are identical, and regardless of which one I pick up, I feel like I'm cradling an old friend.


  5. #5
    Forum Member Old Ranger's Avatar
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    Re: New ES-335s

    I'd walk right the Gibson rack and head strait to the Epiphones! Go play a Sheridan and you'll forget all about. 335.
    I forgot what I was going to say...

  6. #6
    Forum Member ch willie's Avatar
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    Re: New ES-335s

    I had a Sheraton. I threw some Classic 57s in it, and it sounded great. Wiring was not good. And it was so neck heavy that it was unusable for me.
    If we'd known we were going to be the Beatles, we'd have tried harder.--George Harrison

  7. #7
    Forum Member melody's Avatar
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    Re: New ES-335s

    Quote Originally Posted by Old Ranger View Post
    I'd walk right the Gibson rack and head strait to the Epiphones! Go play a Sheridan and you'll forget all about. 335.

    +1 But I would go for the 339. The newer Epi's are well built the pups sound great the electronics are much better . Like OSA pointed out laminate made here or over seas is still laminate...

  8. #8
    Forum Member Old Ranger's Avatar
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    Re: New ES-335s

    Indeed, the Epiphone ES339 is a superb instrument. The 2014 natural 339 I have is the one thing that is holding me back from selling everything at the moment. Though I can't play for more than 15 min to maybe 20 min before my hands no longer cooperate, in that length of time I'm in sonic bliss. The tones from it defy logic. And its unbelievable to play. So smooth, yet the entire instrument has that rock solid feel of superior construction and finish. And the splitcoil pickups? Heavenly..... Yup, I'd walk past the Gibson rack and head strait to the Epiphones. Bet they got a southpaw model out there.
    Last edited by Old Ranger; 05-09-2019 at 04:14 AM.
    I forgot what I was going to say...

  9. #9
    Forum Member Don's Avatar
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    Re: New ES-335s

    The Epi ES-335 Pro that I sold when I bought my Gibson ES-335 was a great sounding and playing guitar. The only issues I had with it were the electronics and the neck was pretty flexible. I'm not sure what kind of mystery "mahogany" it was made of. The neck on my Gibson is quarter sawn with the straightest grain I've ever seen. It's a rock. Maybe that contributes to its focused tone. To be honest, my Gibson has an electronics problem- the bridge volume pot is scratchy between 9 and 10.

    There are other reasons to buy a Gibson over an Epiphone, but they're not worth the price increase unless you really want the Gibson.

    Oh, and I don't think you have to worry about the flexible neck issue with an Epi Sheraton.

    My plywood Gibsons-

  10. #10
    Forum Member S. Cane's Avatar
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    Re: New ES-335s

    The 335 and the Epi Casino are two dream guitars for me. But being 5'5" doesn't make it easy with semis.

  11. #11
    Forum Member Old Ranger's Avatar
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    Re: New ES-335s

    A 339 would fit ya perfect little brother.
    I forgot what I was going to say...

  12. #12
    Forum Member Don's Avatar
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    Re: New ES-335s

    Quote Originally Posted by Sérgio View Post
    The 335 and the Epi Casino are two dream guitars for me. But being 5'5" doesn't make it easy with semis.
    I'm just over 5'8" and find them to be a good fit, but it does come off as a big guitar when I play it (audiences don't notice a lot about guitars but will comment about "the big red guitar". I can see how it'd be too big if I was a little smaller. An ES-339 might do the trick for you.

  13. #13
    Forum Member ch willie's Avatar
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    Re: New ES-335s

    Sorry, I’ve had lots of Epiphones and I’ll never buy another. I want a Gibson. I believe their quality is good enough for me.
    If we'd known we were going to be the Beatles, we'd have tried harder.--George Harrison

  14. #14
    Forum Member OldStrummer's Avatar
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    Re: New ES-335s

    Quote Originally Posted by ch willie View Post
    Sorry, I’ve had lots of Epiphones and I’ll never buy another. I want a Gibson. I believe their quality is good enough for me.
    I believe as you do, @ch_willie. But Epiphone is the only manufacturer of the Jack Casady Signature bass, and I wanted one. So I bought one, and just the other day, bought the case made for it. Both are superb examples of fine craftsmanship.

  15. #15
    Forum Member Old Ranger's Avatar
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    Re: New ES-335s

    Okey doke. Time for this old man to boogie to another thread. Its gettin um, ah, kinda um, well you know...Exit stage left.
    I forgot what I was going to say...

  16. #16
    Forum Member ch willie's Avatar
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    Re: New ES-335s

    That's what I'm talking about, Kenny. I've admired your ES ever since I first saw a photo of it.
    If we'd known we were going to be the Beatles, we'd have tried harder.--George Harrison

  17. #17
    Forum Member Don's Avatar
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    Re: New ES-335s

    That's a beauty! There's nothing like cherry and reflectors!

  18. #18
    Forum Member gibsonjunkie's Avatar
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    Re: New ES-335s

    I got my ES 335 in 2002 and appreciate it more now than I did then (they were a lot cheaper back then). If the house was on fire I'd grab my J-200 with one hand and my ES with the other. It has a rich breadth of tones and the best neck of any guitar I own (except my custom-built Stol guitar, which he modeled after the ES).

    "We catched fish and talked, and we took a swim now and then to keep off sleepiness." Mark Twain

  19. #19
    Forum Member DanTheBluesMan's Avatar
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    Re: New ES-335s

    I've been eyeballing some epiphone ES 336s on reverb, pretty tempted.
    "Live and learn and flip the burns"

  20. #20
    Forum Member Offshore Angler's Avatar
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    Re: New ES-335s

    The Epiphone Dots were always a bargain.
    "No harmonic knowledge, no sense of time, a ghastly tone, unskilled vibrato, and so on. Chuck is one of the worst guitar players I know" -Gravity Jim

  21. #21
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    Re: New ES-335s

    The last few runs from Gibson Memphis were uniformly awesome.

    '58 reissue (unbound fingerboard) 2016

    '61 reissue 330 2016

    '59 Limited Run Lemon Burst 2014

    '65 345 Nashville built 1998

  22. #22
    Forum Member S. Cane's Avatar
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    Re: New ES-335s

    Quote Originally Posted by Offshore Angler View Post
    The Epiphone Dots were always a bargain.
    I've always wanted a Casino.

  23. #23
    Forum Member Don's Avatar
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    Re: New ES-335s

    Quote Originally Posted by Offshore Angler View Post
    The Epiphone Dots were always a bargain.
    My Epiphone ES-335 Pro was $350 new and it was a very nice guitar!

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