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Larry Mal wrote: ↑

Tue Nov 03, 2020 3:12 pm

Well, as proof of concept I guess, I just bought an ES-335 Dot for $2k. Of course, it'll cost more since it was on credit and I'll need to pay it off quickly, so a few things will need to be sold.

Fact is, I think it's time to downsize to less guitars that are of higher quality, since my recording room isn't large and there's not a ton of space for all my instruments.

It's a 2019, basically mint, and I like that they've gone to the ABR-1 bridge with brass saddles finally, this one has locking tuners already, and if the tailpiece locks then I don't know anything I need to do.

It's this one.

I'll update as to the quality when I get it.

Did the thread on GASing for an ES-335 actually give you GAS for an ES-335?

I know what you mean about paring down to fewer, nicer guitars. I did that with my acoustics years ago, but haven't been as good about culling the electric herd until recently. I'm down 3 electric guitars in the last month or two, so I guess I'm moving in the right direction.

Either way, congrats. That 335 looks awesome and it sounds like you got a 1 year old guitar in great condition for 1/3rd less than a new one, which is absolutely the way to get the most bang for your buck.

mbene085 wrote: ↑

Tue Nov 03, 2020 3:36 pm

Did the thread on GASing for an ES-335 actually give you GAS for an ES-335?

Maybe a little. I was thinking about having a "fresh start" instrument for the new house, debated an ES-175, then decided that a dark, woody, jazz guitar might not be something I would get a sound I liked out of it. So I took a look at the ES-335, which should be a little more versatile for me.

We had talked about those El Rayo pickups on another thread, and I thought about a guitar that would be good enough for me to put those in. If I don't love the sounds of the pickups in this ES, although they are probably very good, then maybe I would put those in this.

But I am on the upper level of the split level home, and a lot of my guitars are in the basement. I know I'm not going to be going down there for things like the Lead, and that Bullet I built, and some other stuff, so it may as well be sold. If I don't reach for it as a recording guitar now, I'm probably never going to.

I was actually GASing for late 80s / Early 80s ES335 dot recently, preferably black one. I found one and I was certain I would buy it, but when I finally played it, it was a pretty disappointing experience. The guitar itself was beautiful, well worn and super playable with excelent setup, but the sound was super bland. It was really "middle of the road" and vanilla, even with new strings and fresh setup. I ended up with mid 70s Deluxe discussed in adjacent thread

Kinx wrote: ↑

Thu Nov 05, 2020 5:58 am

The guitar itself was beautiful, well worn and super playable with excelent setup, but the sound was super bland. It was really "middle of the road" and vanilla, even with new strings and fresh setup. I ended up with mid 70s Deluxe discussed in adjacent thread

I've certainly heard people say that. You often see the ES-335 advertised as a jack of all trades type guitar, good for anything you throw at it.

However, experience has taught me that things like that don't have a very exciting singular character of their own sometimes. Like maybe the ES-335 is a kind of baseline sound that you measure other things by, so when you hear it, it's like, sure. So, that's that.

And I might feel the same with mine. It's kind of an experiment I guess. I usually am not much into the whole PAF thing, I had a Melody Maker type guitar with Burstbuckers in it that didn't get played much and I have a Les Paul Studio which has the 490R/498T hum buckers in there, which I actually like quite a bit but not for everything.

So, we'll see how I like the 335. I can say that I absolutely adore the ES-335 form factor, it'll be roughly the same as my ES-330 so I know it'll be a pleasure to play. If the pickups don't connect with me, I'll put in some El Rayos when I get the money.

However, Gibson has some "Memphis Historic Spec 2" pickups in this ES-335. I'm kind of excited about them, since they are apparently low wind PAF type pickups with either Alnico 2 or 3 or mixed, I can't find the specs anywhere, but regardless this is pretty much what I would have spec'd.

I'll try to give this guitar a critical look and see if I can find any flaws with it. I usually don't, I'm not super picky with guitars and a little orange peel or whatever doesn't mean anything to me, this particular princess is just fine with peas.

I personally think that 335s are great, I love them and I'll definitely buy one someday. I was just quite disappointed with that particular '91 one I was gassing for. It also had Burstbuckers which I am not very fond of. It sported the thinnest neck I've ever seen on a Gibson guitar. My Flying V has a pretty thin neck profile, but this was noticeably thinner - almost uncomfortably thin. Anyways, 335 is definitely one of most comfortable guitar shape for me to play. I wish I kept an odd 80s MIJ/MIK Harmony 335 knockoff I used to have years ago, it sounded absolutely sweet and playability was phenomenal.

Kinx wrote: ↑

Thu Nov 05, 2020 8:06 am

I personally think that 335s are great, I love them and I'll definitely buy one someday. I was just quite disappointed with that particular '91 one I was gassing for. It also had Burstbuckers which I am not very fond of. It sported the thinnest neck I've ever seen on a Gibson guitar. My Flying V has a pretty thin neck profile, but this was noticeably thinner - almost uncomfortably thin. Anyways, 335 is definitely one of most comfortable guitar shape for me to play. I wish I kept an odd 80s MIJ/MIK Harmony 335 knockoff I used to have years ago, it sounded absolutely sweet and playability was phenomenal.

I feel like gibson invented a whole instrument with the 335. A fact that makes its name all the more unfortunate. Such a sterile name for what might be the most naturally, organically beautiful guitar ever.

But anyway, unlike fender with the whole ass instruments they've invented, gibson hasn't really offered too much variation on the theme. Either just whatever reissue their making, or those plus a couple 5k cs deals. They did offer a fat neck version at one point (that I would be all over,I likened thicc).

You just kinda get whatever specs they're going with any given year. Which is cool from a simplicity standpoint, but finding one with the right profile (micky mouse ears or no), neck shape, pickups is kind of a toss up.

It's definitely one of the "standard" electric guitars, like the strat. Kinda weird that gibson doesn't milk that for more and have a "Baja" version and a "highway one" and a "bizarro alternate universe where the nazis won wwii" version, etc.

I love that this thread ended in at least one 335 being bought. Congrats Larry!

I flirted with buying an ES-330 for the longest time. I had an IBJL Casino, which shares many characteristics with the 330 (5 vs 3 ply etc.). It was nice but it made me realize I’m a Fender guy through and through.

In an even better twist, this thread has now sperred on 2 NGD's.

OP has not bought an es-335.
Stand by.

Sounds like the negotiations were able to be worked out?

mediocreplayer wrote: ↑

Thu Nov 05, 2020 8:54 pm

I love that this thread ended in at least one 335 being bought. Congrats Larry!

I flirted with buying an ES-330 for the longest time. I had an IBJL Casino, which shares many characteristics with the 330 (5 vs 3 ply etc.). It was nice but it made me realize I’m a Fender guy through and through.

I love my ES-330, no doubt.

But in my NGD, whenever I get to really do one, I'll certainly look for flaws on the ES-335. Now, I'm never particular about guitars, and I probably tolerate things that others don't. If it plays well then I'm pretty excited because I've had so many guitars that didn't. I'm not concerned about a little orange peel and shit.

I'll try to be with this guitar, though, to give an accurate picture. After all, I've once again ordered a Gibson sight unseen, you know? With all the internet talk, I should have a high chance of getting a completely awful guitar, but it just never happens to me.

Larry Mal wrote: ↑

Sun Nov 08, 2020 1:44 pm

Sounds like the negotiations were able to be worked out?

It's the multi thread crossover event of the season.

So, after chilling out for a bit. I thought I'd share a post script or epilog of events.

Larry obviously got his 335 and congrats on that.

I wound up buying my bucket list guitar. A 1962 Guild Starfire 2. Cherry red. Dynasonic pick ups, super great shape for its age. I was pumped.

Except, the seller didn't put literally anything inside the case for shipping cross country. Anything at all.

And guild cases of that era are a disaster waiting to happen. Both the front and back are molded so there's no support for the body by the neck and only an inch wide neck block with no padding acting as a fulcrum.

Not completely, but the neck joint came loose as a result. There were all sorts of terrible sounds as I tuned it up. I could tell from the listing photos that this hadn't been the case before.

I'm so crushed. I'm shipping it back today (with an actual packing job inside the case).

I'm not going to buy another guitar until I can do it in person. I'll fly to Nashville if I have to. But no more reverb for guitars.

Also, my JM is disassembled for repairs, so all I've got is that dastardly Epi Sheraton. Maybe I'll just start a Vampire Weekend tribute band.

oh man -- so sorry to hear this. Big anticlimax to the whole thread. I hope that a great 335 or equivalent shows up in your future sooner than later.

mediocreplayer wrote: ↑

Mon Nov 23, 2020 11:04 am

oh man -- so sorry to hear this. Big anticlimax to the whole thread. I hope that a great 335 or equivalent shows up in your future sooner than later.

Thanks. It's a real bummer.

I think I'm going to focus on other parts of the signal chain for a while. Namely a bigger amp and my playing. This is a super anti climax and I probably don't know what I'm talking about, but Im personally realizing that so long as a guitar meets 3 criteria, then literally all guitars are the same to me.

1. Functionally plays. Lowish action and all frets sound cleanly.

2. Neck dimensions aren't extreme enough to be uncomfortable. No baseball bats, no wizards, frets are taller than .0020"

3. A neck pup that sounds bell like and a bridge pickup that sounds twangy.

The rest is blowing in the wind. Amp nobs, EQ, playing technique will get you somewhere good. The best guitar is the one you can play.

That said, I have some mods planned for my JM.

Ah, that sucks so hard. I was thinking about your NGD thread and where it would be. I also had guessed that it was some kind of Starfire, but I don't know much about the model to really guess more exactly.