Talk to me about the Gibson ES-330.

[SirJackdeFuzz]

What can you guys tell me about the Gibson ES-330 ?

Does anyone have one ?
Tested one ?
Know someone who has one ?

Any info very welcome !


Much appreciated.

 

[SirJackdeFuzz]

Re: Talk to me about the Gibson ES-330.

Like a Casino.
Hollow body.
P90 goodness.
Super light for it's size . . . and i WANT ONE !!!

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: Talk to me about the Gibson ES-330.

They are hands down the best Gibson archtops IMHO. Very coarse and aggressive, and somewhat unrefined compared to a 335..and also very comfortable to play, as they weigh pretty much nothing. So much more inherently mean and nasty sounding than a 335; I can't stress that enough. My favorite ones were made in the years of chrome covers, skinny neck widths, and the wide and low frets. Here is my beloved '68. I played probably 80 vintage ones before picking this one out for the gem it is. It's 100 percent original except for the case:

 

[JeffB]

Re: Talk to me about the Gibson ES-330.

Current ones I personally would pass on. Just like a casino, upper fret access sucks.

IABs is a version that has a 335 type neck joint. Muy bueno.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Talk to me about the Gibson ES-330.

There's a definitely a certain charm to them. Two reasons why they're not popular with most players: the hollowbodies feedback easily and P-90's are noisy. For the right situations, they're great. On stage they're not going to ideal for every genre and volume level. I have a Casino and consider it best-suited for blues, classic rock, and jazz at low to moderate volume gigs. When the venue is louder, I'd much rather have a 335 or solid body. As far as upper fret access, they're no worse than LP's, and those are very popular.

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Talk to me about the Gibson ES-330.

Love a good 330!

A player that really wants to can deal with the hollow "issues" and the single coil him but lazy players will name that as the reason not to use them.

Great guits IMO


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[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Talk to me about the Gibson ES-330.

Dead sexy!


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[SirJackdeFuzz]

Re: Talk to me about the Gibson ES-330.

Thank you very much guys . . .


. . . keep 'em coming !

 

[JimInMO]

Re: Talk to me about the Gibson ES-330.

I've owned the ES330 for 2 months. Faded cherry red with the Bigsby. So far no tuning issues at all. Sustains far longer than I'll ever use. The best sounding guitar I own to date. I'll never give up my Tele but for now it's #2. Sorry about that. I guess the Gibson P90's filled the void I've never been able to fill between Fender type single coils and humbucker's. Even my wife says its the best sounding, once she recovered from the sticker shock. Sorry I can't help with the comparison with a non Bigsby equipped 330, Maybe when I win the lottery. Haven't played it with my band yet so can't comment on stage level feed-back. At home through a Blues Deluxe RI, 5E3 deluxe and Super Champ XD I haven't had any feed back except when trying to. Cranked it pretty good too.

Side note. Been using D'Addario strings forever. The 330 came with Gibson Brite Wires. Good strings!. Put some on my dead sounding Sheraton II and brightened it up some.

If you can try before you buy that is good! Need to qualify my gushing by revealing that I bought mine from a web retailer. Had to return the first one. A tone pot was shorting out and the string alignment with the neck was off. 6th string was running perilously close to the edge as it got closer to the body. The replacement is perfect. Hats off to Sweetwater's service and return policy. But yes, the mojo is there. Under-wound P90's rule.

The above paragraphs are my response to question in another forum. That question was concerning the difference between the Bigsby and trapeze tailpiece. Hope it's OK jumping forum's like this. Most of it seems to fit the op's question and I'm too lazy to re-type it.

 

[Boogie Bill]

Re: Talk to me about the Gibson ES-330.

Back in the early '70s I owned an Iced Tea burst ES-330, the long-neck version. Probably of all the guitars I've sold, the one I wish I had back. Beautiful tone. The trapeze though was somewhat of an issue with tuning, and it would feedback. One of these days, I will pursue a P-90 ES.

You might check Music Zoo--I was looking at their site the other day and they had a P-90 version of the ES-335--long neck, center block, stop-tail. Definitely a GAS machine for me.

Tough dilemma--this or the Martin...:smack:

Bill

 

[SirJackdeFuzz]

Re: Talk to me about the Gibson ES-330.

Back in the early '70s I owned an Iced Tea burst ES-330, the long-neck version. Probably of all the guitars I've sold, the one I wish I had back. Beautiful tone. The trapeze though was somewhat of an issue with tuning, and it would feedback. One of these days, I will pursue a P-90 ES.

You might check Music Zoo--I was looking at their site the other day and they had a P-90 version of the ES-335--long neck, center block, stop-tail. Definitely a GAS machine for me.

Tough dilemma--this or the Martin...:smack:

Bill

You're telling me !

Thanks for the Music Zoo heads-up Bill !

 

[ex-250]

Re: Talk to me about the Gibson ES-330.

I want one as well, pretty much completely thanks to this dude-

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: Talk to me about the Gibson ES-330.

i owned a 1966 casino, and a have played a current model 330.
The new ones are different. Thicker tops, chunkier neck profiles.
Both cool guitars, but in all honesty, and mojo aside, i really like the new ones. They are not "better" per se, but the thicker top is a little more feedback resistant and the whole instrument just seems more sturdy and chunky, which i kinda like.

 

[SirJackdeFuzz]

Re: Talk to me about the Gibson ES-330.

i owned a 1966 casino, and a have played a current model 330.
The new ones are different. Thicker tops, chunkier neck profiles.
Both cool guitars, but in all honesty, and mojo aside, i really like the new ones. They are not "better" per se, but the thicker top is a little more feedback resistant and the whole instrument just seems more sturdy and chunky, which i kinda like.

I know what you mean about the neck - just the way i like 'em !