The 339 vs the 335, and Epi vs Gibson
- Thread starter Aceman
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Boogie Bill
New member
Re: The 339 vs the 335, and Epi vs Gibson
I own 11 Les Pauls, three Gibson 335s, a late-70s MIJ Hondo clone and a MIK Ibanez Artstar AS-120. I used to own a vintage long-neck 330.
Random thoughts...
LPs and 335s do sound different. They FEEL different, especially at volume. Which one do I favor? Both...it depends on the band and the song. I am enjoying the 335s with my current band, but I don't think it would have worked well with the hard rock band I had in the '90s. But...BB King, Elvin Bishop, Justin Hayward, Alvin Lee (rip), Chuck Berry et. al., all rock with them.
I like my Artstar way better than the Artcore series. The John Scofield model is top notch. The Yamaha SA-2000/2200 is another wonderful guitar.
I'm a BIG guy, so the 339s look like a toy guitar on me. Call me shallow but looks do matter.
As Larry Carlton once said in a Guitar Player Magazine interview, the clones and copies are good...but a great a 335 is really special. That is so true. Both my Hondo and the Ibanez are great playing and sounding guitars. Were the Gibsons $2000 better? For me, yes. Could I get by with the budget guitars...or an Epi Sheraton. Sure...but I would still yearn for a Gibson.
I REALLY like vintage Epis...like the Sheraton or the Rivieras. Love the mini hums in these. Ah, someday...
The Gibson 330s and Epi Casinos are a totally different sound. Different animals.
Gibson now has a 335 with P-90s. Should be sweet.
One of the six greatest guitar designs: 335, SG, LP, Stratocaster, Tele, and Martin Dreadnought. These are all time-proven, and all of them are very vesatile guitars, crossing over many genres.
Bill
I own 11 Les Pauls, three Gibson 335s, a late-70s MIJ Hondo clone and a MIK Ibanez Artstar AS-120. I used to own a vintage long-neck 330.
Random thoughts...
LPs and 335s do sound different. They FEEL different, especially at volume. Which one do I favor? Both...it depends on the band and the song. I am enjoying the 335s with my current band, but I don't think it would have worked well with the hard rock band I had in the '90s. But...BB King, Elvin Bishop, Justin Hayward, Alvin Lee (rip), Chuck Berry et. al., all rock with them.
I like my Artstar way better than the Artcore series. The John Scofield model is top notch. The Yamaha SA-2000/2200 is another wonderful guitar.
I'm a BIG guy, so the 339s look like a toy guitar on me. Call me shallow but looks do matter.
As Larry Carlton once said in a Guitar Player Magazine interview, the clones and copies are good...but a great a 335 is really special. That is so true. Both my Hondo and the Ibanez are great playing and sounding guitars. Were the Gibsons $2000 better? For me, yes. Could I get by with the budget guitars...or an Epi Sheraton. Sure...but I would still yearn for a Gibson.
I REALLY like vintage Epis...like the Sheraton or the Rivieras. Love the mini hums in these. Ah, someday...
The Gibson 330s and Epi Casinos are a totally different sound. Different animals.
Gibson now has a 335 with P-90s. Should be sweet.
One of the six greatest guitar designs: 335, SG, LP, Stratocaster, Tele, and Martin Dreadnought. These are all time-proven, and all of them are very vesatile guitars, crossing over many genres.
Bill
blueman335
Mojo's Minions
Re: The 339 vs the 335, and Epi vs Gibson
+1. Why didn't manufacturers, Gibson and Epiphon included, have P-90 335's in regular production for the past several decades?
+1. Why didn't manufacturers, Gibson and Epiphon included, have P-90 335's in regular production for the past several decades?
david kornblatt
New member
Re: The 339 vs the 335, and Epi vs Gibson
I look at it this way
a 335 can be Extrodinary regardless of Epiphone or Gibson. That said both companies make garbage from time to time.
The goal of an ES semi is to get close to a neck through guitar without it being so and still resembling a seemi hollow guitar. If you love Les Pauls or whatever get it. I don't like the small semi hollows because if I wanted that id get a Tele thinline when will they bring back Swamp Ash studio Paul?
I look at it this way
a 335 can be Extrodinary regardless of Epiphone or Gibson. That said both companies make garbage from time to time.
The goal of an ES semi is to get close to a neck through guitar without it being so and still resembling a seemi hollow guitar. If you love Les Pauls or whatever get it. I don't like the small semi hollows because if I wanted that id get a Tele thinline when will they bring back Swamp Ash studio Paul?