The Single Most Overrated Guitar of All Time

[TattooedCarrot]

Re: The Single Most Overrated Guitar of All Time

I've had a couple, don't recall feedback being an issue but they are VERY heavy and also very bright/trebly sounding. On one of them I replaced the TP6 with a regular tailpiece and ditched the varitone circuit.

 

[guitfiddle]

Re: The Single Most Overrated Guitar of All Time

Always wanted one of those. I wonder how MUCH the solid top actually reduces feedback vs f holes. Anybody know?

BB King used to set his Fender Twins on 10...8 if it was a "really hot one".

I'd have to say it helps a lot.

 

[iismet]

Re: The Single Most Overrated Guitar of All Time

The 335 was first introduced in 1958. The # 335 was associated with the asking price of $335.00. By no means in 1958 would I consider 335 dollars an entry level guitar. That was about a months salary for a laborer. So going back to your original statement That "Just becasue Black Blues players finanlly wrere able to afford an entry level Gibson Semi Hollow, and made that guitar sound famous, the squadrons of no-nothing guitar dorks like you guys chime in harmony like a bunch of Bullfrogs in the Mud with an adulating chorus; "335!"

This holds no relevant information. The 335 cost $335.00 in 1958! That is anything but entry level. "Black" players usually played Silvertones or Harmony guitars because they could afford them. 335's were made for pros.

According to Gibson Electrics:The Classic Years(An Illustrated History from the Mid-'30s to the Mid-'60s)

http://books.google.com/books?id=rogO4vkRrYcC&q=ES+335#v=snippet&q=ES%20335&f=false

Top of Page 78 - the first production pieces listed for 267.50 for Sunburst and 282.5 for Natural. Gibson did not use price point to name this guitar as it had done so often previously.

That said - your point is very well taken.

 

[Quencho092]

Re: The Single Most Overrated Guitar of All Time

Every solid body guitar ever made is horrendously overrated. You pay for fretwork, the rest of the guitar is changeable, the body is almost insignificant to tone IMO (unless the placebo effect is so strong on you).

Best way to improve tone is to practice and really learn how to play cool stuff, study music seriously, or get a degree. Besides that, an awesome acoustic or semi-hollow with seth lovers, or a full hollow sadowsky are the true champions of tone when the guitar is the only variable being considered. IMO!!!! I only love my strat because the neck i bought for it is AMAZING, the frets are permanent and AMAZING (STAINLESS!), and the body is very moddable and basically indestructable unless im being absolutely retarded (even then the strat can handle getting dropped unlike an LP that is bent headstock, set neck etc.)

This is just one of my 'LEARN HOW TO PLAY' and gear wont be a big deal if the action/intonation/pickups are right. That's why I love this forum, it has helped me get those 3 things right to the point that i love plugging my strat into anything.

 

[King IzzO)))]

Re: The Single Most Overrated Guitar of All Time

I've had a couple, don't recall feedback being an issue but they are VERY heavy and also very bright/trebly sounding. On one of them I replaced the TP6 with a regular tailpiece and ditched the varitone circuit.

Why take off the TP6? I actually thought it was an improvement over the stock tailpiece on my SG.

 

[Bludave]

Re: The Single Most Overrated Guitar of All Time

According to Gibson Electrics:The Classic Years(An Illustrated History from the Mid-'30s to the Mid-'60s)

http://books.google.com/books?id=rogO4vkRrYcC&q=ES+335#v=snippet&q=ES%20335&f=false

Top of Page 78 - the first production pieces listed for 267.50 for Sunburst and 282.5 for Natural. Gibson did not use price point to name this guitar as it had done so often previously.

That said - your point is very well taken.

Interesting.... I was always told that the 335 was associated with its price!

 

[TattooedCarrot]

Re: The Single Most Overrated Guitar of All Time

Why take off the TP6? I actually thought it was an improvement over the stock tailpiece on my SG.

Just didn't care for it, and its heavy on an already very heavy guitar. I basically wanted a 335 black beauty more than a BB spec Lucille.

 

[Zhangliqun]

Re: The Single Most Overrated Guitar of All Time

In honor of this thread, I'm going to play this guitar tonight.

That's a purty 335, Jolly. I have a flamey v-burst 355 but no photos. (I stink with a camera...)

 

[Zhangliqun]

Re: The Single Most Overrated Guitar of All Time

By the way, what's wrong with plywood anyway? If it's a righteous glue joint, it's harder than the rest of the wood. Plywood tops are cheaper not because they don't sound as good but because it's cheaper/less work to glue and bend than to carve out a top like that from a single piece of wood.

 

[astrozombie]

Re: The Single Most Overrated Guitar of All Time

This thread is making me want to take out a 335 on credit.

 

[atreidesheir]

Re: The Single Most Overrated Guitar of All Time

Always wanted one of those. I wonder how MUCH the solid top actually reduces feedback vs f holes. Anybody know?

I have a late 90's Guild Bluesbird (solid mahogany back, sound chambers, and solid maple top) and it does not feedback easily. Feeds back very much like my Les Paul. and it is probably 1lb or 1.5 lighter.

[Zhangliqun said "By the way, what's wrong with plywood anyway? If it's a righteous glue joint, it's harder than the rest of the wood. Plywood tops are cheaper not because they don't sound as good but because it's cheaper/less work to glue and bend than to carve out a top like that from a single piece of wood."]
That is true and solid and plywood should sound much more similar when they are new. The laminations do not improve with age like a solid wood slab will. They may not sound as good over time (depends on the glue and the climate). But at least the middle block should have a positive aging effect.

 

[MetalManiac]

Re: The Single Most Overrated Guitar of All Time

Okay Folks. First off, it was sheepish of me to be so troll-like.I just sometimes find it more amusing to be provocative rather than state things in simple matter -of-fact fashion , or in the form of an honest statement or inquiry. You'd think I'd learn my lesson-people don't appreciate that!
Okay- the 1959 Dot Neck335 is the Grail of Semi-Hollows. It can, and does sound better than any other guitar of its kind, Plywood or no.They wrere made in extremely limited numbers, and so few f them survive in tip top condition.
Be that as it may, from a strictly Luthiary standpoint, the carved top Gibson Semi Hollows ARE better guitars; of that there is not question.
That having been said, For Rock and Blues, the 335 is obviously the King ( slight reference to B.B. lol).
Its properties may allow it to just resonate and feedback right and have a great semi hollow tone that even the higher grade Gibson Semi Hollows will not execute in the same fashion.
Perhaps those higher grade Gibson Semi Hollow guitars are best suited for Jazz? IDK.
Personally, if ( and hopefully "when")I get a Semi Hollow Gibson, it'll be a one piece body solid carved Top, but thats just me.


THE GRAIL-1959 DOT NECK ES-335 (just a replica)

 

[crusty philtrum]

Re: The Single Most Overrated Guitar of All Time

For Rock and Blues, the 335 is obviously the King ( slight reference to B.B. lol).
Its properties may allow it to just resonate and feedback right and have a great semi hollow tone that even the higher grade Gibson Semi Hollows will not execute in the same fashion.

Gawdammit, I wish you'd make up your mind ! I've been to at least five major Melbourne music stores since you started this thread and set fire to several 335s in each one. It took a lot of effort to do it, and a lot more effort to get away without being caught. I did it because of your opinion, and now you've changed your tune. I suppose you think it's funny ??

 

[crusty philtrum]

Re: The Single Most Overrated Guitar of All Time

Every solid body guitar ever made is horrendously overrated.

then your Strat is horrendously overrated too, by your own definition.

 

[Simon_F]

Re: The Single Most Overrated Guitar of All Time

This thread is making me want to take out a 335 on credit.

This thread is making me want to take out a 335 on a dinner date then back to my place for naughty time.

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: The Single Most Overrated Guitar of All Time

...but there are models not that much more expensive that are one solid piece of carved mahogany...in fact, the whole great guitar is one solid piece of wood, and the semi hollow chambers are carved out of that solid block!

Personally, if ( and hopefully "when")I get a Semi Hollow Gibson, it'll be a one piece body solid carved Top, but thats just me.

I won't get into the bulk of this thread but reading it from start to finish forces me to ask one thing...

What guitar(s) are you referring to in these posts?


I assume the CS-336 but I want ot make sure...

 

[hareek]

Re: The Single Most Overrated Guitar of All Time

Okay Folks. First off, it was sheepish of me to be so troll-like.I just sometimes find it more amusing to be provocative rather than state things in simple matter -of-fact fashion , or in the form of an honest statement or inquiry.

ok so you WERE being serious with this thread! Good I was starting to feel bad about my response. I was like "Man I really let him have it and he was only joking around to get everyone roweled up, me included."

My roweled-ness is now justified.

 

[iismet]

Re: The Single Most Overrated Guitar of All Time

What guitar(s) are you referring to in these posts?


I assume the CS-336 but I want ot make sure...

:dot:

 

[blueman335]

Re: The Single Most Overrated Guitar of All Time

This thread is making me want to take out a 335 on a dinner date then back to my place for naughty time.

Simon, you're spending entirely too much time alone. :14:

 

[J E C]

Re: The Single Most Overrated Guitar of All Time

A lot people have played a 335. Alex Lifeson, and Eddy VanHalen are just two rockers off the top of my head. Hell it would be cool to put a Rose in one...