Share Your ES335

[Varitone]

Lots of beautiful guitars in this thread! I have always liked the way 335s sound and hang when playing. I have had a few come and go over the years.
Right now I have the 2 below. The cherry burst is an 84 that I got in 85. The blonde is a 2016 58RI. Neither is going anywhere anytime soon.

Nice! Does either one of these appeal to you more?

 

[jb_abides]

63 Block, Memphis 2015

 

[Mwoodbro]

Nice! Does either one of these appeal to you more?

I have only had the 58ri for about a week and have had the 84 for almost 40 years so it is tough to do a fair comparison now.

However my Initial impressions:
Feel wise, the 58ri is lighter (I think low 8lbs vs high 8lbs) and I prefer the size and shape of the neck of the 58ri. I feel like I have bonded with it immediately. I took it to band practice this week and it sounded great in the mix. I plan to take it to a gig (outdoor party) this weekend.
That said, the 84 has a thick, yet articulate and even tone. I have done many gigs with it over the years. It plays great and is super stable; hasn't needed any adjustment in decades.

They each seem to have something different to offer and are cool in their own way.

 

[Keefoman]

63 Block, Memphis 2015

View attachment 19683

Gorgeous!

 

[goldtop0]

I have only had the 58ri for about a week and have had the 84 for almost 40 years so it is tough to do a fair comparison now.

However my Initial impressions:
Feel wise, the 58ri is lighter (I think low 8lbs vs high 8lbs) and I prefer the size and shape of the neck of the 58ri. I feel like I have bonded with it immediately. I took it to band practice this week and it sounded great in the mix. I plan to take it to a gig (outdoor party) this weekend.
That said, the 84 has a thick, yet articulate and even tone. I have done many gigs with it over the years. It plays great and is super stable; hasn't needed any adjustment in decades.

They each seem to have something different to offer and are cool in their own way.

That cherry paint job on the '84 is unique, never seen that before on a 335.
Interesting that you say it's closer to 9lbs, both of mine are the same, and compared to CS LPs that's somewhat abnormal I think whereas a lot of 335s are late 7lbs to early 8lbs usually so I've seen over the years.
Have you got any other pics of that one.

 

[Mwoodbro]

That cherry paint job on the '84 is unique, never seen that before on a 335.
Interesting that you say it's closer to 9lbs, both of mine are the same, and compared to CS LPs that's somewhat abnormal I think whereas a lot of 335s are late 7lbs to early 8lbs usually so I've seen over the years.
Have you got any other pics of that one.

I have seen 1 or 2 other cherry burst 335s over the years (listings, not in person) and I believe they were also from 1984.
I'm don't think I have any other pics (I can check later but they would not be on this computer) but if there is something specific you want to see I would be glad to take more.

 

[glenngross]

 

[goldtop0]

I have seen 1 or 2 other cherry burst 335s over the years (listings, not in person) and I believe they were also from 1984.
I'm don't think I have any other pics (I can check later but they would not be on this computer) but if there is something specific you want to see I would be glad to take more.

I'm interested from the point of view of a different pic angle tends to throw a different colouring and nuance to the top.
If you do take any more pics at some stage it'd be great to see them.

 

[Phil 52]

Gorgeus!

+ 1

 

[Mwoodbro]

I'm interested from the point of view of a different pic angle tends to throw a different colouring and nuance to the top.
If you do take any more pics at some stage it'd be great to see them.

@goldtop0 - as requested, here are a few more body shots ('84 ES-335) in with slightly different lighting/angles.

 

[goldtop0]

Cheers for those Mw. And yes the woodgrain and depth of colour appear more. I like that, different to the usual brown shadings.
That's why I got my recent M2M done with a pronounced burgundy finish, as with yours, it adds a warmth to the look

 

[Red Rogue]

'16 Gibson ES335 1958 Reissue and '04 Heritage 535

 

[Keefoman]

'16 Gibson ES335 1958 Reissue and '04 Heritage 535
View attachment 19825

Yes! Very cool picture!

 

[zak9990]

Got 3 Gibson ES Guitars now .... 67 ES 355, 68 ES 335, 73 ES 335........ the 68 is beautiful all original , the 73 is too except for a re fret.
The 355 came kinda cheap because somebody swapped out the pickups (w/ Dimarzio's) and tuners... it has a few issues that need attention. I had a nice set of matching early 70's Gibson pick ups i put in. There was some redneckery going on with the bridge as well. I got a tone pro's locking bridge but the threaded posts sit too low so you can't tighten the set screws into anything to lock it up! Never expected that problem. I also am not a fan of the diarrhea walnut color....

 

[jb_abides]

Dustin Wainscott from Gibson Memphis discusses ES back in 2018.

A bit dated with citing Memphis tone circuit and MHS, and some common (to me) knowledge, yet also new and interesting tidbits that are not widespread information e.g. routed blocks. It's not like Gibson unlearned this stuff.

FYI: Dustin moved to Nashville, got ES production renewed, and now leads the Made-to-Measure (M2M) program... which he mentions.

 

[goldtop0]

Thanks jb, this was a real eye opener and very well done by Mitch and Dustin. Love this stuff.
Weight relieved centre block and also a 'baked' one, didn't know about those, plus Dustin might have worked on my recent M2M 335, what's not to like.
Talking about 330s also which is next on my list and might be my last CS guitar in future.

 

[jb_abides]

Thanks jb, this was a real eye opener and very well done by Mitch and Dustin. Love this stuff.
Weight relieved centre block and also a 'baked' one, didn't know about those, plus Dustin might have worked on my recent M2M 335, what's not to like.
Talking about 330s also which is next on my list and might be my last CS guitar in future.

Don't overlook the Memphis 330, they are stellar. Mike Voltz and company were firing on all cylinders, I think it's just stupid luck for them that HJ took things Tango Uniform and messed up their roll.

That said, the updated Nashville ES line is great, building upon Memphis even though Mike went to Acoustic then retired.

And I do have to admit, my CS 64 335 is a step above.

 

[goldtop0]

Don't overlook the Memphis 330, they are stellar. Mike Voltz and company were firing on all cylinders, I think it's just stupid luck for them that HJ took things Tango Uniform and messed up their roll.

That said, the updated Nashville ES line is great, building upon Memphis even though Mike went to Acoustic then retired.

And I do have to admit, my CS 63 335 is a step above.

Well I've been hunting around for the last few months and as I've said in other threads haven't come up with a Memphis or older 330 with a reasonably 'fat' neck as yet, so it goes.
Hopefully CS will start production of these again in future and I'll be in boots and all for one at that stage.

 

[jb_abides]

Well I've been hunting around for the last few months and as I've said in other threads haven't come up with a Memphis or older 330 with a reasonably 'fat' neck as yet, so it goes.
Hopefully CS will start production of these again in future and I'll be in boots and all for one at that stage.

Ah, yeah, I forgot. If you are looking for chunky, then M2M is your best bet, although the wait may coincide with a production run who knows? Best to get in line with M2M I'm guessing.

 

[goldtop0]

Ah, yeah, I forgot. If you are looking for chunky, then M2M is your best bet, although the wait may coincide with a production run who knows? Best to get in line with M2M I'm guessing.

As you know they're flooded to bursting at CS right now and 330s are off the list until the backlog is manageable, could take years, we'll see.