ES 339 VS Pimped Elitist 335?

[Carl_Tone]

Interested in some raw gut feelings, as well as data on this topic...

[mainstreetexile]

AFAIK, "elitist" refers to Epiphone guitars. If you're talking about a souped up 335, I have a '92 335 with a bone nut, aluminum tailpiece, RS kit, and Timbuckers. I wouldn't call it "pimped" but it definitely has everything I'd want from an ES, most importantly, it sounds amazing and plays great. For me, I wanted an ES-335, the smaller 339 wouldn't have cut it. If you can live with the fact that it's not a 335, you might like the size of the 339. For me, I wanted the real thing.

[BigPapiFan]

Both guitars have great reputations but I think you'll find that they are going to sound and play different. You are going to have to try both to compare and make your choice. Several years when I was trying and comparing, my top two choices were the CS-336 and the ES-335. Difficult decision but I went with the 336, but the 335 was sweet.

[Mark C]

If you want a 335, the Elitist is a great choice. Mine compares favorably with the 66' 335 I used to have. The 339 seems like a really cool guitar as well, one that would appeal to someone who wants a little more Les Paul in their 335. I haven't changed anything on my Elitist, maybe better pickups would give me a little more vibe, but I honestly feel that it sounds pretty damn good as it is. It is definately better built than the last couple of real 335s I tried at GC.

[Redrum]

+1 on the Elitist 335. They are beautiful instruments and worthy as a serious player. The only thing I've done to mine is have the pups replaced with some Wolfetone Legends, although the stock models sounded fine.

[OM Flyer]

I was about to pull the trigger on an Elitist Valensi Riviera, but couldn't find one. I got the 339 instead, and I'm very happy with it. But I truly believe that the Elitist Epis are every bit as high-quality as what Gibson Memphis is making.

[Degle]

I tried the 339 for a while, but it was too similar to my LP. I'd go with a bigger body; Epi, Gibson or Heritage.

[Jack Dotson]

I like the quality of the Elitist and the feel, but didn't care for the PU's? The PU's in GIbby 335's are much better IMO. I own the 339 and love this guitar, but as some have mentioned, it's a bit different from the 335. Kind of like a LP with the hollow body fullness and growl, if that makes any sense.

If money was no issue I'd take the 339 between these two. A Gibson-335 might be a different story, but I'd really have to think hard about it. The 339 is a beast.

[Carl_Tone]

Jack Zucker's 339 vid on youtube has just about got me sold....

[Jack Dotson]

Jack Zucker's 339 vid on youtube has just about got me sold....

I don't think you will regret it. I've had some really nice LP's, Strat's, etc., you name it, and this is probably the best I've owned.

[jzucker]

They're both great guitars. The size of the 339 is seductive but I dislike the upper fret access compared to the full size 335.

[Redrum]

I've played both 339's and 335's - both sound incredible but we're talking two very different animals here. The 339's are compact and punchy, and like others have mentioned, more on the LP side of the fence tonewise.

335's are just big, badass bruisers dishing-up heaping helpings of high-cholesterol tone!

[jzucker]

FWIW, I don't think the 339 has much Les Paul vibe. It's just a 335-lite. Sometimes a 335 can sound a little tubby and the 339 offers a solution for that problem.

[Carl_Tone]

The first part of Jack's vid is sounding unreal, It's not very day you hear a 335 that gets such a stellar tone, it's a grueling search...



I had a dot reissue from the 90's that was like petrified cardboard.

And I know I'm not the only one.

I have not heard any *major gripe* about the consistency of these 339s...where the tone in concerned. Anyone have one?

A bone nut will be an automatic for me so any little issues like the ones I have heard can get done at the same time.

Bigger neck is also a main factor for me.

I have two similar valley arts guitars and the biigger neck on my strat makes the diff between a good guitar and a great one for me.

And by bigger what i mean is just a little less than a full on 59.

The edwards has been a consideration, but as a VA guy...I'm attracted to the small guitar with the big sound and the resale...etc.

Lookin' to zero in on a new semi in about a week after my es 135 closes on Ebay

[mainstreetexile]

I had a dot reissue from the 90's that was like petrified cardboard.


All the more reason to play a bunch for choosing. My '92 was made in Nashville, not sure if that makes a difference, but it's as resonant and as stable as any ES I've played that's been made in the last 30 years.

[jzucker]

Not all the dot reissues are horrible. I had a good one that I picked out of several the store had. As a side note, I sold my 339 feeling that it didn't quite handle the jazz stuff like my Sadowsky and didn't quite handle the rock stuff like my Les Paul.

[duanesworld]

don't know about the epi, but the 339 I just got sounds better and fuller to me then any of the new 335s I have played.

[Carl_Tone]

I noticed that the Hamer Artist has many of the good qualities of the 339, but without any flabbiness, or what some may call boominess or excess resonance....

Upper fret access not an issue here either.

Also would not be unthinkable to have a midlle P/u on one.

[jzucker]

I'm not sure I agree re: the artist. It's a nice guitar but doesn't have the hollow character of the 339. The best hamer hollow guitar is the newport IMO. Unfortunately, like many of the hamers, it's neck heavy but it has the best and most balanced tone.

[Carl_Tone]

...it is a little neck heavy, but I remedied this by adding a 6oz lead fishing sinker wrapped in electrical tape in the inside of the back control cavity. Its totally hidden, and held in place by a small set screw. It counterbalances the weight of the neck perfectly, and no one would ever know its there. The guitar is still crazy lightweight too.
My newer Hamer Custom Artist is a little heavier so its perfect.

I had a '87 Gibson 335 dot neck reissue that got sold when I bought the Artist...the body is just too damn big and uncomfortable to play. I'm on the short side, and always felt like the guitar was too big for me...not with the Hamers...sound even better than the 335 and feel awesome..
And I'm not just saying that because I'm selling one...I just found a great deal on a Custom and I'm letting the other Artist go.

You can't beat a used Hamer! If someone offered you a custom shop Gibson 335 for $850, you'd buy it right? Grab one before the prices start shooting up.



I have almost enough 'hollow character' from my va strat,

And I wouldn't have the audacity to make the extreme kind of mods I have in mind to the newport or the 339.

A used guit...hum cancelling P90 type in the neck, a stacked SC in the middle, and a split HB in the bridge and tadaaa...the artocaster.

[Carl_Tone]

Here is a 336 that roughly describes what I mean:


http://www.atozclean.com/images/336.jpg