Why I always mod! ES-335 content

[Drewski]

So last month I bought a beautiful all stock 85 ES335. Original 300K volume and 100K tone pots, original Nashville bridge. I played it for a week before deciding I wanted to hear the Shaws with some decent pots and caps. I also didnt like how the Nashvile was riding with the studs way backed out of the anchors. Not to mention the tailpiece had about 1/16th of an inch slop in its studs.

Callaham abr1 and faber tonelock lightweight tailpiece to remedy the hardware. Cts 500k linear volumes and 500k audio tone pots along with nos vitamin q's .015 bridge, .022 neck. Switchcraft jack and switch rounded out the harness.

I almost ordered 300k pots for the bridge pickup, because it was VERY thin. Pulling the harness revealed a volume pot that measure 210k, thatll do it! I was shocked at how much meatier the bridge pickup sounded with 500k pots. Not brighter at all, but WAY more balls to it than it had before. The brittleness is gone, and its really a nice bridge humbucker now. The neck is maybe the best sounding humbucker Ive ever heard. Just perfection to my ears. So happy I made the change.

I played the guitar for another three days before getting after the hardware. The Callaham bridge is a piece of art! Realy nice bridge. The stock anchors popped right out for me with a shoelace under the studs. The new one-piece studs from Callaham went in great, with a slight pop from a rubber mallet on the included plastic bushing. Acoustically the guitar came alive. It had a disconnected sound acoustically before the change, sort of a plinky, distant sound. That has been replaced with a bright, resonant, presence that rings with harmonic overtones and sustains as well as Ill ever need.

The Faber tone-lock aluminum tailpiece will get here today. Ill update this post after a couple days.

I dont regret modding a stock instrument at all. It went from a 6.5/7 to a solid 9/9.5.

Here she is before the mods.

[Baxtercat]

Great description of what sounds like great fixes.

[Carl_Tone]

Yeah, I'm right with ya man!


Push pull Coil tapped BK stormy mondays with the maple wood pup rings were also done on mine.

Callaham bridge is sweet.

I also hear the Faber one is nice and a different flavor.

[Drewski]

Yeah, I dont see these Shaws going anywhere..... Theyre as great as advertised.