Differences between the Gibson 336 vs. 339?

[procos]

Just what the title says?

Thanks,

Chuck

[jzucker]

plywood on the 339. 336 is carved out similar to a prs hollowbody. 336 is also neck heavy. QC is worse on the 339. I like the 339 better but make sure you have the option to return.

[SuperReverb2]

The 336 is a Gibson Custom Shop guitar. It's slightly smaller than the 339. The 336 has a carved Maple top with Mahogony back and sides. The 339 is laminate construction like the 335. Both guitars come with Gibson Classic 57 humbuckers. Both guitars have a solid Maple block running the center of the body. Touted as the perfect semi-hollow guitar for the solidbody player. I've played both. The 339 is a VERY nice guitar but if you can spring for the extra dollars the 336 really has the tone. There are other slight differences that escape me right now.

[jzucker]

Originally Posted by SuperReverb2

but if you can spring for the extra dollars the 336 really has the tone.

I thought the 339 smoked the 336

[procos]

Thanks alot I respect your opinion on tone.

Originally Posted by SuperReverb2

The 336 is a Gibson Custom Shop guitar. It's slightly smaller than the 339. The 336 has a carved Maple top with Mahogony back and sides. The 339 is laminate construction like the 335. Both guitars come with Gibson Classic 57 humbuckers. Both guitars have a solid Maple block running the center of the body. Touted as the perfect semi-hollow guitar for the solidbody player. I've played both. The 339 is a VERY nice guitar but if you can spring for the extra dollars the 336 really has the tone. There are other slight differences that escape me right now.

[Scott Auld]

Threadmov'd

[surfshack]

sorry if i'm hijacking the thread but, any pickup recommendations for these 339's? i'm looking to replace the pups in my 336, i've got high order humbuckers in there now, but i may want to try something different. the high orders are overwound at 9.5K , they sound alright , but i'm not a big fan of high output pickups. i was thinking maybe some lollar low wind pickups, but i don't know. i've heard that low winds work in a 335 , but i don't know if they'll work as good in a brighter sounding guitar like the 336 or 339. any suggestions?

[TRawker]

Originally Posted by surfshack

sorry if i'm hijacking the thread but, any pickup recommendations for these 339's? i'm looking to replace the pups in my 336, i've got high order humbuckers in there now, but i may want to try something different. the high orders are overwound at 9.5K , they sound alright , but i'm not a big fan of high output pickups. i was thinking maybe some lollar low wind pickups, but i don't know. i've heard that low winds work in a 335 , but i don't know if they'll work as good in a brighter sounding guitar like the 336 or 339. any suggestions?

I doubt you would hate yourself if you threw a set of lollars in that plunk. I'd be interested in hearing a 339 with a set of lollars in it. Great pickups.

[Trebor Renkluaf]

Originally Posted by jzucker

plywood on the 339. 336 is carved out similar to a prs hollowbody. 336 is also neck heavy. QC is worse on the 339. I like the 339 better but make sure you have the option to return.

My 336 is not neck heavy, even though it weighs in at a svelt 6.5 lbs.

[Trebor Renkluaf]

Originally Posted by SuperReverb2

The 336 is a Gibson Custom Shop guitar. It's slightly smaller than the 339. The 336 has a carved Maple top with Mahogony back and sides. The 339 is laminate construction like the 335. Both guitars come with Gibson Classic 57 humbuckers. Both guitars have a solid Maple block running the center of the body. Touted as the perfect semi-hollow guitar for the solidbody player. I've played both. The 339 is a VERY nice guitar but if you can spring for the extra dollars the 336 really has the tone. There are other slight differences that escape me right now.

The sustain block on the 336 is Mahogany, not maple. That's becuase the back and sides are carved from a solid piece of Mahogony.

[Trebor Renkluaf]

I can't comment on the 339 as I haven't played one, but I have owned a 336 since 2003. The tone of the 336 is somewhere between a super reosonant Les Paul and a 335. It's brighter than a 335, not as full or warm, but is super resonant. Mine is super light, weighing in at a svel 6.5 lbs. Sustain is excellent. For me it's more comfortable to play than a 335, but it doesn't have the fullness or warmpth of a 335 either. I can't imagine a 339 with it's smaller body would offer the same full, warm tone as a 335 either.

[surfshack]

Originally Posted by TRawker

I doubt you would hate yourself if you threw a set of lollars in that plunk. I'd be interested in hearing a 339 with a set of lollars in it. Great pickups.

that's what i was thinking. i think i'll give it a try!
i'll post up a review sometime in the future.

[fjs1962]

I've owned a 336, two 356s and three 339s in an effort to come up with 335 tone in a smaller package. While they are great guitars none of them came close to a good 335. Like Trebor said, they just don't have the warmth and fullness of a 335.

The 339s came closer to the 335, they were kind of like taking the 335 tone and shifting the resonant peak up more toward the upper mids.

The 336/356s reminded me of the chambered Les Pauls or something like a Anderson Hollow Cobra or PRS Hollowbody. Kind of like a Les Paul but without the low mid punch of a good Les Paul. More zing in the presence than a Les Paul too.

One other thing, I had trouble getting to the last couple of frets on all of these as the back of my hand would hit the cuttaway. i don't have this problem on a 335.

[SuperReverb2]

Originally Posted by Trebor Renkluaf

The sustain block on the 336 is Mahogany, not maple. That's becuase the back and sides are carved from a solid piece of Mahogony.

Actually we are both right. (just re-read the Gibson page) While the 339 does have a solid Maple block running the length of the body, the 336 has BOTH a solid Maple center and a solid Mahogony center running the length of the body. The carved Maple top is left thicker in the center and the carved Mahogonay body is left thicker in the center so you get the combination of the two tone woods acting as a sustain block.

[Trebor Renkluaf]

Originally Posted by SuperReverb2

Actually we are both right. (just re-read the Gibson page) While the 339 does have a solid Maple block running the length of the body, the 336 has BOTH a solid Maple center and a solid Mahogony center running the length of the body. The carved Maple top is left thicker in the center and the carved Mahogonay body is left thicker in the center so you get the combination of the two tone woods acting as a sustain block.

That would be correct.