but if you can spring for the extra dollars the 336 really has the tone.
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.
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?
My 336 is not neck heavy, even though it weighs in at a svelt 6.5 lbs.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.
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.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.
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.
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.
That would be correct.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.
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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.
A question then as you've been able to play/own both the 339 and the 335. Can you get the same type of tones from the 335 as the 339? I've not had or played a 335 but most folks seem to be trying to find that "335" versatility in a smaller package. I don't care about the smaller package, and I'm wondering if there is "more" so to speak available with the 335...Thanks
In my experience a 335 just has a fatter, warmer tone than a 339 does. The 339s have more upper mid "bite" that take more in the solid body direction tonally. I think the 339s are great guitars that have a good sound of their own, but for someone used to a 335 and looking for that sound they aren't going to satisfy.