Gibson CS-356 showed up today!

[fjs1962]

I've been wanting one of these for a while and finally pulled the trigger. It looks so beautiful I just had to share This one is finished in custom color honeyburst. Tonally it falls somewhere between a 335 and Les Paul with a little archtop woodiness mixed in. I've got a feeling it's going to be a keeper!

 

[esoteric pete]

that is georgous. shame on you for buying a new gibby

 

[matte]

Originally posted by fjs1962
I've been wanting one of these for a while and finally pulled the trigger. It looks so beautiful I just had to share This one is finished in custom color honeyburst. Tonally it falls somewhere between a 335 and Les Paul with a little archtop woodiness mixed in. I've got a feeling it's going to be a keeper!

My fave new Gibson guitars since the L5S. Beautiful!

 

[mainsale]

I agree....great color!

 

[boog204]

totally dig those... nice score.

 

[A440]

great axe. I have one in Faded Cherry

 

[fjs1962]

Originally posted by A440
great axe. I have one in Aged Cherry

How do you like the neck on yours? Thats the only thing that is a little worrysome for me right now. I'm used to Suhr Big Vs and PRS wide/fats, and this neck is more of a slim C shape. Not super slim, probably medium in size, but the back carve is a lot flatter than my other guitars.

Still, the looks and sound of this thing might make it worth the adjustment. It really sounds sweet!

 

[r9player]

That's gorgeous awesome top!

 

[A440]

Originally posted by fjs1962
How do you like the neck on yours? Thats the only thing that is a little worrysome for me right now. I'm used to Suhr Big Vs and PRS wide/fats, and this neck is more of a slim C shape. Not super slim, probably medium in size, but the back carve is a lot flatter than my other guitars.

Still, the looks and sound of this thing might make it worth the adjustment. It really sounds sweet!

yeah, I like PRS WF's too. I compared directly to a std 335 (very skinny neck) and also a Historic 335 before I decided on it. Specs say neck is 60's slim, but mine is on the fatter side. IMO, more like some of the 50's necks I've tried on some LP's (not as fat as an R7). They are hand finished, so they do vary a bit. I'm not crazy about the stock pickups. Am thinking Seth's or Antiquities.

 

[fjs1962]

Originally posted by A440
yeah, I like PRS WF's too. Specs say neck is 60's slim, but mine is on the fatter side. IMO, more like some of the 50's necks I've tried on some LP's (not as fat as an R7). They are hand finished, so they do vary a bit. I'm not crazy about the stock pickups. Am thinking Seth's or Antiquities.

The neck on mine is thicker than, say, a LP Classic or 61RI SG. You're right, it's probably closer to one of the 50's neck LP Standard necks. I tried one of the ones with the 50's neck first but sent it back as it was too big. I have a R7 with a neck on the slim side (for a R7) and the 50's neck 356 I tried was bigger than that! This one with the regular 60s neck is much easier to play. It seems like if I play it for 30 minutes or so I don't notice the difference until I go back to one of my other guitars.

So far I'm OK with the 57 Classics. They have a certain sound that I like, although I did change the ones that came in my R7 for Burstbuckers. I would like to hear the 356 with either the Duncans you suggested or even with some Fralins, but it sure would be a pain to swap pickups in the 356.

 

[TNJ]

I have a CS336, in 3 tone burst, with the 50's fatter neck and loaded with Duncan Seth Lovers. Eye and Ear candy!
Great guitar!
S.
j

 

[Dave Orban]

Sweet guitars, guys...!

 

[Den]

Wow ... that's beautiful! I almost pulled the trigger on an almost identical 356, but instead went with its cousin ... a Johnny A. That 356 sure would look good along side my Johnny A and Suhr:

 

[fjs1962]

Originally posted by Den
Wow ... that's beautiful! I almost pulled the trigger on an almost identical 356, but instead went with its cousin ... a Johnny A.

How is the neck on the Johnny A compared to a 336/356 neck? What do you think of the 25.5 scale on a guitar like that?

 

[Den]

Originally posted by fjs1962
How is the neck on the Johnny A compared to a 336/356 neck? What do you think of the 25.5 scale on a guitar like that?

The neck on the Johnny A is, for me, the most comfortable neck I've ever played. It's got a more substantial feel than 336/ 356 necks I've tried, although I do remember a 336 with a heavier neck I liked a lot. I like this neck so much that I'm thinking of having John Suhr copy it for me on another guitar. (The neck on my Suhr is his 60's C medium, which I also love a lot, but the JA is a just a bit more comfortable.)

The scale length for me was the most important thing. As a strat player for so many years, I could never bond with most Gibsons I tried. It wasn't necessarily the feel, but the clarity of the notes. To my simple mind and ears, it's easy to add distortion or OD and "muddy" up your tone a bit, but I really love to hear the clarity that comes with the longer scale length.

I had dreamed of a guitar that would give me great Gibson tones from a 335 vibe to something LP'ish, but with clean tones that gave me what I love from my strats ... the Johnny A has given me all of that and more. It's hard to believe how easily it goes from fat jazzy stuff to fat hollowbody stuff to screaming rock. Of course it's lightweight and I think it's really beautiful. I've never had so many people comment on the beauty of a guitar before this. It really is the perfect compliment to my Suhr.

 

[Timster]

Here's my cs336. Great sounding guitar, especially with some darkburst pickups.

 

[Den]

That's beautiful, Timster!

 

[fjs1962]

Well it looks like I'm going to send my 356 back. Shame too, because it sounds and looks great. I just can't play the slim neck without my hand cramping up. If anyone likes slim necks and wants a killer 356 it will be back at Wildwood in a couple of days.

 

[TNJ]

Originally posted by Timster
Here's my cs336. Great sounding guitar, especially with some darkburst pickups.

Sweet! My CS336 looks just like that.
Yours is 3 tone burst, right?
What a nice guit!
S.
j

 

[Timster]

Originally posted by TNJ
Sweet! My CS336 looks just like that.
Yours is 3 tone burst, right?
What a nice guit!
S.
j

Don't know if it's 3 tone or not. All I know is it's a vintage sunburst.

great axe!