I love mine Gibson ES335

[stratzrus]

I've been thinking about going from 10s to 11s too.

I did that about a month ago. My 335 never sounded better.

I've got 11s on my CS Strat so the added string tension shouldn't be a problem.

Here's a shot of mine...

 

[DGTCrazy]

Sorry to barge into the thread.....but if there's a little love for the step-child here, here's my ES-333. I looked high and low for a 335, yet never could quite find one that felt "right" in my hands. To make matters worse......I've lusted after a 335 since I was about 14 years old, when the guitar player in my High School band had a Lyle 335 style, in Red of course.

I attended a local Guitar Show near S.F. last year, and as I was walking by a booth, I saw this 333, picked it up.....and Whammo! I added the pickguard, and some Lollar Imperial Low-winds. So...for under $1400 total....I finally found "it" ...LOL

 

[mad dog]

The more other good guitars I try, the more I appreciate my '66 ES-335. Probably the best set of pickups I've encountered so far, something really special going on there. It's also one of the most "alive" feeling and sounding guitars I've tried. Hard to describe, but pick it up and you know.
MD

 

[Dog Boy]

Got a Shaw era that's got the tone...

Nothing sounds like a good 335

 

[I'm Incinerator]

My number one and only.. (not counting my lap steels) One of the last Nashville A59 Dot Historics...

LOVE IT! I've been wanting a Blonde 335 for a LONG time now. I may have to hunt down a Nashville Historic 59 when the time finally comes! What is the price range on one of these?

 

[Guitar Dave T]

Damn this thread! I'm currently just a few bills short saving toward a truly nice LP style guitar (Edwards LP120), and the 335 bug has hit.

While the high-end Edwards is probably the nicest MIJ LP since the early 80's Tokai's, their 335 knockoff is not really a 335. It's made with a solid maple top and mahogany center block - a completely different vibe, closer to my all-carved CS-336:

At the end of the day, no one, not Epiphone, not anyone, makes a 335 that sounds as good as Gibson, and current pricing indicates Gibson is well aware of this!

Still, once I'm fully funded, if a 50's neck, kluson tuner 335 shows up on the used market for the right price, I'm jumping on it.

 

[bluesjuke]

Hang in there and be patient Dave!
If you don't do it this time you'll end up only doing it later.

 

[Bhodie]

LOVE IT! I've been wanting a Blonde 335 for a LONG time now. I may have to hunt down a Nashville Historic 59 when the time finally comes! What is the price range on one of these?

wow.. not sure.. I bought it new out of the box day 1...

I would have to guess $3,500 - $3,800? I would not sell mine for $5K..

 

[CadillacRed]

Larry Carlton is no fool.

I'm so glad my brother never sold his vintage dot stereo. I used it on some Motown recordings back in the day, and the stereo spread to 2" tape sounds like heaven, and the action is the easiest I've ever played. It's sublime.

 

[MKB]

Sorry to barge into the thread.....but if there's a little love for the step-child here, here's my ES-333. I looked high and low for a 335, yet never could quite find one that felt "right" in my hands. To make matters worse......I've lusted after a 335 since I was about 14 years old, when the guitar player in my High School band had a Lyle 335 style, in Red of course.

I attended a local Guitar Show near S.F. last year, and as I was walking by a booth, I saw this 333, picked it up.....and Whammo! I added the pickguard, and some Lollar Imperial Low-winds. So...for under $1400 total....I finally found "it" ...LOL

Big love for 333's, I had nearly the same experience with nearly the same guitar. Gibson 335's have a certain tone to them, and none of the copies I've played or owned have that exact tone or feel. I bought my 333 blind off ebay, changed the pickups and added a pickguard, and am TOTALLY happy with it. Total ES-3XX bliss after decades of searching. This 333 is better sounding than many 335's I've played, lighter and more resonant. Whenever we hit the studio, my band mates always insist I bring the 333 as it records so well. Our sound guys have all remarked on how good it sounds.

If you have a chance to try out a stock 333, do not judge it too harshly as the stock pickups (490R/498T) are terrible in it. Low wind buckers with nickel covers really make it shine.

 

[I'm Incinerator]

wow.. not sure.. I bought it new out of the box day 1...

I would have to guess $3,500 - $3,800? I would not sell mine for $5K..

That doesn't sound too bad given the used price of an R9, and there are tons of those around! I guess I will have to save up. Might be easier to do when my car is paid off in a few months.

I don't think a 335 would overlap too much with my Gretsch Spectra Sonic Lead with TV Jones Powertrons in it?

I was a HUGE Gibson fan for a while, then got blindsided with the Telecaster and Gretsch fever for years. Now every Gibson I see lately has me lusting big time. R4, R8, Double Cut Jr, J-45 and J-200 True Vintage, and most definitely a blonde ES335 . I am glad I have a great '95 LP studio to help things from getting too bad.

 

[Bhodie]

https://www.thegearpage.net/board/index.php?threads/1027152

Here is a guy selling a Nashville Historic dot 335 in sunburst.. looks like a very fair price...

Don't know him.. happened to see it.. YMMV.. yada yada..

 

[I'm Incinerator]

niiiice! alas do not have the funds right now

 

[bluesjuke]

New was street around $3750.- $3850. pretty recently, MAP is $4850..

Around $3k- $3.2k is average used.

Some ask way more which is getting too close to new and you can find better prices if you look and are patient.

The one Bhodie posted above is a good fair price and the Rolph's worth it too if one chose that option.

 

[Guitar Dave T]

https://www.thegearpage.net/board/index.php?threads/1027152

Here is a guy selling a Nashville Historic dot 335 in sunburst.. looks like a very fair price...

Don't know him.. happened to see it.. YMMV.. yada yada..

Very nice, but way more than I just saw another Nash Historic go for.

 

[auburn-grad]

'06 Memphis Dot Gloss Figured - 60s neck

 

[Randy]

My '87 Custom Shop is my #1. the best guitar I've ever played;

 

[zumaboy]

1988 ES-335 Dot, made in Nashville, white/cream binding/gold hardware/ebony fretboard/Bill Lawrence pickups/neck not as thin as a 60's, not as thick as a 50's. Sweet guitar...

 

[bluesjuke]

Very nice, but way more than I just saw another Nash Historic go for.

Like I said...if you look around.
I've seen them at $2600. used in the past two years but that's not usual & should be jumped on if your in the market and ready.

 

[MichaelSaulnier]

I loved the tone of the ES-335 I had for a few years... but I could never fully bond with the body size and shape. It never felt "right".

I sold the guitar, and never have found that exact tone from any other instrument.

Ironically, of all the guitar models Line 6 has done on their Variax, my personal favorite is the 335 model. It's not "exactly" like the real thing, but it sounds warm and full both clean and driven.

M