The ES-335 brought hollowbody tradition and solidbody performance together in 1958, and is still one of the all-time classic guitar designs. Gibson’s Custom Shop offers this variation on a theme with a plain top and satin lacquer finish.
Body and Hardware
Plain laminated maple top, back, and rims
Width: 16-1/2 in.
Length: 20 in.
Depth: 1-3/4 in.
Single-ply binding on top and back
Nickel hardware
ABR-1 bridge, stopbar tailpiece
Neck & Headstock
1-piece mahogany neck
22 fret rosewood fingerboard
Pearloid dot inlays
1960 slim taper neck profile
24-3/4 in. scale length
1-11/16 in. nut width
Vintage tulip tuners
Electronics and Strings
‘57 Classic humbucking pickups
2 volume, 2 tone, 3-way selector switch
Brite Wire .010 strings
Includes black levant case
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The sound on this guitar is excellent. When I decided I needed a new guitar, I began looking at humbucker Gibsons which could cover a wide variety of classic rock, jazz, blues, latin, and funk. When I narrowed my search, I was playing Les Paul Classics, ES-137 Classics, and ES-335s. I ruled out the Les Paul because I felt that the pickups are too damn hot for anything other than rock, and the solid body doesn't give the same warmth as a semi-hollow. I then ruled out the 137 because Gibson went cheap with the pickups, and because of the fat neck on the 137. After playing the 137 for a couple of months, I felt that it was a rock guitar styled like an archtop. Again, a cool concept, but not what I was looking for.
I settled on the ES-335, and I couldn't be happier. I think it's worth saying that the 335 doesn't sound like a single-coil guitar, but if that's what you're looking for, I wouldn't go with a Gibson to begin with. In my opinion, the 335 can cover more territory, and has a nicer sound, than nearly any other electric. Granted, this is pretty subjective, but if you're looking for a rich, full humbucker sound, with subtlety and warmth that hotter (cheaper) pickups and solid bodies don't provide, I would highly recommend an ES-335.
I'm playing it through various Fender tube amps, including a Fender Blues Junior and a Hot Rod Deluxe. Occasionally, I'll use a Dunlop Crybaby wah, but I rarely use any effects. I really prefer the natural sound of this guitar through a (clean or driven) tube amp over anything else. I usually just set the amp to between 4 and 10, depending on what I'm going for, and control everything with the guitar's volumes, tones, and switch.
I can't say enough about how nice this guitar sounds.
Mine is a 2003 Gibson ES-335 in Vintage Sunburst. The finish is absolutely stunning, and no description or photograph can adequately capture the look of this guitar. Like most Gibsons, it has 2 volumes, 2 tones, and a 3-way. The Mahogany neck is also a definate plus. It has a bound (nice touch) 60's slim-taper neck with a 24 3/4 scale.
The setup was perfectly fine on my 335, but I always change the 10s to 11s, so this required a new setup. Not a big deal.
Haven't had to deal with Gibson
Nick R. (07/14/2003)
I play blues/rock/hard rock but not heavy metal. It has a rich
sound that I like. I often tune it down and play powerchords
with some distorsion on the bridge p/u. It's not very versatile, but
great for blues and rock. The clean tones could be better.
This isn't made for tremendous amounts of distorsion.
If you stay away from the mongo distorsion and if you play jazz/blues/
rock/funk/hard rock I think it's a lovely guitar.
It's a ES-335 Reissue.
I think don't know when it was made, but it's made in the US of course. It has 22 frets. It is fitted with the two original -57 classic humbuckers. It has a maple body and a mahogany slim taper neck. The guitar is black. It has a stop bar and non-locking Grovers.
The frets have an extreme square shape. I think I will replace them
with flatter and wider frets later.
My ES was not set up nicely at the factory. It needed some work.
I moved the neck p/u out a bit. The tone controls were a little loose.
I haven't dealt with the company, but people say they're assholes.
Vic (03/24/2001)
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Featuring an ultra thin, two-horned body, the SG Series addressed two of what Ted McCarty saw as the major issues of the now-retired Les Paul body style: weight and limited access to the upper treble register. The new body shape of the SG Standard was dramatically lighter than the old Les Paul, and offered access to the entire fretboard. Now part of Gibson’s proprietary new Vintage Original Spec series — the next step in their journey toward perfection.
Body & Hardware:
Solid mahogany body
Nickel hardware
ABR-1 bridge, lightweight aluminum stopbar or Maestro tailpiece
Neck & Headstock
1-piece mahogany neck w/ long neck tenon
22-fret rosewood fingerboard
Acrylic trapezoid inlays
Single-ply cream binding
1960 slim taper neck profile
24-3/4 in. scale length, 1-11/16 in. nut width
Holly headstock veneer
Vintage tulip tuners
Electronics & Strings
Burstbucker 1 and 2 humbucking pickups
2 volume, 2 tone, 3-way selector switch
Vintage Reissue .010 strings
Includes Custom Shop case, certificate of authenticity, and custom care kit.
Nice guitar!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I've played this guitar not this one but and actual 1960's sg. Nice really nice. I have and sg but if your going to get an good sg this is the one.!
Gibson rocks from Us texas (Aug 21, 2006)
I play classic rock, blues, and occaisionally some early Brit-metal. It does all of those very well. I would not recommend it for Jazzers or a Beach Boys tribute band! The '57 Classic pups are very ballsy on this guitar. They have more mids than my 490/498's on my SG Standard, and the notes just spring to life. The response is very even across the sound spectrum and the pups repond to every nuance of your playing. The sound is rich, full, and bright!
Made 2001 in Nashville, Tennessee USA
One of 25 in the world….a very limited run!
22 Frets
Volume-Volume-Tone controls
'57 Classic Pickups
One-piece mahogany body, Clapton-cut (like the Explorer Eric played in the early 1970's.
One-piece mahogany neck (except the two extra pieces that make up the headstock.)Rosewood Fretboard
The finish is clear-amber.
Tune-o-matic bridge
Vintage Tuners
'58 neck profile (Think chunky!)
All hardware is gold plated.
Included were the "Custom Art and Historic" case, trussrod adjustment tool, care kit, and Certificate of Authenticity.
The strings that came on the guitar were of some vintage type with which I am unfamiliar. The low E, A, D, were sort of flat wound I guess.
No complaints in this department. Everything was as it should be. No flaws, action was great..in short the guitar is everthing one would expect of a high end instrument.
Gibson answered several questions very quickly via the internet. No complaints here!
Clapton-cut (06/20/2005)
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