The ES-335/336/345/345/347/355/Dot/Dot Studio/Lucille

[BLACKCAT69]

How about a Epi Casino with p-90's?

[Dan R]

Hey PK, that's a beautiful CS-336. Is that finish tangerine burst? I played a 336 one time in a store a few years ago. It was a very fine guitar. I ended up with a Heritage Prospect because it was about $1000.00 less. I liked the Heritage and it fit my budget. I'll say one thing, ES-335's and CS-336's seem to hold their value quite well. A good investment, I'd say. The reason I like 335 type guitars so much is because they are so versatile. Also, they have an "open" sounding quality. It seems that semi-hollow body guitars have more dynamic range than typical solid bodies. That can be used to great effect to add some flavor to your sound.

Dan R

[gottabeash]

i absolutely love my 72 es 335. its cherry with block inlays, and a nice flamey back. someone put a stop tail and a brass nut on it. i guess guys that buy les pauls have never played an es 335!

s.

[PK]

Originally Posted by Dan R

Hey PK, that's a beautiful CS-336. Is that finish tangerine burst? I played a 336 one time in a store a few years ago. It was a very fine guitar. I ended up with a Heritage Prospect because it was about $1000.00 less. I liked the Heritage and it fit my budget. I'll say one thing, ES-335's and CS-336's seem to hold their value quite well. A good investment, I'd say. The reason I like 335 type guitars so much is because they are so versatile. Also, they have an "open" sounding quality. It seems that semi-hollow body guitars have more dynamic range than typical solid bodies. That can be used to great effect to add some flavor to your sound.

Dan R

Thanks, yes it's the Tangerine Burst (figured top). I had to do some Horse trading to justify the cost . BTW, my Tele is the perfect "other" guitar. I'd say the 336 gets playing time about 3 to 1, but whenever I play the Tele (at least twice a week) it somehow makes me a better player.

PK

[J. Hayes]

the Gibson Trini Lopez model. The "Trini" came in two versions. One was a thicker archtop with two pointed cutaways like the Barney Kessel guitar and one with a body that was the exact dimensions of the 335. These were very unique in the fact that they had a 6 in line headstock w/Kluson tuners and the sound holes were an elongated diamond shape. They had the diamond shape inlays on the fretboard like some Gibson acoustics have also. The standard color was mostly cherry red. I bought one from the Guitar Center in Hollywood around '69 or so if I remember right. I'd went there with the proceeds from a tax refund looking for a cherry red 335 but there weren't any in stock. I was going to leave but the saleman said he had a guitar I should look at and he'd give me a great deal as it'd been in the store over a year. At that time I think the Trini was a good deal more than the 335 and basically the same guitar with a different shaped headstock. I walked out of the store with the guitar and used it for many years until I sold it a few years ago to get the cash to re-aquire an old Tele I'd owned. I miss the Trini but I like the Tele better so that's OK I guess. Currently for that style of guitar I have an Epiphone Sheraton, sunburst version that I like a lot. I prefer very low action and the Epi will handle it..........JH in Va.

[zombywoof]

Originally Posted by TheGoodTexan

And I've never really noticed much of a "snobbery" among ES-owners.....as far as Epiphones versus Gibsons. Sure, the Gibsons are generally better over quality, but that doesn't mean that there aren't some really great Epiphones out there too.

Actually I know some folks who own New York made Epis who would say it is the other way around - that they do not snub the lesser Gibsons.

There is little doubt that those NY made Epi's gave Gibson a run for their money. I recently got to play a 1948 Zephyr Emperor Regent. Big jazz box with vine inlay on headstock and V inlay onboard. Absolutely mint condition. Had a Joe Maphis typle Bigsby installed. Absolutely flawless construction and a beautiful sounding guitar although not much use for blues or rock. Its history is also well known - was purchased new for use in a country swing band. The guy who owns it now got it from the son of the original owner (who is like 70 now) who also supplied some old newspaper photographs of the band as well as the original tail piece.

[RnB]

I've got an '85 Dot neck reissue that I paid $1200 for about 12 years ago at Gryphon. For a long time, I always thought it sounded real muddy, but I held onto it. Then, finally a few years ago, I brought it in to see why it didn't have that 335 sparkle to it. I always thought it was the pickups. They are Shaws, standard for that era.

As it turned out, the vol & tone pots were 100k & 300k pots. I changed them out, to the correct 500k CTS's, put some lighter Vintage style tuners & a long pkgd on it, replaced the Nashville TOM w/ an ABR-1, and popped on a lightweight TP...What a difference! At just over 8 lbs, it sounds great, plays easily, has killer finish w/ perfect neck shape (for me), & it's still in great condition. It wasn't the pups at all! The upgrades totally turned it around & improved its' sound & appearance. I would not sell it for anything...




Check out these new kids on the block:
http://www.gibsoncustom.com/flash/pr...td/355ltd.html
http://www.gibsoncustom.com/inspired...rbison335.html

~ RB

[Heather Anne Peel]

Wow, some really nice examples here! When I get off my lazy you know what I'll take some pics of mine. I really dig my Epis, they were both well made, and they play and sound great. After my Dan Armstrong and Teles, these are my next fave types of guitars, followed equally by SGs and Strats. I like pretty traditional guitars, for the most part. The 335 style is a classic!
Heather

[jonzer]

My Epi Dot has been hanging out in the basement studio which belongs to my drummer (or former drummer..not real sure yet). I hadn't played her in a while. I crashed at his house after a party the other night and I took the Dot back home. Man, I missed her. She needs a restringing bad.

I have a DRRI and once played a Gibson 335 through the same amp at GC. I thought it sounded so much better than my Epi. When I got home I plugged in my Epi and realized it was almost the same. I said "almost".

I just need to become more comfortable with the semi hollow design while on stage. I'm so used to my tele which is my main guitar. But talk about the perfect duo....a tele and a 335. That's covering most of the bases.

[Fatmanstratman]

Originally Posted by J. Hayes

A forgotten version of a 335 style guitar was (is)..... the Gibson Trini Lopez model.

A great looking guitar, but very hard to find these days.

The Trini Lopez model is currently the main squeeze of Noel Gallagher of Oasis - one of MY guitar heroes!

[Fatmanstratman]

Fantastic guitars. If I didn't love the Telecaster so much, the 335-style guitar would definitely be my first choice.

Here's my Gibson 335 - so versatile, and so easy to play. I love it.....



And here's my Epiphone Sheraton - this was my first semi-acoustic, and still sounds incredible. I don't play it very often (in fact, it sits in the corner of my office, and only tends to get picked up when one of my guitar playing buddies calls round for a coffee and some guitar talk). But I still love it. Doesn't QUITE have the feel and sound of the "real deal" Gibson, but if you wanted a top-class 335-style, and couldn't afford a Gibson, you would have to go a long way to beat this for quality and bang-for-buck.....

[reverbbb]

Well, since we are showing pix of our ES guitars, I cannot resist showing mine that I posted over in Gibson-Talk:





This is among the last 5 they made in this color. This color can only be ordered as a Custom Shop version now, which means mucho big money.

[Heather Anne Peel]

I will add this: last year, when I bought my cherry red Dot, I A/B'ed it against a $2,300 cherry Gibson ES-335. Yes, there were definite sonic differences, but the guitars felt remarkably similar. My Epi was around $450 or so. An even bigger bargain is my black Dot Studio, which I picked up in 2004 for around $300 new! It's a really great 335 type guitar, as well. Epiphone is doing a great job making classic guitar designs that are affordable for the working musician. And I am not bothered by Epiphone or Squier on my headstocks, either. I have guitars in my collection by both, and they are really great.
Heather

[Jonathan]

Here is mine. :D

I must say I have not played any Gibsons. But its one of my nicest playing guitars. Mst have gotten a good piece. :)

[charlie chitlin]

If I had some money to invest, I'd be stocking up on orange label 335's all day at $3500-$4000.
Compare that price to the same vintage Strat!
When the style changes, those 335's will be worth big coin.
Well...that's my hare-brained prediction, anyway.

[Tdot]

Originally Posted by Jonathan

I must say I have not played any Gibsons. But its one of my nicest playing guitars. Mst have gotten a good piece. :)

Me too There isn't anything to complain about on this bargain level hollowbody.

[Mike Simpson]

I have a 1962 ES-335 sunburst (dk tobacco) with original bigsby (no stop tail holes were ever drilled)

Here is a pic of it from the MBBF 2002

[David Barnett]

Originally Posted by Big Mike Simpson

I have a 1962 ES-335 sunburst (dk tobacco) with original bigsby (no stop tail holes were ever drilled)

Here is a pic of it from the MBBF 2002

Jeez, that thing looks like a ukulele on you!

[Cassady]

I recently finished upgrading my Sheraton II to all chrome hardware with High Order pickups and am really thrilled with it. I finally took a picture of it with a digital camera, so here goes:




Cassady

[fingers23]

Aaaarrrrggghhhhhhh.........nnnoooooooooo!!!!!!!!!! !!

I joined up here because my next project is to have a Keef style Tele, which will be completed soon...........................

But I found this thread only talking about my most wanted, the lovely, beautiful 335. I did not realise that the Epi versions were so well thought of.............so I have surfed and they seem to be crackin' bargains.............. just gotta get one. But which one, can any explain the differences between a 335 Dot, 335 Studio, Sheraton or even a Casino which is fitted with P90's:)

Looks like I'm going to be poor, for a while again.........thanks Guys and Heather