Gibson ES-355

[Woodinblack]

haha - I looked for a video to post my semi acoustic (which is more like a gretch than a gibson), and found this video. Almost the same guitar but mine doesn't wobble like this!

 

[casapete]

Keith has been using 355's for a while now, if its' good enough for him etc...🙂

 

Edited August 6, 2018 by casapete

[JimBobTTD]

Dear Keith,

I hope you are well. I’m fine. 

Can I please have your guitar?

Yours sincerely,

JimBobTTD

[AndyTravis]

just saying - this has cropped up at a mega reasonable price.

it’d be mine, but a bit too much buying and not enough selling this month for me means I’ve had to get frustrated instead of buying...

[Nicko]

After suffering GAS for some time over a semi acoustic I ended up with an epiphone 339 which is a small body version of the 335.  Had it for a year or so now and its great.  It really does sond different from a  solid body.  I'd struggle to justify spending the money on a gibbo.

[ezbass]

28 minutes ago, Nicko said:

After suffering GAS for some time over a semi acoustic I ended up with an epiphone 339 which is a small body version of the 335.  Had it for a year or so now and its great.  It really does sond different from a  solid body.  I'd struggle to justify spending the money on a gibbo.

Good shout. The Epi version gives you coil tapping, which the Gib does not. I’ve just bought an Epi Casino Coupe (339 sized Casino) and couldn’t be happier.

[AntLockyer]

The best guitar I've ever played was a mid 60s 335. It is so good that I'd be tempted to put it into a different category from any other guitar. It was the proof I needed that god existed etc.

The owner (my father in law) keeps on telling me I can buy it from him. Unfortunately without selling my house I can't.

Edited September 25, 2018 by AntLockyer
335 not 355

[casapete]

1 hour ago, Nicko said:

After suffering GAS for some time over a semi acoustic I ended up with an epiphone 339 which is a small body version of the 335.  Had it for a year or so now and its great.  It really does sond different from a  solid body.  I'd struggle to justify spending the money on a gibbo.

Seen a few of these up for sale around £250 s/h, and must admit they do look great. Love the aged cherry finish, bit see through kind of thing. What’s the neck profile like? I’m really looking for the biggest neck I can find, and most of the 335 reissues seem to have slim 60’s style jobs.

[Woodinblack]

I played a mid 60s 335 in london about 10 years ago. It was rather nice. It wasn't crazy money (less than 2k), I could have bought it (and it was a YOB - 65). But I couldn't justify it. Kind of regretted that

[leftybassman392]

2 hours ago, AntLockyer said:

It was the proof I needed that god existed etc.

Oi! There's a thread for that kind of thing.

 

[leftybassman392]

Had a try out on a 339 a few years ago in a shop in Exeter (Mansons?). Lovely instrument; all the best bits of a 335 in a compact body.

Edited September 25, 2018 by leftybassman392

[casapete]

12 minutes ago, leftybassman392 said:

Had a try out on a 339 a few years ago in a shop in Exeter (Mansons?). Lovely instrument; all the best bits of a 335 in a compact body.

Having had GAS for a 335 for many years now, I worry that if I got the 339 I’d always be thinking despite them being great guitars that it was a second choice thing. Will just have to keep looking I guess. There’s a fat neck cherry 335 59 reissue on Reverb at the moment, on sale at a Southampton music shop. Right model, but the cherry just seems a bit bright and untransparent, and for £3k I want it to be spot on.

 

[JimBobTTD]

I’m still super keen on an ebony ES-355. Gibson. With an ebony fingerboard. 

I don’t care that it costs £2k more than an ES-335 and £3,500 more than an Epiphone. It is not going to happen for years. 

[leftybassman392]

24 minutes ago, casapete said:

Having had GAS for a 335 for many years now, I worry that if I got the 339 I’d always be thinking despite them being great guitars that it was a second choice thing. Will just have to keep looking I guess. There’s a fat neck cherry 335 59 reissue on Reverb at the moment, on sale at a Southampton music shop. Right model, but the cherry just seems a bit bright and untransparent, and for £3k I want it to be spot on.

 

I have a cherry 335 dot '84 and it's a fabulous instrument.I bought it from Blues guitarist Michael Roach around 10 years ago for £1000. Now beginning to look a bit of a bargain.

It's an incredibly versatile guitar too; I've used it for Blues, Jazz and a bit of lightweight Rock too. Can't imagine ever wanting to sell it.

[casapete]

1 hour ago, leftybassman392 said:

I have a cherry 335 dot '84 and it's a fabulous instrument.I bought it from Blues guitarist Michael Roach around 10 years ago for £1000. Now beginning to look a bit of a bargain.

It's an incredibly versatile guitar too; I've used it for Blues, Jazz and a bit of lightweight Rock too. Can't imagine ever wanting to sell it.

Sounds ace. Those early dot reissues are getting quite desirable, think they’re the ones with the Tim Shaw pickups? What’s the neck profile like? Someone I know has a natural one from that era and he loves it.

[Woodinblack]

1 hour ago, casapete said:

Having had GAS for a 335 for many years now, I worry that if I got the 339 I’d always be thinking despite them being great guitars that it was a second choice thing. 

 

I would advise you to play both, I wanted a 335 (actually wanted a 345) since I was 16 and was a little disappointed when I first played one as it was actually quite late. The 339 on the other hand was everything the 335 wasn't.

[leftybassman392]

1 hour ago, casapete said:

Sounds ace. Those early dot reissues are getting quite desirable, think they’re the ones with the Tim Shaw pickups? What’s the neck profile like? Someone I know has a natural one from that era and he loves it.

Very slim. I don't have any numbers to hand but it's very slick. It was actually used as a template for the neck on my Rob Williams custom Tele (featured in the guitar porn section I believe). The tele has a slightly bigger fretboard radius, but apart from that it's very similar.

Not sure about the pickups but I'll have a dig around.

Update: looks like you're right about the pickups. Good spot.

Edited September 25, 2018 by leftybassman392

[casapete]

11 hours ago, Woodinblack said:

I would advise you to play both, I wanted a 335 (actually wanted a 345) since I was 16 and was a little disappointed when I first played one as it was actually quite late. The 339 on the other hand was everything the 335 wasn't.

I had a mid 60s sunburst 335 a few years ago and loved it apart from the neck profile, which although wasn’t particularly small was just not big enough for me. Of course I sold it at a time when 335s weren’t particularly in demand too 😕

There was a 339 recently on eBay which I should have pursued by the sound of it - aged cherry and a 50s profile neck which would probably have been ideal for me then. Think the early 339s had the option of the 50s or slimmer 60s necks, with the latter being more popular, and ending up the standard one for later models?

[skidder652003]

Im picking this up tomorrow! Well excited! 

'76 Electra Elvin Bishop with Bareknuckle PG Blues Pickups £500

[RobF]

Looking for copies ? The Yamaha SA2200 is superb, at much less money.

[Al Krow]

On 26/12/2018 at 10:59, RobF said:

Looking for copies ? The Yamaha SA2200 is superb, at much less money.

I'm guessing that these will be a step up from the Washburn HB35 (which I currently have)?

The Yammy is still not cheap at around £1,685 (Yammy store) to £1,850 (pmt online), although these guys seem to have acquired several off the back of a lorry and have them on for £1,400

Btw the Washburn is currently on sale at pmt online for "just" £450...

[grenadillabama]

On 06/08/2018 at 10:55, casapete said:

Keith has been using 355's for a while now, if its' good enough for him etc...🙂

 

Keith played a white one on a live DVD and even GAVE one to Buddy Guy on stage in NY. That Varitone switch looks cool , players ( like Keith) prefer no Varitone. 

[casapete]

2 hours ago, grenadillabama said:

Keith played a white one on a live DVD and even GAVE one to Buddy Guy on stage in NY. That Varitone switch looks cool , players ( like Keith) prefer no Varitone. 

Think most people have the varitone disconnected, reckon it’s a bit of a tonesucker? Didn’t stop BB sounding great though...😀

Edited May 21, 2019 by casapete

[Woodinblack]

The varitone is disconnected in one position anyway. I was thinking of putting a varitone on my gretsch bass.

[casapete]

Well, finally it had to happen. Here's my newly acquired Gibson 335. Fat neck model, made in 2008. Only just got it, but already feel it's a keeper.