• I miss this guitar

  
  As reviewed by E Stern. on 5/14/2010

  I bought this guitar in late 2008. The sound is simply amazing. I spent months agonizing over which guitar to I wanted to purchase and I tested just about every model of the 335 available. This one is the best. I don't know exactly why but I found that this model had a better, warmer, sound than most of the other 335s. The resonance was also better. My suspicion is that the lack of a heavy paint job is responsible for the better tonality but I could be wrong. Whatever the reason, this guitar sounds incredible. As for playability, as far as I'm concerned it's second to none. Everyone is going to have their own preferences when it comes to neck, bridge, and strut designs and for me the 335 is perfect. Simply put, this was the best buy I've ever made. Unfortunately, about 6 months ago it was stolen. I feel like I've lost a friend (I know that sounds cliche but it's actually true!) I'll be buying another one as soon as I can save the money for it... yes, that's right: I love this guitar so much I'm willing to pay for it twice!

  16 of 16 people found this review helpful.
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• Great quality and value

  
  As reviewed by Oneal on 10/23/2006

  This Gibson deserves your close attention if you are in the market for an ES-335. The 57 classic humbuckers deliver tone to die for and are perfect for blues or early rock. Sustain is wonderful. The instrument feels "alive" when played. The tuners on mine function perfectly and look great. Intonation is spot on! The slim neck fast and comfortable. The instrument has 22 frets despite incorrect info on Gibson's homepage. The Custom Shop case is fabulous. I play using a Kustom 36 Coupe amp. I wasn't sure about the cherry satin finish at first, but it grows on you! I found no defects in construction or finish. The rosewood fret board has lovely veins of color characteristic of the best grades of wood. The plain maple top can be seen through the translucent finish, which is nitro lacquer. Gibson has a real winner here, take a look before it's discontinued.

  9 of 9 people found this review helpful.
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• Gibson ES-335... Expensive - Yes, Worth it - Absolutely!

  
  As reviewed by Gitfiddler on 7/1/2010

  For about a year and half I have been testing semi-hollow and hollowbody guitars to find something that could produce "that" tone - you know, the tone that you hear somewhere deep in the recesses of your aural brain, that, when heard, sends a rush of endorphins throughout your body. Well maybe not everyone thinks of tone in this way - but I do. I'm a tone junkie; and my search for the perfect tone has finally ended. In my research for a great blues/jazz/rock guitar - which covered many instruments over a number of quality guitar makers - I finally settled on a 335 style model. Then, I did the comparisons between Ibanez AS103, Epi Dot and the Gibson ES-335. Considering the price difference between them is quite substantial, there would have to be a very, very compelling reason to buy the Gibson over the Epi or the AS. Taking nothing from the Epi Dot or AS103 - because the both models I played sounded very good and are well constructed - and the AS103 is certainly a well-done instrument. But, when I played the Gibson 335, with a satin cherry finish and '57 humbuckers, not only could I feel the difference in quality but I heard it - that tone, the one I had been searching for - it rang in my bones. It was an awesome experience. By the way, I was test-driving through a Fender Vibro Champ - a good tube-driven practice amp. Admittedly, the ES-335 is an expensive guitar - and that is likely its only con. On the flipside, it is very well crafted (made in Nashville, TN); the components ('57 HBs, 500k potentiometers, tune-o-matic Nashville bridge, Gibson Deluxe tuners, etc.) are all top of the line; and the feel and sound of the instrument are sublime. Like so many other reviews that end with "buy this guitar" - I'm not urging this sentiment outright. Buying an ES-335, for most people, is an event that is culmination of lots of research, lots of saving money, lots of justification, lots of... and lots of... (you fill in the blanks). In the end, however, if unmatched tone and superb craftsmanship are the goal, then you should seriously consider buying this guitar.

  5 of 5 people found this review helpful.
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