Burst Killer ~ Not Burst Killer

[jb_abides]

Uncle Larry "does the meme" using his newly acquired 59 Dot alongside his mainstay 58 Burst thru the same rig, a Tweed.

Both sound wonderful. Both sound distinct, giving up tones they are best known for.

To me, each fantastic in their own way, totally disabusing one of the "Burst Killer" appellation.

 

[ampdan]

IMO...THAT 335 sounded better than THAT "Burst".

 

[Patrick Ginnaty]

I liked the 335 better, personally.

 

[jb_abides]

Yeah I prefer the 335 overall but the burst has that sustain, as Tom points out and demonstrates.

Two different sounds, both great.

 

[brandtkronholm]

In this video, I like the bridge PU of the 335 more than the bridge PU of the Les Paul, the neck and middle positions are a tie more or less.
I wonder what would happen with a big amp?

The Les Paul has the sustain but the 335 is more musical sounding. I steal the word "musical" from Charlie Gelber who described his own 335 vs 'Burst shoot-out in which he said the 335 was more musical than the Les Paul (1960?) but the Les Paul had the sustain.

3x5s are never 'Burst killers - they are something different...close, but different.
I've heard the term 'Burst killer applied to more 345s than anything else...and I cannot imagine why.

 

[Patrick Ginnaty]

A drummer I used to play with loved my '64 335, but ultimately decided that he preferred the sound of my '98 R8. "Why?" "The sustain" he said.

"Two different sounds, both great."

That.

 

[VGNut]

No Killing, just Komplimenting - they Compliment each other

Guitars are influential, each in their own way, seems to be he was having a better / funner Ride on the 335

For me - if I could only have one or the other, it would be a 1959 335 - and only a 1959

IMO the 335 has more character, and color, and voice variation - they are THE better Singer to me than a Les Paul

But make no mistake - I do love my Les Paul’s

 

[renderit]

No Killing, just Komplimenting - they Compliment each other

Guitars are influential, each in their own way, seems to be he was having a better / funner Ride on the 335

For me - if I could only have one or the other, it would be a 1959 335 - and only a 1959

IMO the 335 has more character, and color, and voice variation - they are THE better Singer to me than a Les Paul

But make no mistake - I do love my Les Paul’s

Agreed.

 

[asapmaz]

The term "burst-killer" was not originally coined to refer to all 3x5's.
Someone mentioned it as referring to ES345's. That's partially correct.
The term was actually coined when referring to the "first-rack" 1959 ES345's with the thinner tops, etc.

 

[ourmaninthenorth]

I like Larry's reply #7

I've moved away from comparisons, preferring the idea that any great guitar takes me to that place.

Filtering out all the white noise that surrounds fantastic guitars leaves me with just a guitar and me, I've usually got something to say - for which I'm eternally grateful.

Any great guitar is a bullshit killer, my own.

I feckin love 'em.

 

[gary buff]

My favorite guitar of all time was an early 70s 335 with stop tp installed, otherwise stock except for a refret. I used to A-B it on tape with my '59 burst and it was hard to hear a difference; the 335's sustain was very close to the LP but it had a little fuller sound with overtones that the LP lacked, and it was light as a feather which really helped on the gig. I also had a '59 345 but there was always something lacking in the high end with it, the bite which the 335 had. Maybe all the electronics in the 345, the Varitone with that choke in there, just sucked a lot of the high end out of it? Can't say for sure. Maybe it was just that particular guitar had that particular sound.

 

[c_wester]

My favorite guitar of all time was an early 70s 335 with stop tp installed, otherwise stock except for a refret. I used to A-B it on tape with my '59 burst and it was hard to hear a difference; the 335's sustain was very close to the LP but it had a little fuller sound with overtones that the LP lacked, and it was light as a feather which really helped on the gig. I also had a '59 345 but there was always something lacking in the high end with it, the bite which the 335 had. Maybe all the electronics in the 345, the Varitone with that choke in there, just sucked a lot of the high end out of it? Can't say for sure. Maybe it was just that particular guitar had that particular sound.

I have a similar experience. But with custom shops and other guitars.

 

[c_wester]

I like Larry's reply #7

I've moved away from comparisons, preferring the idea that any great guitar takes me to that place.

Filtering out all the white noise that surrounds fantastic guitars leaves me with just a guitar and me, I've usually got something to say - for which I'm eternally grateful.

Any great guitar is a bullshit killer, my own.

I feckin love 'em.

I have had now 48 billion different Les Pauls.
And many number ones.

Still I sell them and buy new ones.

It is time practice and stop chasing ..... when I really am chasing hard practice.

I really lilke what mr Greenbaum said when asked about tone and guitars.

the guitar is not the one letting you down.

Only took me 30 years to listen to it .... 30 years to comprehend... still working on implementing....