• Guys, we've spent considerable money converting the Les Paul Forum to this new XenForo platform, and we have ongoing monthly operating expenses. THE "DONATIONS" TAB IS NOW WORKING, AND WE WOULD APPRECIATE ANY DONATIONS YOU CAN MAKE TO KEEP THE LES PAUL FORUM GOING! Thank you!

I seem to be out of the majority but love my new ES 335 Satin

songsmith1950

New member
Joined
Jan 20, 2005
Messages
213
Yesterday I made the trip to Guitar Center again. You know, the one you make when you know you can get something you have been wanting.

For a while I have been wanting one of the Epiphone 335 Studio models. The sound was great but the tuners and other items kept it from being something I would buy for sound alone.

Yesterday I had the money and tried what I thought to be the same guitar in a "real" Gibson. It is the satin ES335. It has the 57 classics and other nice things as well as tuners that keep it in tune.

It brings to mind a late 50's 335 I had for a while, along with an early 60's I had at another time. The resonance and the vibe of it is so close to those two that it is astounding. The feeling of the neck is also a lot like those were to the best of my memory.

I had a 2001 ES335 Dot Reissue that I just really didn't like. It sounded and felt so sterile. Even cranked it never really broke out into the buzzsaw that to me makes a 335 so wonderfully full and authoritative. My earlier models surely had that sound as well as a feeling of being bonded to that axe as it wailed. Something my 2001 never had.

Perhaps it is that my late 50's model was 15 years old when I had it. Or that my early 60's, (62 if I remember right) was 25 years old when I had it. I finally played what was left of the frets off the neck and then like a fool let her go for something else.

The satin does not feel so polished and finessed as the reissue dots do. The reissue was a fine guitar and beautiful for sure. Every detail perfect. Except for the ability to really let go and resonate when you wanted to drive yourself and your guitar into that next level of bliss. Perhaps it is the satin finish on the wood that lets her do that.

Or perhaps it is just the knowing that you can pull long lost sounds out of your toolbox and make them wail.

Perfect in build? Probably not. I will stop playing it and look someday. No noticable buzzes. At least no more than any fine 335 I have owned and far less than the 62 I wore the frets flat on.

This is a keeper.

Just right for a little ride on my own type of magic carpet.

Songsmith1950, playing since 1963.:dude:

Tom
 

TomGuitar

Active member
Joined
Apr 28, 2005
Messages
3,700
When you find a keeper, you find one. I have found 335s from all eras and in all the various incarnations that were keepers. It's about the individual guitar, not the model or year
 

songsmith1950

New member
Joined
Jan 20, 2005
Messages
213
I could not agree more on that, Tom. I have also found guitars that were pearls that should not have been as well as some that should have been that just didn't have that magic something.

Tom

songsmith
 

gmann

Well-known member
Joined
May 26, 2003
Messages
6,147
If it feels good and most importantly sounds good, then it is good. Congrats on your 335. Nothing beats a great 335!
 
T

Troels

Guest
TomGuitar said:
When you find a keeper, you find one. I have found 335s from all eras and in all the various incarnations that were keepers. It's about the individual guitar, not the model or year

It's about the individual guitar, not the model or year

We should put that on a big sign on the top of this page :)
 

cofi

New member
Joined
Nov 22, 2005
Messages
737
congrats, it sounds like you found a great guitar there, you know when you find the one, now whatabout a :photos
 

clayville

Active member
Joined
Feb 25, 2004
Messages
5,736
+1

There's nothing like the inspiration that comes from a great sounding guitar, no matter what it is. When they give you that back, they're bargains at any price.
 

jholcomb

New member
Joined
Sep 10, 2003
Messages
269
Hey, sound like you got a keeper!

Don't apologize for the "satin" finish, the new VOS Historics aren't much glossier!!!

You got a deal, my man!!! Good job.
 

Mr. Clean

New member
Joined
Sep 13, 2002
Messages
473
The Satin 335 is a fantastic axe, every bit the legendary 335 pedigree of costlier models IMO. Congrats on scoring a good 'un!
 

GuitarDean

Active member
Joined
Aug 5, 2002
Messages
3,688
:photos


And it IS the individule guitar. I have a 63" Dot Re-Issue that will BLISTER you it's so hot, and surprise (for those of you who know me), it's all stock.
:dude:
 

burgandyburst

New member
Joined
Jul 15, 2001
Messages
84
I have an es 333 that I love, which I believe is similar to your model. Kept it stock as it sounds great the way it is. I polished it a couple of times and it has a great look to it, a low gloss/vintage thing.

It is the individual guitar and how it responds to your playing. I've noticed that there are certain guitars I can make sing, yet others play them and they don't sound as good. I've also tried others' rigs that they wail on and it sounded nowhere near as a good as they did. Enjoy your new guitar.
 
Top