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Is the Gibson 335 The Best Guitar Ever Made?

GotTheSilver

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Joined
Apr 14, 2007
Messages
2,433
After playing 64+ years and in bands 63+ years, with all the guitars I've owned, I played Gibson since the beginning. I really thinned the herd recently but have a 60th R9 and just ordered a M2M Murphy Lab '59 355. My wait time is 10-12 months. This won't be my first 3X5, and I've had them all in the semi-solid body range from Gibson, but I'm extremely excited about it.

I came to feel that these two types of guitars, which can be very close in sound when needed, are the two most important guitars I've owned over the years.
I feel the same way. For me, it is all about 335s and Les Pauls, at least for electric guitars. I have a Tele, but rarely play it. I've had other electric guitars over the years, but have sold them. I've kept the 335s and LPs.

When it comes to acoustics, I most often grab my J45, although I do have other acoustics I really enjoy.
 

OldStrummer

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Sep 12, 2016
Messages
118
I was going to start a new thread suggesting that GIbson's hollowbodies/archtops are superior in every way to their solidbodies (change my mind?). I might still, but out of the six current Gibsons I own (2 LPs, 2SGs, 2 ES) the "Electric Spanish" guitars are pretty much the only Gibsons I pick up these days. My first ES is a 1957 225t that I've owned for 45 years. I bought my Memphis 335 in 2018 to ease the wear and tear on the '57, and not only does it feel and play as well as the oldster, it also allows me additional sonic textures.

Maybe it's because I'm not a rocker, but more of a pop-rock/jazz player?
 

AA00475Bassman

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Apr 26, 2016
Messages
3,769
Seriously IMO the Gibson ES series 335-355 has a lot of tonal color , a ES with Veritone is a splendid guitar I would never disable the circuit .

I do preference the stop tail the 335's are great guitars a 355 non stereo Varitone would make a great addition to any guitar lineup!
 

S. Cane

Active member
Joined
Dec 10, 2014
Messages
656
Oh, the ES 335...

The classiest guitar ever? Definitely.

One of the most versatile ones? Positively.

Now, best? hmmm. Crucify me but no. Best for what? Does it quack or sing out loud cristal-clearly like Her Majesty, the Fender Stratocaster? No. Does it twang and bark like that old Tele your uncle used to keep in his barn? Nope. Does it jangle like that Rickenbacker you heard in so many records from the 60s? Neither.

It has its own ground and its own ways, feedback playing its part and that marvellous PAF mojo...
 

renderit

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Joined
Jan 19, 2009
Messages
10,951
Oh, the ES 335...

The classiest guitar ever? Definitely.

One of the most versatile ones? Positively.

Now, best? hmmm. Crucify me but no. Best for what? Does it quack or sing out loud cristal-clearly like Her Majesty, the Fender Stratocaster? No. Does it twang and bark like that old Tele your uncle used to keep in his barn? Nope. Does it jangle like that Rickenbacker you heard in so many records from the 60s? Neither.

It has its own ground and its own ways, feedback playing its part and that marvellous PAF mojo...
We are readying the cross as you speak ... HEATHEN!

How ya doin' man?
 

El Gringo

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Apr 8, 2015
Messages
5,657
My Les Paul's & a ES is really all I need , it's these Dam Firebirds like flies at a picnic table !View attachment 13472
Beautiful Firebirds . Love seeing your dog in the photos as well . Looks like he/she is on guard and ever vigilant . So is the red Firebird a Cardinal Red ? I have one that I got 29 years ago , great guitar from my Love of Johnny Winter .
 

El Gringo

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Apr 8, 2015
Messages
5,657
My Les Paul's & a ES is really all I need , it's these Dam Firebirds like flies at a picnic table !View attachment 13472
What happened or what did you do to the Blue one on the right ? Removed the whammy bar ( sorry as My brain farted out right now and I can't recall the proper term for the Gibson Vibrato unit ) Fun fact as a kid with my Strat ( 2nd solidbody that I owned after my Les Paul Custom ) I damn near went crazy with the whammy bar doing my Jimi thing with my Big Muff and Cry Baby and of course it was fun , but wearing out and breaking strings got old fast .
 

AA00475Bassman

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Joined
Apr 26, 2016
Messages
3,769
What happened or what did you do to the Blue one on the right ? Removed the whammy bar ( sorry as My brain farted out right now and I can't recall the proper term for the Gibson Vibrato unit ) Fun fact as a kid with my Strat ( 2nd solidbody that I owned after my Les Paul Custom ) I damn near went crazy with the whammy bar doing my Jimi thing with my Big Muff and Cry Baby and of course it was fun , but wearing out and breaking strings got old fast .
I removed the whammy The Frost blue its a 2016 aged the whammy is just a piece of spring steel & the Frost Blue Cardnal red are Historic, The the Cardnalred has a Alnico bridge & the USA TB has alnico in both holes . Thats Jake in the photo his sister Sophie is never around the camera they are litter mates .
 

OldStrummer

Active member
Joined
Sep 12, 2016
Messages
118
I don't think I've photographed my ES-335 since I first got it, and hadn't even removed the pickguard plastic from it. So, given this thread...

Memphis-ES-335.jpg
 

Doc1900

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Joined
Feb 16, 2021
Messages
13
I always wanted mine like Keef's
 

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Big Daddy Class

Active member
Joined
Jan 11, 2020
Messages
136
My Les Paul's & a ES is really all I need , it's these Dam Firebirds like flies at a picnic table !
I am constantly on the lookout for a very worn (read beat all to hell) non-reverse Firebird. I want to make it a Clarence Gatemouth Brown Tribute. Photos below of Gatemouths real guitar, and my dog named Clarence Gatemouth Brown on one of our weekly trips to Gruhn Guitars


CGB at Gruhns.jpg .S4w-GTSW-011-ClarenceGatemouthBrown'sGibsonFirebird (1).jpg
 
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