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DasBeef
Gold Member

United Kingdom
704 Posts

Posted - 01/16/2010 : 17:11:33

Further to a topic I started a while back, I went shopping for a guitar the last 2 days. I originally wanted a Walnut Gibson ES335. I had to go vintage to get this finish. Basically, I liked the brown coulor, and had played a 335 that I loved a while back. So I found a couple of guitars that impressed me. Ignore the prices on the links, as I have already haggled them down.

Gibson 70's ES-345 Walnut Finish (Pre-Owned)

I tried this guitar, but I'm not buying it. There's too much to post, so it's a no. To say something quick, I'm sure it's a 335, converted to a 345, serial sticker's missing, and from what I've read the serial is not typical of the year.

Gibson ES-345 Reissue Trans Brown

Tried this out in the shop. Played really nice, and sounded great. The finish looked spectacular. Not so keen on the gold plated hardware, if I'm honest, but I don't think the Trans Brown models come any other way. If it really annoyed me, I suppose I could change it to chrome, and maybe even px the gold stuff. Like the fret inlays. Really quite impressed. It is the most expensive of the bunch.

...then, I thought I'd try out another little guitar. Not the one I went shopping for, but I thought it looked ok online, and even nicer in the shop...

Gibson ES-359 Ebony

This guitar is a custom shop model, and you can feel it. Plays just that bit better than the above 345. Sound is different from the 345, but I'm happy with it. It's cheaper than the 345, and about the same as the next guitar I'll mention. Not convinced with the body size compared to the neck, although it looked better in the flesh. Felt like a Les Paul/335 cross, and has a fair bit of weight. Looks wise, I much prefer the 335. Feel wise, as this is a custom shop, it wins, but only by a small ammount. Again it's gold hardware, and again, as I mentioned, this isn't the guitar I went shopping for. But I liked....

...I then went web hunting, sand found this...

Gibson ES-335 Dot

The picture's cherry, but it's available in trans brown, and again, gold hardware. I haven't tried this guitar, but I checked the had a grace period in which I could return it if I wasn't happy, and I would only be down �15 if this was the case. It's the cheapest of all, but only slightly. It's what I originally went shopping for, a Brown ES-335. I can't really find many more. I wanted at least block inlays on the neck, and this is a dot model.

So, that's my story. I know I'm being picky with the gold hardware, and the block inlays, and they are purely 'vanity' things that in no way effect the feel, and sound of the guitar.

Anyone want to give me some input?

PS. Also tried a Dusk Tiger, purely out of curiosity. Disgusting. Absoloutely horrible.

Edited by - DasBeef on 01/16/2010 17:13:21

Dirk
Platinum Member

Netherlands
1309 Posts

Posted - 01/16/2010 : 18:56:51

I think you can narrow it down to the reissue and the custom shop.
You already said you didn't want to buy the pre-owned one and I wouldn't buy a new and rather expensive guitar online without playing/seeing it first.
Now it's just a matter of personal taste, what feels and sounds the best for you.

On a sidenote, 335's are cool guitars.
Izzy Stradlin used to play one with GN'R, I think he even used it on Appetite for Destruction.

aaronharmon
Silver Member

USA
271 Posts

Posted - 01/16/2010 : 22:08:24

Can't go wrong with a 335

nosi0
Gold Member

Netherlands
511 Posts

Posted - 01/16/2010 : 23:02:26

I always liked 335's but that 359 has a really good vibe. sorry for being vague but there's something about it that makes me want the 359

applesforjonah
Bronze Member

USA
93 Posts

Posted - 01/17/2010 : 07:00:50

I wouldn't hold it against you if you don't like the gold hardware and dot inlays. If you're dropping that much money on a guitar, it better be one that you're completely satisfied with.

zerksies
Double Platinum Member

USA
3406 Posts

Posted - 01/17/2010 : 14:56:34

i would hold out till you find the one that you really want. Cause in the back of your head you will truly not be really happy with if you fell like you are making a compromise bu ti would get the trans brown 335 with nickel hardware

Laurie
Double Platinum Member

Canada
4854 Posts

Posted - 01/17/2010 : 16:38:15

I can only say one thing DasBeef... you are giving me GAS so bad with this thread!! I've been quietly eyeing up a 335 (or similar) for years...

Witloofboer
Gold Member

Belgium
513 Posts

Posted - 01/17/2010 : 17:36:00

quote:
Originally posted by Dirk

I think you can narrow it down to the reissue and the custom shop.
You already said you didn't want to buy the pre-owned one and I wouldn't buy a new and rather expensive guitar online without playing/seeing it first.
Now it's just a matter of personal taste, what feels and sounds the best for you.

quote:
Originally posted by DasBeef

Gibson ES-345 Reissue Trans Brown

... Like the fret inlays. ...

I like the ES-345 Reissue Trans Brown the most. (But I haven't tried these guitars.)

DasBeef
Gold Member

United Kingdom
704 Posts

Posted - 01/17/2010 : 18:15:49

Thanks for the replies.
The only thing I'm not 100% happy with on the 345 is the gold plating. It's small, and if it annoys me to much, it shouldn't be that expensive to change it for chrome.
As for the 335 off the internet, I would have a week to send it back if I wasn't 100% happy with it for any reason, and I would only have to pay the return shipping. Not ideal. I said I didn't want dot inlays, so I suppose it's out.
That 359 did feel nice though... I think it is between the 345, and the 359. Think I'll haver to go back to the shop and try them some more.

Laurie, sorry about the gas, but deep down, everyone has a special place for in their hearts 335's, and their derivatives!

Ollie
Gold Member

United Kingdom
729 Posts

Posted - 01/17/2010 : 18:18:41

I havn't played one but when I'm old enough to get a job I probably would pick up a 336.

Has anyone seen the KS-336? (Signature model, of the bloke of 24 - WTF)

And DasBeef, I think you should get whatever one is perfect, for the money your looking to spend I don't think it's worth compromising,

DasBeef
Gold Member

United Kingdom
704 Posts

Posted - 01/18/2010 : 18:33:51

Well, the 345 just had the gold plated hardware that I wasn't 100% with. That aside, it played brilliantly, and sounded fantastic, so I bought her. Doesn't look like I'll be getting any new pedals for a while...but who cares. I have a 345!!!!