I had access to I think a 71 or 72 SG that. The 330 was the most popular model selling 2408 units vs the combined 335/45/55 selling 1352 units. Guitar shootout! How does the Epiphone Elitist casino stack up against a Gibson ES335 (59 style)? Hollow body vs Semi hollow guitar! Playing into a Marshall. And it is. Here we compare the Gibson Slim Harpo Lovell ES-330 and the Gibson ES-335. Gibson Brands. The ES 335, ES 330 and ES 137 are all finely crafted tone machines with individual character. From its inaugural appearance in 1958, the Gibson™ ES-335 set an unmatched standard. The upscale ES-345 and ES-355 models were officially introduced in 1959, although 10 ES-355s shipped in late 1958. Swap. The Gibson ES-335 shares the same basic body shape, but the body of the ES-330 is fully hollow, while the ES-335 has a center block to help reduce feedback and. Move on to 2007 and out pops the ES-339 from Gibson's Memphis Custom Shop, similar in size to the 336/346 but made from maple-faced laminate top, back and sides with a maple centre block - a mini version of an ES-335. These guitars are fully hollow – no solid maple block of. Although the 330 went to a longer 19th-fret neck like the 335 in ’68, the original shorter neck gave [players] less access to the upper registers. The 335 is a bit woodier and airy with the extra space in the wings and will feed back a bit easier in a higher volume environment. ES 335: Tremolo. Get this one here Sheraton. It didn't seem like a rock guitar, like. Comparison of Gibson ES-330 vs Gibson ES-335 Guitars. If you are in possession of an old Gibson – no matter if it is an electric guitar or an acoustic guitar – chances are it is going to fetch a decent sum if put up for auction. The 62 is only . They were very round on top and very symmetrical-all in all a very pleasing look. Oct 15, 2008. But if you're gonna buy a brand new 2022 Gibson I'd say get a 335 if you can afford it. It really comes down to different tools for different jobs, IMO. The bridge pickup has a smooth creamy bite that sounds instantly familiar – it’s 100%. I realize that neck thickness can be an issue for some, so perhaps that is an important factor to you. 4 d) Sound Versatility: 1. From my ignorant perspective I’ve always seen Epiphone has the cheap “knock-off” alternatives to Gibsons (although I am aware that they’re the same company. The 333 really is built to the same quality/specs as a 335, with the major difference being the finish. The Gibson ES-335 Figured is the perfect blend of form and function. . Gibson Slim Harpo Lovell ES-330. The Epiphone ES-335 is as close as you’ll get to a real 335 feel for less than a thousand dollars. Though similar in appearance to the popular Gibson ES-335 guitar, the ES-330 is quite different: the 330 is a fully hollow thinline guitar, not a semi-hollow guitar with a center block. Tuners: The ES-339 has Grover Rotomatics tuners, while the ES-335 has. Regarding versatility, Les Paul has a lead since it can be used for various genres. At some point, it occurred to the bean counters at Gibson that it was taking rather a. The 335 has more bottom end and isn't quite as snappy as the 339. Harmony Comet. The brains behind the Les Paul, SG, Flying V, Explorer, Firebird and many other much-loved planks, McCarty had a knack of solving guitar-fuelled problems… and the ES-335. I prefer the 335 If I had to pick one. Features. Although similar in appearance to the popular Gibson ES-335 semi-hollow guitar, the ES-325 was a significantly different guitar in. 1965 and later Gibson ES- 335s with a trapeze tailpiece can perform and sound just as good as examples with stop tailpieces. I understand the Lucille is Nashville made, ebony board, bound headstock, no f-holes etc. Gibson Slim Harpo Lovell ES-330 vs Gibson ES-335. It is made from a solid maple center block and maple laminate top, back and sides. I just bought a 335 after playing a Heritage 535 for a few years. . ES-345. Who Does it Better? 3 Go Head to Head. It wasn’t long after Epiphone said to Gibson, “anything you can do, we can do better. The ES335 is more "melliflue" than the 6119, but conversely to the current 335, she's rather bright, I think. There are way better 70's guitars; Dean, Hammer, Guild and B. I think the thing vintage buyers worry about most is the neck. The 330s have more neck in the body and this leads to a more Woody tone. 88″ . No . The model was discontinued after 1959, likely because it fell through the cracks between the less expensive ES-125 and the more deluxe ES-330 and ES-335. 0:00 - 1:05 1964 SG Standard 0:32 - 1:05 1964 ES-345 (wired to 335) 1:06 -. I've Owned both a Heritage 535 and a Gibson 336. The semi-hollow body is constructed out of three-ply maple/poplar/maple, and features a maple center block, rounded C-shaped mahogany neck and rosewood fretboard. 50 and $267. Notable ES-137 players. The other difference is the pickups, with PAF humbuckers in the ES-335 and dog ear P90s on the ES-330. I didn't see it mentioned yet, but the 335 body is a completely different animal from the Casino. S. Gibson ES-335 VS ES-339: What are the differences? Mainly size and body shape. A 335, but with a hollow body. Released in 1959, the single P-90 pickup ES-330T and dual P-90 ES-330TD models represent decades of innovation as Gibson’s premier double-cutaway thinline hollowbody electric archtops. Gibson ES-335. It's a very different guitar than an ES-335. The ES 335 is most often used for softer genres such as jazz or blues. The neck on the 335 is bigger than the Eastman, but not quite as wide at the nut. That will make some kind. $650. The Gibson ES 335 is one of, if not the greatest mass produced guitar designs in history IMO. It sounded as good as the 335, and like Rickenbackers, it was a better bargain for quality vs dollars than the 335. Gibson 330 vs 335: Discover Their Slight Significant Difference. ). I didn't see it mentioned yet, but the 335 body is a completely different animal from the Casino. I tape the f-holes. I too own a 339 (2009), a 335 (2011), and previously owned another 335 (2006). GIBSON GARAGE FIND A DEALER GIBSON APP. Build. Jonathan dives into why he loves a 335 and why you should too! A truly versatile guitar that covers a lot of ground and with some serious style! Let us know. There are way better 70's guitars; Dean, Hammer, Guild and B. The ES-225 is still a thiniline- the same thickness as an ES-335, but is fully hollow. The Epiphone Sheraton™-II PRO honors Epiphone's most influential "thin-line" semi-hollowbody electric archtop, now offered in a beautiful new Midnight Sapphire finish plus critically acclaimed ProBucker™ pickups with coil-splitting and a Graphtech® NuBone XL™ nut. The mahog' block is pretty massive. It’s also notable that the Casino/ES-330 had its neck-to-body joint at the 16th fret, rather than further toward the end of the fingerboard, as on the Gibson ES-335. the 339 is a totally hollow guitar UNLIKE the 335 which has a center block. UPDATE! I got a caliper before returning the 335. The only thing slowing me down was the price tag associated with the Gibson. “And there was something that was sort of unique about that guitar in a rock context. 5,730. Vintage Gibson Guitars. The Epiphone Riviera was coming for sure, having been none-so-subtly leaked across Gibson and Epiphone’s social media – as if guitar nerds would not notice it photobombing the ES-355 in the studio pic. After visiting the Gibson factory in Memphis a few years ago, I have had a longing for an ES 335. There MAY be a big difference in price. We would like to show you a description here but the site won’t allow us. For $200 cheaper than a satin 335, you get a Gibson Custom Shop instrument with '57 Classics, and a choice of neck profiles. 6) The electronics are different (much higher quality and Bumblebee Caps in the 330). also the mellower, warmer Semi-hollobody tone, as well. When I was in the market for a 335 type guitar a few years back, I wound up with a Guild Starfire IV. It’s a more traditional feeling neck. 2kg and the 6119 is 2"1/2 thick but weights 3. Guitars can be similar in external shape but hugely different in construction, like the ES-335 (semi-hollow) and ES-330 (fully hollow). Gibson ES-330 vs. Early ES 330's had plastic Dog Eared P 90 pickups and were later changed to Nickel and then to Chrome. It joins the body at the 16th fret, rather than the 19th-fret join of the 335. The ES-330’s lineage can be traced back to 1936 when Gibson released their first Electric Spanish (ES) archtop guitar, the ES-150, a jazzbox. . The Gibson ES-325 is a thinline hollowbody electric guitar model produced by the Gibson Guitar Corporation from 1972 to 1979. The control layout is almost the same as the ES 335, with top hat pot knobs on the two-tone and two-volume controllers and toggle 3-way selector switch. Epiphone Casino vs Gibson ES 330 VOS Custom Shop loaded with P90 pickups- Find my Guitar Gear on Sweetwater - Buy a T-Shir. Crafted with an array of features like a maple top, rosewood fretboard, four-knob control layout with three-way pickup selector, and a pair of hot P90 humbuckers, the Gibson '59 ES-330 Semi-Hollow Body Electric Guitar is a faithful rendition of a beloved classic. Ed. I own both. Another lesser-known fun fact is that Gibson’s ES-335 is just a couple of dollars more expensive today if we take average inflation between ‘58 and 2022 into consideration. An ES-335 is a Semi-Hollow body guitar. I think the main difference is the Starfires are more "lively". Nothing one couldn't get used to, but the 339 was very much like my Variax 700 (which feels like a Stratocaster). Many V neck profiles although round is common as well. eljay. Those three models (with all kinds of variants among them), along with the ES-330, are the most talked about ES models I suppose, but Gibson's history included so many different guitars of various designs that all had the ES prefix in their. Hawaiian style guitars: 1 7/8". 1 Main Difference Between Gibson ES 330 Vs 335 Guitar: 1. It also has a back plate like a solid body to make electronics changes a LOT easier. Four semi-hollow beauts from Epiphone, Gretsch, Ibanez and Vintage. Starting in 1977, Gibson adopted the current date-based serial system which codes for the year and day of production. Is. Gibson had recently introduced the ES-335, its groundbreaking semi-solid double-cutaway thinline electric, and in the wake of its success the company’s bosses created a series around it, adding a few more models in the same style. Brand New. If you really want an ES 330 don't look at the 335 – totally different guitar apart from the form factor. The expert craftspeople at Gibson Custom Shop have rendered every contour, profile, inlay and color of the priceless vintage models in magnificent detail. I agree with Tom. Affordable re-creation of the classic Gibson ES-335; Layered maple top, back, and sides coupled with a solid maple tone blockThe Sheraton (and Riviera) on the other hand had the center block. 55 mm nut, 0. I've also got a newer Epiphone Casino. The Starfire's bridge pickup seems a lot less jangly than the 335, which I like. 50 respectively. 87 and 1. This gives the Sheraton a warm and mellow sound in comparison to the ES-335 which is brighter and punchier. The 330s have more neck in the body and this leads to a more Woody tone. The 330 is a much more "bluesy" sounding guitar with a ton of personality to my ear. )Description: Official Gibson Epiphone ES-335 Body & Neck- 6 lbs, 6 oz- Layered Maple Body w/ Maple Arch Top Neck/Profile: Rounded "C" Profile Fingerboard/Inlay: Indian Laurel, 22 frets, Dot Inlays- Scale/Nut Width 24 3/4"/1 1/16" Color: Vintage Sunburst. (I took the photo under the top with a WiFi Borescope. Hi everyone, I'm thinking of selling my Gibson ES 330 from 1967 and buying a Gibson ES 335 from 1979 or maybe buying a new Gibson. Its versatility makes it one guitar to rule them all, and this. I had access to I think a 71 or 72 SG that. About the Product. A solid block in the otherwise hollow body created a new semi-solid structure, aiming to combine the qualities of a hollowbody guitar and a solidbody. The Gibson ES-335 is a semi-hollow body semi-acoustic guitar introduced by the Gibson Guitar Corporation as part of its ES (Electric Spanish) series in 1958. . At this time we have scattered information regarding (CS) Custom Shop serial coding. 75"-scale guitars, 25. The Casino is a hollowbody guitar, like a 330. While you're looking at Eastman, pick out a nice acoustic too all under your budjet. Hello guys, I'd like to buy a new guitar. The ergonomic feature, small size, and compactness are praiseworthy. 89″ at the first fret while the ’62 below measures . The 1961. Talking about my Vintage 1965 Gibson ES330 and the differences between a Gibson ES335. Posted January 1, 2009. i bought a satin about a year ago and i've been very pleased with it. Gibson ES-335 Satin in Satin Natural Burst (Image credit: Gibson) First up is the new ES-335 Satin, available in Satin Cherry, Satin Vintage Burst and Satin Natural Burst. Gibson’s Artist Collection currently holds some big-name thinlines such as the Chuck Berry ES-355, Trini Lopez and Slim Harpo ES-330. It's a great guitar, but it has the vintage short and wide frets, which have their pros and cons. Reproduced in painstaking detail. Not a 335 pre se, but what a 335 hopes to be when it grows up ; I run my Sheraton with D'Addario's XL-110w set; same as the XL-110s, (. Quetzalcoatls. Am I right in that assessment? Also, does anyone know why Heritage. 335's are much more money new now than they were, so that seems. I’ll make another comparison…a 68 Les Paul goldtop is a wonderful guitar. ? Do folks generally not dig the "dog-ear" p-90s that are on many models? Is their body shape/materials less-desirable? Did. . 355 is a 345 with block. personally prefer the maple neck on the Sheraton II. This construction, with laminated maple top, back and sides, makes for a lively instrument with much of the bite and attack of a semi-acoustic electric , and some of the warmth. We would like to show you a description here but the site won’t allow us. It was stolen two days before I got the Tokai. Mid. The Gibson ES-335 DOT is the cornerstone of the Gibson ES line-up. . Gibson ES. ES 335: Tom Gorr Member . I do have a 70s Gibson 335. This makes them an appealing option for budget-conscious players. The letters ES stand for Electric Spanish, to distinguish them from Hawaiian-style lap steel guitars which are played flat on the lap. It looks to me like the neck on the H-530 meets the body at the same place/fret as the H-535 - the 19th fret. The ES-330 is a thinbody, double cutaway, fully hollow body guitar produced by Gibson from about 1952 to the early 1970s. I also compare sound and constru. Talking about my Vintage 1965 Gibson ES330 and the differences between a Gibson ES335. The Gibson ES-330 is a thinline hollow-body electric guitar model produced by the Gibson Guitar Corporation. 23 replies; 2. The initial E-125t and ES-225t enjoyed varying success until Gibson introduced the ES-330 in 1959. That rivalry came to an end in 1957 when Gibson purchased Epiphone. You can make the 335 behave like 330 to achieve warm, sweet, jazzy tones. Body-wise the CS-336 is smaller, more like a Les Paul, as opposed to the bigger. I got it because I couldn't afford a Gibson 330. Platinum. 5 e) Bridge and pick-ups: 1. Les Paul model has a much better sustain compared to ES 335, which has a warmer and more resonant tone. Its also 70 bucks, whereas good humbuckers run around 100-120. Better (PRO) pickups on the ES-335 PRO. Pickup (s) 1 or 2 P-90s. S. Unlike the 335, 345, and 355, the 330 had no solid block inside the body. ” The guitar, which had a price tag of $2,100 at the time, was in excellent condition and the propmaster was happy to rent it for $300 a week, he recalls. An in depth discussion of all things related to vintage and newer Gibson ES-335, ES-345 and ES-355 electric guitars. Condition: Mint. The Casino has a D-profile neck in a slim taper whereas the ES 335 has a slightly thicker neck that helps with its denser and deeper sound profile. Gibson ES-330 Electric Guitar, Semi-Hollowbody Electric Guitars. Love my Les Paul guitars, but the ES-335 can have that LP sound, and. published 8 June 2023 This iconic semi-hollow thinline presented the best of both the solidbody and acoustic worlds (Image credit: Future) In 1958, with jazz and the blues fully. 4) Obviously, the pickups on the guitars are different (Gibson Underwound P90 on the 330, vs Gibson/Epi P90 on the Casino). That will make some kind of difference in the sound and feel of the two guitars. Dot vs. I think that's the same as a Gibson 335. I snapped one of these up before Gibson smartens up and raises the. Who has the best hollow body guitar tone? Kris with his ES-330 challenges Guillaume playing an ES-335! Will they be able to play anything else than Blues and. They’re not as bright as some PAF replicas, and the wound strings can sound a bit woolly and indistinct in comparison, but the bridge snarls and the neck has a thick and creamy quality. But yes, you are right, the ES-330 was the Gibson equivalent, being fully hollow. They're both so different. or you could get a Semi Hollow ES-335 P90 and confuse the issue a little. Both are great sounding axes! Congrats on pickin those up!Hello guys! This will be my first question posted here! Im currently in the market for a versatile guitar worth my investment and I decided to go with a Gibson model and as it happens I have an option for three models stated above (and also a 339 at a cheaper price) and they are roughly the same price more or less ( with ES 335 being. Topic: Ibanez vs. Gretsch is perhaps a bit more budget-friendly than Gibson. This really appeals to some people. Choose the Gibson hardware accordingly. I have a Gibson 335 and an Ibanez Artstar AS-120. They feel different, so switching back and forth actually helps. Although the ES-330 resembles the 335, it is actually fully hollow (as opposed to semi-hollow) and features two P-90 pickups (as opposed to 2 humbucking pickups), and it was. Vintage. Am I right in that assessment? Also, does anyone know why Heritage. it's 70$ on musicians friend. Made from 72-79. The Gibson ES-335 DOT is the cornerstone of the Gibson ES line-up. Sep 7, 2014. Members. View our full range of buying options, all in one place. everything is about 30$ cheaper on there. The innovations that made it a great blues, rock and jazz guitar are:. The ES-330's neck is slightly clubbier than a '335, and its acoustic volume is a lot louder, more archtop-like with a punchier attack and shorter decay. 5" scale kinda guy. One obvious difference that no one has mentioned: the current Gibson ES-330 reissue is the long neck version, with the neck joining the body higher up, like a 335 does. $2,799. Originally launched in 1958 this guitar has been part of the lineup ever since and has been the basis of most other modern ES guitars. By Doc Music August 2, 2008 in Gibson Custom. have a korean dot modded up-pots , hand wound pups ect. . guitar, but $4,000 vs. It was special ordered with a Bigsby. . Single-cutaway bodies were retained for the more downmarket ES-125 models, and in 1959, the ES-330 took over the ES-225’s mantle along with. Mar 9, 2012. Buy Nashville Bridges, ABR-1 Bridges, and Wraparound bridge. The body on an ES-135 is about 1/2" deeper than an ES-335. The company has trimmed down its new ES offerings to just five models, spanning the ES-335 Dot to the luxurious ES-335 Figured. In 1958, Gibson debuted the ES-335, a semi-hollow electric guitar that soon became known as the Dot for its minimalist pearloid inlay. Start new topic;. I'm puzzled by their relatively low resale. (The Sheraton Pro is to an Epiphone ES-335 Pro, what a Gibson ES 355 is to a Gibson 335! Same "basic" guitar, with more cosmetic appointments. A center block to reduce feedback, humbucker pickups to reduce hum and neck join at the 19th fret all made the guitar better for loud rock than the ES-330 which can suffer from both feedback and 60 cycle hum. So, I ran them direct into the Uni. PRESS RELEASE: For 2019 the New Gibson Les Paul Traditional is available in 2 gorgeous finishes; Heritage Cherry Sunburst and Tobacco Burst. so do the math dipsh*t. Posted November 18, 2015. However, there are a few subtle differences, with the ES-335. . 10,906. 40. I'd have to agree that the 336 has a tighter, more focused sound. Each guitar had 2 P90s and a Bigsby, and I REALLY enjoyed both guitars. Some people are fine. I could feel the resonance moving through the entire guitar. As an intermediate player that doesn't record or gig, is the expense of a Gibson 335 vs. Plugged in, the sounds aren't as. But the Artstar isn't a Gibson. A. That Norlin era made some real stinkers. These guitars are fully hollow – no solid maple block of. more versatile. The ES330 is all around better. The guitar had a slightly "woodier" tone, but it wasn't that much louder or fuller sounding when unplugged. The ES-349 sports MHS humbuckers. The ES 340 was essentially a 335 with different wiring and, to save money a 3 piece maple neck. . Epiphone Dot or a Sheraton. Plus i've had it for more. 2. Equipped with high-end appointments like our hand-wired control assembly with Orange Drop® capacitors,. There are a few factors at play here. 75. RSS. By Terrasolo, October 16. ES-335 Neck Woes. The 335 style has an airier tone about it then the 336 does. Less wood and air. Spec includes a maple/poplar/maple laminated body and a. 2. The ES 335 comes with a Bigsby Tremolo system as an optional addon while the Casino does not have a tremolo. Stop tailpieces give the guitar a more solid-body sound, but don’t have these issues. The casinos body meets the neck at the 15th fret whereas the 335 joins at the 19th fret. other thinline hollow bodies! I'm a full time NYC-based musician and I have been mainly playing a 2001 Gibson L4. One thing to remember is the close relationship of the ES 330 to the Epi Casino (early USA built) They were effectively built side by side and badged accordingly. So, 5 Les Pauls and the Gibson es335 RI (which I had to have as my final) sit in the closet. I love the Arstar, haven't needed to do a single mod to it. The closest most. Gibson Brands. For a. It’s also thicker, which gives it greater stability against things such as humidity and climate factors. 3= 1963 ES-335 (block inlays) 4= ES-330 5= ES-345 9 with an “A” prefix = 1959 ES-335 (dot inlays) 9 with a “B” prefix= ES-355 Example: A-38005 is the 5th ’63 ES-335 Reissue produced in 1998. See 6 musician reviews, how 98 pros use it, 1 candid photo, and where to get a deal on Gibson ES-330 Electric Guitar, ranked #4 in Semi-Hollowbody Electric Guitars and rated 5. Most thin bodies are semihollow, as are the ES-335 up to the ES-359; the ES-175 and the ES-137 are a. I know that the T-Type humbucking pickups are in the newer 335's. Go to gibson r/gibson • by rickster330. Other than that, they are the same guitar. I would really love to have an ES-330, but Gibson don't make it new. ) as many of them. Gibson ES-330. #17. At a quick glance, the Epiphone ES-335 and ES-339 look almost identical, with the latter having a body that’s two inches smaller (the ES-335 measures 16 inches across the lower bout while the ES-339 measures 14 inches) but still maintains the same proportions and curves. 6kg. 8 h) Price Range: 1. Shop Now. I sold the 1969 Es 330 , and the 2 Es 335 's after buying a 2006 Memphis Block Inlay with Burstbuckers . Apr 7, 2019. The information below is a generalized break down of what you can expect from a standard Gibson guitar from each time period. Here are some iPhone pics of a 73 or 74 335. 25" scale. CA. The Ltd. But the difference is mostly subtle. Mainly size and body shape. Chuck Berry, BB King, Clapton. I tend to agree with Graffiti Yellow - the laminate body of an ES335 and the size of it ,delivers to me, a more "full" timbre voice. There are a bunch of ES-335 models in the current Gibson catalogue, including the super tasty Chris Cornell Signature. The 339 is a scaled-down in size version of the 335. besides the gloss finish on the body, the dot plain top will have a bound neck. This should give you an idea of the voice compared to other Gibsons. First off, they FEEL really good to play. Gibson Les Paul Vs SG. 5"-scale guitars, and guitars with scales shorter than 24. The Gibson 335 is the all-time classic. 69. Features. First seen in prototype form at Winter NAMM then officially unveiled in November 2017, put simply, the Collings I-30 is to the Gibson ES-330 what the I-35 is to the ES-335. But the biggest reason a Gibson ES 335 is nearly $3000 more than an Epiphone 335 is money: The average hourly rate for a Chinese guitar production worker is $3. 1,137. I think that's the same as a Gibson 335. The ergonomic feature, small size, and compactness are praiseworthy. It is hollow with a block of wood running down the center inside of the body where the pickups and attached bridge and stop are attached. 05 It was years ago that I owned the SG Jrs or had access to early 70s SGs, etc but I remember those necks being narrow, thin up top and much less taper and they drove me crazy. If the two were wired the same it would probably be close, but I think in the long run the 335 would be my choice. The Eastman has Seth Lover pups and is flawless. Photo by Es330td, rotated & sized by GuitarCommand. The 339 is a bit closer to a Les Paul in feel and sound. It was first introduced in 1959 and the guitar had the same dimensions as the ES-335. The initial E-125t and ES-225t enjoyed varying success until Gibson introduced the ES-330 in 1959. The difference between a "standard" ES-335 and a Reissue are much smaller than the differences between a Gibson USA Les Paul and a Historic Reissue. Playability. The 330 is now worth up to $5,000 on the collector's market, while I got. One thing to remember is the close relationship of the ES 330 to the Epi Casino (early USA built) They were effectively built side by side and badged accordingly. com [CC BY-SA 3. The Artstar is Korean made, and I think these are the best budget 335-clones around. That was a. Comparing an ES-335 with TV Jones versus an ES-335 with Gibson pickups would probably be the easiest way to compare the tonal differences of the two pickups. The 345 is a higher-end version of the 335 which came with a Varitone switch in older models. I'm comparing a 2018 Gibson ES-330 to a 2008 Epiphone Casino Elitist. . Just felt it had a percussiveness that my 335 doesn't have. There MAY be a big difference in price. VOS Ebony. The result is a playing and ownership experience that will keep you coming back for more. 🎧 10 years. The 345 has the parallelograms and the varitone switch which is supposed to add a choice of tonal flavor. But the big. I don’t think a Riviera will ever surpass the 335 as an investment piece. ”The first commercially available thinline archtop semi-acoustic electric guitar, the ES-335 was another great idea from Gibson Guitar Corporation president Ted McCarty. Posted May 3, 2005. In terms of electronics, the ES-339 differs from the ES-335 with the use of what Gibson calls the Memphis Tone Circuit. The ES 335 is most often used for softer genres such as jazz or blues. Mar 9, 2012. Has anyone compared these two pickups against each other. Both are really, really nice.