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An ES-330 "studio" with HB's?


gnappi

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I've seen a number of 2018 ES-330's at sub $2k prices pop up with humbuckers, satin finish, no pick guard and black binding much like an ES-335 "studio". One listing had pup details as: "Neck Pickup: MHS P-90 Rhythm" Well that's clearly incorrect, another "BurstBucker 1 & 2" which sounds more likely :-) Most are located in Japan, several Germany a few in the UK and a couple in the U.S.

 

I've always thought that a 330 with HB's would be great sounding. What's the deal on these? Has anyone here played, owned one?

Edited by gnappi
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Well, after much digging on web pages, I finally found enough info to make buying one (an aquamarine sample) practical. I was looking at another hollow body HB equipped the "Seventy Seven Exrubato Jazz" and decided that the Gibson will work for me at a similar price point. More to come after it arrives.

Edited by gnappi
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ES330's are similar to Epi Casino's only the Gibson Premium version.

 

Most 330's have P90's. HB's in a Hollow Body Guitar might be even more challenging than the P90's when it comes to feedback.

 

I have to say I've never seen or played one though.. They seem pretty rare. It will be interesting to hear your Review..

 

Good luck,

 

L

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ES330's are similar to Epi Casino's only the Gibson Premium version.

 

Most 330's have P90's. HB's in a Hollow Body Guitar might be even more challenging than the P90's when it comes to feedback.

 

I have to say I've never seen or played one though.. They seem pretty rare. It will be interesting to hear your Review..

 

Good luck,

 

L

 

I'm looking forward to getting it, though I have to say... I have an ES175 (Steve Howe had no problem with his live at ear shattering volumes) an ES-150, Tal Farlow and ES-195 (all HB equipped) and at sane volume levels (I abhor overdrive and anything remotely resembling it) I don't expect and issues with feedback for my purposes :-)

More to come.

 

 

 

 

 

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Well, it came in today. I had no intention of keeping as it left Gibson so the nits I have are no biggie. For the first time in my life I bought a git to tailor make for myself.

I'm expecting from Gibson a solid git without defects that can be made playable after that these are to me nits.

Setup from that factory was laughably unplayable. Whatever material Gibson is using for the nut, rots... it pings pings and jumps, the witch hat knobs are useless for visually adjusting whilst standing, and the pups as I fully expected are Waayyy, too bright and shrill. I will install a pick guard straight away. The factory installed round wound strings are the noisiest under the finger I've ever heard, I use Elixr nano web strings that play like silk compared to the factory installed strings. No biggie on all of these, the knobs and pups will go into the case for the next owner that my heirs sell it to :-)

 

As far as the git goes, the neck is wonderful. Not too slim, not too fat. It weighs in a 6lb. 10 oz, and balances perfectly on my leg... ergonomically the best Gibson DC I own.

After setup (with the bridge adjustment wheel flat on the bottom "stability" wheel) it plays like most Gibson semis but the length overall is ~2" shorter than a semi 3xx and playing past the 13th fret some will have problems. I don't play much up there so no biggie. The acoustic character is quite loud for a thin git, about equal to my Cort Triggs. Fretwork was fine, as was fit and finish. Actually, the finish is better than I expected and I may leave it unbuffed for a while.

 

I intended to change the BB pups even before I pulled the trigger on the 330. I've owned Gibson gits since I was a teen (mid 60's) and these pups sound nothing like a vintage Gibson. Maybe like a SD "Jazz" pup which is just about as bright and shrill. Surprisingly in my 2017 335 the BB's sound much better than these, I'm easily able to EQ the shrillness out of the BB's in it.

 

At any rate, over the years, I've acquired a small collection of pups in trades and outright purchases (I've never replaced a pup on a Gibson, I generally don't buy gits I don't like) waiting for this 330. The neck pup will be one of these I have on hand:

Bartolini PBF 49, Bartolini PBF 55, Gibson 57, or Benedetto B6

 

The bridge pup will eventually be one of these:

Gibson 57, Benedetto A6, or possibly a Schaller Golden.I also have some old MIJ Ibanez Super 58's that I may fool around with.

 

Oh, one final thought. The case it came with is THE cheesiest looking I've seen. With only three dully finished latches, and flat top it looks and feels more like a cheep import than something out of Gibson. As it is, it protects the git and I expect that's enough.

Edited by gnappi
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Well, it came in today. I had no intention of keeping as it left Gibson so the nits I have are no biggie. For the first time in my life I bought a git to tailor make for myself.

I'm expecting from Gibson a solid git without defects that can be made playable after that these are to me nits.

Setup from that factory was laughably unplayable. Whatever material Gibson is using for the nut, rots... it pings pings and jumps, the witch hat knobs are useless for visually adjusting whilst standing, and the pups as I fully expected are Waayyy, too bright and shrill. I will install a pick guard straight away. The factory installed round wound strings are the noisiest under the finger I've ever heard, I use Elixr nano web strings that play like silk compared to the factory installed strings. No biggie on all of these, the knobs and pups will go into the case for the next owner that my heirs sell it to :-)

 

As far as the git goes, the neck is wonderful. Not too slim, not too fat. It weighs in a 6lb. 10 oz, and balances perfectly on my leg... ergonomically the best Gibson DC I own.

After setup (with the bridge adjustment wheel flat on the bottom "stability" wheel) it plays like most Gibson semis but the length overall is ~2" shorter than a semi 3xx and playing past the 13th fret some will have problems. I don't play much up there so no biggie. The acoustic character is quite loud for a thin git, about equal to my Cort Triggs. Fretwork was fine, as was fit and finish. Actually, the finish is better than I expected and I may leave it unbuffed for a while.

 

I intended to change the BB pups even before I pulled the trigger on the 330. I've owned Gibson gits since I was a teen (mid 60's) and these pups sound nothing like a vintage Gibson. Maybe like a SD "Jazz" pup which is just about as bright and shrill. Surprisingly in my 2017 335 the BB's sound much better than these, I'm easily able to EQ the shrillness out of the BB's in it.

 

At any rate, over the years, I've acquired a small collection of pups in trades and outright purchases (I've never replaced a pup on a Gibson, I generally don't buy gits I don't like) waiting for this 330. The neck pup will be one of these I have on hand:

Bartolini PBF 49, Bartolini PBF 55, Gibson 57, or Benedetto B6

 

The bridge pup will eventually be one of these:

Gibson 57, Benedetto A6, or possibly a Schaller Golden.I also have some old MIJ Ibanez Super 58's that I may fool around with.

 

Oh, one final thought. The case it came with is THE cheesiest looking I've seen. With only three dully finished latches, and flat top it looks and feels more like a cheep import than something out of Gibson. As it is, it protects the git and I expect that's enough.

 

Out of curiousity, why buy an ES330 with Humbuckers as opposed to the normal P90's that the majority have? Which are wonderful Guitars. Why not buy an ES335?

Edited by Larsongs
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Out of curiousity, why buy an ES330 with Humbuckers as opposed to the normal P90's that the majority have? Which are wonderful Guitars. Why not buy an ES335?

 

Good question(s).

I already have a CS 330L with P90's so I have that covered as well as a number of other Gibson semis (including 335's) with HB's but that hollow body with the neck join @ 16 just hit a "chord". The 330 with HB's is nothing like a 335, or any other semi I've owned. I first saw one watching some of Emily Remler's jazzy stuff, and I did not have to cut up a 330 P-90 to get one, and I like the dot markers. :-)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

post-48589-076278200 1550901483_thumb.jpg

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I have a recent Memphis ES335 Dot with MHS HB's that is a sweet Guitar. Reminds me a lot of my old '59 ES345 with PAF's. I have 3 Casino's with P90's which are probably my favorite Guitars.. I've got a few other Gibsons, Fenders & Rocs too.. All are Tools & do something different...

 

I've never seen or played an ES330 with HB's! You've got me curious what it sounds like?

 

L

Edited by Larsongs
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I have a recent Memphis ES335 Dot with MHS HB's that is a sweet Guitar. Reminds me a lot of my old '59 ES345 with PAF's. I have 3 Casino's with P90's which are probably my favorite Guitars.. I've got a few other Gibsons, Fenders & Rocs too.. All are Tools & do something different...

 

I've never seen or played an ES330 with HB's! You've got me curious what it sounds like?

 

L

The 330 HB does to the vibe of HB's what P90 equipped 330 or Casinos do for P90's.

 

With Nanoweb strings and the EQ adjusted to take the shrillness off of the BB's it's very much a more woody sound, and the git vibrates and sounds much more like a thin line 175 than anything else. Even though I could easily live with the BB's eventually I'm going to get the Bartolini or 57 pairs I have in it. As a tool it fits a unique sonic niche for sure, well unless you have a thin line 175.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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I already have a CS 330L with P90's

Hey, that's my guitar you've got there on the left! It's amazing how differently the Beale Street Blue finish photographs in various lighting situations - from quite dark, to a translucent lighter blue with significant amounts of visible grain.

 

Your new 330 w/humbuckers sounds like an interesting variation on the theme. Enjoy!

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Hey, that's my guitar you've got there on the left! It's amazing how differently the Beale Street Blue finish photographs in various lighting situations - from quite dark, to a translucent lighter blue with significant amounts of visible grain.

 

Your new 330 w/humbuckers sounds like an interesting variation on the theme. Enjoy!

 

Right UR on all accounts! My Beale seems the same color in every light, but I've seen some that look totally different especially on 335's with a figured top. It looks like you could dive in and go swimming!

I plugged the new 330 in my little Marshall JTM30 for the first time tonight, very cool! I've been playing it in my Polytone and it's a totally different git in the JTM.

 

 

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  • 6 months later...
On 2/21/2019 at 7:55 AM, Larsongs said:

 

Out of curiousity, why buy an ES330 with Humbuckers as opposed to the normal P90's that the majority have? Which are wonderful Guitars. Why not buy an ES335?

 

330 is "woodsier" than my 335 and with HB pickemups there is no threat of hum from dirty power sources. That's an issue here in DougTuckey OR.

Also 330 is lighter and better balanced, at least in sitting position, that my 335.

Still further this model set me back $1400 and I simply am not willing at this time to part with $2500+ for a good used "non studio??" 330.

The satin walnut speaks to me in it's simple beauty.

I don't mind taking this out on the front porch due to it's relative inexpensiveness and I can play it w/out amp...sorta. 🙄

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