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335 vs 330


Andre S

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Like Fred61, I too want a Gibson ES guitar. I managed to knock out the 339, because of the size, it doesn't work for me.

 

I've narrowed it down to the ES 335 Satin and ES 330.

The 330 as of now is on sale and hopefully the sale will be on next christmas too.

 

I know some of the main differences hollow vs semi hollow, p-90s vs humbuckers.

 

I like the 330 because of the block inlays and other aesthetics.

 

Is there any feedback if I used a 330 through a Fender Super Champ and an OD pedal like the Boss blues driver?

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I think the 330 is the most under-appreciated guitar in the Gibson lineup.

 

It's lightweight (about 6 pounds), has a super fast neck, great action, and wonderful P90 tone. Plus it is resonant enough to play as an acoustic.

 

It's only problem is the tendency to feedback at high volumes, but I've never run into that problem (I usually play at 100db or less, use a direct/fx/amp-sim box and don't stand right in front of the main speakers).

 

With a little distortion, you can make a P90 sound almost like a humbucker, but there is nothing you can do to make a humbucker sound like a P90. IMHO it is the best pickup you can get.

 

Of course, any single-coil pickup can pick up some hum, but the music and ambient noise in any venue is so much louder than the hum, that it is no issue for the gigging musician. And if it is, there are sets of P90s available where one pickup is RPRW so selecting both pickups cancels the hum (but adds a bit of the humbucker tone and response).

 

I have a 1970 ES-330 (Kalamazoo) and I dearly love it. When the price of used ones skyrocketed to over $5,000.00 I bought a used Epiphone Casino to take to the gig (this was before Gibson re-issued the 330). I play sax, flute, wind synthesizer, guitar, vocals, drum controller and sometimes keyboards on stage. I didn't want to take a chance on having an accident with my $5,000.00 guitar.

 

The previous owner put Duncan P90s in the Casino, the result is the Gibson sounds better as an acoustic, but the Casino sounds better plugged in. In both cases the difference is minimal.

 

I would not trade either one of them in for anything. They are my favorite guitars.

 

Unless you play extremely loud and stand right in front of the amp, I would recommend the ES-330.

 

GuitarCousins3.JPG

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I played both, I didn't care for the 330 as much. I like Humbuckers, I guess it might be that, and it just felt right. It is up to you, but I did a ton of research, playing them, reading reviews and all of that. I would suggest finding a way to play one and just rip. I also tried them out with as many different amps as I could.

 

Good luck and I am going to save up for the Satin finish ES-335 in black (I still don't get why the call it transparent :- )

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I played both' date=' I didn't care for the 330 as much. I like Humbuckers, I guess it might be that, and it just felt right. It is up to you, but I did a ton of research, playing them, reading reviews and all of that. I would suggest finding a way to play one and just rip. I also tried them out with as many different amps as I could.

 

Good luck and I am going to save up for the Satin finish ES-335 in black (I still don't get why the call it transparent [biggrin )

 

Hmm, I may be in the US next year, so I would have the opportunity hopefully to try out some.

 

If the price of the 330 doesn't fall to 1999 again during another sale, then it may come between 339 and 335.

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Gibson's current "330" is actually a ES-330 "L"...for long neck. The original 330's have a deeper

set neck, and less upper fret access. Great guitars, in their own right, for sure. But...I've always

preferred the ES-335, both for upper fret access and humbucker tone/quietness. (No 60 cycle hum)

The ES-330 L...will give you identical upper fret access, however. So, I guess it would boil down to

what pickup tone, you prefer, and whether or not you like semi or full hollow body. Full hollow bodies

tend to feed back, a lot sooner, at higher volumes, than the semi's do. Still, they're both great

guitars.

 

CB

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I like my 330 very much, but if it were an either/or situation I'd go with the 335 hands-down. They are very different guitars, and I find the 330 to have a very distinct sound and personality, whereas the 335 is more of an "all 'rounder" if you get my drift. Personally if the 330 had humbuckers it would go up a notch on my list, but that's just me. I find that while P90's have a cool sound, they are not as versatile as humbuckers and also sit very high on the guitar physically, often intruding on my picking.

 

Having said all that, I do love how it's got its own thing happening. Mine keeps asking for a Bigsby, but it ain't happening this Christmas unfortunately...

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The Gibson ES 330 is without question a great guitar love them but the ES 335 is like another fella mentioned a all around guitar and if thats what your looking for the ES 335 is just that and it will take you places the ES 330 wont .

 

Been playing since the mid 1960s and my thoughts are the best guitar ever made could very well be the Gibson ES 335 and Ive played Fender , Gretsch , Epiphone and Gibson over the years and still do .

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