Greetings. So, my two main guitars are a 2012 335 and a 1989 175. The 335 is near perfect for me. It seems to know where my hands are going before I do. However, I'm primarily a jazz play, so for solo or small combo gigs I like to play my 175, which with the mahogany back and sides, sounds just wonderful. (Not that I can't get a nice jazz tone out of my 335.) I have them set up almost identically - same strings, same action/string height, nut width, etc. The neck profiles are pretty close as well (1st fret is .815 on the 335 and .822 on the 175). However, I'm not sure why they feel so different under my fingers. The 175 is not nearly as fast as the 335 and I seem to have to work harder and to be more intentional with my fingers. It's just not as natural to play. Could it be just because the 175 is close to needing a fret job? Are there other factors I'm not considering like string length from nut to tailpiece? Thanks for your thoughts.
Hi Skipburz
My first post. I had the same question and ended up here.
I bought the ES-335 for the very reason you mentioned. My fingers just seemed to drift to the right spot. I was more than amazed to hear someone else with a similar experience. I thought I was hallucinating and tried out several in various shops in London and Dubai, and the experience was the same. I must add though when it came to buying one, confusion set in but I was lucky to have a salesman from Anderton's (Guildford, Surrey, England) who knew a lot about the history of the ES-335's neck profiles, which I have mostly forgotten :-(
Armed with that background, I was able to identify the profile that suited me and took it from there. I still do not know the science behind it; thinner profile? wider fret distances? higher frets? slightly longer neck? deeper set into body? - Or as the guys said, body depth. I haven't a clue but it works, Yet the initial magic from my first three demos is still my best experience, which has led me to explore the ES-175 (used of course) or the budget elusive L5.
Thanks for posing the question. In terms of an alternative and affordable jazz guitar; my Epiphone Sheraton (ES-335 tribute) has an awesome tone with flats albeit after 18 months of searching for and fixing manufacturing faults (who in the world chisels out a nut seat). It is a beast to play with its cheaper heavier woods and a large headstock - I tire easily. I pushed it last summer and ended up with serious back problems for 3 months. As a consequence, my wife approved the ES-335 budget PDQ - there must be easier ways!
Reading the posts here (thanks everyone) I think an ES-175 may be beyond my ability or physiology and for now I'll stick with the ES-335 or maybe even a second one from the used market.
ES-175 vs 335 Neck Feel
in Gibson ES
Posted · Edited by Tonyde
typos and grammar
Hi Skipburz
My first post. I had the same question and ended up here.
I bought the ES-335 for the very reason you mentioned. My fingers just seemed to drift to the right spot. I was more than amazed to hear someone else with a similar experience. I thought I was hallucinating and tried out several in various shops in London and Dubai, and the experience was the same. I must add though when it came to buying one, confusion set in but I was lucky to have a salesman from Anderton's (Guildford, Surrey, England) who knew a lot about the history of the ES-335's neck profiles, which I have mostly forgotten :-(
Armed with that background, I was able to identify the profile that suited me and took it from there. I still do not know the science behind it; thinner profile? wider fret distances? higher frets? slightly longer neck? deeper set into body? - Or as the guys said, body depth. I haven't a clue but it works, Yet the initial magic from my first three demos is still my best experience, which has led me to explore the ES-175 (used of course) or the budget elusive L5.
Thanks for posing the question. In terms of an alternative and affordable jazz guitar; my Epiphone Sheraton (ES-335 tribute) has an awesome tone with flats albeit after 18 months of searching for and fixing manufacturing faults (who in the world chisels out a nut seat). It is a beast to play with its cheaper heavier woods and a large headstock - I tire easily. I pushed it last summer and ended up with serious back problems for 3 months. As a consequence, my wife approved the ES-335 budget PDQ - there must be easier ways!
Reading the posts here (thanks everyone) I think an ES-175 may be beyond my ability or physiology and for now I'll stick with the ES-335 or maybe even a second one from the used market.
Tony
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