[Joe Bonamassa ES-335]

Just played a Joe Bonamassa model ES-335 at the Guitar Center in Boston... and I'm still drooling. Finish work is great on it - aged metal parts, aged binding, sunburst color, etc. Plays beautifully - really comfy neck shape.

BUT THE TONE...OH LORDY, THE TONE!!!!!

Thick, rich, detailed, lovely tone.

Amazing range of sounds available, too - the tone and volume knobs create a huge variation in sound options.

It's $2999.99 - lots of dough, for sure, but a bargain compared to so many other guitars in their Platinum Room.

 

They only had 1 in stock. Salesman told us only 100 were made (not sure if that's a fact or not), so very few stores even have 1...but if you can find one to play, check it out.

If I weren't currently unemployed, it would hav come home with me for sure.

 

Fat neck, slim neck?

[Es-335 vs. Es-345]

I honestly don't even know what the price difference is for new models, but there's no doubt that vintage 335's have been pricier for many years. The popularity and the fanbase and the preference (the "premium" put on 335's) is largely about "lore" (dotnecks with paf's, Clapton having played a 335, etc etc). I'll bet the vast majority of 335 owners have never tried a 345 or a 355. And I'm not saying that 335's aren't great guitars, or that varitones and stereo wiring are necessarily great features. I just think it's mostly driven by "I want what he has" (like you mentioned in your first post... people don't think creatively or individually). Even since I got my '62 Epi Sheraton (even before, actually), I've been tempted to tell people to be a little different and get a Riviera or a Sheraton with mini-hb's. Very under-appreciated guitars, imo.

 

 

Ditto on the SHERATION if you can find a "good one." My experience says it's a slim chance of finding one where the string vibration makes more noise than the frets.