falconbill

If your 335 is a 2014, it's a one piece fingerboard. 2012 was the year of the laminate boards. Agree, Gibson is putting out some fine 335s but they do need to be set up, like you mentioned. Other thing I've noticed is the tail pieces usually seem to be screwed all the way down and the strings end up resting against the back of the bridge. You mileage my vary, but for me the tone and sustain is better if the strings only rest on the saddles, so in lieu of raising the tailpiece, I top wrapped the strings to get them off the back edge of the bridge.

For your budget, get a real 335 and don't look back. They are so versatile you can do anything from jazz to rock to country to blues to even metal with the right amp. And they hold their value pretty well so if you want to resell it, no problem. I'm a Les Paul guy, but I love my 335 - it has a growl all it's own and is just so lively sounding and resonent. Just make sure it has a good neck with no bumps or twists. And the thickness and taper of the necks can vary quite a bit on the different models and years so find one that's comfortable for you. .

I have a '99 40th anniversary model with the killer ice tea top and it's an amazing R9. Previous owner had installed a couple of Tom Holmes PAFs and it sounds incredible.

Congrats on your R8. Gibson's CS is cranking out some great looking R8s these days.

#1 - try out a 57, 58, 59 and 60s reissue if you can. I don't have big hands either and none of these models have baseball bat necks. They're all comfortabe to me. About the only thing I don't like are really thin necks like Ibanez Wizard type necks. #2 - Custom shop models are more expensive, but totally worth it if you can afford it. Better finishes, better craftmanship, etc. Don't overlook used custom shop LPs. You can find great used reissues for $4K or less. #3 - Burstbuckers are Humbuckers. I personally don't like Burstbuckers in LPs (but they sound great in my 335), but a lot of people like them. I never worry about what kind of PUs come on a LP because they are easy to change out and really, Burstbuckers are perfectly fine. You're amp choice is way more important. I look at playability (action, comfort, how well it sustains notes) and the quality of the workmanship. You don't even have to plug it in to test that.