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Do I need a 330?

Boca Bob

By Boca Bob
in Gibson Custom

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Boca Bob

Boca Bob

Posted
Posted

OK, I have a few great Gibsons already (L5ces, 345, and LP Supreme). Just starting to get gas with the holidays coming, so I'm thinking about a 330 for Christmas. I don't see too many discussions on this forum where you all are excited beyond belief about getting one. It's mostly about archtops and the 335 line, which I have covered. I guess I'm asking if I really need to spend $3K+ just to get another "tone" or preset if you will. I'm not wealthy by any means (we're teachers), so if I'm not gonna think I died and went to heaven...

 

BTW, I've been following this forum for a couple of years now. Sorry I haven't contributed much. But I so enjoy reading your posts.

 

Thanks all,

Bob in South Florida

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Jayyj

Jayyj

Posted
Posted

If I could only have one electric guitar for the rest of my life, an ES-330 would be the one. The P90s are wonderful, very dynamic and responsive to pick attack, and the neck pickup capable of much sweeter, plummier tones than my ES-355. The light weight is great for a gig guitar. It sounds a little mushier than the 355 at high gain, but nothing a little EQ can't fix. Mine is an old one but I've heard nothing but good things about the recent NOS reissue.

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bobouz

bobouz

Posted
Posted

Oh yes, you need one!

 

The recent 330 VOS is the best (excluding vintage) of the 330/Casino bunch, imho. As always with Gibsons, try to sample a number of them. I was fortunate enough to be able to play three back to back. The first two didn't do much for me in tone or playability for assorted reasons, but the third made me weak at the knees..... couldn't leave the store without it.

 

There are a number of threads here and on the Les Paul Forum ("Other Gibsons") for good background info.

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Golden

Golden

Posted
Posted

Pretty much that's a consistent yes, we all need a 330. I missed a nice vintage TD here dicking around with the price earlier this year. I thought I'd give the guy a moment to think about the offer since there was a snow storm the day I talked to him. Mint 5-lbs. Needless to say someone went out in the storm to get it. I guess he wanted it more than I did?

 

Ah well, perhaps next time.

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Versatile

Versatile

Posted
Posted

Yes... [thumbup]...

 

And there have been posts/threads which have indicated great love for ES330's and Casinos...

 

Personal 'dream quiver' is an ES330 and an ES335...

 

Because they are near identical shape and size, yet complementary tonewise...

 

Between 'em able to cover most musics

 

Not forgetting the elegant beauty of the 'Mickey Mouse' aesthetic... <_<

 

V

 

:-({|=

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Aster1

Aster1

Posted
Posted

OK, I have a few great Gibsons already (L5ces, 345, and LP Supreme). Just starting to get gas with the holidays coming, so I'm thinking about a 330 for Christmas. I don't see too many discussions on this forum where you all are excited beyond belief about getting one.

Thanks all,

Bob in South Florida

 

Heck yes ya need a 330 either a FG or JG finish too. You'd maybe love a 360 as well if you like more appointment! [biggrin] Esp. since you already "have a few great Gibsons already" and such!! :rolleyes:

 

Have something that really sounds different from those other Gibby's for variety.

 

A 330 is one of my most fav guitars that I wouldn't do w/o for sure.

 

Aster

 

330FireGlo.jpg

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gnappi

gnappi

Posted
Posted
&amp;amp;lt;br /&amp;amp;gt;OK, I have a few great Gibsons already (L5ces, 345, and LP Supreme). Just starting to get gas with the holidays coming, so I'm thinking about a 330 for Christmas. I don't see too many discussions on this forum where you all are excited beyond belief about getting one. It's mostly about archtops and the 335 line, which I have covered. I guess I'm asking if I really need to spend $3K+ just to get another &amp;amp;amp;quot;tone&amp;amp;amp;quot; or preset if you will. I'm not wealthy by any means (we're teachers), so if I'm not gonna think I died and went to heaven...&amp;amp;lt;br /&amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;lt;br /&amp;amp;gt;BTW, I've been following this forum for a couple of years now. Sorry I haven't contributed much. But I so enjoy reading your posts.&amp;amp;lt;br /&amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;lt;br /&amp;amp;gt;Thanks all,&amp;amp;lt;br /&amp;amp;gt;Bob in South Florida&amp;amp;lt;br /&amp;amp;gt;

 

 

Hi Bob,We have very much the same taste in guitars. I have a 330 custom and an Epi Casino and for a guitar that's not going to be your main axe, an Epi Casino is every bit as playable and definitely suitable.

 

 

https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/936768_581812051840282_1443500518_n.jpg

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Aster1

Aster1

Posted
Posted

Man, I don't know the dif on the neck style but I do know my Elitist Casino (made in Japan) is an excellent piece of guitar work. Is the Gibson 330 a complete hollow body or does it have a center block thru it? With the trapeze I would presume full but I really don't know. Looks like a Elitist would be 1/2 the price. How different do they play or sound vs. a 330?

 

Aster

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bobouz

bobouz

Posted
Posted

Is the Gibson 330 a complete hollow body or does it have a center block thru it? With the trapeze I would presume full but I really don't know. Looks like a Elitist would be 1/2 the price.

Both the 330L and 330 VOS are completely hollow - no center block or post.

 

Imho, the biggest difference between the Elitist Casino and the recent 330s is in playability, which of course is a matter of personal preference. I find the Elitist neck to be a bit too narrow & thin. I can still work with it, but it's simply not as good of a fit for me compared to either of the 330s.

 

Tonally, the 330 VOS is the winner amongst my group. The Elitist is close, but the 330 VOS is even more resonant, punchy, and responsive, and that's saying a lot since the Elitist is very good. As for the 330L, mine has a somewhat darker tone which offers a nice change of pace, and more neck access with 19 frets clear of the body (but note that it is out of production).

 

Basically, they can all be highly satisfying instruments. Given the significant difference in price, the Elitist certainly represents a great value. Conversely, if cost is not an overriding consideration, the 330 VOS is really worth checking out.

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charlie brown

charlie brown

Posted
Posted

Heck yes ya need a 330 either a FG or JG finish too. You'd maybe love a 360 as well if you like more appointment! [biggrin] Esp. since you already "have a few great Gibsons already" and such!! :rolleyes:

 

Have something that really sounds different from those other Gibby's for variety.

 

A 330 is one of my most fav guitars that I wouldn't do w/o for sure.

 

Aster

 

330FireGlo.jpg

 

[biggrin][thumbup] [thumbup] [thumbup]

 

 

CB

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quapman

quapman

Posted
Posted

It's not a question of need.

 

It's how much of your nut sack will you have left after your wife see's another guitar come in the door.

 

If your boys are still intact,, I say go for it.

 

 

I still wanna talk to BadBluesPlayer to find out how he times those deliveries so well.

He's my hero.

 

[thumbup]

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Notes_Norton

Notes_Norton

Posted
Posted

It's not a question of need.

 

It's how much of your nut sack will you have left after your wife see's another guitar come in the door.

 

If your boys are still intact,, I say go for it.

 

 

I still wanna talk to BadBluesPlayer to find out how he times those deliveries so well.

He's my hero.

 

[thumbup]

My wife plays guitar too! She'll probably say, "Go for it!"

 

How lucky can one guy get?

 

Notes

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Flintc

Flintc

Posted
Posted

As far as I can tell, the differences between the Casino and the ES-330 aren't real large - there's a lot of overlap in the sound and playability. My old ears and hands can't tell all that much difference, to be honest. My eyes can see the logo, of course, and my wallet can feel the 5x price penalty for getting that logo.

 

My advice is, get a good amp, a $600 Casino, spend $50 for a good tech to level the frets (these Chinese Epiphones have top quality woods and construction, but the fretwork is sloppy). And maybe take of the Epiphone sticker from the pickguard (in fact, take off the whole pick guard), and stick a clip-on tuner over the headstock logo so the purists won't hear it with their eyes.

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quapman

quapman

Posted
Posted

As far as I can tell, the differences between the Casino and the ES-330 aren't real large - there's a lot of overlap in the sound and playability. My old ears and hands can't tell all that much difference, to be honest. My eyes can see the logo, of course, and my wallet can feel the 5x price penalty for getting that logo.

 

My advice is, get a good amp, a $600 Casino, spend $50 for a good tech to level the frets (these Chinese Epiphones have top quality woods and construction, but the fretwork is sloppy). And maybe take of the Epiphone sticker from the pickguard (in fact, take off the whole pick guard), and stick a clip-on tuner over the headstock logo so the purists won't hear it with their eyes.

 

I agree,, I was making that comparison myself today. Except not with the Casino it was just an Epi 335 Pro.

It played really nice. Most of the Les Paul's there is a clear difference between the Gibby and the Epi,, enough to justify

the cost. But I'm not so sure that difference is as clear. The Epi semi hollows I played today were all very sweet.

And all under 600 bucks...

 

I'm really thinkin about going back to get it on Monday.

mmmmmmm

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Jayyj

Jayyj

Posted
Posted

I'm going to go the opposite route and say you get what you pay for. The Chinese and Korean Epis are very good value for money and if you're on a tight budget or have an army of guitars and want to satisfy an itch for a 330 style guitar they're great. But a real 330 (or a Kalamazoo made or Elitist quality level Japanese Casino) is definitely in a different league. My '65 330 sounds incredibly resonant unplugged, and plugged in is far clearer and sweeter than any Chinese or Korean Casino I've come across. The Casinos always sound hard and glassy in comparison, not bad in their own right, but nowhere near the '65.

 

There seems to be a perception of 330s as being one of those models that are generally owned by people who already have a few 'serious' guitars - Les Pauls, 335s, Teles etc - and want something a bit different, and that they're treated as something of a novelty. As such, where people seem to appreciate the extra for a Gibson made Les Paul or 335 over an Epi, where it comes to 330s they go with the Chinese Casino and it reinforces the mentality of "fun guitar, but it'll never be my main instrument". It's a shame because they're no more inferior to Les Pauls and 335s than Jazzmasters are to Strats and Teles: perhaps a little quirkier, perhaps not suited to as many people as the big four, but a great guitar in their own right. I have maybe half a dozen nice electrics, but if I have a gig or a session and I'm only taking one guitar, it's always the 330.

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Versatile

Versatile

Posted
Posted

I'm going to go the opposite route and say you get what you pay for. The Chinese and Korean Epis are very good value for money and if you're on a tight budget or have an army of guitars and want to satisfy an itch for a 330 style guitar they're great. But a real 330 (or a Kalamazoo made or Elitist quality level Japanese Casino) is definitely in a different league. My '65 330 sounds incredibly resonant unplugged, and plugged in is far clearer and sweeter than any Chinese or Korean Casino I've come across. The Casinos always sound hard and glassy in comparison, not bad in their own right, but nowhere near the '65.

 

There seems to be a perception of 330s as being one of those models that are generally owned by people who already have a few 'serious' guitars - Les Pauls, 335s, Teles etc - and want something a bit different, and that they're treated as something of a novelty. As such, where people seem to appreciate the extra for a Gibson made Les Paul or 335 over an Epi, where it comes to 330s they go with the Chinese Casino and it reinforces the mentality of "fun guitar, but it'll never be my main instrument". It's a shame because they're no more inferior to Les Pauls and 335s than Jazzmasters are to Strats and Teles: perhaps a little quirkier, perhaps not suited to as many people as the big four, but a great guitar in their own right. I have maybe half a dozen nice electrics, but if I have a gig or a session and I'm only taking one guitar, it's always the 330.

 

Very well said... [thumbup]

 

And so very true...

 

IMO the ES330 has that certain je ne sais quoi which indicates that it will mature and be worth long term ownership...

 

This does not seem to happen with many oriental guitars(with certain exceptions like top end Gretsch's MIJ and some Fenders too)

 

At the end of the day it is all about 'value for money'

 

V

 

:-({|=

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