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NGD - Epiphone ES-339 Pro


RevDavidLee

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It's kind of my reaction to Gibson's 2015 price hikes I guess but I have been really looking at the Epiphone line not just because of much more reasonable prices but because based on my last two Epiphone purchases - the quality & appointments have really been stepped up.

 

My first Epi purchase was the pelham blue Joe Bonanassa LP Pro last year, more recently my wine red Epi ES-175, and today the vintage sunburst ES-339 Pro. Musicians Friend has them on sale for $329 so I jumped. And additional $89 for the appropriate Epiphone case.

 

I'm curious what other owners of the Epi ES-339 think about them especially those of you who have owned them for awhile now. The reviews online seem to be good but I'm curious about opinions here because of the high volume of Gibson guitar owners like myself on this forum that can easily draw comparisons. Thanks for reading - here's a couple of pics from online stock photos:

 

epiphone-eclub-2014-es-339-p90-pro-vintage-sunburst.jpg

 

71xJFjObx7L._SL1200_.jpg

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I've been playing the humbucker version for a year and I still love it.

 

Only thing not ideal for me, is the D profile neck but that seems prevalent on the majority of semi-hollow guitars. I used to play an Oscar Schmidt semi-hollow and that was the same. Other people love the D shape so that's no criticism of these wonderful guitars.

 

Factory strings on mine were terrible and that's no real problem when you can swap them for your favourite set. One thing I did that improved playability, from the point of view of bends, was to raise the stop bar a bit.

 

Congrats on your new guitar Rev, I bought 4 new guitars last year so I am well covered now. I won't be buying any more this year but one can never say 'never'!

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I've been playing the humbucker version for a year and I still love it.

 

Only thing not ideal for me, is the D profile neck but that seems prevalent on the majority of semi-hollow guitars. I used to play an Oscar Schmidt semi-hollow and that was the same. Other people love the D shape so that's no criticism of these wonderful guitars.

 

Factory strings on mine were terrible and that's no real problem when you can swap them for your favourite set. One thing I did that improved playability, from the point of view of bends, was to raise the stop bar a bit.

 

Congrats on your new guitar Rev, I bought 4 new guitars last year so I am well covered now. I won't be buying any more this year but one can never say 'never'!

 

Yeah I hear you - never say never. I'd be okay if I'd just stay off this damn internet. [blush]

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I had had my ES-339 Pro in natural (HB model) for a few weeks now. Just a well made, great playing and sounding guitar. I really like the coil split feature on the HB model Just feels like a quality guitar, and I've had a few during my nearly 60 years of playing.

 

The neck shape felt strange at first, I had never had one with that shape before, but now that I have had it a while, I find that I really like it. My problem now is only being able to put it down and play some of my others.

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I had had my ES-339 Pro in natural (HB model) for a few weeks now. Just a well made, great playing and sounding guitar. I really like the coil split feature on the HB model Just feels like a quality guitar, and I've had a few during my nearly 60 years of playing.

 

The neck shape felt strange at first, I had never had one with that shape before, but now that I have had it a while, I find that I really like it. My problem now is only being able to put it down and play some of my others.

 

That's good to hear [thumbup] Got a notification from UPS earlier this afternoon and mine will be delivered tomorrow. I'll take some photos as soon as she arrives & post em up here.

 

I've only been playing for 45 years so you got me in the experience department brother :)

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I have been kicking myself repeatedly for ignoring semi-hollow options (except for a Ric 12 string) for so long.

 

I love my UJ Sheraton but as Eddie Van Halen once said, a big-bodied 335-size Roy Orbison guitar can look awkward at times.

 

Enter the 339 and 356. I actually tried the 356 at a MARS music store at least 10 years ago - so ignorant was I that at first I though 'Hang on, these 335s aren't as big as they look!' only to later realize my error and the nature of the 339/356. Frankly, I'm surprised it took so long for Gibson to pursue what seems an obvious path with a smaller-bodied ES model.

 

Now that I'm hooked on the gateway drug of one ES model, I'm really looking to acquire another i.e. one of the smaller bodied models. It will be a 'beater' for gigs so with a nut change and a proper setup it had better stay in tune!

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I had had my ES-339 Pro in natural (HB model) for a few weeks now. Just a well made, great playing and sounding guitar. I really like the coil split feature on the HB model Just feels like a quality guitar, and I've had a few during my nearly 60 years of playing.

 

The neck shape felt strange at first, I had never had one with that shape before, but now that I have had it a while, I find that I really like it. My problem now is only being able to put it down and play some of my others.

I wouldn't really call that a problem

lol

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Sounds as nice as it looks toomsp_smile.gif. I haven't played/heard the P90 version..but I would think it sounds darn excellent also. With the P93 Riviera's, I'm all set with P90 style guitars, for a while...msp_smile.gifmsp_sleep.gif I'm interested in your review when you obtain yours, that thing looks great too msp_thumbup.gif

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Haven't played it thru an amp yet - heading off to do that now - initial impressions are WOW because the setup is perfect, the fit & finish are flawless, the neck feels wonderful and is very playable - very nice action! Guys - this is a whole lot of guitar for $329. I'm really surprised to be honest. BUT it will be determined in how she sounds amplified (sounds real good not plugged in though!) and how well she holds tune. Back after while. :-({|=

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I recently bought a black '56 Les Paul Pro with those P90s in it. The thing SCREAMS. You will like. That guitar is next for me, probably a black one and I'll make it look just like the Les Paul.

 

rct

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Haven't played it thru an amp yet - heading off to do that now - initial impressions are WOW because the setup is perfect, the fit & finish are flawless, the neck feels wonderful and is very playable - very nice action! Guys - this is a whole lot of guitar for $329. I'm really surprised to be honest. BUT it will be determined in how she sounds amplified (sounds real good not plugged in though!) and how well she holds tune. Back after while. :-({|=

 

Glad to hear you're so happy with it!

 

I felt the exact same way about the Epiphone Dot I bought last November. Just a helluva nice guitar. Epiphone has really stepped up their game.

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Sorry I didn't get back in here last night - I played the guitar until after midnight :o

 

It only took a few minutes to stretch the strings out & then the guitar held tune perfectly throughout the rest of the evening. It truly is a joy to play and the tone was well above it's price point. You all know I own a bunch of Gibson guitars and I believe that gives me some credentials on comparing the differences between the Epiphone models I own & the pricier Gibson lines. I cannot believe they can produce a product like this for $329 that doesn't feel like a toy. This is a great guitar - not just for the money - it's simply just a great guitar period.

 

The pups are perfect. No replacements needed here guys. They were very articulate on clean and as edgy and punchy as you would expect them to be when the amp gain was cranked and with overdrive pedals as well. I just couldn't find anything I didn't like about the guitar. I'm very please with my purchase here. [thumbup]

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I recently bought a black '56 Les Paul Pro with those P90s in it. The thing SCREAMS. You will like. That guitar is next for me, probably a black one and I'll make it look just like the Les Paul.

 

rct

 

You were right rct (as usual) [thumbup][thumbup][thumbup]

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Hey Rev . Nice guitar i like VB guitars and if they are the p90 pros they sound good . I have both p90s but the pros are really good pickups . Enjoy [thumbup]

 

They really do - I'm guessing a set of these pups are what - a $100? So the rest of the guitar's price is minimal. It's win win! :)

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Good! And like you, I've got a life time of Fenders and Gibsons, and only recently started looking hard at the Epiphones. I have a 175 Premium and the Les Paul 1956 PRO and I can't believe how good these guitars are, without the "for the money" at the end. I have a couple more in mind, both of the 339s will do me and maybe a full hollow P90 guitar, Casino Coupe because it is the right size.

 

I also need to take a whack at a Les Paul Tribute thingy, looks like a nice guitar.

 

I think what has happened is that Epiphone has gotten light years better at their higher end stuff and Gibson, as usual, just doesn't do cheap good at all, not like Fender does cheap good. So the only middle is Epiphone. Hecks, if my Gibsons sit too long I'll trade them all for somethin fancy!

 

rct

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I've got that 56 Lester in blue and it's just fabulous.

 

I don't know what the thinking over at Gibson/Epiphone is right now, but if they're trying to blow the competition from Fender/Squier out if the water, they've succeeded

 

I will say that there have been a couple of nice Modern Player guitars out of Fender in the same price range as the current crop of Epiphones, but penny for penny the Epis are simply better built and better sounding guitars than almost anything Fender/Squier is putting out.

 

I will say that when the 2015 Gibsons were announced, the left over lower end non-robotic 2013s were heavily discounted and I leapt at a LP Studio, as well as a LP 50's tribute which also comes with soap bar P90s. The Studio is good but not great, the 50s tribute came with fret ends so sharp you could take a finger off if you weren't careful, and across the entire fretboard they were also way high.

 

By contrast the Epis I have purchased in the last couple of years, acoustic as well as electric,have been uniformly fine guitars. Not always sounding the way I like, but still fine guitars and almost perfectly set up each time.

 

The TV Pelham Blue ES355, the LP Florentine PRO (again with those soap bar P90s), and LP 56 have all been outstanding guitars. Not once have I ever picked one of them up and wished for the Gibson version of same.

 

And I am still thinking about that ES339 P90 PRO as well.

 

You've just about got me sold Rev...

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