LegacyCore Posted September 10, 2020 Share Posted September 10, 2020 I purchased my first Gibson guitar about a week ago a 2014 Gibson Memphis ES-335 Studio. I absolutely love the stripped down simplified form of this guitar. But it is hard to find any info on this guitar, and the info I do find it seems to list both the 2014 and the 2015 in the same group. Both have the simplified single master tone/volume pots, the output jack is on the side instead of on the top, Grover tuners, maple block, and no pick guard. But I came across a video from NAMM 2015 in the Gibson booth where they claimed there are improvements with the 2015 Studio but they didn't go into detail. Now I cannot find a comparison of either guitar, hell I can't find actual build sheets on either guitar. Does anybody know the different between the two? What were the improvements made in the 2015 model over the 2014? I guess in the long run it does not matter because I have a 2014, but curiosity is besting me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wmachine Posted September 11, 2020 Share Posted September 11, 2020 (edited) All you need is a time machine: https://web.archive.org/web/20151014213735/http://www.gibson.com/Products/Electric-Guitars/2015/Memphis/ES-335-Studio.aspx https://web.archive.org/web/20141019141951/http://www2.gibson.com/Products/Electric-Guitars/ES/Gibson-Memphis/2014/ES-339-Studio.aspx BTW, I have a 2016 and I'm really impressed with it. Edited September 11, 2020 by Wmachine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
merciful-evans Posted September 11, 2020 Share Posted September 11, 2020 The 1st link Wmachine put up finds the 2015 studio specs. It looks identical to the 339 Studios of that year (I have one). From the 2 finishes, the torrefied maple fingerboard to the 57 Classics. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevo58 Posted September 13, 2020 Share Posted September 13, 2020 (edited) I have a wine red 2015, and for the most part love the guitar. (Half-) Significant changes to 2014: different truss rod, rounded fingerboard edges, locking bridge and tailpiece. Insignificant change: f-hole on trc. Mine has black binding on the body and fingerboard, I assume the ginger burst has it, too. That may have been new in 2015. To my taste, the black-on-wine red is very restrained and elegant, and not so in-your-face as white or ivory would be. What I don’t like: the binding is not scraped, not even on the dot side, so the the position markers are wine red on black. One of these days I’ll scrape it myself. I’m not a fan of the baked maple fingerboard - I find it very rough, but usable. I would have much preferred Richlite. I played Teles for 40 years, so the single vol/tone makes sense to me, but I confess it looks goofy on a 335. All in all I like the guitar, and it is my go-to when I want a humbucker guitar (but I only have one other; an LP) but generally I prefer P90s or (not so much any more) Fender single coils. Lately I’ve been playing it more and more. Works very well with a Twin. Some day the pots will have to be switched out, then I’ll probably drill it out for 4 controls and put sealed pots in it. I don’t understand why sealed pots aren’t used in every open guitar. Steven Edited September 13, 2020 by stevo58 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
merciful-evans Posted September 13, 2020 Share Posted September 13, 2020 For me the Studio was my preferred choice. It wasn't about saving any money. I wanted the maple neck. I wanted the torrefied maple fingerboard. I much prefer the simpler 2 master knobs arrangement. And no pickguard meant I didnt have to remove it and be left looking at a hole. The only things I like about the full fat versions are cosmetic. The logo inlays instead of gold silkscreen and the block inlays. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wmachine Posted September 14, 2020 Share Posted September 14, 2020 On 9/11/2020 at 8:25 AM, Wmachine said: All you need is a time machine: https://web.archive.org/web/20151014213735/http://www.gibson.com/Products/Electric-Guitars/2015/Memphis/ES-335-Studio.aspx https://web.archive.org/web/20141019141951/http://www2.gibson.com/Products/Electric-Guitars/ES/Gibson-Memphis/2014/ES-339-Studio.aspx BTW, I have a 2016 and I'm really impressed with it. Sorry, I pulled the 2014 339 by mistake. Actually by poor eyesight! Here is the 2014 335 https://web.archive.org/web/20140923163717/http://www2.gibson.com/products/electric-guitars/es/gibson-memphis/2014/es-335-studio.aspx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevo58 Posted September 14, 2020 Share Posted September 14, 2020 On 9/13/2020 at 12:46 PM, merciful-evans said: For me the Studio was my preferred choice. It wasn't about saving any money. I wanted the maple neck. I wanted the torrefied maple fingerboard. I much prefer the simpler 2 master knobs arrangement. And no pickguard meant I didnt have to remove it and be left looking at a hole. The only things I like about the full fat versions are cosmetic. The logo inlays instead of gold silkscreen and the block inlays. I agree completely with you - except for the fingerboard. As a matter of fact, when they came out, the red-with-black-binding appealed to me immediately. I think it is a very elegant, restrained combination, and I made up my mind immediately to buy one. As I said, I played Teles for decades, and the only 4-knob guitar I own (a highly modified Qing Dao Casino) still confuses me in the heat of a gig. I make heavy use of guitar volume and tone controls and I would always grab the wrong one. The studios aren’t in the lineup anymore, but the last one was creeping up in price close to the 335 Satin, so I suppose it no longer made sense. I’m glad I got mine when I did, as I haven’t seen these on the used market. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
merciful-evans Posted September 14, 2020 Share Posted September 14, 2020 59 minutes ago, stevo58 said: I agree completely with you - except for the fingerboard. As a matter of fact, when they came out, the red-with-black-binding appealed to me immediately. I think it is a very elegant, restrained combination, and I made up my mind immediately to buy one. As I said, I played Teles for decades, and the only 4-knob guitar I own (a highly modified Qing Dao Casino) still confuses me in the heat of a gig. I make heavy use of guitar volume and tone controls and I would always grab the wrong one. The studios aren’t in the lineup anymore, but the last one was creeping up in price close to the 335 Satin, so I suppose it no longer made sense. I’m glad I got mine when I did, as I haven’t seen these on the used market. Nice looking trio My preference for the heat treated maple FB is purely practical. I wear out rosewood. So much so, that I wont pay high prices for any rosewood FB guitar. Ebony, maple and artificial fingerboards are all safe for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevo58 Posted September 14, 2020 Share Posted September 14, 2020 16 minutes ago, merciful-evans said: Nice looking trio My preference for the heat treated maple FB is purely practical. I wear out rosewood. So much so, that I wont pay high prices for any rosewood FB guitar. Ebony, maple and artificial fingerboards are all safe for me. There are rosewoods, and there are rosewoods. I have a Prucha tenor banjo with the most amazing piece of rosewood I’ve ever seen as a fingerboard. It’s not pretty, but nearly as fine-grained as ebony, and hard as can be. The banjo is played heavily and I see no wear on it at all. No idea what species it is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LegacyCore Posted September 15, 2020 Author Share Posted September 15, 2020 Wow! Thanks for all the responses, I actually forgot I posted this up. I snagged my 2014 Studio not long ago as I wanted the more simplified guitar. I only really need the single tone/volume master knobs, and I don't like the pickguard on the 335's. And it wasn't a big deal to me in the beginning as I've never owned a guitar with binding. But with mine being all ebony in color, the no binding looks really good to me. The factory pickups sound great, in fact the only things I've done to mine is put on a set of GraphTech Ratio locking tuners (If you've never heard of those, I urge you to look into them.) I feel every guitar needs locking tuners... I also ordered a "post" 2014 Gibson GraphTech black TUSQ XL nut as the one on the guitar seems to be made of plastic, and the clear coating is peeling off and looks gross. Oh, and for fun I had a custom engraved TRC made that says "Memphis". Always thought a blank TRC was a missed opportunity. I've got a friend who has a brand new set of GraphTech saddles that will fit the guitar he said I can have for free, so once I have them in hand I might try them out on the next string change. The contact point for strings can never be too slick IMO, and GraphTech makes great product. I do wish the 2014 had the upgraded truss rod, somebody mentioned rounded fingerboard edges, but the ones on mine feel great so don't think I'm missing out there. Also, you say locking bridge was on the 2015 but not the 2014? Is that the two tiny allen screws in the front of the bridge so it doesn't move with the adjustment wheels? Because my 2014 has that as well. Thanks again everybody! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevo58 Posted September 16, 2020 Share Posted September 16, 2020 Yeah that’s it, but the 2015 added a locking tailpiece, too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LegacyCore Posted September 16, 2020 Author Share Posted September 16, 2020 7 hours ago, stevo58 said: Yeah that’s it, but the 2015 added a locking tailpiece, too. Must be nice!! Then again, that can be added if really needed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevo58 Posted September 16, 2020 Share Posted September 16, 2020 27 minutes ago, LegacyCore said: Must be nice!! Then again, that can be added if really needed. To be honest, I never saw any particular point to it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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