ADClope Posted July 8, 2022 Share Posted July 8, 2022 Looking at the ES-335's. Just curious the differences in these, is it just the finishes and tops? The figured appears to have the block inlay's which I like more than the dots, personally. There is about $1,000 difference between the satin and figured with the plain top gloss falling in the middle. Does it just come down to personal preferences for the aesthetics? Or are their hardware/fit and finish/care differences as well? I thought I read somewhere that folks had concerns over the satin models not receiving the same level of attention to detail as the plain tops and figured tops, is this true? Just trying to understand the differences between these 3 335 models. Also, is it best to buy a new one from Nashville, or find a used one from Memphis? That seems to be an opinionated topic as well... Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveFord Posted July 8, 2022 Share Posted July 8, 2022 I have a 2007 Satin which was kind of dull sounding (acoustically) until I buffed out the finish, then it came alive. Granted, that's an older one with no neck binding but I did have to spend some time getting the frets rounded off properly and the routing for the neck pick up had a lot of chipping. I have a later figured model which is very nice, you can tell they put more care into it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
merciful-evans Posted July 9, 2022 Share Posted July 9, 2022 Interesting take from Steve. Yet another reason to try as many as possible. The satin finish saves a lot of work buffing. The absence of neck binding is easier & quicker too. All these are visible differences. My 339 Studio has a simpler circuit (2 knobs). There should not be any hidden ones. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt. Pepper Posted July 10, 2022 Share Posted July 10, 2022 (edited) Polish all your matte guitars and the will sound better. I wonder if I should polish my D-15M? Edited July 10, 2022 by Sgt. Pepper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
merciful-evans Posted July 10, 2022 Share Posted July 10, 2022 Playing them shines them up pretty well. The satin finish on my Fujigen tele neck is all shiny now. Although I no longer have (sold last year) the CE24 body was shiny where my hands and forearm touched it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larsongs Posted July 12, 2022 Share Posted July 12, 2022 I believe each model has different versions of Gibson Humbucker Pickups.. Legacy Gibson.com should have more info… Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt. Pepper Posted July 12, 2022 Share Posted July 12, 2022 Taylor makes a cleaner for Satin/Matte finished guitars. https://www.chicagomusicexchange.com/products/taylor-satin-guitar-cleaner-4-oz-690614?gclid=CjwKCAjwt7SWBhAnEiwAx8ZLarq0LP6Bbdd0-2x1tQYHH7DnvMJz4TtNagjVwsQEbHYEauMkoQxashoC0J8QAvD_BwE Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wmachine Posted July 12, 2022 Share Posted July 12, 2022 The answer depends on the year and model of each of the 3, not the finish. You won't get an accurate definitive without that information. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rschleicher Posted July 22, 2022 Share Posted July 22, 2022 The fourth option in the current production, non-custom 335 "family" is the ES-345. Unlike the original 345, the current Nashville-built 345's are electrically identical to the 335, meaning no stereo wiring, and no Varitone switch. The only differences are cosmetic. They are basically the same as the plain-top, gloss finish 335, but with split-parallelogram fret markers and 3-ply top binding. So they are priced $300 more (IIRC) than the plain-to, gloss 335, but still less than the figured-top 335. All of the current production non-custom 335's and the 345 have the same pick-ups (the "calibrated T-type"). They also specify 500k pots and orange-drop caps for all but the satin version, so I am not sure if the pots and caps are different for that model.... It might have been silly, but when I bought my guitar in late 2021, I was willing to pay the extra bit for the 345, mostly because of the split-parallelogram fret markers.... That said, I still think they should have kept the Varitone switch on the new 345, even if it would be kept in the "bypass" position. Just for tradition's sake.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveFord Posted July 22, 2022 Share Posted July 22, 2022 How do you like the current 345? I was looking at them but without the Tone Suck Device I took a pass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wlstieferman1 Posted July 23, 2022 Share Posted July 23, 2022 Frequent lurker here. I just bought a ES339 in Blueberry Burst from my local music store last week. They ve had order into Gibson for it since fall 2020. I developed my lust after visiting the Gibson Garage in Nashville last fall while in Nashville to see the Eric Clapton show. I have been drooling for this one to finally come in since they told me they actually had it on order and showing a soon delivery date. Concert and Gibson Garage Both fantastic experiences. The Gibson Garage allows you to play all of their current offerings on your own so you get a good feel of the differences in necks/ pick ups etc. My 339 has the 57 Classics - loving them, nice growl out of them depending on tone settings/pickups ups . Workmanship perfect. I salute Gibson and their employees for a great USA product. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
merciful-evans Posted July 23, 2022 Share Posted July 23, 2022 3 hours ago, Wlstieferman1 said: Frequent lurker here. I just bought a ES339 in Blueberry Burst from my local music store last week. They ve had order into Gibson for it since fall 2020. I developed my lust after visiting the Gibson Garage in Nashville last fall while in Nashville to see the Eric Clapton show. I have been drooling for this one to finally come in since they told me they actually had it on order and showing a soon delivery date. Concert and Gibson Garage Both fantastic experiences. The Gibson Garage allows you to play all of their current offerings on your own so you get a good feel of the differences in necks/ pick ups etc. My 339 has the 57 Classics - loving them, nice growl out of them depending on tone settings/pickups ups . Workmanship perfect. I salute Gibson and their employees for a great USA product. Good to hear the positive report. Yes my 339 has 57 Classics. They don't disappoint. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larsongs Posted July 25, 2022 Share Posted July 25, 2022 I used to have a real 1959 Gibson ES-345 & should never have payed with it.. Best sounding Pickups I’ve ever heard & the Guitar was stunning with all the Bling & it was Stereo! My 2013 Memphis ES-335 has 57’s.. It is a great Guitar for sure.. But, I saw a Black ES-355 With Gold hardware & Bigsby at NAMM a few years ago that has been on my mind ever since. Amazing Guitar! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt. Pepper Posted July 26, 2022 Share Posted July 26, 2022 On 7/22/2022 at 7:21 PM, SteveFord said: How do you like the current 345? I was looking at them but without the Tone Suck Device I took a pass. I know the Varitone is Iconic to that model, but how much do you use it Steve. I played with it, but 99.99% of the time it was on Position 1. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larsongs Posted July 26, 2022 Share Posted July 26, 2022 1 hour ago, Sgt. Pepper said: I know the Varitone is Iconic to that model, but how much do you use it Steve. I played with it, but 99.99% of the time it was on Position 1. I use to use it on my 59 Vintage ES345 all the time.. I liked it.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt. Pepper Posted July 26, 2022 Share Posted July 26, 2022 2 minutes ago, Larsongs said: I use to use it on my 59 Vintage ES345 all the time.. I liked it.. For me as the numbers got higher the guitar got more nasally. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rschleicher Posted July 26, 2022 Share Posted July 26, 2022 I love my ES-345 (2021), but have to admit that I don't have any experience with older 335-type guitars, to compare.... It arrived very well set up, with one exception. The neck pick-up was tipped or angled forward quite a bit, due to the slope of the body under it, and made more obvious by the pickup ring also having a tilt to it, in the same direction. I gather that this is pretty typical of current production. I reversed the neck pickup ring, so that its angle was now "counteracting" the slope of the body, and that made the neck pickup almost level. There seems to be mixed opinion on the calibrated-T pickups, with the general view (it seems to me) to be that they are a little on the bright side. But dialing back on the Tone knobs a bit (to 7 or 8, say) seems to make them more like the pups used on older 335's. They sound good to me, and my own opinion is that having a bit more brightness just adds to the versatility. That said, I think I would have preferred 57 Classics.... The "fit and finish" of my guitar was first-rate (mine is Vintage Burst). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveFord Posted July 26, 2022 Share Posted July 26, 2022 I've pretty much just settled on the Firebird VII but I love the Tone Suck Device, you can get a lot of different sounds out of it. Like most people say about the current 335/345s, you need to dial back the tone controls a little bit on the VII. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larsongs Posted July 27, 2022 Share Posted July 27, 2022 I love my Gibson Firebird V also.. But, it is nothing like my LP’s or ES335… Maybe somewhere between them & my Casino’s with P90’s.. Sound wise.. But, not really…. It’s has a unique Voice.. As well as being a unique Guitar! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spitball Posted September 11, 2022 Share Posted September 11, 2022 On 7/22/2022 at 7:21 PM, SteveFord said: How do you like the current 345? I was looking at them but without the Tone Suck Device I took a pass. Kind of sad to see the "ES-345" come standard without Varitone. I wonder if Gibson modified the Varitone sometime after the 1970s and fixed the issue wherein Position 1 was not true bypass. My 1968 ES-345 and 1971 ES-355 never sounded right to me compared to a 335, but my 2011 ES-345 (Memphis) does sound right - position 1 truly takes the VT out. Having two output jacks on the rim, making mono and stereo options both available, is another plus. IMO, that Memphis line of ES-345 made from 2002 to 2012 was the way to go... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larsongs Posted September 12, 2022 Share Posted September 12, 2022 My old 1959 Gibson ES345 Stereo had phenomenal sounding PAF’s.. I liked the Varitone. I also liked playing it Stereo thru 2 Amps! What amazing Guitars they were! Totally underrated! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rfkiii Posted February 19, 2023 Share Posted February 19, 2023 On 7/22/2022 at 4:20 PM, rschleicher said: They also specify 500k pots and orange-drop caps for all but the satin version, so I am not sure if the pots and caps are different for that model.... This is the only difference I could find in the specifications for the Satin vs gloss other than the finish. The cost of a set of pots and caps online seems to be minimal so they could be replaced after-market. Not sure why all Gibsons don't come wired with them. I have a Satin being being shipped to me and I do not think I will be all that concerned with the finish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
10PoundLester Posted March 25, 2023 Share Posted March 25, 2023 FWIW at this point in time I own a 2018 Memphis 335 Figured Natural and I like it a lot. I don't have a Nashville-built one to A/B it against but I don't know how they might be any better than this one I have. There's nothing wrong with it other than the red stain from the neck bleeding onto the binding and the back wood near the heel - which is common - I had the same issue with a '70's Cherry one I had back then. Pink binding. Actually I don't know why they bothered to stain the neck since the rest of it is natural - but that's not the point. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeadReckoner Posted October 25, 2023 Share Posted October 25, 2023 Both the Figured 335 and 345 have adorondack bracing; the non-figured 335 does not. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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