ZOSO1215 Posted April 13, 2009 Share Posted April 13, 2009 Hey, I'm in the market for a new Semi-Hollow. I had an ES-335 and it was too big for me, so I'm going to be looking for one of the smaller body styles. First off, what's the difference between the ES-339 and the Figured ES-339? And then what's the difference between an ES-339, CS-336 and the ES-359? And then there's a CS-356? I looked up the product descriptions and they all seem pretty similar so I thought I would come on here to see if someone could shed some light on the differences for me. Any help would be much appreciated! Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vagabond Posted April 13, 2009 Share Posted April 13, 2009 I imagine much of the differences will be similar to the differences between say an LP Standard and an LP Traditional (I don't play semi-hollows [that is, I don't own one... yet :x the first time I saw an es-339 caramel burst my **** moved], so someone with more experience should correct me if I'm way off the mark here). Just very slight nuances that will ultimately be a "player's preference" as to which one is better. Go to a GC or Sam Ash, play them, and then go to your local M&P store and buy whichever one YOU like best there ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clayville Posted April 13, 2009 Share Posted April 13, 2009 In the smaller semi-hollow and archtop Gibson's there are two main lines The ES-339 and ES-359 are 'brothers' sharing the same construction methods with the only differences coming in detailing and appointments. These are built like the classic ES-335: a center block surrounded by pressed-ply tops backs and sides. The 339 has the simpler appointments: dot inlays on a rosewood fretboard, single-ply binding, decal headstock, nickel hardware, usually plainer top woods. The 359 has the "uptown appointments" very similar to an LP Custom: ebony fingerboard with big block inlays, the split-parallelogram inlay on the headstock, inlaid logo, gold hardware and triple-ply binding around the rims. Everything else (pickups, construction, size, etc) is the same. The CS-336 and CS-356 are another set of brothers, but from a somewhat different family: they are the same size & shape as the 339/359 but have a completely different "archtop" construction. The back & sides are routed (oops: "tonally carved") out of a single slab of mahogany, leaving a centerblock that's integral with the back and sides. They're then capped with bookmatched maple slabs and then "carved" or dished much like an LP top. Gibson's launch site for these in 2002 said that the top slabs and the back slab had sort of puzzle-piece protrusions & slots that helped connect the top to the centerblock for increased "tone coupling" (or something like that). The CS-336 has the same general appointments as the 339: rosewood fretboard, nickel hardware, single-ply binding. The CS-356 has the LP Custom style appointments: ebony board, fancy headstock, triple-ply binding, gold hardware. All four guitars use Classic '57 pickups, but the ES ones use a different wiring scheme. All four are the same size/shape (substantially smaller than a 335, not much bigger/wider than an LP) and similar weights (usually between about 6.8 and 7.8 lbs, very balanced but lighter than a typical LP and most 335s). Neck profiles vary in hand made guitar necks, but all four have been made with both "60s" and "50s" sized necks. It is said that perhaps the 339/359 has an "airier" sound slightly more 335-ish, while the 336/356 is capable of both a warm neck position and bright bridge position with knob twiddling, perhaps leaning a little in the LP direction on the 335-LP continuum. But these are, imho, very subtle differences... and of course generalizations. Individual guitars vary in sound, but the general character of all four of these is very similar, imho. To me, it's a very versatile design, and they all can do anything from jazz to blues to rock with ease. And... if Gibson ever puts the 336, 356 and 339 back on their website along with the specs, I won't have to type this up every 5-6 weeks.:- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZOSO1215 Posted April 13, 2009 Author Share Posted April 13, 2009 Clayville, Thanks a bunch man, That explains everything perfectly. You are extremely knowledgeable on the subject! And yea I figured some others had been on here asking the same question. Sorry to make you answer it again! Maybe you should just make it into a Word Doc. Haha. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murph Posted April 13, 2009 Share Posted April 13, 2009 In the smaller semi-hollow and archtop Gibson's there are two main lines The ES-339 and ES-359 are 'brothers' sharing the same construction methods with the only differences coming in detailing and appointments. These are built like the classic ES-335: a center block surrounded by pressed-ply tops backs and sides. The 339 has the simpler appointments: dot inlays on a rosewood fretboard' date=' single-ply binding, decal headstock, nickel hardware, usually plainer top woods. The 359 has the "uptown appointments" very similar to an LP Custom: ebony fingerboard with big block inlays, the split-parallelogram inlay on the headstock, inlaid logo, gold hardware and triple-ply binding around the rims. Everything else (pickups, construction, size, etc) is the same. The CS-336 and CS-356 are the same size & shape as the 339/359 but have a completely different "archtop" construction. The back & sides are routed (oops: "tonally carved") out of a single slab of mahogany, leaving a centerblock that's integral with the back and sides. They're then capped with bookmatched maple slabs and then much like an LP top. Gibson's launch site for these in 2002 said that the top slabs and the back slab had sort of puzzle-piece protrusions & slots that helped connect the top to the centerblock. The CS-336 has the same general appointments as the 339: rosewood fretboard, nickel hardware, single-ply binding. The CS-356 has the LP Custom style appointments: ebony board, fancy headstock, triple-ply binding, gold hardware. All four guitars use '57 Classic pickups, but the ES ones use a different wiring scheme. All four are the same size/shape. It is said that perhaps the 339/359 has an "airier" sound slightly more 335-ish, while the 336/356 has both a warm neck position and bright bridge position, perhaps leaning a little in the LP direction. But these are, imho, very subtle differences... and of course generalizations. And... if Gibson ever puts the 336, 356 and 339 back on their website along with the specs, I won't have to type this up every 5-6 weeks.:- [/quote'] But we all love it when you do. And we read it every time. Murph. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clayville Posted April 14, 2009 Share Posted April 14, 2009 You don't have to read it again, but I fixed a typo and thought of a few other factual things to add... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobv Posted April 14, 2009 Share Posted April 14, 2009 Clay just gave you everything you need to know. Of course there's additional useless information to be added: 1. The ES-339 comes in a "50's" or a 30/60 neck. The "thirty over sixty" is .030" fatter than a 60's slim taper, so it has the flat shape as you approach the 12th fret, but it's not as thin as the slim taper. 2. Murph loves his 339. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clayville Posted April 15, 2009 Share Posted April 15, 2009 Clayville' date=' Thanks a bunch man, That explains everything perfectly. You are extremely knowledgeable on the subject![/quote'] No problemo! I followed the advent of the small bodies closely before I got my 356 in 2003, and the things Gibson said about it were influential in me taking a chance on it since they were hard to find in the shops then (as now). I couldn't be happier with mine. When the 339s came along -- a different beast at a lower price, my first reaction was "There goes the neighborhood!" (just kidding) -- but they're very nice guitars and a great value in a Custom Shop Gibson. I just hope the 339/359 (and Gibson essentially hiding the existence of the 336/356) on their product website doesn't result in the demise of the 336/356.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clayville Posted May 10, 2010 Share Posted May 10, 2010 Nice of them to put the CS-336 back up on the website. Still no CS-356. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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