Any one own an ES 335 '59 reissue?

[AlanC]

I'm thinking of buying an ES335 '59 reissue. I've played it and really liked it.

 

It does sound quite different to other 335's that I've heard and played. Any views on quality and sound??

[jamester]

While I don't have a '59 Reissue, I just got the '63 Reissue about a month ago. I have also observed that the vintage-style models sound different from the modern models - much brighter and snappier, almost Tele-like. Is this along the lines of what you observed with the '59?

[sok66]

I'm thinking of buying an ES335 '59 reissue. I've played it and really liked it.

 

It does sound quite different to other 335's that I've heard and played. Any views on quality and sound??

 

 

I got one late last summer. It required quite a bit of bridge, nut & fret work to get right but is now a stunningly great guitar. All the true '59 RIs have the larger neck profile and a solid center block, which is what helps make the tone so sweet.

 

Mine has an odd compound fingerboard radius, going from 12" at the 22nd fret to 9.5" at the nut. Gib-O-San Memphis decided to radius all the frets at 12", which made it unplayable. The nut was a mess and the bridge was leaning towards the nut so badly it needed the "mapleflame" mod (longer stainless steel bridge studs) to get it to intonate properly.

[Dub-T-123]

I could be wrong but I believe all historic reissues have 500k pots. Maybe that's why the tone is brighter.

 

I'm not positive that this is a fact. But it seems reasonable to me.

[AlanC]

Jamster said - 'much brighter and snappier, almost Tele-like'

 

That's what I thought but am not sure why. Maybe Dub-T-123 has worked it out.

 

I haven't had mine set up yet. That's happening next week. I'm getting the string height, nut , bridge etc checked as part of a standard set up. I've just put 11's - 48, so I expect that will thicken the sound a bit.

[jamester]

Jamster said - 'much brighter and snappier' date=' almost Tele-like'

 

That's what I thought but am not sure why. Maybe Dub-T-123 has worked it out.

 

[/quote']

From my experience the thinness is in its inherent acoustic voice, and has nothing to do with pickups, pots/caps, string guages and such. If I pluck the low E string on my Dot and then my '63 it is dramatically thinner without nearly as much low end. Plugged-in the 57 Classics do help warm it up a bit, but the differences can be felt as well as heard. I play 11-49 guage strings btw...

 

Personally I'm disapointed and am probably going to end up selling the '63. :-(

 

Here's another thread on the subject if you're interested:

 

http://forums.gibson.com/default.aspx?g=posts&t=751

[AlanC]

I've now had the guitar for a few days and I'm really enjoying it. It definitely needs a good set up and I've applied Dr Fret to the fretboard as it was really dry. I'm really impressed with the sound. Very flexible - good jazz sound which is what I play most but also a real bluesy sound. Just a great guitar.

 

I'm getting used to the natural finish and I think I like it but its the first natural I've ever owned and I think it will take a bit of time to get used to it. I love the yellowed binding on the natural finish.