timandbob Posted April 3, 2009 Share Posted April 3, 2009 I know this is an Epi forum, but I was wondering if anyone has any opinions on or experience with the Gibson ES 333. It seems to me to be a lower priced version of the ES 335, with a satin finish and a back plate to work on the PUPs. So, any opinions out there? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie brown Posted April 3, 2009 Share Posted April 3, 2009 Great guitars, if you can find them. There were a lot for sale, for awhile, then it seemed like people were really hanging on to them. Some "purists" may turn their noses up, at the rear compartment for getting to the electronics, as a "real" 335 doesn't have that. BUT, I've always thought it was a LOT handier, for fixing or modding things, in that particular area. But, they're solid guitars, very playable, and decently priced...usually...IF you can find one. CB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tulsaslim Posted April 3, 2009 Share Posted April 3, 2009 You'll probably hear from both Red333 & me on this. The 333 is the best answer to the question "what if they built a workingman's 335"? It has a lot less bling (hence a lot less $$), hotter pickups (to help it cut through the mix better at a live gig), and the aforementioned control cavity to make any repairs a lot quicker and easier. Perfect for the gigging musician that wants a 335 sound. Also, the BEST neck profile I've ever played (if you like thin necks this is the very BEST). I bought mine about 6 months after they were discontinued & was lucky enough to find one in a music store. I am really glad to have one since I haven't seen another one since (& that was about 5 years ago). If I live to be a hundred I'll never understand why this guitar didn't catch on more than it did other than to note that the 335 goes in and out of style & the 333 was around when the 335 wasn't particularly 'hot'. I love mine & I'm glad to have it. I only wish Gibby (or Epi) made a few other models with that neck profile. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red 333 Posted April 3, 2009 Share Posted April 3, 2009 The pick ups, beside being uncovered, are the 490R/498T combo, which are hotter than the '57 Classics found in current ES 335s. The 333 may also differ from the 335 (beside from the ways already pointed out) in that the body may be maple/poplar/maple laminate, while the ES 335 is usually maple/birch/maple. That's just a fun fact for you--it's impossible to say what effect if any that has on tone. Other differences: vintage Tulip style tuners on the 333, vs. Grovers on the 335. The Tulips work just fine though, and look like ones found on the original 335s. Also, the 333 has no inlays on the headstock, just a simple Gibson decal. They were originally sold with a nice padded gig bag, not a hard case, which is another reason they were able to be sold for less. You may want to look into a hard case if the one you're looking at doesn't have one. Great guitar, and great value, based on the prices I've seen on eBay recently. Red 333 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red 333 Posted April 3, 2009 Share Posted April 3, 2009 You'll probably hear from both Red333 & me on this. Hey, Slim! You must have been posted while I was writing mine! I was very interested about what you wrote about the neck on your 333. The neck on mine feels to have the same profile as the one my ES 335, and not to different to that on my Elitist Dot, either. I know you have an Elitist, so is yours shaped very different? Gibson does a lot of hand shaping still, so maybe your 333 got more sanding than some others. Or maybe I'm not sensitive enough to the differences. They do feel different in the sense that the finish on the 333 is thinner, so you feel the wood more, but the necks on all of those models (333/335/Elitist Dot) seem shaped almost the same to me. Anyway, I think each of them have a great neck. I got my 339 with the much thicker 50s neck, and I like that, too. I guess I'm just biased when it comes to ES models! Red 333 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timandbob Posted April 3, 2009 Author Share Posted April 3, 2009 Thanks all, I saw one on a random search on "the bay" and I was wondering about them. They seem to have gone for between $900 and $1,150 on ebay over the past few months. Now, to convince the misses that NOW is the time to find and buy one, due to the economy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mgrmatt Posted April 3, 2009 Share Posted April 3, 2009 I'm not usually a big fan of satin finishes but I really like the Cherry finish on an ES 333, does the thinner finish on the ES 333 give it more tone that the ES 335 ? I also like the acess panel in the back, it beats having to go "f" hole fishing. mgm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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