singlecoil Posted February 16, 2011 Share Posted February 16, 2011 Gibson 339 fights you from a seated position. I've played 2 of these so far. Prior to this I have played the 339 mostly standing. Last evening I was forced to sit with it. Prior to this my playing had all been a few minutes by myself and the guitar seemed ok. Just noodling. Last night having to keep up with the rest of the band was a *****. Definitely not good past the 7th. Sorta bummed out -because I like this guitar or thought I did. Last night was a *****. At least for me seated I felt like I was fighting the guitar to keep it balanced on my knee. The body was all behind me . Quite frankly it's made me second guess the 339. My left hand ached terrible. So much so I'd have to rest it every 10 minutes. I think because I felt like I was holding the guitar up and playing at the same time. I have never experienced a guitar that had such crappy balance seated. I have played 335's hard in that seated position and don't remember it being that much of a struggle. This happen to anyone else. Maybe this is a guitar for a smaller person. I thought I read somewhere that the 336/56 was a better balanced guitar. With the horn cut somewhat different. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
57classic Posted February 16, 2011 Share Posted February 16, 2011 Not trying to be a wise guy but if you need to play it sitting and you don't like it but you've done the same with a 335 and liked it, why not just get a 335? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davidl Posted February 16, 2011 Share Posted February 16, 2011 I don't like playing seated with it either. Actually, I tend to play in the standing position almost exclusively so didn't really notice right away. Not an issue for me at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
singlecoil Posted February 16, 2011 Author Share Posted February 16, 2011 Not trying to be a wise guy but if you need to play it sitting and you don't like it but you've done the same with a 335 and liked it, why not just get a 335? The whole idea was weight. I suppose I could look around and try to find a lighter 335. There out there. Another alternative is a used Collings I-35 - Actually they just started making a laminate more like the 335 this year. I stand a lot myself. But who want's to stand to play a guitar all the time. I was quite disappointed because I like the tone of this thing. I am tall and really felt cramped sitting with this. Maybe a 335 is what I'm stuck with. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluesrob Posted February 17, 2011 Share Posted February 17, 2011 I use a strap when I sit and play my 339 and I have no trouble at all. Everyone is different and guitars are so personal, so close to the body, that what works for one person doesn't work for somebody else. But try a strap if you haven't, if it doesn't bother you. that's a whole other thing -- people who use a strap while sitting and those who don't. I use one so I worry less about the guitar falling! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rocketman Posted February 17, 2011 Share Posted February 17, 2011 I practice with mine in a seated position and never had issues with it. One of the reasons I got a 339 over the 335 was my size. I'm 5'8" and the 339 fit my body type better than the 335. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stein Posted February 17, 2011 Share Posted February 17, 2011 kick it up a notch and get a couch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
badbluesplayer Posted February 17, 2011 Share Posted February 17, 2011 I think I know what you're saying. It feels like the guitar wants to slide off my right knee to the right. Like some of the other guys, I play standing up almost all the time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
singlecoil Posted February 17, 2011 Author Share Posted February 17, 2011 kick it up a notch and get a couch. That would be nice. From the comments. It sounds if you're a bit smaller in stature the guitar works fine. I wonder if the 336 presents the same problem. Most likely. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken Rayba Posted February 17, 2011 Share Posted February 17, 2011 I guess I would qualify as "vertically challenged", and I have an ES 330, 335 and 345, and don't have a problem playing sitting down. I play every Friday w/some other guys in the afternoon, and I use my ES 335, sitting down, I'm really comfortable with it. Same w/my Tele, a smaller bodied guitar, playing sitting w/o any problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobouz Posted February 17, 2011 Share Posted February 17, 2011 I always play sitting down, & the 339 has presented no balancing problems. Worst for me is a particualar LP Special in the collection. Heavy to the point that it must be cutting off circulation & puts my foot to sleep! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roadhog96 Posted February 17, 2011 Share Posted February 17, 2011 My LP 68 Custom does the same thing when sitting. It's 9.5 lb. so it's pretty heavy. The butt constantly wants to fall to the right because of were the contour of the body is located. More weight to the rear of the guitar when trying to balance it on my leg. My 335 stays right on my leg never moves. I play mostly, actually always seated because I'm not in a band anymore. The 335 is my favorite to play especially when seated because it's so comfortable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G McBride Posted February 17, 2011 Share Posted February 17, 2011 Hold the 339 in the classical position with the thing on your left leg and the large bout between your legs. I too play mostly standing and use a strap while sitting also. Local shop owner played mine and he held it in the classical position with no problems. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clayville Posted February 17, 2011 Share Posted February 17, 2011 I wonder if the 336 presents the same problem. Most likely. The ES-339/359 and CS-336/356 are very similar sizes and generally similar weights... and my 356 balances perfectly sitting or standing as do many 339s. But I wonder if a CS-336 that weighs, say, 7.2 lbs would balance the same as an ES-339 of the same weight? I believe that the rims, top and back of the 339 are generally far less "massive" than those of a CS-356 because they're made of relatively thin plywood on a 339 while on the 336 they consist of thicker, routed mahogany and maple. I'm guessing, but perhaps that extra mass near the outside of the body of a 336, especially near the tail, is substantially different than the mass concentrated in the centerblock of a 339? A bit like a kid sitting closer to the center of a playground see-saw, perhaps the hypothetical 339 could seem head-heavy in comparison to a 336 of the same overall weight? Does that make any sense?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uyasgali Posted February 18, 2011 Share Posted February 18, 2011 My 336 is the most playable guitar I own. I sit and use a strap and it stays put. The thing ways 6.62 lbs so maybe that has a lot to do with it. My es137 weighs 9.02 lbs and tends to fight me so much some times that I named it the dragon. The 336 is not much bigger than a les paul but again it weighs less. Mine weighs 8.5 lbs. I think you will find a way to get comfortable enough to concentrate on playing rather than fighting with the guitar. If not maybe it is the wrong guitar for you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blondie&OldBlue Posted February 18, 2011 Share Posted February 18, 2011 My 356 is pretty comfortable sitting down. Balance seems fine. Weight is just under 7 #. My other guitar is a 13# Strat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
badbluesplayer Posted February 18, 2011 Share Posted February 18, 2011 Hold the 339 in the classical position with the thing on your left leg and the large bout between your legs. I too play mostly standing and use a strap while sitting also. Local shop owner played mine and he held it in the classical position with no problems. That's what I do alot. It's a very comfortable position for the 339. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmoguitar Posted February 19, 2011 Share Posted February 19, 2011 I think it is interesting that the output jack on the 335 comes out the face and the output jack on the 339 comes out on the edge of the body. To me that makes the 335 better to play sitting or reclining and it makes the 339 better to play standing. I always feel like I'm going to crack the output jack when reclining or sitting with the 339. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillyGibson Posted February 19, 2011 Share Posted February 19, 2011 Might think about trying a right angle jack on the guitar with a straight jack in the amp. Works for my LP when sitting or just plugging into my Casino. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIGBENDS Posted February 20, 2011 Share Posted February 20, 2011 Hold the 339 in the classical position with the thing on your left leg and the large bout between your legs. I too play mostly standing and use a strap while sitting also. Local shop owner played mine and he held it in the classical position with no problems. That was my first thought. The 339 is the perfect electric guitar for the classical position. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
singlecoil Posted February 21, 2011 Author Share Posted February 21, 2011 That was my first thought. The 339 is the perfect electric guitar for the classical position. Personally I see no point in buying a guitar I have to make that drastic of an adjustment to play. I watched a video of someone playing a I35 that way. Sounded good.. Lot more costly guitar, Yet everyone raves about the quality and balance. It looks to be in between the size of a 339 and a 335 . And I know where there's a local one to check it out with. Thanks for the valued input. As always it's appreciated. Even if it's not always what I hoped to here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JLHooker Posted February 21, 2011 Share Posted February 21, 2011 I have had my 339 for a year and I enjoy playing it from both sitting and standing positions.I am 5'10" and the sitting position is comfortable.I position it on my right thigh when sitting.I xcan see why this guitar would be too small for some to be comfortable with. JLHooker Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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