ES-339 Neck Pickup Alignment

[Jayyj]

Wow good point! I didn't know the ES-330 also used recycled plastics... So I guess that's "the Gibson way" huh, reuse what you have and don't spend a dime more than is absolutely necessary? Innovation costs money after all... maybe after the latest price increases they'll put money into new plastics ya think?

 

;-)

 

If it's any consolation, they've been doing it ever since they gently put old Orville out to pasture over 100 years ago - it's certainly not limited to Henry's regime. Those original 330s with the recycled P-90 covers were released the same year as the fabled Bursts and under Ted McCarthy's supervision, and Gibson history is littered with examples of fudges to save a few cents here and there whoever was at the helm. Still, the innovation has always happened, regardless of how closely the bottom line is being watched.

[aquajax]

This is an old thread but the one I stumbled across when I had the sam issue with the slanting neck pickup. Looking at all the pics of 339's on Reverb, I notice all the 339's are the same. I compare to my Les Paul and note that the less paul body is sloping up toward the neck whereas the 339 slopes down toward the neck. I just thought they had installed the ring the wrong way around and have flipped my 339 neck PUP ring and the pickup is nearly flat now, I don't notice much of a sonic difference but I have more tolerance to adjust PUP heigh without the bridge end of the PUP getting too close to the strings. It does appear to be a cost cutting thing but looks better installed the opposite way to Les Paul. Mine is a 2018 Walnut and had the nut height too low and so B string would buzz on open strum. Bridge has two height adjusting nuts that almost touch the body with my low as it will go action. Build is a little rough on the F holes and the binding scraping on the neck but this is the most comfortable and nice sounding guitar. It gets played way more than my 2008 R8 Les Paul and 2012 American Vintage Reissue Strat. 

 

Ideally the angle of the PUP ring should be reduced but what you see in the picture sets the PUP angle much better than stock and it is a simple and reversible change.

Edited June 9, 2021 by aquajax

[Rabs]

On 6/9/2021 at 7:20 AM, aquajax said:

This is an old thread but the one I stumbled across when I had the sam issue with the slanting neck pickup. Looking at all the pics of 339's on Reverb, I notice all the 339's are the same. I compare to my Les Paul and note that the less paul body is sloping up toward the neck whereas the 339 slopes down toward the neck. I just thought they had installed the ring the wrong way around and have flipped my 339 neck PUP ring and the pickup is nearly flat now, I don't notice much of a sonic difference but I have more tolerance to adjust PUP heigh without the bridge end of the PUP getting too close to the strings. It does appear to be a cost cutting thing but looks better installed the opposite way to Les Paul. Mine is a 2018 Walnut and had the nut height too low and so B string would buzz on open strum. Bridge has two height adjusting nuts that almost touch the body with my low as it will go action. Build is a little rough on the F holes and the binding scraping on the neck but this is the most comfortable and nice sounding guitar. It gets played way more than my 2008 R8 Les Paul and 2012 American Vintage Reissue Strat. 

 

Ideally the angle of the PUP ring should be reduced but what you see in the picture sets the PUP angle much better than stock and it is a simple and reversible change.

 

 

Its funny how many people notice this.. I got a 336 not long ago and posted this thread about it  Split OCD dilemma - The Gibson Lounge - Gibson Brands Forums  and I thought it was just me being OCD about it 🙂  at least I know im not too bonkers.

[merciful-evans]

14 hours ago, Rabs said:

Its funny how many people notice this.. I got a 336 not long ago and posted this thread about it  Split OCD dilemma - The Gibson Lounge - Gibson Brands Forums  and I thought it was just me being OCD about it 🙂  at least I know im not too bonkers.

Are you leaving, replacing or flipping the flipping ring? 

[Rabs]

14 hours ago, merciful-evans said:

Are you leaving, replacing or flipping the flipping ring? 

I want to replace it but actually didnt have one in my stock like I thought.. So when I can be bothered to find and order one .. While I do want to fix it, its not exactly a huge issue in my life 🙂