Poor man's 335 . . . worthy ?

[SirJackdeFuzz]

All you ES-335 lovers . . .


. . . would you guys say that the "new'ish" Gibson Midtown Custom is a worthy replacement if a carved top ES-335 is out of your reach ?

Or does the flat top of the Midtown rob the guitar of some much needed magic mojo ?

(i am not interrested in buying one - just cusious)

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Gibson-M...43-i2172121.gc - $1499.00 w h/s case.






. . . it sure does sound good !


What do you guys think of this semi ?

[Jessie's ghost]

I like it.

[SirJackdeFuzz]

I like it.

I'll admit, so do i.

I will probably try and get one over an Epiphone 335, if i needed to.

[ratherdashing]

Well, for one thing, a chambered mahogany body with a maple top isn't a 335 at all. Other than it being a Gibson hollow-body it has nothing in common with a 335-style guitar. It's closer in construction to a Gretsch Duo Jet (also has chambered mahogany with a maple top) or a thinline Tele (different wood, but same type of construction).

That's not to say it's a bad choice. I bet it's really cool, actually ... but I own a Duo Jet

[the guy who invented fire]

It's nothing like a 335 except in shape and based on those clips is sounds nothing like a 335...

[TattooedCarrot]

A cool guitar but nothing like a 335. Smaller and completely different construction. I agree this is more like the Duo Jet.

Not for poor people, but a used 333 is an excellent alternative to a 335, IMO better in a lot of ways. They are less expensive but the same construction except for the rear control access (which makes upgraded pickups/electronics easy), and no frills such as a satin finish, no pickguard, 498T/490R pickups. They are great for modding. I like the walnut brown and natural best, not as much the cherry or triburst. Here's mine upgraded with Antiquities, CTS pots, PIO caps, amber knobs, pickguard, and aged lightweight hardware.

[SirJackdeFuzz]

It's nothing like a 335 except in shape and based on those clips is sounds nothing like a 335...

. . . gotcha !

[TattooedCarrot]

Here's one of my favorite 335 clips in a demo for an Avatar 18 amp.

[SirJackdeFuzz]

A cool guitar but nothing like a 335. Smaller and completely different construction. I agree this is more like the Duo Jet.

Not for poor people, but a used 333 is an excellent alternative to a 335, IMO better in a lot of ways. They are less expensive but the same construction except for the rear control access (which makes upgraded pickups/electronics easy), and no frills such as a satin finish, no pickguard, 498T/490R pickups. They are great for modding. I like the walnut brown and natural best, not as much the cherry or triburst. Here's mine upgraded with Antiquities, CTS pots, PIO caps, amber knobs, pickguard, and aged lightweight hardware.

I said it before, and i'll say it again - BLOODY BEAUTIFULL GUITAR

I thought the Midtown has the same size body as a 335.
I take it, it is simmilar (in size) to that of a 339 then ?

[TattooedCarrot]

^^ Yep, smaller like a 339.


http://www.ebay.com/sch/Electric-/33...nkw=Gibson+333

[SirJackdeFuzz]

^^ Yep, smaller like a 339.


http://www.ebay.com/sch/Electric-/33...nkw=Gibson+333

Thanks Carrot, i just found this :


http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images...maker.jpg/sr=1

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images...rdermaker.jpg/

[MetalManiac]

Worthy.

[the guy who invented fire]

It's not just the size...the construction is completely different as well.

I'm sure it's a cool guitar but it's got more in common with as chambered Les Paul than a 335.

[the guy who invented fire]

Here's one of my favorite 335 clips in a demo for an Avatar 18 amp.

The last 50 or so seconds of that clip are a prime example of why I despise all these little buzz box 18 watt Marshall clones...

The opening tones were pretty good, the clean Tele tones were alright even the semi swampy Tele tones were alright but that last big with the gain and volume maxed out sounded like 10,000 people tearing 10,000 sheets of paper at the same time...no body at all, just thin fizzy mess..

Why can nobody get that 18 or 20 watt Marshall right??? I've played several vintage 18 and 20 watt Marshalls and not a single one of them sounds like that...

[formula73]

I would LOVE to give one of these a shot. I just haven't come across one to put in my grubby little hands, yet. If I liked it, I could see letting a couple things go to pick one up.

[phil_104]

Played a few. Decided it was worth the 500$ to get the ES339. Different strokes. Didn't really give off the ES335 vibe.

[TattooedCarrot]

The last 50 or so seconds of that clip are a prime example of why I despise all these little buzz box 18 watt Marshall clones...

The opening tones were pretty good, the clean Tele tones were alright even the semi swampy Tele tones were alright but that last big with the gain and volume maxed out sounded like 10,000 people tearing 10,000 sheets of paper at the same time...no body at all, just thin fizzy mess..

Why can nobody get that 18 or 20 watt Marshall right??? I've played several vintage 18 and 20 watt Marshalls and not a single one of them sounds like that...

Its the tubes. I have one, it comes stock with high gain JJ's, which IMO sacrifice some tone for the gain. I swapped out some NOS vintage tubes and its a monster; a great clean, dynamic amp without the fizz. I'm the type that prefers a quality clean amp that I can use a variety of pedals to shape the tone and the Avatar does a pretty good job at it. Given its just under $1k for hand-wired its a pretty good compliment to my heavily-modded Fender Blues Deluxe Tweed RI.

[formula73]

Played a few. Decided it was worth the 500$ to get the ES339. Different strokes. Didn't really give off the ES335 vibe.

Honestly, I don't really want the vibe. I have my old Ibanez for that. What I want is an upscale-looking dc with access to all 22 frets and made from decent woods in the USA at a reasonable price.

...and Gibson delivers? The world really MUST be coming to an end.

[SirJackdeFuzz]

The last 50 or so seconds of that clip are a prime example of why I despise all these little buzz box 18 watt Marshall clones...

The opening tones were pretty good, the clean Tele tones were alright even the semi swampy Tele tones were alright but that last big with the gain and volume maxed out sounded like 10,000 people tearing 10,000 sheets of paper at the same time...no body at all, just thin fizzy mess..

Why can nobody get that 18 or 20 watt Marshall right???

I've played several vintage 18 and 20 watt Marshalls and not a single one of them sounds like that...

Slighty OT :

Christain . . . talking about low powered Marshall amps & clones :


What do you think of the 2061X RI that Marshall produced a year or two ago ?

[GuitarDoc]

An LP DC with soundholes?