Les Paul versus ES335

[blackba]

So I have been GASing for a semi hollow 335 or 339 for a while now. My buddy was nice enough to loan me his ephiphone sheraton II with Gibson '57 classics to try out again. I haven't been able to play my les pauls much due to a neck and shoulder issue I have been dealing with for some time, so weight is an issue. The sheraton doesn't weigh much less than the les pauls, but is a little lighter. The sheraton is probably what I would go with, to wade in slowly to the semi hollow land if I do get one.

Anyway, comparing the sheraton to a '73 LP custom with BBpros and a '04 Standard LE with Aldrich pickups, I noticed how much punchier the les pauls were. The LPs sounded more direct and the sheraton sounded more airy and bluesy. By rolling off the tone knobs on the LPs I could get closer, but still not nail the sheraton sound. I found the difference with more gain while still there, was diminished.

As far as playability, I found the Les Pauls easier to play, just due to their smaller body size. The sheraton was easier to get to the higher frets, but they stop being marked after 15, so it too more care to see where I was playing.

I am sure this comparison has been made 1 million times, just hoping others can share their experiences and whether they felt the need for a semi-hollow or just stuck with les pauls.

 

[RockStarNick]

Yeah, your descriptions are pretty much spot on.

I own a bunch of Les Pauls, and also own a really nice 2001 Gibson ES335 - one of the last ones made in the Nashville Factory.

ES335 sounds a little more extreme, tone wise. Meaning, the neck is woolier, and the bridge is brighter and more jangly than a LP. And that's not just the pickups - that's the acoustic nature of the beast.

Les Pauls have a much more direct, immediate attack. The ES335's attack almost compresses, squishes, swells, breathes, etc. Airier in both attack and tone. Less "solid" sounding.

I also think it's way easier to find pickups that sound good in LP's. Great set of PAFs, throw em in, done.

You've got to work harder to find pickups for a 335. I had to have a set custom wound, that had a bit more beef and mids in the bridge, and a scooped, bright bucker for the neck.

I think that the stock 57 classics pretty much sucked for the 335. Uncalibrated, so the bridge was thin and the neck was boomy. Was even worse because of the 300K volume pots.

 

[rlord1974]

PM'd you with another option!

 

[amiller]

I wanted an ES335 for the longest time...'till I got my 339. I absolutely love that guitar. It just has this really cool vibe to it. It does have more bite than my LP Standard which is cool. For recording, I use it or the LP depending on what the tune calls for. Oh yeah, it's light and about the size of an LP.

 

[rlord1974]

Bump to save Brian's question from irrelevant and outdated Metallica threads!!!

 

[blackba]

I wanted an ES335 for the longest time...'till I got my 339. I absolutely love that guitar. It just has this really cool vibe to it. It does have more bite than my LP Standard which is cool. For recording, I use it or the LP depending on what the tune calls for. Oh yeah, it's light and about the size of an LP.

The ES339 may be the ticket. Any trouble with the upper fret access on the 339? I see some complain of that, others say its fine.

 

[rupe]

Pretty spot on assessment. I would say in general that a Les Paul is a bit more versatile, but if you want the extra airiness and character that a semi-hollow body imparts, you'll never get it with a Les Paul. As for weight, I've played plenty of 335s that were over 10lbs putting them firmly in and above Les Paul territory so you won't get much in the way of weight relief without searching for a light one. I've played a few 137s that were lighter...might be something worth looking in to. The discontinued Howard Roberts Fusion II is another awesome guitar.

You're also correct about the differences between the Sheraton and Les Paul being minimized by more gain...in fact "more gain", depending on how much, can homogenize just about any attributes of an electric guitar (woods, pickups, construction, etc). A good example is Joe Bonamassa. Last time I saw him he played a few Les Pauls, a 335, A Music Man with humbuckers, a Firebird I with mini-hums, and an SG Special with P-90s...and every damn one of them sounded the same through his rig.

 

[Telephant]

I don't know about the Sheraton but the new Plek'd 339's play really well. Neck seems kinda small too. My buddy just got one and into his Dr Z Route 66 it sounds absolutely gorgeous. Like warm sexual butter.

 

[blackba]

I don't know about the Sheraton but the new Plek'd 339's play really well. Neck seems kinda small too. My buddy just got one and into his Dr Z Route 66 it sounds absolutely gorgeous. Like warm sexual butter.

The 339 is sounding better and better all the time. They do come in 2 neck profiles a '59 and a 30/60.

 

[blackba]

So has anyone tried the Epiphone ES339pro or Epiphone ES335pro? The classic debate, go cheap with an Epiphone or save up for a Gibby.

 

[rlord1974]

The discontinued Howard Roberts Fusion II is another awesome guitar.

This is true.

I will raise you, however: track down a discontinued Gibson Chet Atkins Country Gentlemen and you will be in semi-hollow heaven. They have a nice narrow body depth so would be lighter than a Gretsch hollowbody.

They weren't made for too many years though, so likely won't be had for cheap.

But just LOOK at them......

 

[blackba]

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