About 6 weeks ago, I traded a 2011 Gibson Les Paul Traditional for a 2009 Gibson ES-335. The 335 quickly became the best Gibson I ever owned after deciding to turn my back on Gibson Guitars as I didn't warm to their sound. I fell in love with the 335, there were many NGD posts across many forums including this one. About a week after the trade, the guy I traded with called me begging for his Guitar back. he had just played a gig and realised he made a huge mistake. He was a really nice guy and I didn't want to get between a man and the Guitar he loved even if he screwed up. I met him the next day and got my Les Paul back, within hours, I struck up a deal to trade the Les Paul for a 2005 Jeff beck Strat, again many NGDs posted across many forums including this one. The Jeff beck has now officially become the finest Guitar I've ever owned. In the back of my mind, I really miss that 335 even though I only had it for a week. It was amazing.

So, it's my 41st birthday on the 14th of this month and my wife says I can get another Gibson ES-335 in Cherry, brand new. So I'm really excited. The only other Guitar in this price range that I've wanted to own for years is a Gretsch Duo Jet with the Bigbsy. So the big question is, which one do I get?

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2012 Fender American Standard Stratocaster
2013 Fender Pure Vintage 65 Stratocaster
2003 Gibson ES-355
2015 Gibson Les Paul Traditional
2002 Gretsch Duo Jet
1980 Rickenbacker 360/12 Fireglo
2014 Martin 000X1AE
2014 Fender Blues Junior III

Sounds like you have your heart set on the 335. Get that or you will want it later more than ever. Follow your heart.

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08 Fender Highway One Tele-Sunburst
09 Squier Custom Tele II-Blonde
04 Squier Standard Strat Antiqueburst
07 Washburn D10SCE natural with Rosewood backing
Fender Mustang II amp


Experience is the best teacher

As much as I love my Strats, I have a soft spot for the 335/Dots. There is a just a mix of looks feel sounds. It's like when God gave man the idea for the electric guitar he gave both Gibson and Fender one killer design each. yeah the Gretsch is a Fender made guitar and has some cool, but for me I think everyone should have a Strat and a 335.

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Your pain is the breaking of the shell that encloses your understanding. It is the bitter potion by which the physician within you heals your sick self. Therefore, trust the physician and drink his remedy in silence and tranquility.-Khalil Gibran

Heritage 535. Check it out (you DO know about this Kalamazoo brand, right?) - Kinda Gibson CS - the master craftsmen that didn't want to move...

http://www.themusiczoo.com/cgi-bin/comm ... =992054186

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Being able to play and enjoy music is a gift that's often taken for granted.

Don't leave home without it!

First you have to decide if you really need the Bigsby. I have one on my Guild Starfire, I use it just because it's there, but don't miss not having it on any of my other guitars.
Isn't the Gretch a bit fatter than the 335? I'd probably go for the 335. But I'd only decide that after playing both side by side for a couple of hours. That's what GC is good for.

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'10 American Deluxe HSS Sunset Metallic
'10 JA-90 Thinline Telecaster
'15 Music Man JP-15 Blueberry Burst
'07 Les Paul Standard Faded LCPG #82
'14 Carvin ST300
'12 Carvin CS424S
'66 Guild Starfire IV w/Bigsby
'14 Warmouth Partscaster Daphne Blue

I could live without the Bigsby. I have a Jeff Beck Strat with a Vibtrato system that's second to none. I'm heavily leaning towards the 335 as I've briefly owned and played one and know it's full potential.

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2012 Fender American Standard Stratocaster
2013 Fender Pure Vintage 65 Stratocaster
2003 Gibson ES-355
2015 Gibson Les Paul Traditional
2002 Gretsch Duo Jet
1980 Rickenbacker 360/12 Fireglo
2014 Martin 000X1AE
2014 Fender Blues Junior III

I know the dot is only the same sport as 335 but not in the same league, they have feel and same neck and with some work you can get the dot to sound like the 335. Now having said that was to qualify this, when I did the big sell off, the only guitar I regretted letting go of was the Dot. That body shape is something magical and sound is something magical.

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Your pain is the breaking of the shell that encloses your understanding. It is the bitter potion by which the physician within you heals your sick self. Therefore, trust the physician and drink his remedy in silence and tranquility.-Khalil Gibran

I have owned both in the past and in my own personal opinion if I had to choose between the 2 I would go with the 335. But that's just me.

Go play them both. Then decide.

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Chet Feathers

Authorized TonePros Dealer
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http://www.facebook.com/cafeathers


I didn't Lose my mind, I traded it for this guitar.

Gibson ES-335 without a doubt!!

As a lover of many guitars as myself, ( I own 9 guitars now, including basses ) I research on youtube ( pedals, guitars and amps ), one of the sweetest sounding guitars I've heard was a Gibson 345 with the varitone switch. I love the sounds of my strat and my les paul, but the 345 amazing !!!!!! Tho I don't think I'll be able to afford one.
I'm 59, so I grew up with alot of different tones of guitars, during the years I'm a victim of my environment..... HAHA

Call me weird but, I have a 1980 guild starfire with an ebony fretboard that I actually prefer to any 335 I have ever played... And I have tried quite a few ES-335's

Me playing the starfire.

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In Reference to Blues Legend RL Burnside:
After a heart attack in 2001, Burnside's doctor advised him to stop drinking; Burnside did, but he reported that change left him unable to play.

The Duo Jet is an awesome guitar but depending on the pick up configuration (dynasonic single coil or filtertron humbuckers) it can have two different tones. I'm not a big fan of the roller bridge difficult to intonate. It's also a heavy guitar despite the chambered body. The Duo Jet is not a one trick pony but its tricks are limited. Personally I would lean more toward the Powerjet Firebird. It has the TV Jones powertron pick ups which have more bite and better for the kind of music I like. It also has the tune a matic bridge which makes it easier to intonate.

I think the 335 is a more versatile instrument and a little lighter on the shoulders but the body is a bit larger and takes some getting used to. Bottom line if someone gave me a choice I'd go with the 335 first. Besides when you get to your 42nd birthday you can always ask for the Duojet...

I'd give the Guild Starfire serious consideration too,the pups on them just scream when pushed to the max but can also whisper the sweetest blues and jazz tones.

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'65 Strat,65 Mustang,65 Jaguar,4 more Strats,3 vintage Vox guitars,5 Vox amps,'69 Bassman with a '68 2-15 Bassman cab,36 guitars total-15asst'd amps total,2 vintage '60s Hammond organs & a myriad of effects-with a few rare vintage ones.

That Starfire is gorgeous!!


As an aside, I have a Dot. Oddly I modded mine away from the Gibson sound and more into the Gretsch territory, by swapping the pickups to some TV Jones Filtertron variations.

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I'm not an expert, but I play one on the internet.

having owned both in the past I would definitely buy the 335....that said, if you can get your hands on a late '60s Guild Starfire..grab that baby and run for all your worth!

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Common sense and a sense of humor are the same thing, moving at different speeds. A sense of humor is just common sense, dancin'