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Thoughts on Gibson ES 335 Memphis
I'm an acoustic guy...who is thinking of adding an electric to the stable. I think I would use it mostly for some blues and possibly some finger picking. For those who are more knowledgeable (and that's basically all of you). what are your opinions of the afore mentioned model. There is one here on the forum that has caught my eye.
Thanks in advance for your input. Frank
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Santa Cruz D12-12 string, Ger. Maple/Ger. Spruce Froggy Bottom SJ12 Custom Spalted Maple/ Adirondack Goodall Standard Custom Amazon RW/Italian Spruce Emerald X-20 Custom SS Life's been good to me so far.... |
#2
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My Memphis ES-335 has become my go-to guitar that I take on all my session dates. I wrote up a review that describes how that happened, HERE.
Bob
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"It is said, 'Go not to the elves for counsel for they will say both no and yes.' " Frodo Baggins to Gildor Inglorion, The Fellowship of the Ring THE MUSICIAN'S ROOM (my website) |
#3
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Opening caveat - I'm new to guitar, so others know more. Hopefully Bob or another experienced Gibson guy/gal will weigh in.
I LOVE my electrics, and I'm enjoying learning to fingerpick on acoustics, but goodness gracious, I cannot do it with the 2" saddle string spacing on my Gibson-type (including Gib ES 390 and Epi ES 339). I just picked up a Recording King with fingerpick specs (1 13/16 nut and 2 5/16 saddle string spacing) and it's like the Grand Canyon between those strings, compared to the Gibson spacing. Point being, and consider the inexperienced source, fingerpicking on a Gibson's not for sissies. I've got a G&L with (I recall) 2 1/8 spacing, and even that feels miles wider than the Gibson. I've never heard a bad word about the 335, except smaller people don't care for the 16" lower bout (that's why I got the 339 - feels like a semi-hollow LP, though it's a bit bigger). That whining done, I'll note that I've seen men and women (Joanna Taylor) fingerpick the pants off of LPs with the same spacing, so it can be done. Here's a vid of an interview of Connor where even she screws up fingerpicking on her LP (at 2:00): What did I do to work around this perhaps non-issue? Well, I got a LP knock-off (Agile) with a 1 3/4 neck and I installed a Schaller adjustable bridge that lets me adjust saddle string spacing out to 2 1/4, though I've found I'm comfortable enough with the spacing set to 2 3/16. Works great for me. Last edited by ChrisN; 02-25-2018 at 10:30 AM. |
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I can fingerpick on a Gibson, it just takes me a few minutes of warm up time to adjust. I usually don't go for the whole Travis picking experience, though. I'll wear a thumb pick, and use my fingers to grab double stops and triads above the bass notes. Every once in a while I'll get a wild hair and try to play some Chet Atkins style stuff, poorly.
+1 on the 335 being a very large electric. It takes the exact right length strap for it to sit comfortably against me, and I leave my strap set to that length and just deal with the position difference on my other guitars.
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"You don't have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great." -Zig Ziglar Acoustics 2013 Guild F30 Standard 2012 Yamaha LL16 2007 Seagull S12 1991 Yairi DY 50 Electrics Epiphone Les Paul Standard Fender Am. Standard Telecaster Gibson ES-335 Gibson Firebird |
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One nice thing about a Tune-o-matic Gibson is you can take the ~2" string spacing up to something that matches your acoustic. In my case my LP matches my 2 3/16" spaced acoustic guitars which makes fingerpicking the LP very comfortable. I started with a Schaller Roller bridge and then bought an un-notched Tune-o-matic and cut the notches with files.
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1xd...cI9GoUlRjWAx3o
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jf45ir Free DIY Acoustic Guitar IR Generator .wav file, 30 seconds, pickup left, mic right, open position strumming best...send to direct email below I'll send you 100/0, 75/25, 50/50 & 0/100 IR/Bypass IRs IR Demo, read the description too: https://youtu.be/SELEE4yugjE My duo's website and my email... [email protected] Jon Fields |
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Frank,
I really like the 335 family (I play a USA reissue Sheraton). But it is a heavy guitar, so bear that in mind. These guitars are not truly hollow bodies (330s and Casinos are). So if weight is an issue, try a few and think on it. Peace, Jimmy
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Peace, Jimmy Optima dies, prima fugit |
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ES-335 is the best all around, do anything electric ever made. Go get one.
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Are you talking to me or the OP? Sounds like a great recommendation.
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The early '60s models had narrow necks and what I consider narrow spacing for a very short time. The modern ES-335 has string spacing that I consider very comfortable. I come over from Taylor string spacing and don't need much if any adaptation. I alternate between playing with fingers and pick for both lead and rhythm.
Bob
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"It is said, 'Go not to the elves for counsel for they will say both no and yes.' " Frodo Baggins to Gildor Inglorion, The Fellowship of the Ring THE MUSICIAN'S ROOM (my website) |
#11
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Just put a pickguard on my recently acquired 2017 Memphis 335 Studio.
Sounds a lot better! Ha |
#12
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Back to topic, does the pickguard holder/screw just fit in the f-hole? No modification required to the guitar? |
#13
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I'm very curious about Friedman amps. I definitely need to play one.. It looks like the CME Memphis 335 Studio floor models are sold out now on their site. I must confess that I didn't do the pickguard install myself. I had my tech install it while the guitar was in there for a setup. (I ordered the guard from Allparts, and the bracket from mLaval.) But to answer your question, the bracket holder/screw doesn't go in the f-hole. It sits just above it. Yes, there is some modification required. My tech had to drill two small holes in the body. (That's why I didn't do it myself! Ha) Maybe you can tell by these pics below, but I'll try to take a close-up under the pickguard later tonight. Last edited by Beachrunner; 03-06-2018 at 06:44 PM. |
#14
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No Gibson, but I have an Epi ES335 Dot loaded with SD Antiquities and a BCS Vintage wiring kit. I could almost live forever with just that and a Tele.
The ES335 is an awesome, versatile guitar. |
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I grabbed a "floor" model 335 studio when they had the crazy discounts a few weeks back. I like it, only humbucker guitar I have ever owned.
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