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Old 02-25-2018, 08:19 AM
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Transylvania Transylvania is offline
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Default 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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Old 02-25-2018, 09:28 AM
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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.



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Old 02-25-2018, 10:25 AM
ChrisN ChrisN is offline
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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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Old 02-25-2018, 11:17 AM
clintj clintj is offline
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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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Old 02-25-2018, 12:13 PM
jonfields45 jonfields45 is offline
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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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Old 02-25-2018, 01:17 PM
ChrisN ChrisN is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jonfields45 View Post
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
Excellent suggestion - thanks
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Old 02-25-2018, 01:36 PM
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Jim Owen Jim Owen is offline
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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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Old 02-25-2018, 01:49 PM
6L6 6L6 is offline
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ES-335 is the best all around, do anything electric ever made. Go get one.
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Old 02-25-2018, 04:50 PM
Dru Edwards Dru Edwards is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 6L6 View Post
ES-335 is the best all around, do anything electric ever made. Go get one.
Are you talking to me or the OP? Sounds like a great recommendation.
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Old 02-25-2018, 06:13 PM
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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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Old 03-06-2018, 03:38 PM
Beachrunner Beachrunner is offline
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Just put a pickguard on my recently acquired 2017 Memphis 335 Studio.

Sounds a lot better! Ha



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Old 03-06-2018, 05:12 PM
Dru Edwards Dru Edwards is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Beachrunner View Post
Just put a pickguard on my recently acquired 2017 Memphis 335 Studio.

Sounds a lot better! Ha

<<snippet pic>
Hey Beach, beautiful Memphis. I made it to CME last week but didn't see the Memphis floor models. I did play an incredible Friedman amp though. Best amp I ever played I think.

Back to topic, does the pickguard holder/screw just fit in the f-hole? No modification required to the guitar?
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Old 03-06-2018, 06:33 PM
Beachrunner Beachrunner is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dru Edwards View Post
Hey Beach, beautiful Memphis. I made it to CME last week but didn't see the Memphis floor models. I did play an incredible Friedman amp though. Best amp I ever played I think.

Back to topic, does the pickguard holder/screw just fit in the f-hole? No modification required to the guitar?
Thanks, Dru! Yeah, it's a keeper for sure.

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.
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Old 03-06-2018, 08:05 PM
DukeX DukeX is offline
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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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  #15  
Old 03-07-2018, 06:58 AM
Eric Greno Eric Greno is offline
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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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