1948’ Epiphone’ Broadway

[Sage Runner]

I bought this old Broadway about 3 years ago. I carved a Solid Ebony Bridge for it when I acquired the Guitar. I love the The Tone and Resonance of this Guitar. Rings clear. Plenty of Bass/Mid. It records with a almost electric reverb quality. Guitar has really settled in. The Solid Bridge really helped the Dynamics. Here’s a sound sample- a couple original instrumental’s. Recorded these with a simple Shure’ Motive 88+ Mic. Nothing else added. No pre-amp or anything. https://youtu.be/IXXc7H5WAwc. https://youtu.be/Si2dz2jmF3M —-https://youtube.com/shorts/to2LOFdzA-I?feature=share

[beatcomber]

Ooo, that's lovely!

[capefisherman]

....how things can change. Back in the late 1970s/early 80s I became somewhat obsessed with the playing of people like Larry Carlton, Lee Ritenour, Pat Metheny (my fave at the time) and pretty much anyone who showed up on a Steely Dan album in the guitar chair. At the time virtually all of them played ES-335 for some percentage of their studio work and while touring; in some cases it was the ONLY guitar they played and recorded with. Although I've always been primarily an acoustic guitar player I felt it was time to move into a more melodic version of electric guitar jazz and the style of those players fit the bill.

But because of their use of the 335, those models quickly became very popular and $$$$. One day I noticed in a local classified ad a mid 60s ES-330TD. In yet another of my ill-fated "a little knowledge is a dangerous thing" fiascos I bought that guitar, which was a beautiful dark sunburst color. It had the very thin neck that was common in those days and felt good. I did know enough to buy a Fender tube amp, a Pro Reverb. But.....the sound I was getting from that combo was not even close to what my guitar heroes were producing with their 335s. I knew nothing about the inherent tonal differences between P-90 and humbucking pick ups. That 330 sounded thin and brittle to my ears and I sold it a few months later for.... $900, which is what I paid for it, if memory serves.... It was painfully apparent that I should have saved up a bit more and gone for the ES-335. (They were well below $2k at that time)

Cut to the last few years. Suddenly the ES-330 (and it's cousin, the Epi Casino) is super popular, especially among certain famous blues/rockers who actually LIKE its tendency to feedback due to its totally hollow body compared to the 335 and fancier versions of that model with semi-hollow bodies. And of course I should have noted that George Harrison and John Lennon used Epi Casino's.

The result is that vintage 330TD's are now commanding crazy high prices, in some cases quite a bit more than 335s! I should have given that 330 a better chance. And I still can't play like Pat Metheny or Larry Carlton. ;~)

Sorry for the rant. We all have a "the one that got away" stories. Such is the nature of guitar playing and GAS.

Gene

Cape Cod Acoustics

[drive-south]

I also owned an ES330 and sold it cheap. Who knew?

I now play a Gibson ES345 and an Eastman T486.

[DanR]

Originally Posted by capefisherman

And of course I should have noted that George Harrison and John Lennon used Epi Casino's.

Also, Paul McCartney has an earlier version of the Casino than Geroge and John. He even mentions during his concerts that it's his favorite electric guitar.

[beatcomber]

Originally Posted by DanR

Also, Paul McCartney has an earlier version of the Casino than Geroge and John. He even mentions during his concerts that it's his favorite electric guitar.

Right, McCartney's is a '62.