Ah man what a wicked couple of days we had! Loved the video man and love the format, you told a story so well and i really enjoyed it! Thank you for your kind words also!
I have an E8OMTC that you can see in the background there. Absolutely incredible instrument. 90% of Eastman I have tried really impressed me. They are great!
@@guitarfed the Gibson 490s Humbucker give me a more rounder, warmer, bluesy Sound. The difference is enormous for clean and also overdriven sounds. I've turned the 490s a little bit down and raised the pole-srews up for more definition. Now I'm really satisfied with my T486.
I too had longed for a 335 for many years. I finally found one in the color I wanted at a price I could afford and it is a wonderful instrument. But the one thing that surprised me is how heavy it is. It easily weighs as much as a Les Paul so make sure that you are aware of that. But the 335 is truly one of the best electric guitars you can buy. Good luck!
Yeah I noticed that too! That Gibson I tried was quite heavy, but the Eastman was noticeably lighter. I think they use different kinds of wood, maybe that’s why.. Thanks man!
I purchased a 2012 es335 in Memphis factory the guys from the custom shop built my dream guitar I paid for it lol . Gibson made 13 guitars to fill the last order for Eric Clapton - he ordered. 5 and was going to choose from the 13 unless customer shop guys let me choose first!! So Eric Clapton got to choose from the now 12 custom bodies!. Custom shop shaped the neck on my guitar by hand and then used their brand new plec machine! I know this is hard to believe, I’m not a famous guitar player, just a Praise band musician but all the folks from Gibson Memphis custom shop treated me like one.
FWIW - i have a '95 335 Dot (stock ) and a 97 Custom Shop 63 RI. Two very different 335 guitars - the CS just resonates way more and the pickup start to growl as you turn them up past 8 or so on the volume pot. I also have a Korean Epiphone Dot - that feels totally different - I just don't understand statements that say an epiphone can be as good (given the difference in feel). For me the Epi is just very different guitar - and quite acceptable. Bottom line play as many as you can till you find "the one"- and I subscribe to the view that you can pick a good one by how it plays & feels unplugged. Lastly look carefully at how high the bridge is mounted on the screws - I seen some horribly high examples that should never have left the factory ( badly set neck that required bridge to be raised!!. String action fine - but the jacked bridge just looked wrong). Also check the string alignment over pickup poles ( that also varies). Good luck with your search - its an itch that needs scratching.
Thank you so much for the comment, really really useful and interesting! I totally agree, some guitars are great and some are just not. And i have found it goes for Gibson, epiphone, Eastman, fender, etc. etc… I also heard that very early 335s from ‘58 had a structural design flaw in the neck having a shallow angle causing all sorts of problems with the action and playability, hence they are not very valuable for collectors. Thanks again for the insight, very much appreciated :)
The Eastman T59 V is outstanding I have tried many Gibson 355s and I tried and bought the Eastman . It’s pretty much the best guitar I’ve ever played .
The only guitar I let get away was a 335 TDC in black I got it used in 1974 the binding was yellowed it had the stud tail piece a not to big neck and original paf's I've got the receipt and it's been a while but I remember it was a 59 pretty sure and now I could never Safford to buy it back I was a stupid kid and sold it that's my sad story cheers from Los Angeles 😢
Have a look at a Yamaha SA2200 their half the price of a 335 with superior quality,tone and ebony fingerboard with M.O.P inlays it's the best copy of a 335 I've experienced.
@@guitarfed it's a pleasure mate,I've owned 10 Gibson's over 50 years and two things that stand out are over the top prices and poor quality not to mention sub standard parts and pickups.
I’ve never owned a Gibson but I have tried a few, and yes I agree. Some were truly amazing, some others really impressed me for how bad they were haha!
I bought my first semi hollow about fifteen years ago---it was a second hand 1989 Gibson 335 Dot Reissue for £500! Since then I have bought (and sold) a few semi hollows all of which were pretty cheap. A couple of Epiphones which were built OK but I wasn't fond of the pickups, a Guild Starfire which had great build quality and was very light in weight--which I like! But my favourite has to be a Tanglewood TSB59, sadly now discontinued. It has Entwistle Alnico 2 pickups which are fairly cheap but in my opinion sound fantastic. Fat and warm with just enough bite---think early Robben Ford. In fact I prefer them to the PAFs in the Gibson. So you don't have to spend a ton of money. I do like that Eastman you have got your eye on though!
Yeah I have heard that guild are great but I never found one to try unfortunately.. and yeah absolutely you can find great guitars at any price point! Pickups wise, the Antiquities in the Eastman I’ve found are a little bit microphonic, I don’t think they are waxed, which I really enjoy. Full and rich but very detailed and gritty at need
I got in early with Eastman, purchasing a T185MX in about January 2012. I had no idea what Eastman was, but I tried A 186, 184 and that 185 at a small music store. I really enjoyed all of them but fell in love with the T185 because of the size, the neck, and of course the tone/overall beauty of this guitar. I had been playing a Gibson 137 for a few years at that point that I really struggled to bond with, and the Eastman had everything in spades that I wished my Gibson had. Without any hesitation I came back with my Gibson the next day and did an even swap for the Eastman. I have never regretted this decision since! You’ll be happy with that Eastman when you can grab it. By the way what is the model name of the one you were looking at? I play my 185 a lot on my channel, and gig it regularly. It’s one of my favourite all time instruments.
Wow what an amazing story, sir! That was a t59v-rd, which would be the top tier of their laminate series (aged varnish finish and parts). I’ll check your channel out!
@@guitarfed thanks man! The T59 is a great guitar! The varnish option is nice and it’s good you are looking into it now as I hear they will be discontinuing that option soon.
I have had several Gibson es-335's and they all were fantastic. However, a few years ago i was injured badly and had to sell my whole collection of high end guitars. I sold over 170 Gibson, Martin Gretsch and all top of the line. I had always wanted a Gibson 335. I had to sell all though. Now i have a small collection of mostly inexpensive copy's. I had several Eastman's too and they were nice guitars. Now i will say something that you may or may not believe.. I just bought a Donner 335 style (i think called DJ-1000?) If you really want a very nice 335 copy, i advise you buy one. Only around 350-400. and better than any i have owned under a grand. At least try to find one to try out before you spend a lot on another brand.
Epiphone Sheraton ii pro, wow its great. Had it plek'd and put 10-46 slinky's. Unbelievable, I've played Gibson-USA es335 to pricey and it isn't any better.
I have a Yamaha sa2200, that I have modded with some custom winded Wolfetone pickups and some better hard ware. With the mods I still lies well under the price for a ES335, but it plays and sounds much better.
Sounds great man! Great for you that you found a happy place with it through that route! I have never been a mod guy, not really my thing. I barely touch my guitars (setups, pickups heights, fret polishing etc..)
I tried an Epiphone 335 (the regular one) few years back, it sounded dull I did not liked so tried again recently with the JB 1962 335 with the burstbuckers in it, man it plays like a dream. It does everything I hoped for. Maybe you should try one if you can, price vise it should be around that Eastman, maybe a bit cheaper.
Yeah I agree, it seems to me that Epiphone have improved a lot in the last decade or so! I did not expect to be so impressed with that Riviera. I did see a JB signature actually, but I thought at that price I might as well just go with Eastman. But I’ll take your advice and next time I see one I’ll try it! Thanks man
My main guitar is an Ibanez AS 103. It is easily the best guitar I've had. Funny fact, the neck hasn't moved a single milimeter in 15 years. 😅 Of course, I have to clarify that I've owned several high end guitars and this chinese made Ibanez is my keeper. 😊
As an alternative to the ES-335 you should look at Gibson Howard Roberts Fusion. They tend to be less expensive and less common than the 335. Real nice, it’s my main humbucker guitar
Hello , a word of advise , you might take a look at stanford guitars , they make ES 330 /335 wich are just as good as eastman or gibson but not that expensive , have a look on yt and you will see that henning and leigh fugh rave about them , it's the " overseas made " brand from maybach guitars . And when i say there just as good as any gibson or eastman i am speaking from my own experience , i have had several gibson and eastman ES 330 and ES 335 's in the past , but sold those and went looking for an cheaper alternative , i have also treid the ibg epi ES 335 but to me although it was not a bad guitar it felt to "plasticy " , the stanfords have the same finisch as the eastmans btw and sound and play great . Good luck with the ES 330/335 hunt .
I'm on the fence on 5 or 6 guitars. I have never had a 335. I'm thinking 339. I never had a strat. I'm thinking Sire. I never had a les paul? Do not want one. To damn heavy and I have great double humkbucker guitars. a 1980 Hamer Explorer that I bought brand new but will never take out of the house aside of going to record something. I have two telecasters. I need more guitars in my smi retirement age and a classic rock band in my semi retirement years.
Strat wise I would recommend the PRS Silver Sky. If you have never tried one you would be surprised, it’s an absolute weapon. Les Pauls are not my thing either, and 335 wise, well you have watched the video 🤣. I never tried a 339, so I wouldn’t know, but I like the idea of the 335 being bigger, adding a bit more air to the tone
Good for you to want and get a new guitar. A bit of advice though. Don't get all determined to get a Gibson 335. There are many much better built imports. Not to mention for less money. I've given up on many Gibson models. Their fit and finish is just not as good.
Yeah I have learned that through trying as many guitars as possible! They are all different and they all have their own “soul”, just a matter of connecting with one that is the right one for you IMO
Had two Washburn hb 35 7:19 s over the years . Great guitars . Installed seth lovers in Korean 90s model . Bought it used for 300 and just sold it for 750 when I found a used 2021 Gibson 60s 335 figured with lollar low wound pick ups installed for 2200 . Loved the Washburn ,but really love the Gibson
Ah man what a wicked couple of days we had! Loved the video man and love the format, you told a story so well and i really enjoyed it! Thank you for your kind words also!
So glad you like the way it came out man! It was so hard to condense 2 days of experiences into a 15 minutes video 😂😂
I have two Eastman guitars, a T486 and a T185MX. They are the best guitars I have ever owned. You can't go wrong with an Eastman!
I have an E8OMTC that you can see in the background there. Absolutely incredible instrument. 90% of Eastman I have tried really impressed me. They are great!
I've changed the Humbucker on my T468. Gibson 490 R&T. Now it's a fantastic guitar
@@hilmarholland3986 that's interesting! What did it come with, seymour duncan jazz? What did you not like about them?
@@guitarfed the Gibson 490s Humbucker give me a more rounder, warmer, bluesy Sound. The difference is enormous for clean and also overdriven sounds. I've turned the 490s a little bit down and raised the pole-srews up for more definition. Now I'm really satisfied with my T486.
I too had longed for a 335 for many years. I finally found one in the color I wanted at a price I could afford and it is a wonderful instrument. But the one thing that surprised me is how heavy it is. It easily weighs as much as a Les Paul so make sure that you are aware of that. But the 335 is truly one of the best electric guitars you can buy. Good luck!
Yeah I noticed that too! That Gibson I tried was quite heavy, but the Eastman was noticeably lighter. I think they use different kinds of wood, maybe that’s why.. Thanks man!
Love those guitars. I got an Epiphone ES-335 pro custom shop (in blue) and it's my main guitar. I love everything about it. Play on!
Amazing! Thanks man 🙌🏻
The Gibson ES-335 is the best electric guitar of all time. Just my opinion.
Absolute together with the Tele
I purchased a 2012 es335 in Memphis factory the guys from the custom shop built my dream guitar I paid for it lol . Gibson made 13 guitars to fill the last order for Eric Clapton - he ordered. 5 and was going to choose from the 13 unless customer shop guys let me choose first!! So Eric Clapton got to choose from the now 12 custom bodies!. Custom shop shaped the neck on my guitar by hand and then used their brand new plec machine! I know this is hard to believe, I’m not a famous guitar player, just a Praise band musician but all the folks from Gibson Memphis custom shop treated me like one.
Totally in love with this model!!!!😍😍😍
It’s a beast bro!
FWIW - i have a '95 335 Dot (stock ) and a 97 Custom Shop 63 RI. Two very different 335 guitars - the CS just resonates way more and the pickup start to growl as you turn them up past 8 or so on the volume pot. I also have a Korean Epiphone Dot - that feels totally different - I just don't understand statements that say an epiphone can be as good (given the difference in feel). For me the Epi is just very different guitar - and quite acceptable. Bottom line play as many as you can till you find "the one"- and I subscribe to the view that you can pick a good one by how it plays & feels unplugged. Lastly look carefully at how high the bridge is mounted on the screws - I seen some horribly high examples that should never have left the factory ( badly set neck that required bridge to be raised!!. String action fine - but the jacked bridge just looked wrong). Also check the string alignment over pickup poles ( that also varies). Good luck with your search - its an itch that needs scratching.
Thank you so much for the comment, really really useful and interesting! I totally agree, some guitars are great and some are just not. And i have found it goes for Gibson, epiphone, Eastman, fender, etc. etc… I also heard that very early 335s from ‘58 had a structural design flaw in the neck having a shallow angle causing all sorts of problems with the action and playability, hence they are not very valuable for collectors.
Thanks again for the insight, very much appreciated :)
I dropped 7k on a 2020 ES-335 59' reissue. Best money I spent !
Wouldn’t I wish 🫠
I can’t help but wonder how you would feel about the new Gibson/Epiphone ES-355 that just recently came out
I’ve been asking myself that very same question since they were released!
The Eastman T59 V is outstanding
I have tried many Gibson 355s and I tried and bought the Eastman . It’s pretty much the best guitar I’ve ever played .
Yeah man I can relate! I connected with it instantly and was a total vibe to play. Wonderful wonderful instrument
I hope you get it. You won’t regret it . Eastmans are dangerous guitars . Once you play one you want to buy it !!
59v 57 buth are amazing
The only guitar I let get away was a 335 TDC in black I got it used in 1974 the binding was yellowed it had the stud tail piece a not to big neck and original paf's I've got the receipt and it's been a while but I remember it was a 59 pretty sure and now I could never Safford to buy it back I was a stupid kid and sold it that's my sad story cheers from Los Angeles 😢
Have a look at a Yamaha SA2200 their half the price of a 335 with superior quality,tone and ebony fingerboard with M.O.P inlays it's the best copy of a 335 I've experienced.
I will definitely try one out when I get the chance, thank you sir!
@@guitarfed it's a pleasure mate,I've owned 10 Gibson's over 50 years and two things that stand out are over the top prices and poor quality not to mention sub standard parts and pickups.
I’ve never owned a Gibson but I have tried a few, and yes I agree. Some were truly amazing, some others really impressed me for how bad they were haha!
I bought my first semi hollow about fifteen years ago---it was a second hand 1989 Gibson 335 Dot Reissue for £500! Since then I have bought (and sold) a few semi hollows all of which were pretty cheap. A couple of Epiphones which were built OK but I wasn't fond of the pickups, a Guild Starfire which had great build quality and was very light in weight--which I like! But my favourite has to be a Tanglewood TSB59, sadly now discontinued. It has Entwistle Alnico 2 pickups which are fairly cheap but in my opinion sound fantastic. Fat and warm with just enough bite---think early Robben Ford. In fact I prefer them to the PAFs in the Gibson. So you don't have to spend a ton of money. I do like that Eastman you have got your eye on though!
Yeah I have heard that guild are great but I never found one to try unfortunately.. and yeah absolutely you can find great guitars at any price point! Pickups wise, the Antiquities in the Eastman I’ve found are a little bit microphonic, I don’t think they are waxed, which I really enjoy. Full and rich but very detailed and gritty at need
I got in early with Eastman, purchasing a T185MX in about January 2012. I had no idea what Eastman was, but I tried A 186, 184 and that 185 at a small music store. I really enjoyed all of them but fell in love with the T185 because of the size, the neck, and of course the tone/overall beauty of this guitar. I had been playing a Gibson 137 for a few years at that point that I really struggled to bond with, and the Eastman had everything in spades that I wished my Gibson had. Without any hesitation I came back with my Gibson the next day and did an even swap for the Eastman. I have never regretted this decision since! You’ll be happy with that Eastman when you can grab it. By the way what is the model name of the one you were looking at? I play my 185 a lot on my channel, and gig it regularly. It’s one of my favourite all time instruments.
Wow what an amazing story, sir! That was a t59v-rd, which would be the top tier of their laminate series (aged varnish finish and parts). I’ll check your channel out!
@@guitarfed thanks man! The T59 is a great guitar! The varnish option is nice and it’s good you are looking into it now as I hear they will be discontinuing that option soon.
Got a Gibson 335 which I didn’t bond with until I had it Pleck’d now it’s unbelievable
Gibson already Pleks all their guitars, or so I thought.....?
I have had several Gibson es-335's and they all were fantastic. However, a few years ago i was injured badly and had to sell my whole collection of high end guitars. I sold over 170 Gibson, Martin Gretsch and all top of the line. I had always wanted a Gibson 335. I had to sell all though. Now i have a small collection of mostly inexpensive copy's. I had several Eastman's too and they were nice guitars. Now i will say something that you may or may not believe.. I just bought a Donner 335 style (i think called DJ-1000?) If you really want a very nice 335 copy, i advise you buy one. Only around 350-400. and better than any i have owned under a grand. At least try to find one to try out before you spend a lot on another brand.
Thank you so much man! That’s great and useful advice 🙌🏻
Epiphone Sheraton ii pro, wow its great. Had it plek'd and put 10-46 slinky's. Unbelievable, I've played Gibson-USA es335 to pricey and it isn't any better.
I believe you! My friend Danny that you see in the video owns a 1989 sheraton that i have played a bunch of times and it's a fantastic guitar!
Right handed guitarists have it made. What a dream if that room was all lefties.
Hahaha yeah that’s very true sadly, must be a pain in the ass for you guys to find something you actually really like
I have a Heritage 535 that’s a brilliant guitar. Lighter weight and better fit and finish than most Gibsons, at a much lower price point.
That’s super cool, I never tried one, not even seen one in real life, but everyone says they are fabulous guitars!
I have a Yamaha sa2200, that I have modded with some custom winded Wolfetone pickups and some better hard ware. With the mods I still lies well under the price for a ES335, but it plays and sounds much better.
Sounds great man! Great for you that you found a happy place with it through that route! I have never been a mod guy, not really my thing. I barely touch my guitars (setups, pickups heights, fret polishing etc..)
I tried an Epiphone 335 (the regular one) few years back, it sounded dull I did not liked so tried again recently with the JB 1962 335 with the burstbuckers in it, man it plays like a dream. It does everything I hoped for. Maybe you should try one if you can, price vise it should be around that Eastman, maybe a bit cheaper.
Yeah I agree, it seems to me that Epiphone have improved a lot in the last decade or so! I did not expect to be so impressed with that Riviera. I did see a JB signature actually, but I thought at that price I might as well just go with Eastman. But I’ll take your advice and next time I see one I’ll try it! Thanks man
Great video!
Thanks man! 🙏🏻🙏🏻
My main guitar is an Ibanez AS 103. It is easily the best guitar I've had. Funny fact, the neck hasn't moved a single milimeter in 15 years. 😅
Of course, I have to clarify that I've owned several high end guitars and this chinese made Ibanez is my keeper. 😊
As an alternative to the ES-335 you should look at Gibson Howard Roberts Fusion. They tend to be less expensive and less common than the 335. Real nice, it’s my main humbucker guitar
I have the Riviera and I tried an Eastman…..both awesome
I would get and own a custom shop es335. They are great guitars. Mine is a 64 reissue.
I would too if I could afford it 😅maybe some day!
Hello , a word of advise , you might take a look at stanford guitars , they make ES 330 /335 wich are just as good as eastman or gibson but not that expensive , have a look on yt and you will see that henning and leigh fugh rave about them , it's the " overseas made " brand from maybach guitars . And when i say there just as good as any gibson or eastman i am speaking from my own experience , i have had several gibson and eastman ES 330 and ES 335 's in the past , but sold those and went looking for an cheaper alternative , i have also treid the ibg epi ES 335 but to me although it was not a bad guitar it felt to "plasticy " , the stanfords have the same finisch as the eastmans btw and sound and play great . Good luck with the ES 330/335 hunt .
I'm on the fence on 5 or 6 guitars. I have never had a 335. I'm thinking 339. I never had a strat. I'm thinking Sire. I never had a les paul? Do not want one. To damn heavy and I have great double humkbucker guitars. a 1980 Hamer Explorer that I bought brand new but will never take out of the house aside of going to record something. I have two telecasters. I need more guitars in my smi retirement age and a classic rock band in my semi retirement years.
Strat wise I would recommend the PRS Silver Sky. If you have never tried one you would be surprised, it’s an absolute weapon. Les Pauls are not my thing either, and 335 wise, well you have watched the video 🤣. I never tried a 339, so I wouldn’t know, but I like the idea of the 335 being bigger, adding a bit more air to the tone
Good for you to want and get a new guitar.
A bit of advice though. Don't get all determined to get a Gibson 335.
There are many much better built imports.
Not to mention for less money.
I've given up on many Gibson models. Their fit and finish is just not as good.
Yeah I have learned that through trying as many guitars as possible! They are all different and they all have their own “soul”, just a matter of connecting with one that is the right one for you IMO
Try a Tokai equivalent. Also used Ibanez top end jazz guitars.
Yes! I started looking at Tokai right as I uploaded this video. I’ll go try some for sure
Had two Washburn hb 35 7:19 s over the years . Great guitars . Installed seth lovers in Korean 90s model . Bought it used for 300 and just sold it for 750 when I found a used 2021 Gibson 60s 335 figured with lollar low wound pick ups installed for 2200 . Loved the Washburn ,but really love the Gibson
When you find a 335 that feels right, it’s the best. They are incredible guitars, such a shame they are so inconsistent
Hmmmm.....found an old guitar made by radio shack and probably the best sounding guitar ever....
Sire H7 Larry Carlton!
Never heard of those before actually, I’ll check it out!
Papi, primo!
the guitar only cost $500 the $2500 you paying for the name stamp on your guitar
work two jobs and buy an es-355
335s are mostly crap. You are better off without that overpriced Gibson garbage. Get an Ibanez semihollow.