The red one is much better sounding to me. Its brighter, has more detail and sustain. The white sounds a bit muffled at times. Great comparison. Cheers
I agree. Plugged in or unplugged the red one has some mojo. I wonder if they are Burstbuckers. The white one has Classic 57’s and are much hotter. It didn’t come across in the video as pronounced as in the room but the white one has more output. Thanks Hack!
I find is funny how people looked down upon the Memphis models these past years. Now that production is in the Gibson USA, I find and see the Memphis models were better made and built. Of course, the custom shop outclasses any Gibson USA model I’ve played, but the Memphis factory was essentially a custom shop without the Gibson custom name. Those MHS 2 pickups towards the end of the Memphis factory were amazing pickups
I was a bit clueless about guitars having a custom shop label but made in Memphis as opposed to the actual Gibson custom shop in Nashville. Whatever the case, I really like 339’s and someday hope to have another one. Thanks for the comment!
My understanding is these where all called "Custom Shop" until 2015 but they are all made in the same factory in Memphis so arguably the build quality should be the same since the same machines and likely staff made made them. They continued making "Custom Shops" but they where now reserved for the VOS Reissues and Signatures like Bonamassa's 335 Factory exclusively made the Semi Hollows between 2000 and 2018 before moving back internally at Nashville
Yes I’ve come to understand that as well. The white one had a custom shop decal on the back of the headstock and the cherry one didn’t. I should have researched it more before making the video but if I waited to research it the video never would have been made. Thanks for the comment!
The white one does look nice, but the cherry one does have a sweeter tone, both unplugged as well as plugged in, NICE playing, stay safe my friend, Rock On & God Bless!!!
It’s the only white one I’ve seen but that isn’t saying much. I’m no expert on every make and model Gibson puts out. Found it locally on Craigslist and it had issues I needed to fix. Don’t remember how much of that work I recorded. If I have some footage some day I’ll do a video on that. Thanks for the comment.
I should have done that when I worked on them yes, but I didn’t know I’d make the video when I worked on them and by that time I couldn’t justify getting them back on the bench. Thanks for the comment though!
It might depend on if you like pedals for overdrive or want the simplicity of channel switching. The Blues Deluxe doesn’t have a lot of gain but it does have a channel switch to get a little break up. So, if you like using pedals for some dirt I’d go with a Deluxe Reverb. It is a classic design that sounds great. The Deluxe Reverb also has tremolo which is one less pedal to buy. I’m a pedal fiend so I have way too many. That’s my 2 cents, hope it helps!
Deluxe reverb all the way. It’s better built and more clear in tone. Blues deluxe and the hot rod amps are good but use very cheap Chinese PCB boards and sound nothing like the tweed amps. Deluxe reverb is the better choice
Don’t hold me to this, I don’t keep up on all guitar specs. I think the 336 is the same size as a 335 but with solid wood construction instead of ply’s. I think the back and ribs are mahogany? Solid book matched maple top. The 339 body is smaller and also laminate construction. Anyone else can confirm or clarify if they come across this. Thanks for the comment!
That’s an excellent question. I tried my best to decipher the custom shop serial numbers and it might be that there were Memphis Custom Shop instruments (ES style) and I was looking at the Nashville serial number information without making a connection.
Dave Zee - thanks. I bought that one used prior to 2015 I’m pretty sure. When I got it the guitar was pretty worn, I don’t think it could have been a 2015. I’ll check the original photography to see when I took the photos and that will help my memory.
Dan S. - The white guitar has classic ‘57’s. I haven’t taken the pickups out to look at the bottoms with the red one. Not sure I will at this point. To me the red one sounded like under wound and the classic 57’s were much hotter. It didn’t come across in the video quite the same way it did in the room.
I agree. I knew right away when I went to buy it. I’ve fixed more Gibson guitars in 25 years than any other brand. I recently had to refret a 2017 ES 335 that was mint in every other respect. It’s really hit and miss with Gibson in my experience.
The red one is much better sounding to me. Its brighter, has more detail and sustain. The white sounds a bit muffled at times. Great comparison. Cheers
I agree. Plugged in or unplugged the red one has some mojo. I wonder if they are Burstbuckers. The white one has Classic 57’s and are much hotter. It didn’t come across in the video as pronounced as in the room but the white one has more output. Thanks Hack!
@@bbmade pre 2016 memphis 339s are supposed to have classic 57 to my knowledge. From 2016 they changed it to burstbucker 2s.
Aziz Berk Erten - Thanks. I don’t recall taking the pickups out to peek. I either misspoke or went off what the seller had listed. My bad. Good info!
@@azizberk My '09 CS 339 has Classic 57's
I find is funny how people looked down upon the Memphis models these past years. Now that production is in the Gibson USA, I find and see the Memphis models were better made and built. Of course, the custom shop outclasses any Gibson USA model I’ve played, but the Memphis factory was essentially a custom shop without the Gibson custom name. Those MHS 2 pickups towards the end of the Memphis factory were amazing pickups
I was a bit clueless about guitars having a custom shop label but made in Memphis as opposed to the actual Gibson custom shop in Nashville. Whatever the case, I really like 339’s and someday hope to have another one. Thanks for the comment!
@@bbmade oh yeah those are amazing. Great video and playing! Yes those ES models are amazing. Maybe check out the 359 model, those are beautiful.
@@yestoES355 Thank you!
My understanding is these where all called "Custom Shop" until 2015 but they are all made in the same factory in Memphis so arguably the build quality should be the same since the same machines and likely staff made made them. They continued making "Custom Shops" but they where now reserved for the VOS Reissues and Signatures like Bonamassa's 335
Factory exclusively made the Semi Hollows between 2000 and 2018 before moving back internally at Nashville
Yes I’ve come to understand that as well. The white one had a custom shop decal on the back of the headstock and the cherry one didn’t. I should have researched it more before making the video but if I waited to research it the video never would have been made. Thanks for the comment!
@@bbmade no problem I'm picking up a 2015 at the weekend so I usually do research to better understand what I'm getting
@@SagaMediaNet The 339’s are awesome. Enjoy your new guitar!
@@bbmade it was a bargain so will be having some fun with it 😁
The custom its much better electronic part
The white one does look nice, but the cherry one does have a sweeter tone, both unplugged as well as plugged in, NICE playing, stay safe my friend, Rock On & God Bless!!!
I want the white one. Why have I not seen those? Sounds smoother to me.
Probably with the same pups they would sound very similar though
It’s the only white one I’ve seen but that isn’t saying much. I’m no expert on every make and model Gibson puts out. Found it locally on Craigslist and it had issues I needed to fix. Don’t remember how much of that work I recorded. If I have some footage some day I’ll do a video on that. Thanks for the comment.
Es339 production started in 2007
Thanks!
red one les mud would like to kmow pickup diffrents both. are great though should disclose pickups
I should have done that when I worked on them yes, but I didn’t know I’d make the video when I worked on them and by that time I couldn’t justify getting them back on the bench. Thanks for the comment though!
Im about to buy a 339 do you suggest a blues deluxe reisues or a reverb for blues!? thx!
It might depend on if you like pedals for overdrive or want the simplicity of channel switching. The Blues Deluxe doesn’t have a lot of gain but it does have a channel switch to get a little break up. So, if you like using pedals for some dirt I’d go with a Deluxe Reverb. It is a classic design that sounds great. The Deluxe Reverb also has tremolo which is one less pedal to buy. I’m a pedal fiend so I have way too many. That’s my 2 cents, hope it helps!
Deluxe reverb all the way. It’s better built and more clear in tone. Blues deluxe and the hot rod amps are good but use very cheap Chinese PCB boards and sound nothing like the tweed amps. Deluxe reverb is the better choice
What is different from the CS336?
Don’t hold me to this, I don’t keep up on all guitar specs. I think the 336 is the same size as a 335 but with solid wood construction instead of ply’s. I think the back and ribs are mahogany? Solid book matched maple top. The 339 body is smaller and also laminate construction. Anyone else can confirm or clarify if they come across this. Thanks for the comment!
The CS336 is considerably smaller bodied than a 335. Closer to Les Paul size body.
How is that a 2005 339? I thought the first ones were made in 2007?
That’s an excellent question. I tried my best to decipher the custom shop serial numbers and it might be that there were Memphis Custom Shop instruments (ES style) and I was looking at the Nashville serial number information without making a connection.
I believe your information on 2007 is correct, I haven’t found more info on the Memphis Custom Shop to this point.
Doing more homework after the fact...thanks for keeping me on my toes.
forum.gibson.com/topic/32343-custom-shop-es-335/
bbmade looks like the 1st number after the CS is going to be the year. If yours is a 5, could be a 15!
Dave Zee - thanks. I bought that one used prior to 2015 I’m pretty sure. When I got it the guitar was pretty worn, I don’t think it could have been a 2015. I’ll check the original photography to see when I took the photos and that will help my memory.
Which model has the MHS pickups?
Dan S. - The white guitar has classic ‘57’s. I haven’t taken the pickups out to look at the bottoms with the red one. Not sure I will at this point. To me the red one sounded like under wound and the classic 57’s were much hotter. It didn’t come across in the video quite the same way it did in the room.
Only the 2018 Model had the MHS pickups the 2020 model is fitted with 57's or "Calibrated T Types"
2015/16 Burstbucker 1 & 2
Before 2015 Classic 57's
Man a Custom Shop guitar, and the bridge is placed in the wrong place.... also the nut spacing is incorrect...pretty scary stuff
I agree. I knew right away when I went to buy it. I’ve fixed more Gibson guitars in 25 years than any other brand. I recently had to refret a 2017 ES 335 that was mint in every other respect. It’s really hit and miss with Gibson in my experience.
I also would emphasize the bridge is slightly off center to the neck but the location is good in terms of intonation.