Gibson ES 390
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- Опубликовано: 23 сен 2024
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In 2013 Gibson began building the ES-390, a downsized version of the ES-330 style guitar from the early 1960's. Unlike its same body sized relative the ES-339 this guitar is fully hollow. It is the guitar I reach for to play jazz but also use it for strumming parts, or even full on twang fest sorts of things on the bridge pick up. It's a very versatile guitar and every time I play it I think to myself, "this one's a keeper."
You'll no doubt recognize a couple of the tunes but I am playing some originals here as well (the opener and the drop D tune later in the vid.)
I'm playing the 390 into a Lovepedal amp50, KO Amps KOi drive and a TC eclectronics Flashback mini set on the Echoplex 3 toneprint (my go to) into my FYD Amps Big Verb (five watt Super Reverb).
To outline the characteristics of the guitar and it's story I shamelessly, but reverently, borrowed the format that the boys over on That Pedal Show use to highlight their gear. I give them all due credit as are an inspiration to me and the channel.
Thanks for watching and being a part of the five watt world.
Keith
I bought a ES-390 specifically after watching this video. It might be one of my favorite and most cherished guitars. Thank you for making this video!
Thanks Marc. Glad you’re digging the 390!
Whoa. How have I not seen this? 🤔🤷♂️👍
Sweet! Something new to watch on Five Watt World!
Ya it just came across my feed today. I thought it was a new video. I've been a subscriber for if not 2 years then close to it and this is the first time its come up in my suggestions.
Just hit my recommended today as well 😅
@@Terribleguitarist89 same Lol
I love 5WW reruns!!!!
The ten minute format is great. Everybody's got 10 min.
As long as it's not about a HUGE subject, that can't be fairly covered in 10 mins.
Agree. Switching to 7-Minute Abs gave me the extra minute to even go 11.
As long as need be is best. If the thing goes an hour, it can always be cut into bite sized pieces.
That guitar sounds really sweet, especially the neck pickup. Only recently discovered your channel and love your 'five watt' philosophy - agree whole-heartedly with it.
Yeah man, thanks!
Besides a beautiful tone, the guitar just plain looks fantastic. I would love to have one !
There is something about Gibson semi-hollow / hollow body guitars that put them miles ahead of other instruments. I love the sounds you’re getting out of it! You’re a fantastic player and a wonderful creator.
Thanks Austin
A video on the art of guitars would be awesome. I often just stare at my 2013 LP. It’s that beautiful
Love your playing, great feel, timing and sense of melody. Thanks for sharing your wonderful videos with us.
Thanks Paul!
Fantastic video. I really liked the photography (stills) as well. Nice tones, nice playing. Keep up the great work. I’ve seen these guitars for sale in Reverb and might have to pick one up someday.
It is a really nice guitar and is really flexible. I can use it on a jazz gig but anything louder and it wants to howl. Just have to keep your hands on the strings at all times.
When I initially bought mine the three guitars I tried were all pretty different so be ready to shop around to find the one you're looking for tone wise.
I recently sold my 339 and kept this to do all of those duties.
Still liked to hear your DGT with the Imperials in it. That's something I've thought of doing myself.
I’m editing the video currently and am hoping to have that up within a week or so. Videos are a hobby and I’m learning as I go. I think I got it mic’d and sounding good. Ran it through my late 60’s Super Reverb and it sounded great. So I’m not doing a bunch of audio bells and whistles, just a cabinet mic and a room mic. Keep an eye out for it, the sound demo is coming!
You have well above average ears, very few who do these videos have that quality this is why we enjoy your high quality work.
Thank you sir!
I like how you order several and pick the best for you.Evrything is different. It sounds epic .
It’s a beautiful sounding guitar. I tried out a used P90 version years ago at guitar center and it sounded so good, even when I got dating and cranked up distortion to it it sang so clearly
Beautiful guitar Keith. Enjoyed your playing and those lovely hollow body tones! I sure wish you could produce more content more frequently but I know it takes quite a bit of time to film/edit these types of videos. Thanks for all you do my friend!!
Thanks John. We’re settled in after our move to upstate NY so there should be more vids coming out than have been.
Thanks for the encouragement.
Keith
Something magical about small body, thin line, fully hollow guitars. The sound of this is quite reminiscent of the sound of my Harmony 1418, which has an even smaller, Les Paul sized body, but which has a huge deep sound, really rich in both treble and bass.
It sounds SO open. Belisima
beautiful guitar. I love the trapeze tailpiece. I have an Epi version 339. and have been tempted to buy a casino coupe.
I've never liked mini humbuckers but these sound amazing
My E.S 339 Is my favorite. Keith showed me how to get a lot nicer sounds. I know everything that guitar does and what doesn't.Phillip Austin
What did you find it doesn’t do? Or do well? Thanks.
Well it will feed back at volume as any full hollow body will do.
Your playing on this vid is beautiful. I love norwegian woods.
Everyone loves Norwegian Woods
Gorgeous Gibson! Really well designed all the way around. Just got a new Gibson Sixties ES345 in deep cherry and have been dialing in the setup and playing it in and it’s an amazing axe. Gibson is making the extra effort to build these very well indeed!
I keep coming back to hear and look at that guitar... It's so perfect!!!
Thanks for this. I have a cherry red '66 ES330 that I got new. I like to tell people it plays itself, it is so easy to play.
Lovely, lovely playing and sounds here. A beautiful guitar too. I really like the format proffered by TPS (hey Dan! Hey Mick!). It’s an excellent way of “standardising” what we know about the relatively mundane but nonetheless fascinating aspects of different pieces of equipment, and of clarifying the peculiarities of modifications and player specific details. That the format is strikingly similar (intentionally or not) to Inside The Actors Studio only helps.
Which begs the question - What is your ES390’s favourite curse-word?
I always found myself saying to the TV “just say expletive man!” whenever he asked that question....
The 390 is too classy a guitar to curse much. Maybe after the sax player has blown a great solo a quiet, under her breath, "shhhiiiiiit" in appreciation, is all you'll get.
100% was waiting for a deeper dive into the history of this guitar and then realized it predated the "A Short History" series.
Just snagged some 5WW tees! Keep up the good work!
Since I haven't really followed what Gibson has been building what for quite a while, I didn't know that the ES-390 even existed. Beautiful guitar! I became quite smitten by the Gibson ES-336 when it first came out but it was too expensive to consider. I have a used Epiphone Casino Coupe showing up on my doorstep soon, which should be interesting. It's a P90 equipped hollowbody like your ES-390. Gotta give a mini humbucker conversion some serious thought!
Thanks a lot Keith! Really appreciate the fact that now, I'm going to have to sneak in yet, another "this is my last guitar" !
Good luck w that Steve, OR you could try to stay “guitar neutral” and let one go....or is that crazy talk?
@@fivewattworld lol! Thanks Keith!
How many “last guitars” do people end up getting?
I have four of those now.
I still love my Gibson ES-150 DCN made in 1970. Big body and big sound.
This guitar, and its 339 cousin, always reminded me of the closing scenes of Steve Martin's "The Jerk". It shows his family's old shack, and then Steve saying that he got them a bigger shack. They cut to one only a foot wider. I play an Epiphone Dot, the same size as an ES-335. When holding an ES-335 and then an ES-339 at a music store, I have to say I don't see much difference. I also play a Dean Boca 12 string. It's a semi-hollow with dual humbuckers, and really IS enough smaller than an ES-335 that you actually notice it.
Thank YOU Keith for a Great Intro to the ES-390.
You’re welcome Matt. Thanks for watching.
Awesome. Never even heard of this model. Thanks so much. Shally
What a beauty!! I love that size of guitar.
That's a gorgeous instrument! I once owned a downsized 335 type ; 1974 Epiphone EA-250 . It was cherry red , plain top , ridiculously flamed back (an old world Epi tradition ) , LP Deluxe mini humbuckers ..it was cheap (in the late 80's) and was an excellent guitar .
Beautiful guitar! I used to own an ES335 Studio (one of the ones from 90's, not the newer ones). It was a great sounding & playing guitar and could really do everything. I sold it in my downsize quest :-) Really enjoyed your playing, thanks for sharing.
Thanks for watching. I've thinned but this one is unique enough to keep getting through the cut.
Keith
I like that you are playing your guitar in this video. I wish you would do that more in your new Vides. Your a sensitive and delicate player. I wish my band mates would understand the nuonces of a light touch and the merits of getting out of the way.
Well, you did it, you're responsible! Loved your video on the ES-390 & so searched & searched and finally found and purchased a mint 2012 Gibson custom shop 390 through Reverb - from France! I have a vintage '68 335; but it is a huge guitar. I also have a '74 Les Paul Deluxe with mini-humbuckers and like their sound, so I am really looking forward to the 390's arrival in a week or so. Your 'short histories' are a favorite- keep up the great work!
Man, no pressure, ;). I hope you like it. I don't play mine enough.
love the nod to Goin' Ahead - one of my favourites.
Thanks James. I learned it, wrong, long ago and just keep tryin to get through it.
Wow. Fully hollow. I didn't know. I LIKE this axe!! And it's in TUNE!!
Love minis.
I don't know how I never noticed when this guitar came out.
Beautiful guitar! I especially like the fully hollow body and mini hbs. I play a 1966 Guild Starfire lll which is also fully hollow. The small pickups sound better, to my ears, than the full size version. I don't think I will ever reach the point where I don't want another guitar. I'm 65, and I am always watching eBay for guitars I would like, but defense don't need. Thanks for posting!
I just found this video! Beautiful guitar, beautiful sound. I have an ES 335 built in '07, my first electric guitar. Its tone is good but abrighter than I would prefer. After watching this video i will concentrate more on my 335! Learning "Wild Mountain Thyme" will be my next project! Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge with us!
He is so sincerity and honesty
"Chris Anderson here in NH did the setup" @5:18 Do you have a link? I live in NH, and would love a new connection for a guitar tech / luthier
He’s in Gilford. No web page but I believe he’s in the phone book.
Oddly enough I was just investigating 390’s. Your video really sealed the deal I was concerned it might be too small of a body. I think it looks and sounds awesome!
Oh yeah found you from Rick Beato!!!
Beautiful guitar. I have both a 335 and a 339. I much prefer the smaller sized 339. Sound wise, I can't really ascertain a difference, between the two guitars.
Very nice clean tone, beautiful and melodic. Thank you for this episode, was never really familiar with the 390.
Beautiful. Was not familiar with the 390, but really impressed with the finish and your tone. I feel much the same for my 339, my favorite guitar, finding it versatile, to the point of yes, the bridge pup does ring like a single coil sometimes. However, gypsy jazz is a stretch. No Reinhardt or Grappelli in my fingers unfortunately. Rock on five watt.
Nice video... now I’m gonna have to subscribe. I recently acquired a black ES-390, and really love the light weight (I recently picked up the case with the guitar in it, and had to look inside it to check that the guitar was still inside). I do love playing it... and have not been able to get it to feedback... it’s a keeper. As for scratching the P-90 itch, I was fortunate enough to pick up a 2016 ES-275, in the limited 1940’s “dark burst” finish with P-90 pickups... wonderful instrument. Thanks for the write up!
If yours has a bare neck, it might have been the one I sold. If so, that was a nice guitar (probably a nice one anyway!).
I have an Ibanez Artcore AG85 with ceramic humbuckers I'm very happy with. Has great tone, very versatile, and the price was phenomenon. All babinga construction with a 3 piece mahogany neck. Rings like a bell. Worth looking into for those players with a limited budget.
scott martin I love my Ibanez AM93 too!
I have an AS93 and love it. Great guitar.
I’m not the only one that hears the similarities between mini humbuckers and Filtertrons. The mini has more mids but still has the clarity like a Filter. It’s no coincidence that mini humbuckers and Filtertrons are my favorite pickups. I’ve been wanting to pick up a P90 es339 and convert it to minis, at stage volume my es330 (my G6120 is a favorite of mine but doesn’t get much stage time for the same reason) I used to have was prone to feedback and I’m sure the 390 would be too.
After this I really started thinking about a mini humbucker es339 and found that there was some es339 Custom models that come with mini humbuckers. I’m really getting those cravings for one more guitar after finding those!
Wow, sounds wonderful! I've watched almost all of your videos today. Thanks!
Hi Phil, Thanks for watching! Welcome to five watt world!
That is a beautiful sounding guitar, really nice playing - and yeah, gorgeous looking (the ES 390 that is!) :-)
Excellent video Keith!!! I love your playing and tone!!! Bonus points slipping Norwegian Wood in there...lol!!! Keep your awesome videos coming!!! Planning on getting one of those beautiful 5 watt world coffee mugs soon..... it'll help the inspiration process....lol.😎
Thanks Chuck. That guitar sort of does all the work. :)
From awhile ago but great.
Last gear I bought was a Peavey Vypyr 15, '14, $49 from GC's used department. Looked for an axe, Epi ES 339. Both screamed thru whatever. Out of the loop so didn't know about the 390. Guit and demo was great (as73 so i'm set :)
Thanks for watching this Glen. I love a good inexpensive guitar. It's a weakness of mine I have to struggle against. :). I remind myself that I have more than "enough".
@@fivewattworld Thanks for the reply.
Stay Healthy.
What a beautiful tone! I had an Epiphone Dot Studio (Dolphin Gray) that had a tone similar to that one. I kick myself for letting that one go. I got it on sale brand new for only $199.00!
Nice guitar. I have a 1962/63 Cherry ES335TD. This looks the same, but I prefer the smaller body and mini Humbuckers!
Bernhard Nizynski I had a Gibson ES-325 with the mini-humbuckers that sounded great.
The 390 sounds like a very responsive and articulate guitar when playing it like an acoustic guitar. Have you ever tried drop D or double drop D tuning on your 390? Love your presentation.
Mini-humbuckers are great. They can be big and rocking, or clean and jangly.
Agreed. I love the way they straddle the single cool/ bucker divide.
You're could right about the mini-humbuckers. I have a Gibson Tennessean with 490s and a Gibson Nighthawk Landmark with minis. Everywhere I take those two guitars, the ears of the others around like the Nighthawk. Go figure, I like playing the Tennessean, both guitars have a 25.5" scale length and the neck of the Tennessean is like the deck of an aircraft carrier but I like it for playing chords (rhythm).
Honestly, I think mini-humbuckers were the moment in pickup development that fully nailed the best of both worlds, like on those Les Paul Deluxes from the ‘70s. But for some reason, they’re viewed as a lesser choice, a weaker compromise, rather than the ultimate in convergence.
Would be nice with a parallel/series push pull pot system on both vol pots for neck and bridge. i love that setup with mini humbuckers. maybe thats just me.
Beautiful guitar, I wasn't familiar with the 390. I have a '67 Gibson ES 330, hollow body like the 390 but with P90s. I have had it since 1979, and it is my favorite guitar to play, so comfortable, fabulous tone, and absolutely perfect for that Beatles sound. Only issue with being fully hollow is the feedback if I'm playing a louder gig, but for small venues and jazz it is the perfect guitar.
Yeah, these are beautiful guitars. I'd love to try the P-90 version of this one sometime. Get the full Grant Green, :)
Keith
I have an early ( 1960's) Japanese copy of a Gretch country gentleman. Like George Harrison's. In those early days the Japanese copied the guitar from maple body to Cherry fingerboard. The coil windings and electronics were also identical. The most joyful guitar I've ever played. I didn't like the chocolate colour, so restored it to a wood finish. It now looks a standout. Unfortunately my hands have become beset with arthritis and I can no longer play. Holding a phone hurts. But I know its in my bedroom cupboard. I can still look at it and dream. Cheers mate. Nice show, glad I found it.
Welcome to five watt world Steven.
Very nice guitar, mini HBs too , like the small body too
those mini humbuckers sound so beautiful...
Thanks Will. I really dig the sound of minis. I just put one in a T-style project guitar. Fralin vintage w a raw nickel cover. I’ll demo the guitar when it’s done.
@@fivewattworld looking forward to it!
I realize this is somewhat of an old video, but it's super helpful as I think about the next purchase idea. I was looking in the ES as it's a nice balance of the jazz and blues stuff that I do, but I've been fluctuating around the 335 and 339 (I'm smaller and find the 335s can sometimes be unwieldy), and this looks like another good option, with the hollow body.
Also the cs-336, smaller body and solid carved maple top. They sound a little more like a solid body than a 339.
The 390’s were only made for a few years, maybe 2012 - 2014.
@@fivewattworld Good to know. I'll have to hunt around some for them. Personally, I'd like to patronize some smaller local guitar shops, but there aren't any Gibson dealers in the Bay Area besides the big monsters... so that's kind of annoying. Good to have the options.
@@fivewattworld Technically (going by Gibson's model year), 2013-2015, with 2013 the only one with mini hums, and the '14-'15 w/P90s.
Beautiful sound in your playing. That hollow body makes those notes float. I have a KS 336. Played it over 10 years, wore the finish off. Best guitar in my collection. Picked up an Olive ES 339 with block markers. Very different sound vs the KS made with solid woods. Now I've seen your vid, I'd like to check out this mini-hum ES 390! Looks and sounds amazing! Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Firstly, nice playing. Shouldn't overlook that. I also appreciate the clean playing (I am, I think, a bit of a clean freak when it comes to guitar tone).
Anyway that is a really nice sounding guitar, probably my favorite that I've heard you play. I heard some stuff in there that really reminded me of Frisell when he was touring with that Collings which I believe may also be fully hollow. I think you're right when you say it's a keeper.
Man I liked this so much I had to get my Gibson out lol. Wish my little video was as nice as yours tho.
Anyhow I can't wait to see what other guitars you have to show us!
Thanks man! The playing is always where I end up doing the largest number of takes!
The only Collings I've ever seen Frisell pictured with is a 35 which is semi-hollow, unless it was a very recent tour as they just started making an L 30 that is fully hollow with P90's this last year. Actually, I have a bunch of pics of Frisell playing this same model, color, flame top everything at a concert he did at the University of Washington in Seattle when he was on the faculty there. I'll try to paste the link here:
www.washington.edu/news/2013/11/05/music-is-an-infinite-thing-jazz-great-bill-frisell-joins-school-of-music/bill-frisell-guitar-cuong-vu-trumpet-rehearsal-frisell-plays/
It's funny, one of the things I play that people often think is my take on Frisell is actually me misplaying a tune of Pat Metheny's called "Goin' Ahead" from 80/81. I learned it wrong and have played it that way for 30 years. The version of Shenendoah I play is obviously me trying to do my best Frisell impression and he has been one of my favorite players and his tone is certainly in my ears.
Your vids could look like mine. You just have to throw some money at it, :). I'm using a pretty basic $500 DSLR, an overhead mic into an older MOTU usb interface, and my amp is running to a load box, speaker emulator, the Torpedo Live, actually all my guitar tones are running through that with the appropriate impulse responses loaded up.
When looking for the pic of him playing the guitar I came across this. Check it out.
www.gbase.com/gear/gibson-es-390-2013-cherry
I could do the digital recording; I actually have a Suhr reactive load myself and some IRs.
The camera though.
Buying cameras is dangerous for me. I used to have a Leica buying pattern that made the guitars look tame. My dslr is from before the video age and it hasn't died yet so I've been hesitant in case it restarted something better left dead lol. Also to be fair, the iphone thing was originally an effort to copy the aesthetic of the old Molly Drake recordings and the crapiness was part of the charm or something.
It's all about knowing yourself for that stuff. I think I'm doing all of this stuff with the minimum level of tech. I had a high tech, high end job for most of my career and now its an exercise for me to try to do things, not on the cheap but on the sensible level.
I had to replace my computer rig this summer and that is no where near as cool as buying a new instrument but the time saving of a new machine has been immense so, of course, it does make sense to invest when needed.
Yeah, hold to your aesthetic. Revel in the "casual" of the vid style, and it might be fun to see how far you can take it with only what you have. The iphone, load box, imovie etc. But only do it because you love it and don't go beyond the point of enjoying it. That's the key.
Sounds beautiful.
Even though Gibson and I have rarely been friends.
I hear you. I've owned Les Pauls and have never bonded. I had this out again the other night and it still has that something.
Gorgeous playing, so appropriate for that beautiful guitar. Thanks
Thanks!
Interesting. I had never seen that model before. On the hunt now and I would put some P-90s in for the full mini-330 experience. Very nice playing.
Hey Keith if you don't want to spend a arm and a leg for that Gibson P90 to keep your red head company you can do a Epaphone Casino Coup. Smaller body, hollow, and AlNiCo dog ear P90s that you can switch if your not keen on them. If you don't like them you can send the Epaphone pickups to me.😁
You can go El natural and have a blonde and a red head. The Turquoise Casion coup is pretty too. For my birthday this year I treated myself to a natural Casino. I was kinda looking for a older Korean made one but I just couldn't wait for the used one at the right price to show up so I bought new and couldn't be happier.😄👍🖖
Ahhhh, don’t tempt me. I have weakness for cheaper guitars that have high bang for the buck.
Playing my Strandbergs right now. They are so comfortable for me, and the Salens, like a good tele, cover a ton of ground.
I have the Epiphone version, I love it. thanks
I've always loved the peavey JF-1 for the same reasons: size, shape weight, and price point of being right around $350 but always had trouble with adjusting my amplifier settings between guitars with my 2012 Gibson lespaul traditional pro. I think although I will always have a place for the JF-1, this guitar may have a place in my life.
Nice video and very nice guitar. Now my dilemma, pursue the cherry red 339 of my dreams or go for a cherry red 390? Decisions, decisions......
@@joeypinter9011 Yeah, it's a good problem to have.
I very recently picked up a Casino Coupe, and replaced the P90s with Mini-Hums. I reaffirmed it's unique Epiphone Identity with a Frequensator tailpiece, paying homage to the history and tradition. I'm ecstatic!
Loved your playing and the mini humbuckers sound really good.
You navigate that guitar very well indeed. Sweet tunes.
I love the 335 and even tried to own something *vaguely similar in the Yamaha SA, ibanez AS, and midtown customs. But being short as I am, the bodies just aren't comfortable, even on the scaled down versions. I'm pretty much an s-type player for that reason. Beautiful sounds and playability though
Then this body size, that of the 339, could be just right.
Great vid man love the Norwegian wood break you got feel
Hello Keith!
I’m not a fan of Gibson, it never appealed me as a whole, but since I watched your video on the ES 335 and the history behind it makes me think that “I’m missing out” on a great guitar. I’ll save some money 💴 for one of these or one of the 390’s like yours.
I cannot ignore the aesthetics of this beautiful guitar, it sounds really good on your hands, definitely 335/390 or something of this sort is on my hunt list.
Thank you for another great video!
The 335 is too big a guitar for plus the are heavier than the the 339/390 guitars. My 390 weighs just 5.3 pounds!
My local guitar shop has few of these thin line, double cutaway, no 335’s, but somewhat similar to it. I was able to play an Eastman 335 ish like, this thing played really well, I was taken aback specially since I had a prejudice toward China made instruments, she show me different it’s hard for me to admit... she had very light weight and low action, she could scream but also had that warm sound of a jazz box... I must give her another chance
I’ve been impressed by the Eastmans I’ve played.
I like the headstock design, no radical string splay like you see especially on the d and g strings. I have a 1997 ES 336. They were only made 1996 thru 1998. Every string goes straight from the nut to the peg with zero splay. Not a great looking headstock but very great design with no added tension on the strings at the nut and minimum headstock angle.
Bro I didnt realize your playing was so good.
Story: I was sitting in a guitar store, about five years ago I guess. I was trying a guitar, sitting on a Deluxe Reverb while I played. I kid about sven probably, walks up to me and stands right in front of me. He's about the same height as I am sitting down. He says, "hey, you're not bad." I chuckled and said, "I'll be if you do this for the next 40 years you won't be too bad either." He nodded sagely and wandered back to his dad who was watching, listening and smiling at what I'd said.
Thanks for the compliment. Like most, I hear the limitations in my playing. But that's what drives us to practice. And that's a good thing.
Keith
I hope Gibson re-introduce the ES 390 sometime, and offer it in a left-handed version. I have a left-handed 2018 Gibson ES 330 with P90’s and a right- handed Gis
Gibson CS 339 with humbuckers (I can play guitar both left and right handed, but am naturally left handed when playing “air guitar”). For those on a budget who want a smaller bodied fully hollow guitar, there is the Epiphone Casino Coupe (right-handed only). Thanks for the video, nice playing and nice guitar.
I agree about the size factor of the 390 guitars. I had a 339 and it just didn't do it for me, but that could have been that specific guitar. Gibson made the 390 with P-90's in 2014 and you see them occasionally on Reverb. I really try to keep my guitar count low but those always temp me. Then I go back and play this guitar and know that I'm "good enough" and then some.
Wait so you can play either right or left handed? I mean that's not like swinging a baseball bat, or maybe it is, heck, I sure couldn't begin to get my head around that. That's amazing.
If these keep you up at night DO NOT, I repeat, do not check out the Collings I30's. Fully hollow, P-90's and a size in between a full 330 and the 390. You'll just have to sell you're second car to buy one is all.
I live in London UK, and a few of the guitar shops have the Collings fully hollow I-30 LC in stock (not as prevalent as the semi-hollow I-35 though).
Ah, well I'm in the mountains of New Hampshire, US and need to drive into Boston to torture myself with a Collings.
I've seen 390's sell for as little as $1750 here in the states but I could imagine that there aren't as many oversees I guess.
Thanks again for writing. I've been surprised at how many people check out the 390 vid. It's sort of an obscure model.
And as I think about it, you know if you pulled off the pickguard and recut the nut you could convert one to lefty. Flip the bridge around the other way (which some people do anyway) and you'd be pretty much good to go.
I have a ES-390 as well and it sounds very similar to yours on this video. I like it, just have not feel in love with it. I have been thinking I expected a more rich/warm tone over what I am getting. I am thinking of a pickup swap. A long time ago I had around a 1980 Les Paul Deluxe with mini HB and remember a better tone there. Thinking maybe Duncan Antiquity mini HB’s, will see. My 335 has better tone but it is a CS 50’s reissue, but as you mentioned, a larger heavier guitar. Great run through of the 390.
I’ve been tempted to try pickups as well.
As it’s fully hollow, does it feed back often, Keith? That’s an issue I put up with whenever I play a Casino.
Also, what kind of keyboard is that behind you in the shoots of the guitar? A Hammond XK-3?
Like any fully hollow guitar the amp placement is critical. Jimmy Bruno says to set up so its going past you, not into the back of the guitar and not into the front (of course).
The keyboard is just a late 80’s Roland u-20 that I use as a midi controller. I’ve had it for 10 years. Great keybed and great aftertouch.
Sadly, aftertouch has turned into something you can only have if you spend four figures on a keyboard or a synthesizer.
Unfortunately for me, because I have at the moment got to play in immediate proximity to my amplifier, I’ve learned that fully hollow guitars and I aren’t going to get along.
Thanks for the quick response Keith.
Beautiful guitar. You should play in your videos more often. Nice playin Keith and as always good video.
I own a Epiphone E.S.339PRO AND I ENJOY IT SO MUCH. IF I HAD to keep only two guitars it would be my cherry red and my Hummingbird pro. Phillip Austin
Been watching your videos for a few weeks now and I really enjoy them! Inspiring me to do more of my own!! I’m a huge fan of the 5 watt amps and have been using a 65 Univox for recording exclusively since 93 or so, until recently buying a Pro Jr... planning on making a video comparison maybe, and of learning how to record this new, much louder amp! I never realized you are in NH till this video though!! Howdy neighbor!! 😉
Actually we moved to Ithaca, NY last summer but I was in New England for 17 years.
Good luck w your videos. :)
@@fivewattworld Fellow granite-stater here too! For some reason I always assumed you lived down south in the Nashville area. It's a shame I never ran into you down at the Music Mill or something :)
I test all my guitars by playing James by Pat Metheny. I’m so happy to hear you play that song.
Im a beginner guitar only a few years strong but because of your channel I've tried to stay a two guitar man. (My first was a squire Strat), with the exception of an acoustic. I spent a lot of time looking for a guitar that felt right, and I love semi hollows/ hollows. I of course wanted a Les Paul but unfortunately even the epiphones are a little expensive. I settled on a 335 for a while, but though I'm a big guy it was still heavy and uncomfortable. (I hadn't bought it yet but I had tried out many versions in guitar shops.) One day I walk in and a weird mixture of Les Paul and 335 was hanging there, it was a little heavy but the neck pickup was very distorted at a higher volume, though clean it had a twangy and quiet tone seen in a few of the Beatles' songs. It was an Epiphone ES-339, and I bought it on the spot. It fit my hands perfectly and was just the right weight. I love distorted garage rock, but I also love clean tones from a hum bucker. It's been my number one since.
Good story and window into your process. May you play that 339 for a long time!
Keith
A little Bill Frisell in your repertoire. I like it.
Tasty playing with the tone examples. Beautiful guitar.
Thank you
Magnificent playing, and tone. Unexpected warmth from those mini Humbuckers. Might I ask, what amp you are using here? Thank you for another excellent video!
Thanks. I think that was likely my FYD Amps Big Verb, a Champ with a reverb circuit added through a Two Notes Torpedo Studio I had then.
I wonder what this guitar would sound like with Firebird pickups. I've heard they're closer to single-coils that the mini-humbuckers.
Even these minis are a step toward single coils with the narrower range. I just put flats on this guitar and am digging it.
Hi Keith, Thank you for this Very informative video. I'm very curious about this model and this helps me a lot. Also I Love your version of Shenandoah and the guitar seems perfect that type of playing. Thanks Chris
Glad you got to see it. I poured through my comments yesterday looking for your question about the 390 only to remember you'd sent an email.
When I tried these out the three were all pretty different. I chose one of the brightest ones. My friend Rick Beato told me when he was still producing, "you can dial back the highs but you can't dial them in." It makes this guitar more versatile that I made that choice. Still I'd love to have the P90 version with some Lollars or Frallin pickups in it. Who knows.
Be well.
Keith
fully hollow? That sounds great! Wish it could have a floating bridge if hollow
Any input on how bad the feedback liability is for an ES 390 for live shows? Our band has 2 guitars, and we do play pretty loudly... I have a CS 356 and an ES 339 Studio. I've been wanting a guitar w/P-90's for a while now though - and am seriously considering an ES 390 w/them. That'd make 3 guitars w/very similar physical looks, but I'm really thinking about how I miss having a fully hollow guitar.
Oh they are really hollow. I’m going to talk to Adam Levy about touring w Collings I 30.
@@fivewattworld I found an ES 390 w/P-90's in beautiful shape - it will be arriving next week . I really think watching this video helped make up my mind. Appreciated! Guess I'll find out soon how much it feeds back at higher volumes myself
G'Day Keith... Great presentation of a V-E-R-Y nice guitar... ... Already have a '339'... Would I buy a '390' ? After viewing and listening to this video... Of course I would ! Also have a Hollowbody Archtop which fills a similar unique Need/Want ?? but am so impressed with your '390'... Well done ! Can even 'see' the pleasure concerning '390' as you talk about 'it'... ! ... 🤠 ...
Very nice version of Shenandoah as the last playing example, really tasty. Bill Frisell likes it, too, I bet.
Ha! Busted. Me doing my best Bill.
Thanks Keith ⚓️
You’re welcome Keith.
Great videos! Possibly Gibson's best modern model (too bad it has gone away)...the P90 version is truly amazing in its own way as well.
My ES-359 (center block, Classic '57s pick-ups) has a different construction with a 50s chunky neck but makes sense in that range.