Review of 1986 Gibson ES-335 Studio

[oasysco]

This guitar differs structurally from a stock 335 as follows:

* Ebony board (vs rosewood)
* No f-holes
* No neck binding
* Uncovered pups

Like a 335, this one has mahog neck, maple body, semi-hollow (on the
inside).

The pups are not Dirty Fingers as I had thought since they weigh in at
only 7.8Kohm (bridge) and 7.4Kohm (neck), which is vintage spec (not
Dirty Fingers spec, which is 15Kohms).

Sound-wise, this guitar is a 335 all the way. I wish I had it when I
was gigging out in a rock band; it would have been perfect for all the
music we were doing - and no feedback!

Playability is excellent as is intonation. It's one of the better
playing guitars I've owned; certainly in the top five.

It's always a crap shoot when you buy sight unseen (eBAY pix, seller
rep), but this is honestly one of the better guitars I have owned.

It has a vintage smell... not musty, just vintage - hard ro describe.
No smoky flavors; orig finish is WOW!

Unplugged, the thing has a pleasant tone compared to the kleenex boxes
that make up the majority of the sub-$1000 semi-hollow field.

It's not quite as heavy as newer 335's I've owned, which is nice.

I'll try and post some sound clips later on. Right now, I'm tied up
selling some stuff to pay for this :)-

Like I said, I really wish I had this guitar back in 2001. It would
have saved me from buying 3 or 4 ES-135s, several ES-137's, and a host
of Washburn, Aria, Epi etc 335-like models.

Greg

[sheets]

Post by oasysco
Like I said, I really wish I had this guitar back in 2001. It would
have saved me from buying 3 or 4 ES-135s, several ES-137's, and a host
of Washburn, Aria, Epi etc 335-like models.

hmmm - '86 wasn't really a good year for those guys. You coulda bought
an eastman but you went for the label. Tsk-tsk. Good thing Jimmy Chou
doesn't make guitars. You'd be all over 'em.

[oasysco]

Post by sheets

Post by oasysco
Like I said, I really wish I had this guitar back in 2001. It would
have saved me from buying 3 or 4 ES-135s, several ES-137's, and a host
of Washburn, Aria, Epi etc 335-like models.

hmmm - '86 wasn't really a good year for those guys. You coulda bought
an eastman but you went for the label. Tsk-tsk. Good thing Jimmy Chou
doesn't make guitars. You'd be all over 'em.

As you and I both know, the quality of most Gibsons exceeds my ability
to play them :)- And let's face it, I'm cheap. But this Gibon really
does play really well and sounds good for typical 335 sound.

That said, if that T184MX hadn't been in white, I'd have ordered it
and sold something else.

I have no doubt that Eastmans of today would put me in a class of
guitars I've not experienced, but then I think about my level of
playing ability and I hem and haw... it'd be like buying a Porsche
just so I can ride around on 40mph roads, if you know what I mean.

Still, I'm keeping my options open thanks to Rick and now, you.

Greg

[sheets]

Post by oasysco
Still, I'm keeping my options open thanks to Rick and now, you.
Greg

Is this different than the 335S ? I thought the 335 studio was a
solidbody?

[oasysco]

Post by sheets

Post by oasysco
Still, I'm keeping my options open thanks to Rick and now, you.
Greg

Is this different than the 335S ? I thought the 335 studio was a
solidbody?

Jack, you know I've seen posts refer to the Studio as the ES-335S, but
there was also a ES-335S Professional that was the solidbody version
and not osmethig that I wanted - esssentially a larger double cut LP.

Greg

[Five Sharp]

Post by oasysco
I have no doubt that Eastmans of today would put me in a class of

guitars I've not experienced, but then I think about my level of
playing ability and I hem and haw... it'd be like buying a Porsche
just so I can ride around on 40mph roads, if you know what I mean.

Aha ... so now all of a sudden Eastman is the pinnacle of quality and
craftmanship huh. Well, I have played a bunch of 'm - the full sized ones
that is - and they all felt kind of cheap to me and sounded absolutely tinny
to my ears. I'd buy one for Gypsy jazz though. But for bebop, never.

I don't think they are bad guitars but personally I don't like how they
sound and feel. But then, I don't like luthier guitars with floaters either.
I think it's a TASTE discussion rather than a QUALITY one.

I don't know the Eastman thinlines so I am not going to comment on them.

By the way Greg, I seriously doubt you will prefer the sound of an Eastman
archtop over your 175.

#####

[oasysco]

Post by oasysco

Post by oasysco
I have no doubt that Eastmans of today would put me in a class of

guitars I've not experienced, but then I think about my level of
playing ability and I hem and haw... it'd be like buying a Porsche
just so I can ride around on 40mph roads, if you know what I mean.
Aha ... so now all of a sudden Eastman is the pinnacle of quality and
craftmanship huh. Well, I have played a bunch of 'm - the full sized ones
that is - and they all felt kind of cheap to me and sounded absolutely tinny
to my ears. I'd buy one for Gypsy jazz though. But for bebop, never.
I don't think they are bad guitars but personally I don't like how they
sound and feel. But then, I don't like luthier guitars with floaters either.
I think it's a TASTE discussion rather than a QUALITY one.
I don't know the Eastman thinlines so I am not going to comment on them.
By the way Greg, I seriously doubt you will prefer the sound of an Eastman
archtop over your 175.

I agree, definitely not over the 175, but for another guitar, I'd give
it a try. The 335 Studio is good enough that I no longer burn with
gear lust for an Eastman or an ES-335 or anything else... but I can't
help think I'm losing money by not getting a T184MX at $995 :)-

Post by oasysco
#####

Greg

[Five Sharp]

I't's perfectly possible that the thinline Eastmans are great guitars. I
haven't played one yet.

But as far as the full sized archtops are concerned, I think it's dangerous
to speak in terms of "quality" when you actually mean "preference" or
"taste." Suppose somebody wants to sound like Raney or Pass and gets an
Eastman. He'd be terribly disappointed. If he wanted an L5 sound, he's be
disappointed too by the way. They don't sound like that.

By the way, I assume Raney was playing a non-vintage blonde 175 on the
recently posted videos. Nothing wrong with his sound, I'd say. Anyone know
what year that blonde of his was? 70s? Early 80s?

#####

[David J. Littleboy]

Post by oasysco

Post by oasysco
I have no doubt that Eastmans of today would put me in a class of

guitars I've not experienced, but then I think about my level of
playing ability and I hem and haw... it'd be like buying a Porsche
just so I can ride around on 40mph roads, if you know what I mean.
Aha ... so now all of a sudden Eastman is the pinnacle of quality and
craftmanship huh. Well, I have played a bunch of 'm - the full sized ones
that is - and they all felt kind of cheap to me and sounded absolutely tinny
to my ears. I'd buy one for Gypsy jazz though. But for bebop, never.
I don't think they are bad guitars but personally I don't like how they
sound and feel. But then, I don't like luthier guitars with floaters either.
I think it's a TASTE discussion rather than a QUALITY one.
I don't know the Eastman thinlines so I am not going to comment on them.
By the way Greg, I seriously doubt you will prefer the sound of an Eastman
archtop over your 175.

I agree, definitely not over the 175, but for another guitar, I'd give
it a try. The 335 Studio is good enough that I no longer burn with
gear lust
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

The Gibson "studio" models are great. They're the just the regular models
without the trim (and with only opaque finish options). I had a Les Paul
Studio (although like all Les Pauls, it's too heavy to play), and Mark
Whitman gigs with an L5 studio (after one of the roadies trashed his antique
L5; Oops).

I'm with ##### on this: I haven't seen an Eastman I've felt even the
slightest GAS for.

David J. Littleboy
Tokyo, Japan

[sheets]

Post by Five Sharp
Aha ... so now all of a sudden Eastman is the pinnacle of quality and
craftmanship huh. Well, I have played a bunch of 'm - the full sized ones
that is - and they all felt kind of cheap to me

Have you played *ANY* with the set-in humbuckers? Totally different
tone. Much more of the Wes and Pass vibe.

[Five Sharp]

Post by sheets
Have you played *ANY* with the set-in humbuckers? Totally different
tone. Much more of the Wes and Pass vibe.

Not sure. I think I played the Pisano. Doesn't that have a humbucker? What
models would you recommend trying out for an L5 vibe? The ones I played did
not have that at all.

#####

[sheets]

Post by Five Sharp

Post by sheets
Have you played *ANY* with the set-in humbuckers? Totally different
tone. Much more of the Wes and Pass vibe.

Not sure. I think I played the Pisano. Doesn't that have a humbucker? What
models would you recommend trying out for an L5 vibe? The ones I played did
not have that at all.

Any of the models with the built-in humbucker can copy a wes-like vibe
though they're not going to be exactly the same. Not sure I'm crazy
about the KA pickup. My el-rey has classic 57 pickups in it and it
makes a world of diff.

[d***@gmail.com]

Post by sheets
hmmm - '86 wasn't really a good year for those guys. You coulda bought
an eastman but you went for the label. Tsk-tsk. Good thing Jimmy Chou
doesn't make guitars. You'd be all over 'em.

Well, maybe. I have a ES335 that I bought new in 1986 in Dallas (my
farewell gift to that interesting Southern city), and it's been a very
good sounding and playing guitar. Still have it, still my favorite.
Too bad my playing does not rise to the level of the instrument. I
guess I've had this thing 21 years now; perhaps I should pour some
single malt scotch into it.

And I believe it's "Choo".

[oasysco]

Post by sheets
hmmm - '86 wasn't really a good year for those guys. You coulda bought
an eastman but you went for the label. Tsk-tsk. Good thing Jimmy Chou
doesn't make guitars. You'd be all over 'em.

Well, maybe.  I have a ES335 that I bought new in 1986 in Dallas (my
farewell gift to that interesting Southern city), and it's been a very
good sounding and playing guitar.  Still have it, still my favorite.
Too bad my playing does not rise to the level of the instrument.  I
guess I've had this thing 21 years now; perhaps I should pour some
single malt scotch into it.
And I believe it's "Choo".

God bless you.

[oasysco]

Post by sheets

Post by oasysco
Like I said, I really wish I had this guitar back in 2001. It would
have saved me from buying 3 or 4 ES-135s, several ES-137's, and a host
of Washburn, Aria, Epi etc 335-like models.

hmmm - '86 wasn't really a good year for those guys. You coulda bought
an eastman but you went for the label. Tsk-tsk. Good thing Jimmy Chou
doesn't make guitars. You'd be all over 'em.

Oh yeah, let address the 1986 issue. As we know, Gibson was bought out
by henry and assoc in Jan 1986 from Norlin. I'm asumig that Norlin put
this design onthe books prior to selling, so it was a concern for me.
That said, it really is a wonderful playig guitar. So im thankful for
that.

Greg

[Jeanmi]

Post by oasysco
Like I said, I really wish I had this guitar back in 2001. It would
have saved me from buying 3 or 4 ES-135s, several ES-137's, and a host
of Washburn, Aria, Epi etc 335-like models.

I *really* doubt that Greg...;-))
Anyway, there's nothing wrong about buying too many guitars...

[oasysco]

Post by Jeanmi

Post by oasysco
Like I said, I really wish I had this guitar back in 2001. It would
have saved me from buying 3 or 4 ES-135s, several ES-137's, and a host
of Washburn, Aria, Epi etc 335-like models.

I *really* doubt that Greg...;-))

Ha-ha... OK, you're right! I would have bought those things anyway.
Thanks for the reality check :)-

Post by Jeanmi
Anyway, there's nothing wrong about buying too many guitars...

Greg

[oasysco]

Post by oasysco
The pups are not Dirty Fingers as I had thought since they weigh in at
only 7.8Kohm (bridge) and 7.4Kohm (neck), which is vintage spec (not
Dirty Fingers spec, which is 15Kohms).

From other 335 Studio owners (1986, too) and Gibson history, it
appears this 1986 has Gibson Classic 57's, which purportedly came out
a couple of years prior to this guitar. Instead, it may have been the
Es-335S Professional thart was outfitted with Dirty Finger pups.

Greg