ES-335 sound in an Offset design?
- WilburBufferson
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ES-335 sound in an Offset design?
I love the sound of an ES-335: that extra depth, woodiness, dimension. So much so, that I've bought and sold 4 of them over the years. There's something about the design/hollow cavities that adds to the sound. But.... ergonomically, they don't work for me sitting down. It's the position of the lower cutaway/bout that makes it feel like the guitar is falling down behind me.
So tell me friends, how close can I get to *that* sound with all the comfort and joy of a JM/JAG body shape? Certainly I can't be the only one who feels this way?
So tell me friends, how close can I get to *that* sound with all the comfort and joy of a JM/JAG body shape? Certainly I can't be the only one who feels this way?
- Embenny
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Re: ES-335 sound in an Offset design?
You won't get the unplugged sound and response of a 335 without duplicating its construction. That means a 24.75" scale mahogany set neck, TOM/stop tailpiece, center block and laminated maple top, etc.
And having owned a really good 335, it's really the playing experience/acoustic response that sets it apart. Any Gibson-format guitar with two PAFs the right distance apart (eg, not an SG) can be made to sound extremely similar plugged in. I doubt anybody could pick out a 335 blind from a recording.
It's the feel that really makes it its own class of guitar. Everything from the big but thin body to the way it vibrates acoustically makes it very different to play than a Les Paul or other Gibson, but the plugged in tone could probably be matched pretty accurately by an offset with a 24.75" scale neck, TOM/stop tailpiece, and correctly positioned pickups.
I had a Les Paul, Flying V, and 335 with similar pickups, and I'll be darned if I could identify them by tone with someone else playing them through arbitrary amp settings. They all felt amazingly different and changed the way I played to suit their strengths, but that tone can be copped by any Gibson-format guitar with the right pickup spacing.
And having owned a really good 335, it's really the playing experience/acoustic response that sets it apart. Any Gibson-format guitar with two PAFs the right distance apart (eg, not an SG) can be made to sound extremely similar plugged in. I doubt anybody could pick out a 335 blind from a recording.
It's the feel that really makes it its own class of guitar. Everything from the big but thin body to the way it vibrates acoustically makes it very different to play than a Les Paul or other Gibson, but the plugged in tone could probably be matched pretty accurately by an offset with a 24.75" scale neck, TOM/stop tailpiece, and correctly positioned pickups.
I had a Les Paul, Flying V, and 335 with similar pickups, and I'll be darned if I could identify them by tone with someone else playing them through arbitrary amp settings. They all felt amazingly different and changed the way I played to suit their strengths, but that tone can be copped by any Gibson-format guitar with the right pickup spacing.
The artist formerly known as mbene085.
- MattK
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Re: ES-335 sound in an Offset design?
I guess the Starcaster reissues are an obvious suggestion - the Squier Affinity has standard size hums, stoptail/TOM and is semi hollow and 24.75" scale. Presumably the pickups could be upgraded.
- barrycreed
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Re: ES-335 sound in an Offset design?
ESP also do a slightly offset 335 type guitar.
- Lost In Autumn
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Re: ES-335 sound in an Offset design?
it's 25.5" scale. The pickups are ceramic hot trash. with new pickups and a 24.75" conversion neck, you could perhaps get in the ballpark. That said, the plywood construction of these makes them not quite as woody and airy as the real thing.
I've done a couple semi-hollow offsets in carved ash that have a pretty lively feel:
this J Mascis Japan inspired JM has sound chambers, but no f-hole:
while this Starmaster goes all the way:
- Shadoweclipse13
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Re: ES-335 sound in an Offset design?
Starcaster was my thought as well. I feel like there are a few people that make them, or a version of it, where you might be able to find exactly what you want. Warmoth has the Mooncaster, as well as 24.75" conversion necks. Or a Bilt Volare.
Pickup Switching Mad Scientist
http://www.offsetguitars.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=104282&p=1438384#p1438384
http://www.offsetguitars.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=104282&p=1438384#p1438384
- ryanthellama
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Re: ES-335 sound in an Offset design?
I've never played one, but I recently heard good things about the Rivolta Regata
- Larry Mal
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Re: ES-335 sound in an Offset design?
Those look really nice.
Back in those days, everyone knew that if you were talking about Destiny's Child, you were talking about Beyonce, LaTavia, LeToya, and Larry.
- WilburBufferson
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Re: ES-335 sound in an Offset design?
Wow, thanks! Ticks the boxes for sure. Only minus for me is if the finish is a *thick* poly. I don't mind poly, but the way that Fender is now doing it on their Pro Series guitars.ryanthellama wrote: ↑Tue Jul 26, 2022 11:46 amI've never played one, but I recently heard good things about the Rivolta Regata
- WilburBufferson
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- fuzzjunkie
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Re: ES-335 sound in an Offset design?
The Novo Miris is a seriously good looking guitar, but it’s 25.5” scale.
- WilburBufferson
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Re: ES-335 sound in an Offset design?
How did you know that GREEN guitars are my thing? That is seriously awesome. How did you acquire it? Did you order direct? Do you find that the scale changes the sound appreciably (I realize that the design strays quite a bit in other aspects from the 335).fuzzjunkie wrote: ↑Wed Jul 27, 2022 6:17 pm
The Novo Miris is a seriously good looking guitar, but it’s 25.5” scale.
- fuzzjunkie
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Re: ES-335 sound in an Offset design?
Oh, sorry, it’s not mine. I just look at them occasionally on Instagram. It’s just serendipity that I picked the green one.WilburBufferson wrote: ↑Thu Jul 28, 2022 2:47 amHow did you know that GREEN guitars are my thing? That is seriously awesome. How did you acquire it? Did you order direct? Do you find that the scale changes the sound appreciably (I realize that the design strays quite a bit in other aspects from the 335).fuzzjunkie wrote: ↑Wed Jul 27, 2022 6:17 pm
The Novo Miris is a seriously good looking guitar, but it’s 25.5” scale.
I don’t know how much the scale length affects the tone when the body is so different, but the type of pickups, how they’re positioned and the distance between them is also a factor. Just going by photos, but the bridge pickup relative to the bridge, and the distance between that pickup and the neck pickup seems to align with the ES-335. I guess that would mean the harmonics and overtones from the strings would be close to the same? Not actually the same, but it might mitigate some of the other differences?
- Lost In Autumn
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Re: ES-335 sound in an Offset design?
Thanks! I could easily do one in green...
- Fiddy
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Re: ES-335 sound in an Offset design?
Your quoting game lacks.. MatthewK never said that
Last edited by Fiddy on Sat Jul 30, 2022 8:31 am, edited 1 time in total.