The 339 sounds kind of Les Paul-ish

Brian Butler · 06-26-2009, 10:23 AM

Not to bore anyone who knows me, but briefly...I owned a hollow body 335 for many years, and finally changed to a Les Paul. I loved the Les Paul but "had to" go back to a hollow. I bought a 339 (a 'smaller 335'), and I'll be damned if I'm not finding that every few times I play it, I think "hmmm...this sounds and feels like a Les Paul".

No, not exactly and it doesn't have all the punch, but I'll be darned if it doesn't sound and feel like a cross between a 335 and a Les Paul, just like Gibson claims.

I wonder if they put more solid wood inside it in that middle block than is in a 335, or else I wonder if the wood block just has more influence since the body is smaller.

But what I'm saying is that if a Les Paul devotee is thinking about adding a hollow to his collection, he might tend to like the 339 more than he realizes.

The_Sentry · 06-26-2009, 10:50 AM

The 339....I wish they made a left handed model. (I'd love a studio/worn cherry burst.)

I truly believe that's the direction it's all going in. As it is...a modern, chambered Les Paul is not that far off of an F-block archtop anyway.

Guitarfreak4 · 06-26-2009, 11:04 AM

I love 335s, they're second to LPs on my top Gibson models. I've never played a 339, but I would like to try one and see for myself. Personally, I like the big body of the 335, so to decrease the body size down to LP size, it seems kinda....weird for me.

dspelman · 06-26-2009, 11:12 AM

And to think, Ibanez started making that small-scale 335 type guitar back in the '70's, and here are Gibsonites just now discovering it.

I've had my 335 since '68. It's a 12-string (relatively rare in the 335 pantheon), and I've ripped the octave strings off it in the past and people have sworn that I've been playing an LP. Same thing with Clapton -- a LOT of things that people are convinced he played on an LP were actually recorded with that old red 335 or something else entirely. Makes me wonder about the "nitro vs. Poly" crowd...

loneguitar · 06-26-2009, 01:32 PM

They may be close, not having a 339, but there is a world of difference between my LP and 335.

VastHorizon · 06-26-2009, 01:33 PM

It's next on my list...

Boleskinehouse · 06-26-2009, 01:51 PM

I don't like the size. If I'm going for a semi-hollow, it's going to be a full sized 335 type. Preferably 355.

VastHorizon · 06-26-2009, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boleskinehouse

I don't like the size. If I'm going for a semi-hollow, it's going to be a full sized 335 type. Preferably 355.

I have a limited budget, ya know.

Boleskinehouse · 06-26-2009, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VastHorizon

I have a limited budget, ya know.

A lot of people do. I can't rush out and buy a 355 either, but I'm not going to settle for a smaller one.

VastHorizon · 06-26-2009, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boleskinehouse

A lot of people do. I can't rush out and buy a 355 either, but I'm not going to settle for a smaller one.

Touche.

. But I'd rather spend the difference on a good amp.

Bing17 · 06-26-2009, 02:02 PM

I got yer hollow body right here!

Rikochet · 06-26-2009, 05:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boleskinehouse

A lot of people do. I can't rush out and buy a 355 either, but I'm not going to settle for a smaller one.

who are you trying to kid boles?

VastHorizon · 06-26-2009, 09:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rikochet

who are you trying to kid boles?

06-26-2009, 10:23 AM	#1 (permalink)
Brian Butler Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 1,469 Thanks: 7 Thanked 30 Times in 17 Posts	The 339 sounds kind of Les Paul-ish Not to bore anyone who knows me, but briefly...I owned a hollow body 335 for many years, and finally changed to a Les Paul. I loved the Les Paul but "had to" go back to a hollow. I bought a 339 (a 'smaller 335'), and I'll be damned if I'm not finding that every few times I play it, I think "hmmm...this sounds and feels like a Les Paul". No, not exactly and it doesn't have all the punch, but I'll be darned if it doesn't sound and feel like a cross between a 335 and a Les Paul, just like Gibson claims. I wonder if they put more solid wood inside it in that middle block than is in a 335, or else I wonder if the wood block just has more influence since the body is smaller. But what I'm saying is that if a Les Paul devotee is thinking about adding a hollow to his collection, he might tend to like the 339 more than he realizes.

06-26-2009, 10:50 AM	#2 (permalink)
The_Sentry The Devil's Advocate Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Neverwhere, CA Posts: 25,947 Thanks: 1,089 Thanked 1,451 Times in 308 Posts	Re: The 339 sounds kind of Les Paul-ish The 339....I wish they made a left handed model. (I'd love a studio/worn cherry burst.) I truly believe that's the direction it's all going in. As it is...a modern, chambered Les Paul is not that far off of an F-block archtop anyway. __________________ Musical Ventures: Love Knuckle on Reverb Nation! Random Recordings and Videos of Stuff!

06-26-2009, 11:12 AM	#4 (permalink)
dspelman Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 5,285 Thanks: 0 Thanked 17 Times in 5 Posts	Re: The 339 sounds kind of Les Paul-ish And to think, Ibanez started making that small-scale 335 type guitar back in the '70's, and here are Gibsonites just now discovering it. I've had my 335 since '68. It's a 12-string (relatively rare in the 335 pantheon), and I've ripped the octave strings off it in the past and people have sworn that I've been playing an LP. Same thing with Clapton -- a LOT of things that people are convinced he played on an LP were actually recorded with that old red 335 or something else entirely. Makes me wonder about the "nitro vs. Poly" crowd...

06-26-2009, 01:32 PM	#5 (permalink)
loneguitar Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Memphis Posts: 2,370 Thanks: 0 Thanked 16 Times in 8 Posts	Re: The 339 sounds kind of Les Paul-ish They may be close, not having a 339, but there is a world of difference between my LP and 335. __________________ " The Love you take, is equal to the love you make"

06-26-2009, 01:33 PM	#6 (permalink)
VastHorizon Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 7,369 Thanks: 55 Thanked 313 Times in 87 Posts	Re: The 339 sounds kind of Les Paul-ish It's next on my list...

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06-26-2009, 01:51 PM	#7 (permalink)
Boleskinehouse Banned Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Next to Raleighwood Posts: 27,153 Thanks: 91 Thanked 673 Times in 114 Posts	Re: The 339 sounds kind of Les Paul-ish I don't like the size. If I'm going for a semi-hollow, it's going to be a full sized 335 type. Preferably 355.

06-26-2009, 02:02 PM	#11 (permalink)
Bing17 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Somewhere Between Hollywood and Hell Posts: 1,770 Thanks: 25 Thanked 26 Times in 5 Posts	Re: The 339 sounds kind of Les Paul-ish I got yer hollow body right here! __________________ a boat.

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