50th 1963 ES-335 Block?

[ykcor1138]

I recently purchased a 50th anniversary 1963 Block ES-335 RI. I love this guitar, unplugged, sounds amazing, plays amazing and looks too kill!!

I noticed when plugged in, the guitar sound completely different than my other Burstbucker equipped guitars. I am trying to figure out why, could it be the wiring harness, black beauty caps? I do not know? My guitar has very little high end and is way to muddy for my taste.

This guitar is a little different than other 1963 Block reissues of the past, as it is supposed to be more vintage correct. In the guitars sales description, it states, "new vintage correct wiring harness", does any one know if the 1963 Blocks of the early days came with 50s wiring or modern?

NAMM '13 - Gibson Memphis Scotty Moore ES-295, ES-335 Bass, Luther Dickinson ES-335 & More - YouTube

50th Anniversary 1963 ES-335 TD Block VOS | Hollowbody/Semi-Hollowbody | Gibson Custom Shop | Electrics | Wildwood Guitars

 

[RufusTelestrat]

Three things that may change the sound, and my 63 is the same, they may have used nickel bright wires and the sould may be more muted because of that, the caps may effect the sound as well.
THe third thing is the nylon saddles. They probably mute some of the brightness.

 

[ykcor1138]

I am right there with you. First thing I did was change the strings, that did not help. So I sent her to my local luthier and replaced the nylon saddles, no change.

Remember, this guitar is full of life unplugged, only when plugged in do I experience lost of high end. I have owned lots of Burstbucker equipped guitars, this one sounds different, something has changed? Makes me wonder if this 1963 RI uses 50s style wiring, or something else? I know it is not the pots. The guitar comes stock with 500k pots, I called Gibson and verified.

Does anybody know if an original 1963 Block used 50s style wiring, or something else?

Three things that may change the sound, and my 63 is the same, they may have used nickel bright wires and the sould may be more muted because of that, the caps may effect the sound as well.
THe third thing is the nylon saddles. They probably mute some of the brightness.

 

[RufusTelestrat]

According to Wildwood they use period correct wiring.

 

[jamman]

What other guitars are you compairing it to ? All 335's ? How about EQ'ing your Amp for the guitar ? It's most likely the Caps that are having an effect on ther guitars tone . But every guitar sounds different

Btw -Gibson does not ship their guitars with Brite-Wires .Brite wires don't mute the tone they brighten it . So goes the name .

 

[JMV]

I'd bet the pots don't spec out at 500k or higher. That could be the difference you're hearing.

 

[ykcor1138]

According to Wildwood they use period correct wiring.

That is the part that has me scratching my head, what does that mean? For the most part, 2012's and below were 50s style, has Gibson changed something?

 

[ykcor1138]

What other guitars are you compairing it to ? All 335's ? How about EQ'ing your Amp for the guitar ? It's most likely the Caps that are having an effect on ther guitars tone . But every guitar sounds different

Btw -Gibson does not ship their guitars with Brite-Wires .Brite wires don't mute the tone they brighten it . So goes the name .

Does the tone cap make that much of a difference with the volume full up?

 

[jamman]

Caps can have an effect on tone even with the pots wide open . It's not huge but , i can here it with my guitars . The true way to trouble shoot it down is piece by piece .
I would start at the Pots /Or pot for each pup and see what happens. Than the Caps . Last the pickups .

You have given us little to go on as to what type of "other Humbucker guitars" your comparing this new 1 too . 335's are not Les Pauls and don't sound like them .
I don't expect my new 335(with BB1&2's ) to sound anything like any other guitar I have . It doesn't and it doesn't have as much treble either . But still it's an amazing guitar . If you want more treble -turn it up on the Amp .

I also might consider taking the guitar to a Gibson Auth. Repair site , If possible, if you feel the problem is big . Don't void your warranty when you can get it fixed right for free. you paid good moey for that guitar and it should be made correct .

 

[Rank Stranger]

I've played two of these recently and they were the brightest sounding 335s I've ever played. Almost too bright. I wonder if there is something else going on with your guitar.

Really nice instruments though, I must say.

RS

 

[christophervolume]

pickup height!?

 

[ykcor1138]

Caps can have an effect on tone even with the pots wide open . It's not huge but , i can here it with my guitars . The true way to trouble shoot it down is piece by piece .
I would start at the Pots /Or pot for each pup and see what happens. Than the Caps . Last the pickups .

You have given us little to go on as to what type of "other Humbucker guitars" your comparing this new 1 too . 335's are not Les Pauls and don't sound like them .
I don't expect my new 335(with BB1&2's ) to sound anything like any other guitar I have . It doesn't and it doesn't have as much treble either . But still it's an amazing guitar . If you want more treble -turn it up on the Amp .

I also might consider taking the guitar to a Gibson Auth. Repair site , If possible, if you feel the problem is big . Don't void your warranty when you can get it fixed right for free. you paid good moey for that guitar and it should be made correct .

There is nothing wrong with this guitar, nor is it the amp settings, it just sounds really different. I am comparing this to other 335's I have owned with Burstbucker 1 & 2 pickups and I have owned a lot.

This guitar has a very different tone and I am curious why. I think this version of the ES-335 is really trying to be vintage, down to the wiring. Before I pull the wiring harness to see what is going on inside, I figured I would ask.

Does anybody know if an original, not a reissue, 1963 ES-335 Block used 50's style wiring, or something else?

 

[Progrocker111]

Interesting, cause mine had fairly bright tone for ES335. Try to put higher the pickups a bit and lower the polepieces.

 

[Midnight Blues]

I don't know, but if it sounds like, or is the one that Greg Koch is playing, it sounds lovely to me, not to mention how GORGEOUS it is! To me, that's the ultimate look for a 335.

I hope you can get the tone to where you want it. If not, sell it to me at an extreme discount.


Congrats and HNGD!

 

[jamman]

There is nothing wrong with this guitar, nor is it the amp settings, it just sounds really different. I am comparing this to other 335's I have owned with Burstbucker 1 & 2 pickups and I have owned a lot.

This guitar has a very different tone and I am curious why. I think this version of the ES-335 is really trying to be vintage, down to the wiring. Before I pull the wiring harness to see what is going on inside, I figured I would ask.

Does anybody know if an original, not a reissue, 1963 ES-335 Block used 50's style wiring, or something else?

Ok , I'll bite , what makes you think it's the wiring ?
For Mud , I'd look at the Pots .

 

[ykcor1138]

Ok , I'll bite , what makes you think it's the wiring ?
For Mud , I'd look at the Pots .

Because of Gibson's statement " period correct wiring harness ". Makes me wonder what they mean by period correct?