Memphis, TN (September 6, 2007) - The experts at the Gibson Custom Shop have made what many guitarists have been longing for… an ES-335-type semi-hollowbody guitar with a much smaller, almost solidbody-sized profile. The new ES-339 is just that -- a smaller semi-hollow guitar that still sounds big as a 335 or a 330.
The 335 was groundbreaking when it came it out in 1958. The new-fangled hybrid had a solid maple block running down the center of its thin, hollow body, giving it the fat, resonant tone of a hollowbody guitar with the sustain and feedback resistance of a solidbody. The guitar quickly found a place in jazz, blues and rock (and especially rockabilly) while inspiring other guitar makers to follow Gibson’s lead. The 335 was so versatile it was even embraced by the punk scene.
Perhaps the only knock on the 335 was its size and weight. Though embraced by many players, it was still a bit large and unwieldy for some. Interestingly enough, the 335’s design wasn’t something that could be simply reduced in scale without losing the tonal qualities that made it famous. The new 339 is in essence the solution to the 335’s size problem. It is a smaller, lighter semi-hollowbody with its own design characteristics. It has a warm semi-hollow tone with tremendous clarity. The solidbody sustain is there, too.
As Gibson puts it, the 339 “feels like a Les Paul but sounds like an ES-335.” It has a pair of ’57 Classic Humbuckers, tulip-head Kluson tuners, nickel hardware, an ABR-1 bridge, dot fingerboard inlays, and a lacquer finish. Two necks types are available: a 30/60 (boasting an extra .030” of depth) that has the slim, wide feel of an early ’60s Gibson and a chunkier ’59-style profile. Three vintage-style finishes are available: Antique Red, Antique Vintage Sunburst, and Light Carmel Burst.
The ES-339''s list price $2,821 is only available from Musician''s Friend, Musician.com, Private Reserve, Guitar Center, Guitarsale.com, Music 123 and Guitars.com.
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Gibson ES-339