ES339. Sighted. Assimilated. We are Borg.

I really liked the Epiphones I have owned. So far I have kept 1 of the 4 I have purchased.
My favorite is my Les Paul Std I still have. Next was my ES175 copy, and then both my EJ200 and Dot which all 3 were sold to pay bills.
For any choice of Epiphone's however, I primarily like the ones with small headstocks like the Les Pauls, G400, Wilshire, Masterbuilt acoustics etc. Somehow I never get used to that giant headstock like on the ES's and many of the other acoustics. I feel like I need a GPS to find the tuning machines on the headstocks.
The carpenter in me wants to always keep the guitars and take a jig saw to lop off all that extra
I still like everything else about the guitars like the 339's 175's etc
 
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Been playing the daylights outta this 339. It's got this earthly like wooden tone I've not heard since my old '66 ES125TC I had years ago. The one Ted called my "poor man's Byrdland ". That had a P90 in the neck. I added a bridge pickup, switch, and controls with a TOM bridge. It became a fire breathing dragon after that. Glorious hollowbody feed back!!! Ted played it once and said I was nuts. Great compliment I thought. But that one had that dense wooden tone oozing out of it like this 339 has. When I cut the neck to a single coil and leave the bridge in HB with both on it is real similar to my old dragon. Just takes more to get the feedback, but yeah, it's a beast with serious gain. But again, those Alnico Classic Pros are some serious high gain pickups too. And you can sure tell it too!


I'm sure enjoying this instrument. My Led Paul and SG just sit in their cases... the Starcaster, well it's standing by in case of intruders for the "El Kabong" attack. :coffee:
 
My co-worker has an Epi hollow body but I don't know what model. He said it's for sale but he doesn't know it's value. You guys are making me want guitar#6 now!

I need to find out what it is so I can make him a fair offer.

Dammit!

That's a sweet looking growler you got there Wade! Congratulations!
 
Wade, what you said about that woody tone, that is exactly what I loved about my Epi ES 175. If I get another ES, it will sound just like the 175 did.
 
that's a lovely casino... the instrument that began my quest for P-90 goodness.
I ended up with the "went through the dryer" version, but my heart still pounds for
the Casino real... and for Wade's humbucker powered little powerhouse.
 
I have been eyeing a Epi 339 at GC for about a month now myself. I plays great and the finish is really nice.
 
Bea, you would really appreciate the craftsmanship in this instrument. Some things are hard to describe but the best I can think of is remarkable. Entering into day three and the "honeymoon phase" is wearing off. Yet I'm still not finding an imperfection or flaw and even to my rapidly diminishing hearing the tones and clarity are breathtaking.

Thanks to all for your support and naturally your approval of my decision on this guitar. It was not in my game plans when I bought it as I intended to have only 3 guitars maximum, but I simply couldn't walk away from this one. Further, the price was embarrassing low to my thinking and that didn't hurt either. ;)
 
Into month two now. Still simply enthralled by the tone and playability of this instrument. Very glad to have it. Through the acoustic G35fx amp and my modest array of pedals, this instrument is allowed to free itself and soar. Far better than the obscenely overpriced clunkers Gibson is dumping on the public, this instrument reflects the attention to detail that Epiphone has come to display. There's still tones and such hidden within. I'll find them, meanwhile, I'm simply enjoying this instrument and it's ability to perform magical sonic delights. Magnificent.:nice_guitar:
 
Late to the party again....
That looks like a really nice guitar and I'm glad
you're still enjoying it a couple of months in.
Means you got a good one.
 
They are very tasty gits....I had one for a short time (like 4 days) ---- but the PROFIT monster got me and I flipped it --- it was a fun diversion
coupe.jpg
coupeb.jpg
 
nope its a Coupe ---- but is a similar critter---- very well made lovely work --great tones.....P90s

225.00 buy---350.00 sale ......4 day turn time---- I love it when poop just comes together right ;)
 
Wade's right about the woody tone. That's one of the things I liked about the Epi ES-339 when I played it in a music store. The HB version. Mine with the P-90s seems to have some
distinct tones that I've never had at my fingertips before. Especially the neck p'up. That's got a lovely smooth almost jazzy tone to it that I really like. The bridge pickup has what you'd expect: lots of the classic P-90 snarl and rip.

For some songs, I use only the bridge p'up. Likewise, for other songs I use only the neck.
But for me, (and with P-90s) the magic is in the middle. (Like the good Doctor said) I've been enjoying my ES-339 a lot.
And I read this thread with interest, and came back in just to see if Wade had a report after
the lip gloss was worn off. Honeymoon's over baby, but I'm still in love.
ES 339 practice.jpg
Practice is a joy with a 339... Lookit how small and handy this Epi is.
You play faster and jump higher. Mine's not fer sale...
 
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100% right. Thought its true I have a huge affection for distortion pedal use. My overdrive level is close to that of Mick Box of the old Uriah Heep and The Nuge. But I also truly enjoy crystal clear clean tone. And I mean like a bell. With the coils split on the ES339 the output levels are diminished true, but the clarity is off the charts. Not that in full humbucker there's any lack of distinctive full body and clarity. On the contrary, these pickups are dead quiet clean or harshly overdriven. Full or cut. And extremely rich and balanced.

Last week I had my trusty steed out of the stable. The old Epi Les Paul Custom. Made in '05 at the Samick S. Korean plant, its a piece of art that plays wonderfully. Tone and depth are trademarks of its accomplishments. Yet the 339 reaches beyond even the LP's range.

As the Col. said, and I paraphrase, the neck's jazz tone with the bridge's bite is truly remarkable. And this holds true for both full HB and coil tapped. When played with a pick the notes are punctuated with clear precision. Yet when playing with fingers alone with the same settings the notes take on a broader context yet retain their unmistakable clarity and depth. Its difficult to describe but this instrument exceeds the expectations I normally have of any one single guitar. It sounds as good, and in some cases, better than the custom handbuilt instruments I made in the past for very discerning and demanding customers. Epiphone has been building quality instruments with some of legendary status off and on for years. Lately this has been more true than ever. Though associated with Gibson they share none of that company's shortcomings in quality. On the contrary, Epiphone sets the example of how an instrument is to be made these days. Gibson should be taking notes and following suit.

Yeah, I've bought and sold tons of guitars in my time true enough. Even more than Adrian. Ha! But like the Col. said this one is not for sale.
 
Walks Backward said:
100% right. Thought its true I have a huge affection for distortion pedal use. My overdrive level is close to that of Mick Box of the old Uriah Heep and The Nuge. But I also truly enjoy crystal clear clean tone. And I mean like a bell. With the coils split on the ES339 the output levels are diminished true, but the clarity is off the charts. Not that in full humbucker there's any lack of distinctive full body and clarity. On the contrary, these pickups are dead quiet clean or harshly overdriven. Full or cut. And extremely rich and balanced.

Last week I had my trusty steed out of the stable. The old Epi Les Paul Custom. Made in '05 at the Samick S. Korean plant, its a piece of art that plays wonderfully. Tone and depth are trademarks of its accomplishments. Yet the 339 reaches beyond even the LP's range.

As the Col. said, and I paraphrase, the neck's jazz tone with the bridge's bite is truly remarkable. And this holds true for both full HB and coil tapped. When played with a pick the notes are punctuated with clear precision. Yet when playing with fingers alone with the same settings the notes take on a broader context yet retain their unmistakable clarity and depth. Its difficult to describe but this instrument exceeds the expectations I normally have of any one single guitar. It sounds as good, and in some cases, better than the custom handbuilt instruments I made in the past for very discerning and demanding customers. Epiphone has been building quality instruments with some of legendary status off and on for years. Lately this has been more true than ever. Though associated with Gibson they share none of that company's shortcomings in quality. On the contrary, Epiphone sets the example of how an instrument is to be made these days. Gibson should be taking notes and following suit.

Yeah, I've bought and sold tons of guitars in my time true enough. Even more than Adrian. Ha! But like the Col. said this one is not for sale.
Click to expand...

Overdriven tone.....somewhere between Vivian Campbell's tone on Holy Diver and the overdriven rhythm guitar intro on Ratt's "Back For More."

I even play Rory Gallagher songs at full gain...I just roll off the volume to start out and when thee crowd starts feeling it, I roll up the volume gradually and start shaving heads in the first row....
 
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