Poll: which of these 3 small-ish semi-hollows?

Which one would you buy?

  • Gibson 137 with P90s.

    Votes: 1 5.3%

  • Gibson Midtown Deluxe with burstbuckers.

    Votes: 10 52.6%

  • Gibson 339 with 57s.

    Votes: 8 42.1%
  • Total voters
    19
Mr Grumpy

Mr Grumpy

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Thomman currently has some lovely guitars at decent (I think...) prices.

Which one of these 3 do you prefer & why (all are similar prices)?

Gibson ES-137 Billie Joe Armstrong

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https://www.thomann.de/intl/gibson_es_137_billy_joe_armstrong.htm?ref=search_rslt_gibson_334181


Gibson Midtown Deluxe Ltd. OW

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https://www.thomann.de/intl/gibson_midtown_deluxe_ltd._ow.htm?ref=search_rslt_gibson_411709

Gibson ES-339 Studio Wine Red

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https://www.thomann.de/intl/gibson_es_339_studio_wine_red_2015.htm?ref=search_rslt_gibson_394111
 
I say the Midtown edges the 339 out because of the additional volume and tone controls. The Midtown Standard would be the about the same price as the 339 if you chose to forego the quilt and block/headstock inlays.

I would not get P90s in my first semi-hollow - HBs are likely to provide a broader range of clean tones, which is what I primarily seek from a semi hollow. The difficulty of height adjustmnet with dog ears only serves to exacerbate this problem.
 
RVA said:
I say the Midtown edges the 339 out because of the additional volume and tone controls.
Click to expand...

My fugly tele would certainly benefit from a volume control for each PU; it's a good feature on many Gibsons that you don't appreciate until it's not there (especially if you change the pickups to sounds you like which are often less well balanced than the originals).

ChasFred said:
That 339 just really rings the bell for me.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I like it a lot too. I neally got this last night for under $1000 delivered, but it was gone when I went back on the site this morning:

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RVA said:
I would not get P90s in my first semi-hollow
Click to expand...

Hmmm, but it's so sexy. I understand what you're saying about feedback and noise and stuff; makes sense.
 
The 137, strangely, has two volume controls but no tone controls. The rotary switch just adds the P90s together for centre position, pretty cool.


Very punky sounding, slightly fuzzy when overdriven; maybe not too versatile, but very cool.
 
Tone pedals exist----tone knobs are on most amps---

BUt you dont want UN ADJUSTABLE pickups GRUMP!

think of the shame and ridicule---- not to mention when you are on stage in front of millions....you cant stop---get out a screw driver ---adjust your tonal variational qualificational sound --- while the crowd riots and burns the stadium........like you can with ADJUSTABLE pickups------

so the 137 sucks balls---buy it and send it to me ---you will feel better about life and your CHI will be cleansed
 
eSGEe said:
Tone pedals exist----tone knobs are on most amps---

BUt you dont want UN ADJUSTABLE pickups GRUMP!

think of the shame and ridicule---- not to mention when you are on stage in front of millions....you cant stop---get out a screw driver ---adjust your tonal variational qualificational sound --- while the crowd riots and burns the stadium........like you can with ADJUSTABLE pickups------

so the 137 sucks balls---buy it and send it to me ---you will feel better about life and your CHI will be cleansed
Click to expand...
You may not be adjusting it, but you will be thinking about it. I am no pro, but I have heard that if you are not happy with your tone, it has an effect on your live performance. I guess bassists do not have that problem because nobody is paying any attention to you, except if you are Tal Wakefield.

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Have you listened to Green Day??? No tone adjustment needed----just open it it up.....

RVA said:
I guess bassists do not have that problem
Click to expand...
true ---in general bass players are far better adjusted ;) than guitar players ...BUWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHA

you WALKED right INTO that one Legal Beagle ;)
 
Really like the Ocean Water finish on that Midtown. Reviews are real good to real bad. The bad reviews are usually QC issues. Amazing, if you get one that is set up properly.

The smaller body of the 339 is interesting. It is smaller, isn't it?
 
Yep, I'd probably stick a Stetsbar on the Midtown, and be a happy bastard. No one else would like looking at it, but I'd wager it would make a heck of a workhorse axe for me.
But I am a very silly human.

Seriously, I'd choose the Midtown for the control layout, pickups, and I'm actually ok with the fretboard material too(I have a Martin with that stuff for the fretboard and bridge, and it's been fine.). That particular Midtown is far too pretty for the likes of me, but I could make the best of it.
 
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If I had to pick i would say 4 knobs and 2 humbuckers.
Why? I am biased as I just bought something similar but in the 335 class size (but in the low rent neighborhood)

I am not currently a fan of the florentine horn or dog ear pickups. But the tide changes often....
 
I'm still luv'n the 339, if I needed the extra 2 controls I could drill the hole and install them. Easy Peasy
 
Funny...the link you posted for the Midtown lists the fretboard as rosewood. I thought that most of those "custom" style boards were Richlite these days.(if they looked really uniformly black)
 
I'd take the Midtown for the same reasons RVA mentioned, but really, I'd be happy with any of em if you gave it to me. Cheers
 
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