May
22
Written by:
athompson
5/22/2012 10:43 AM
I have had a love affair with various makes and styles of guitars over the years, and lately I’ve been able to become more acquainted with the exceptional, yet simple, ES-330. It possesses a very real and woody tone, plays like a dream, and has graced many more top recordings than people realize. It was Amos Garrett’s choice for “Midnight at the Oasis,” as he borrowed a beautiful tobacco-burst one back in the ‘70s from David Nichtern, the song’s composer, for those classic licks on that recording. I personally had always thought it was played on the Epiphone Sheraton I had seen him play back in Woodstock during that time, but he later told me it was the 330, when we were playing a show together.
The P-90 pickups have a darkness, but also a clarity to them. And as a blues guitar, it seems to break up at just the right volume. The shorter scale neck makes it an easier guitar to bend with, especially when compared with a similarly equipped “tailpiece” model of the more popular ES-335. The fact that it is all hollow-bodied also gives it a Jazzy kind of warmth that we normally associate with bigger-bodied archtop guitars, usually with one or no cutaways.
In any event, it’s an axe well worth checking out, and I find that once I pick it up, it is so comfortable I never want to put it down. It was first produced in 1959, I believe, and at the time, had a “dot marker” fretboard, and a fairly thick ’59 kind of profile to the neck. This was pretty much the story for 1960 as well, and after that, the neck continued to get thinner, bit by bit, until around the ’67 model year, when it seemed to reach its thinnest profile. Gibson still makes this guitar today, with a tremendous amount of consistency in quality.
So, if you’re looking to check out a true classic Gibson that is a kind of unsung hero in the guitar world, I strongly suggest that you get your hands on an ES 330…you’ll be glad you did! —Arlen Roth
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10 comment(s) so far...
Re: Arlen Roth: The Wonderful "Unsung Hero" Gibson ES-330
Always loved the ES330, even the ES125 cutaway. Great guitar for slide playing - even the one pickup versions.
By Geoff Arnold on
5/23/2012 12:43 PM
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Re: Arlen Roth: The Wonderful "Unsung Hero" Gibson ES-330
Dear Arlen Roth,
Although I second your views on the 330, I believe it's the same scale length as a 335. Also,the longer bridge-tailpiece distance increases tension, boosting that jazziness you're fond of, which is also a function of bridge-Tailpiece string angle.
Of course, string construction & gauge may even things out.
Cheers,
YK.
P.S.: I'll listen to the track you suggested.
By Y. Khan on
5/23/2012 1:34 PM
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Re: Arlen Roth: The Wonderful "Unsung Hero" Gibson ES-330
The Epiphone Casino is basically the same as an ES-330 and we know how popular those were with three of the Fab Four. Note that the neck can join the body at different points. My Japanese Elitist Casino is fairly standard for modern versions, joining the body at the 16th fret. I have a 96 Korean Casino that is at the 17th fret, and I've seen a 1965 ES-330 that joins the body at the 19th fret. A couple frets make a huge difference for chords in the upper register.
By Blue Rider on
5/24/2012 11:18 AM
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Re: Arlen Roth: The Wonderful "Unsung Hero" Gibson ES-330
I'm fortunate to have a '66 Epi Casino since the early '70s. Gotta watch the volume due to feedback but what a soulful tone!!
By Dennis Sherman on
5/24/2012 2:24 PM
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Re: Arlen Roth: The Wonderful "Unsung Hero" Gibson ES-330
Amen!
youtu.be/NoMHYH7w26U
By EBEEP on
5/29/2012 12:57 PM
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Re: Arlen Roth: The Wonderful "Unsung Hero" Gibson ES-330
Arlen, I couldn't agree more. I was working at a music store in 1972 and bought an early 1960 ES-330 TDN with a Bigsby. It was used by a country band and well-used. After a good setup (and adding a tune-a-matic bridge), it plays like butter. After nearly 40 years, I still have it and it's everyone's favorite to play!
By Chris Manheim on
5/29/2012 12:57 PM
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Re: Arlen Roth: The Wonderful "Unsung Hero" Gibson ES-330
A few have touched on the neck properties of the ES-330. The scale length is the same as an ES-335, but some older designs have the neck joined at a lower fret position, which makes the neck shorter and results in the different feel mentioned. I love the way they sound. My first real Gibson was a 1968 or 1969 natural ES-330 with the neck joined at the higher fret.
By LN on
6/13/2012 7:28 AM
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Re: Arlen Roth: The Wonderful "Unsung Hero" Gibson ES-330
"Gibson still makes this guitar today, with a tremendous amount of consistency in quality."
That's definitely not the general consensus of Gibson today. Hmm...
By Niels Lofcline on
6/26/2012 8:08 AM
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Re: Arlen Roth: The Wonderful "Unsung Hero" Gibson ES-330
This is indeed a great guitar! A lot of guitar enthusiasts will surely be thrilled to have one of these. Thanks for sharing.
By guitar picks on
6/28/2012 7:46 AM
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Re: Arlen Roth: The Wonderful "Unsung Hero" Gibson ES-330
It is a magical guitar for sure. I have a '67 that I bought in 1970 at age 15, thinking I was getting a 335....someone had already replaced the P90s with humbuckers, so it has been a unique beast for 42+ years. In the end, I'm glad it wasn't a 335 - I love it for what it is...really creamy tone but with a little bark.
By BB in Cincy on
4/19/2013 8:40 AM
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