MY FAVORITE GUITARS #1 1963 Gibson ES335 

I think that's the same exact model Andy Scott used with The Sweet. Those things have some of the best rock tones imo.

I've owned almost every guitar imaginable but the ES-335 has always kind of been out of my price range. But being older in life and realizing we only live once, I just purchased one. I think it's the best decision I've ever made.

Speaking of Eddie Money, Jimmy Lyon’s playing was ace on those earlier albums! Great tone and fit the songs perfectly.

Great video Pete! My player grade 335 is a 1976 Ibanez 2630 Artist. I bought it from a non-player who purchased a lot from an estate sale in Red Deer. It has tone for DAYS and plays like butter.

was an SG man, but now 335 all the way. From the look, to the tone to the playability... BEST GUITAR

Great choice!! Gibson ES335 and variants (ES355 etc.) rule!

I have ES335 and its my #1 guitar and strat for 2nd.

Ever notice how you can rarely find a used 335 for sale. If you do it's an arm and a leg price. I have two, but I got them years after I started collecting guitars. 335s are pretty much keepers. Once you got one it ain't going anywhere outside of the hiding place in your house.

Tell it like it is Pete...Great Vid! Bought my '85 Dot Neck 26 yrs ago. Recently, put a set of Thro-Bak SLE-101's in & what a difference, even when compared to the orig Shaw pups. Someone once told me...'never sell a 335' :-)

Great sound aren’t they! I have 1962 ( also with 1968 Grovers) I cannot bear to sell it.

I own a 335 red dot and it is the BEAUTY and the BEAST!!! GREAT VIDEO. I LOVE MY 335

you say here that your Suhr signature is your go to guitar because of all the sounds you can get from it....but when you did that great tour with The Classic Rock Show all the videos show you playing a new Suhr SSH....or a Les Paul.....why didn't you use your signature??....cheers

Love this favorite guitar series stuff!!!

I'm a relatively new builder (5 years) but I'm right on board with what Pete's saying about wood and lower-rated pickups. 'Horses for courses', but hot pickups feel like life in the rodeo ( Hey! That horse analogy is really handy.) just trying to hang on, where the lower output let's you manipulate the tone with just your attack. If you could bottle his tone here, I'd wear it as after-shave :-)

Pete, dude that 72' Marshall looks damn near mint!

I am currently working on the track the groom noodler, this song sounds so musical but incredibly hard to play! Pete absolutely shred, so fast on a vintage guitar, full of nuances. And now for me the 335 is bound to this amazing song 😁

Good gawd! That opening james gang jam was such great tone. Almost squishy sounding? Thats a good thing. I love trying to describe tones

As you said "Tone Monsters"... I completely agree.

Looking forward to number 2! Great new series Pete.

"You should use these things to make music." Amen!

Hi Pete hope you're well & Rockin on brother !!! thanks for showing us your 335 & yeah she's a tone monster alright rich n woody gnarly in all the right ways & everything you said about the 335 made sense & I'm in agreement re tone & wood & low wind pickups !! I too have a sweet 335 my No1 go-to & was really happy to see you bring her out as I'm a long time & older fan of yours ! just beautiful in every way & what a great story too !! take care Rock on & I look forward to the next vid !! Best wishes from Sydney Australia ChrisD. ps in your intro I spied a Red special the Brian May ride in your rack hanging up maybe you could tell us a little about that next ???

My nephew's dad had a 70s SG back in the late 80s that had such a nice neck and action. At that time it was the best guitar I had played. But the headstock kept busting and he gave up on it. I wish I knew the dimensions, because it is the kind of neck I would be wanting. The next best neck was on a GMW polka dot V Randy Rhoads Sandoval copy (the guy that makes them for Zakk). My current guitar is a Gibson Les Paul Studio from the 90s. It has an amazing tone for some reason, but is a little hard for me to play. A fairly chunky neck, but I am quite sure that is part of why it sounds so good. I bought a barely used RG550 Genesis recently, because I thought i needed something easier to play so my aging hands do not get so sore. Tone was better than I expected, but it felt almost like a toy guitar compared to my main guitar (that was my first impression, but it was actually a decent MIJ instrument apart from the 5 way switch was not the best quality). I sold it after a week of trying to get used to it, so I am back down to one guitar again. Guy that bought it was even older than me and drove from another city to get it. He had missed out when I had bought it on our local NZ online auction page, so he was not going to miss out a second time. He's an Ibby fan, so was stoked with it. JMP50 is great huh. I just got a clone one that has some nice parts in it. It is an amazing amp. It has a shared cathode input stage like a '67, but a '69 tone stack. The guy who built it says it is the Angus live sound from 1978. I think he might be right, although I do not have that compander effect Angus had and my Two Notes Captor can not handle this amp on 10 (it overheats. I contacted Suhr asking if the RL will handle this amp on 10. Suhr RL will not shut down due to overheat protection like the Captor does, but they stopped short of a definitve 'yes'. This amp overdrives at about 4 but does not saturate until above 8, so I may have to lower its output to get the tone when using a load box, In the meantime I am using a Tony Iommi Boost with the amp on about 7. It sounds unreal. best amp I have ever had since the 80s).

Dude that ES335 is God-tier.

Howdy. Great vid and example. I have a 2008 dot which apart from the inlays looks almost the same. Any setup specs you can share: relief, nut height (action at 1st fret), string height and pickup height. Apologies if you have other vids on this but curious to see how you have your 335 setup. Trying to get mine sound and play as good as yours 👍 Thanks in advance.

Looks and plays amazing!

That guitars worth a lot of money.That's a lifetime keeper.

Loved the video . Super emotional to me . Thanks man

Sounds fantastic.” Yep look super cool 😎 is important.

Awesome series! keep these videos coming!

Kalamazoo cranked out some great stuff! 👌🏻🕶✌🏻

Would be great to know what you got it for, of course, but that's your business. And great idea for a series. Lovely video as always :)

the 335 #1, Scala #2, Suhr Tele #3, Macmull #4 and cool green suhr single coil s guitar #5....And now I admit I have watched way too many Pete Thorn videos.

Funk #49 !! Hell Yea

?Pete Civid has kept my old (60) behind out of sitting in with bands, putting one together for 2 Summers now and I hate it. I have decided that I'll return to busking. What battery supply would you suggest. Should I save juice by Using a small modeler and my sans amp directly into my 16 channel harbinger and one of the two macke speakers? I know not many people carry cash any more but I will still be gigging. Ideas???

Although it's a player grade guitar, I have no doubt it plays and sounds great. Too bad about all the repairs and modifications. I came close to buying a similar 1964 ES-335 TDC w/ Maestro vibrola, but decided against it because the string break angle over the bridge was very, very shallow....perhaps 3-4 degrees of break angle. Way too shallow for what I need. Sure, I could have dumped the Maestro & installed a stop tailpiece, which would have made the guitar much more playable. This 64 ES-335 did not come from the factory with stop-tailpiece bushings &" Custom Made" plaque. So I continued my search for a clean, early-mid '60s, ES-335. I finally found an untouched minty early '65 ES-335 TDC at Norm's Rare Guitars, with all nickel hardware & pickup covers, a 1-11/16" nut, 17 degree headstock, original HSC/ hangtags, Brazilian RW, and factory trapeze tailpiece. Despite the usual negative views of the trapeze tailpiece, I actually like it a lot. I believe it can actually enhance the tone of a good ES-335. Recently I posted a thread on the Les Paul Forum in which I present an engineering & performance analysis of Gibson's trapeze tailpiece.... which you may find informative. Here's the link to my post on the LPF: www.lespaulforum.com/index.php?threads/es-335-trap-tailpiece-vs-stop-tailpiece-a-functional-analysis.215175/

Fantastic tone...and playing, of course! I had the same type of 335, also a red '63, but the neck was so soft, the intonation went off every time I would play a bar chord, especially in the 4 to 5 first positions. Q: that strip in front of the nut functions like a zero-fret? Just curious...

Is that a Gibson Dave Grohl 335 in Pelham Blue in the rack behind you ? would like to see a demo of that one.

You mentioned the neck pickup being dark and you not using it much. With all the non original stuff on the guitar why not try something else in the neck?

This and your Strat make a mean team!

This is a GREAT idea for a series. For a lot of us budget players, we live vicariously through pros like Pete.

Your playing style does not compliment Es 335. It sounded like crap.

Pete, thanks for this video! I've always loved 335's, but when I began watching the video, it brought back a lot of memories. I fondly remember John Nelson from when I began to play guitar in 1976, at the age of thirteen. I took lessons at the old Arcadia Music Mart. John was the guitar salesman, and he sold me my first good acoustic (to my Mom, actually), a Yamaha FG160 (which I wish I still had) and he would let me and my fellow "jaw dropping" friends play all the Les Pauls and Strats. A lot of times, John would show me riffs, he was a master at picking up a song just after hearing it. I was astounded by his ability, which he casually described as "I never had a lesson in my life, I listened to a lot of records". About a year later, after taking lessons one afternoon, he called me over, and said; "Joe, I'm quitting this place". Kind of downhearted, I asked him why. He replied; "I got a great gig, man, with this guy Eddie Money! And with that, after we shook hands, and with him advising me to learn everything I could about the guitar, he was out of there! I didn't see him again until about 25 years later, when I walked into Vintage Gear, after visiting Guitar Center Hollywood. As I was gazing around, all of a sudden, a voice behind me said; "Is that you, Joe?" I turned around, and all I could say was; "JOHN, JOHN! GOOD GOD MAN, ITS BEEN SO LONG! Yes, it's me, John! He flashed a big smile and shook my hand, and he asked me if I was still playing, to which I responded; "Damn right I am!" He replied; "Joe, I remember when you would come to Arcadia Music Mart for guitar lessons with John Schneider, and you hauled that big acoustic case with you while you rode your bike! That was dedication!" We talked about the years in between, and even asked how my Mom was doing. It was an Earth shattering moment for me, but it really warmed my heart to see him again! He's a great guy, and I hope he is doing all right. From the short time I knew him, all those years ago, I learned a lot, and I am thankful to him for that.

4:28 "well... and then we all forgot about the Strat" - a pure guitar geek punch line ! 😂 i'm sure everybody laugh after that ! - By the way, i love this "my favorite guitars" series Pete !

That Gibson ES 335 is sweet!!! I like the sound you get when playing with both pickups( switch in the middle), & I agree, the wood Does make a difference!!! Plus, that year is special to me because I was born in November 1963!!! Great video, stay safe my friend, Rock On & God Bless!!!

Wood is absolutely part of it.

I can feel AC/DC, Black Crowes, Clapton, a touch of Van Halen, Telecasterish vibes. That’s hard for any guitar to do but it just throws vibes. 😎

The Alvin Lee is strong with this one …

Grovers, stronger headstock, pafs. I’m in!!

What is UP with 335’s? I used to be of the mind that les pauls, sg’s, and 335’s were all minor variations of the same thing. Having owned multiple examples of all 3 at this point, When you get a good 335 it is totally it’s own buttery beautiful interactive thing that doesn’t seem to be totally explained by its hollow wings.

I remember Voltage Guitars, I bought a 1968 ES335 there in 1988. The Guitar was sold a few years later, it turned out to be not a good one, I was young and thought I have to have an old one. I remember the price, it was 1.200,-- and the guitar was in excellent condition.....maybe I should have kept it? Let me think.....

Hey pete im wondering what pickups you have in the 335?, idk if you heard of re-wind pickups but they sell a set thats page inspired with paf in neck and pat# Ttop in bridge. I really like that combo (paf neck/ttop bridge) ...thing is the neck paf is muddy so im wondering what neck paf would you recommend?

Most of my "main squeeze" guitars have issues; refins, neck breaks, domestic battery poundings, etc...Why not, they are 25 to 50 cents on the dollar. Let someone else pay top dollar and drop it, I will be there, wallet in hand you Hosers!

I accumulated 50+ guitars since the 70s which range from inexpensive China knockoffs, Norlin Gibson 13 pounders to CS reliced that cost more than my 1st couple cars. My guitar of choice for just carefree noodling? A mid 70s Japan Cortez black LP copy. I replaced the Pups with SD antiquities which cost 2x the cost the guitars sell for. IMO a much overlooked era of quality guitars.

Honestly, I didn't know there was such a semihollow electric guitar. I thought there were only tele's, strat's, LP's and maybe prs's. Nobody ever demoed a Gibson es335. It hasn't been invented yet. Rockers before 1964 didn't play es335 guitars. Hendrix invented the strat and Page/Clapton the LP. Before that, electric guitars didn't exist. In fact, Pete thorn is just pretending to play a guitar which doest and never has existed. If if did, some guitar rocker would have played it by now and videos would use it to demo amps with. Honestly, have you ever seen a great amp demoed with an es335. No. Because it doesn't exist.

Dude, that Joe Walsh solo of Funk #49 was mind blowing. This may be a kind of ignorant comment, but how do you compare the ES to a Casino, considering the Casino was just shown in Get Back, and everybody now wants one, or maybe how does an ES 330 compared to a 335?

Looks just like my '02 Epiphone Dot.. :) ...enjoyed your video.....subscribed. Stay well, stay safe.

Beautiful axe man. Goes to show, even rebuilt, modded guitars can still be a killer buy

I’ll always remember the first video I ever saw of Pete. It was the Suhr Badger 18 demo. In it, when he plays his ES-335, the caption says “my bitchin’ ES-335”, or something like that. Ha

She (335) is so happy to have found such a loving home. Sounds fantastic. Can't wait to have one myself.

Great vid..I have an '80 335 with Dirty Finger pups and med C neck...plays super tasty heavy blues..big airy chords like a piano and sustained leads...my live go-to over my Lps....all the best.

I was going to write that an older Heritage H-535 can be a good way to get a vintage 335 tone from the factory they were originally built in. Then I looked at prices on Reverb and they're not so affordable anymore... Glad I got my 1990 model when I did (used, and as a player's guitar as someone had put a Bigsby on it, which I removed and had the holes filled in).

It is so difficult finding a decent blues player to demo guitars on here? Guess we are dying off slowly and being replaced by a more watered down generation of players. If you grew up in the sixties you don't know how lucky you are. It was common to hear top shelf teenage blues players everywhere. Oh well, nothing lasts forever.

GREAT GUITAR, MY UNCLE JUST CHIPPED MINE IN 3 SPOTS AROUND THE F-HOLE, IM SICKKKKKKKKKKKK! IM PRETTY GOOD WITH FIXING GUITAR DINGS BUT THIS CALLS FOR A REAL LUTHIER, PLUS I WAS SOLDERING ABOUT 3 FEET AWAY FROM IT AND SPASHED SOLDER ON IT, CAN HARLY SEE THE MARKS BUT I CANT LOOK AT IT NO MORE....ANYONE KNOW A GOOD NY REPAIR GUY? THERES NONE LEFT IN BROOKLYN I CAN FIND THATS REPUTABLE ENOUGH....ITS NOW 215 AM AND ILL BE UP OPENING THE CASE AND CRYING EVERY HOUR OR SO TILL I PASS OUT! ITS 3 MTHS OLD AND THE WOOD IS SOOO SPECIAL, BUT THE NEW T-TYPE PUPS, MADE A RESONANT BRIGHT SOUNDING GUITAR WAT TOO BRIGHT SO I GOT SOME TYSON TONES WHICH ARE JUST WHAT THE DOCTOR ORDERED...GOD BLESS, EVERYBODY!

I have a PAF in the neck pickup of my guitar too, its a 63 really but the serial is a weird 64 serial number. But everything on the guitar screams 63. So id say yours is an original pickup

I'm still a 355 and white falcon virgin.... One day... Got close to buying the new Freddie King guitar, but I couldn't make myself alter it to mono.

If that guitar was a women, she would be the Fat Lady at the circus. (Ok, don't be offended; a circus just ain't no fun without her.) Thanks for the great vid Pete!!

about 25 years ago i saw a band in the twin cities ,MN i think the band was called big guitars from tennessee he played a 335 on a fender super reverb amp/ his playing style was rockin blues with a touch of jazz it was great was never able to find them online,but the sound was killer

Watching Pete geek out on this guitar is awesome...

Best thing to do with a gibson is to take out the pickups- which is muddier a paf or a p90...? Not trolling here ,my 335 has a nice set of chimey filter trons- best thing i ever did

Huhhh, the nut fix is way interesting. Things that are piggly-wiggley'd together to make something special are vastly more interesting than a safe queen that somebody scratched a huge check for.

Almost like Eric Clapton's Crossroads Cream era guitar 🎸 I can see how it could become my favorite guitar as well if I Iown it

Went to a Cheap Trick concert to hear the old Sunburst Les Pauls he would use, best tone of the night was a Black Es335 - by far!

Hey Pete! Who's the genius luthier in CA who fixed the neck on the 335 that you mentioned in the Justin D'errico vid?

I have the sunburst version and concur! love your playing , England any time soon? promise a warm welcome.

It used to have a Bigsby B7, not a Maestro. (I have a '62 with Bigsby and a '64 with Maestro.)

Pete, I’m looking at the thumbnail and obviously that guitar is too big for you. You should post haste give it to me and get yourself a smaller more appropriate model

Why are so many Americans obsessed with a distorted sound? Hated this from the outset. Have you tried playing clean?

Awesome stuff Pete! Thanks for sharing! Cannot WAIT for the Tele vid ;)

I really love your examples, I hope to own a quality electric guitar one day! And I hope to help beginning guitarists forge their way as well...thanks Pete

Those guitars sound beautiful Alex lifeson played the wood off of one

Raise your hand if you're a broke ass guitar player like me who is jealous of Pete and wants one too but can't afford it?

Hi Pete, great video! I always regretted buying a guitar with a broken/fixed headstock. Why didn't you change the whole neck? Did you think that maybe it could give you more tuning stability?

Sweet axe. On my wish list! What are you stringing that with 9s or 10s? Guessing 9s.

People are afraid of the headstock repairs, but the fact is , with a Gibson , that break will be the ONLY place it will unlikely break again.( as you discovered,- just moves the stress point).See" Why I own a Gretsch". The low output Humbuckers ARE totally the sh#t; ideally, wound so they just barely function, with the same output as a standard Tele bridge; more output does NOT mean" Rocks Harder",- it means "lame, muddy, mess".

Always loved the 335's sound. On my budget, I was able to buy a used Epiphone Dot Studio, so I got close - sort of.

I think this is #1 and your Tele #2...then the Strat or possibly the Yaron...

Who don't want that 335.. everyone dream it until the price tag comes up

People need to stop arguing over if wood makes a difference in tone. Even if you factor in the idea that the PUPs are capturing only the string vibrations, the build of the guitar affects the string vibrations and imparts unique qualities to the attack, resonance and decay of the strings, you’d have to be pretty stubborn to argue those things don’t get through in the sound.

Pete: That guitar tech's name is Noric Rensen. I worked with him at Action Drum and Guitar in Granada Hills in the early 80's as an amp tech.

I would rather play a 70s hack job vintage guitar than a pristine, untouched one... this one seems particularly nice

After a Strat, ES335s are my favorites. The tone of the bridge pickup into an overdrive amp sounds so big.

The recorded guitar tone on the groomed noodler is among my favorites of all time

@3:12 isn’t that the guitar that just recently sold for $6m ? 😲

Have you played a Gibson 355 moog artist i have a 82 355 moog

Thank u bro. Great video. Inspires me to pick mine up again.

There is a Yaron on ebay rn for 12 grand.... Yeah i mean my burny flg 90 with wizz pickups is close enough to actual burst tone imo but that is a great guitar.

Thank you. I am just working out Groomed Noodler and now have a new vision when I hear it. I only have my Tokai 335 copy which I don't play too much apart from Chet Atkins type alternate tuning thumb pick challenges. Your song and guitar have given me a challenge.

hola que Pickups tiene la 335? Saludos

Hell the pickups are probably worth what you paid for it.

"I'm goin' home" - A. Lee/10 Yrs. After 335's rock (jazz, blues etc.)