I own both Les Paul and 335. My mood usually determines which I play. However, the guitars I use the most are my teles. They get a great jazz tone snd fit just right for any style.
I recently acquired a Les Paul sporting P90s and find that's more 'jazz-friendly' than my other LP that has Humbuckers. My 'weapon of choice' nowadays tends to be a ES-135
Jamie, I have never wanted to own a Les Paul. Yamaha f hole guitars are fantastic and the ones I have seen over the years are made to the very highest standards. If Bireli Lagrene thinks a Yamaha SA 2200 is ok then it’s good enough for…. Although John Etheridge who played one for many years said that he could never quite get the Gibson 335 sound despite lots of modifications.The player that comes to mind for playing Yamaha guitars is Martin Taylor who played same AE1200 as your’s on his Linn recordings of the early 90’s and of course he made famous his Yamaha AEX 1500 on his Artistry Cd etc. Yes Yamaha guitars are great and highly desirable and excellent value for money.
Yep, the guy who turned me onto Yamaha guitars found out about them because of Martin Taylor when he was still going for the straight ahead jazz tone. Interesting point about John Etheridge too. I totally get it. The SA2000 is a great guitar, but did not sound like the Gibson. I've always wondered how the AE's compared to an L5...
I’ve had both. I found the Les Paul far too heavy (I had a late 70s walnut The Paul). When I got it, it was used and had DiMarzio pickups that were all the rage when the guitar was new, but were just a little too harsh. So I got an Epiphone Dot ES-335, which I really loved both sonically and playing standing up. But age has caught up with me and my shoulder can no longer tolerate a strap but for so long. And the 335 is just a little big for my lap. So, now I have switched to the size in between: an Epiphone ES-339 and a Gibson ES-139. Their necks are a little chunky, but they fit my lap better and sound really good to my ear.
I have both and I have to say I'm more drawn to the 335. Lately I've been playing the smaller body 339. But my main axe is a thinline telecaster as my favorite.
I have a Gibson Les Paul (which I love) but was keen to get a 335. Not wanting to drop the cash on a Gibson 335, I got a 2022 Epiphone 335. Fantastic guitar BUT there wasn’t much tonal difference. Ended up selling the 335 as I prefer the smalller LP body shape. Moral of the story is try both and get the one that resonates with you… or get both if you have the space and money 😅
335 guy here, no use for a Les Paul. However, I DO have one of the Zemaitis Black Pearl guitars with two humbuckers, which I do like and scratches any LP itch.
I've played both and the differences (even for jazz) are very small. And with overdrive or distortion, they just disappear. It's funny that with different constructions (solidbody vs. semi-hollow, LP with mahogany body and maple top vs. ES-335 all laminated maple body), they sound so much the same. I think the 335's center block makes it sound very similar, unlike an ES-330 (or Epiphone Casino). Another issue is personal preferences: size, cutaway, high fret access, weight, look, ...
Very happy with my Ibanez ‘335’ AS73 but now hankering after an Eastman AR580. I’ve heard about the weight of a Les Paul and that alone would put me off.
I own a 335 and 330, and I also owned a 339 and a 175. My 335 is a great guitar, but I would prefer to sell it and buy another 175 for a humbucker tone and keep my 330 for the P90 tone. About hollow bodies, I love the tone of the ugliest one, the telecaster.
Those Yamahas are beautiful. I've known that for decades. At 60, I'm playing strats, tele's, and Les Paul's. Mostly for jazz. And that Les Paul in the video sounds great as well! But I get it, 335s are awesome.
Hi Jamie and thanks for the interesting comparison. My experience with these guitars has some similarities with yours. Initially I had a CSL copy of a Les Paul before I purchased a 1973 Gibson Les Paul Custom. The guitar was very heavy, the frets were too low and the neck broke at the headstock after the guitar fell gently from a guitar stand to the carpeted floor. I could never get on with the bridge pickup in the jazz-rock bands that I played in. I persevered with the guitar until, like you, my interest went in the direction of 335 players like Larry Carlton. I sold the professionally repaired and re-fretted Les Paul and for the same sum bought a Yamaha SA2000S, very like your guitar. A beautiful guitar in terms of finish and playability, but when recording it sounded anaemic and less interesting than my cheap Strat copy (Nadine). The Yamaha was replaced by Fender Strat & Tele and I have the jazzy sound covered by an Eastman AR403. Hopefully, my GAS has come to an end!
If you dig 335's (they're great. I've owned three of them) you owe it to yourself to play an Eastman T-85...a superior guitar in every respect -including price.
Currently play a Duesenberg lLP style guitar for jazz after trying everything including a FGN 335 style. Best Jazz Sound ever came from a LP custom, buttery smooth but way to expensive.... maybe I'll get a LP standard one day. Love it
Unfortunately, the semi-hollows make too much noise for me. Smaller bodies like the LP are definitely more uncomfortable, even the lighter PRS, ESP LTD or Ibanez ones. This leaves me with the strat or offset shape, which I play.
I have a 94 Epiphone Sheraton pro with new electronics, includiing a jazz humbucker and a jb humbucker. It is now my favorite guitar. Good/better than any 335 I've played.
I've just never been able to get on with lesses. Been playing nearly 50 years now, and every one I've bought...I've sold soon after. I've tried SO hard to like Les Pauls, but they just feel like dead logs to me. The other thing that I always felt about them was the lack of tonal variation. Agree that they are ergonomically awkward too. But... Have you tried a good SG Jamie? 🤔 I love mine.
I have a LPLP15DBNH1 les Paul from 2015. More than likely I would not have bought a Les Paul because of the weight, but this one is considerably lighter at 7.5 pounds and much thinner. This guitar replaced a Gretch electromatic, which I hated, that was a semi hollow body. But I'm not a very accomplish guitarist.
I'm the opposite. I've owned two 335 style guitars, but I just can't click with them. They are great guitars, but I can't find a comfortable position with them. I do however like the jack on the top. I even went to GC yesterday to try out the new Larry Carlton h7. Nice guitar but it didn't feel right for me. I have a les paul special edition with humbuckers that plays and sounds perfect for me. I also use a prs se custom that is great for finger style. I'm glad you found what is right for you, but you definitely get a great jazz sound out of the Les Paul.
I just recently got rid of all my guitars I had and started playing 335s exclusively. I own 3 now. Finally, I feel at home. Ive owned Telecasters, Stratocasters, Explorers, SG, V’s, Ibanez Artist, Jaguar’s, Jazzmasters, Les Pauls, Firebirds, hell I had a USA Guild Polara S100 pff! OMG! I could put a bullet in my head for the money I’ve spent. However, when I played a 335. I couldn’t put it down. That’s when I knew, I had arrived. One thing I noticed, you have to play different and with a little more finesse.
Very interesting video, many guitar players come across the same dilemma. What do you think about gibson 335 vs yamaha sa2000? What are their differences? Which one do you prefer? Thanks.
I was a Gibson dealer from around 1970 to the mid 80’s.. when Gibson squeezed out the little guy dealers. I’d get a new LP and play it until somebody bought my “demo” model, and then it was time for the next one. I’d have one from about a week to maybe six weeks. Over the years I played/owned a LOT of Les Pauls. I had an Explorer, SG, ES355, and a few others but I was really a LP guy. As a smaller person I found the Les Paul easiest to play, and I was young enough the weight wasn’t even a thought. The ES guitar body was simply ungainly for me and messed with my physical connection to the instrument. I thought the Les Paul sounded better too. I played through a Marshall 50 and low power 4 12” at the time and the Les Paul was a sweet match. I was playing a variety of dance music and the LP always worked. Incidentally, we sold Yamaha electrics for awhile and I even got a tour of their west coast facility. They were good guitars but were a tough sale and their resale value was terrible. I almost felt guilty selling one because the buyer was kissing away their money.
I have a Gibson Les Paul Standard. It's a really nice guitar. However it's an uncomfortable guitar. The weight is an issue. It's actually awkward to play. I also have an Epiphone 56 Gold Top with P90s this is lighter than the Gibson and has a rounder neck which I prefer. I play my Fender Thinline Telecaster more as it's lighter and more comfortable and has a rounder neck. I've come to the conclusion that I will sell the Gibson.
I think the Gibson ES-335 is a great landmark iconic guitar, but too expensive for most players.. There are other quality alternatives far more afforddable to get a quality Blues-Jazz tone.. Many forget or don't know, that before the Lespaul became emblematic of hard rock, that it was originally designed for jazz. At least with a Lespaul you can get an affordable made in USA one that will sound just as right..
@@jamieholroydguitar Thanks, as far as I know, it's the same guitar with less bling just like the Lespaul studio.. Especially with Gibson you end up paying a lot for the cosmetic aspect like the binding, wood filler to even the surface etc.. They were called the Studio for specifically this market to increase their market shares, lower the cost and the price. Because they won't be used on stage as long as the recording musicians can have access to one and get that tone who needs the binding... As examples, the Godin 5th ave or Montreal Premiere have nothing whatsoever to envy to an ES 335.. You can find them often for at least 900$ less. Also the Ibanez AS 93 or AS 153, are affordabel excellent semi-hollows and are played by top professionals like John Scofield to name only him. I know D'Angelico and Hagstrom also make very good affordable semi-hollows ..
I enjoy listening to a Les Paul well played, however I have no interesting owning or playing one. Between the two, simple choice, 335. But I would not buy a 335, instead, Yamaha SA2200 or the latest Ibanez AS 200 top of the line endorsed model. Better build, better tone, better value.
My gig feedback is typically: you play nice" if I use a solid body and "that guitar sounds nice" if I play semi-hollow or a socially acceptable jazz guitar.
