The thin-line Gibson ES-335 (and later the ES-355 and 345) was introduced in 1958, and rapidly became a definitive blues axe. It has a double-cutaway,  semi-hollow thin body with a solid block of wood in the center under the pickups, bridge and tailpiece. The ES-335 tone is highly distinctive with a pronounced midrange and an ideal blend of hollow-body woodiness and solid-body bite. These factors have made it a preferred guitar of many rock, jazz and studio guitarists;but its real forte is the blues. When it comes to straightahead electric  blues, it’s hard to beat these babies. 

The thin-line Gibson is "Lucille" to B.B.King, and the list of players who gravitate toward its unique toneis long and reads like a virtual blues who’s who: Freddie King, John Lee Hooker, Jimmy Rogers, Chuck Berry, Otis Rush, Hubert Sumlin, Fenton Robinson, Elvin Bishop and many others. The great blues guitar pioneer T-Bone Walker who was associated with hollow-bodied arch tops played an ES-335 in his later years. Even well-known Strat wielders likeStevie Ray Vaughan, Buddy Guy and Eric Clapton have employed thin-line electrics on occasion. Check out the milestone Cream Farewell concert or the recent From The Cradle album for some telling Eric Clapton examples.  
  
To hear a classic blues guitar solo on a Gibson ES-335: 

B.B.King: "Help The Poor" 

(Please allow a minute to download) 
 
I played this track on a new Gibson ES-335 dot-neck. It was plugged into a 1967 Fender Super Reverb combo amp with 4 10-inch speakers. 
 

wolf@wolfmarshall.com. 
 
 

[ Home ] [ What'sNew ] [ Lessons ] [ Products] [ Services ] 

[ Guitarchives ] [About Wolf ] [ Feedback] 

Copyright1998 Marshall Arts Music All rights reserved. Terms of Use