Gibson ES-335 vs ES-339 – Which Legend is For You?

Author: Tyler Connaghan

Tyler Connaghan is a guitarist, singer, producer, composer & engineer based in Los Angeles, California. Tyler has been playing the guitar since 2007. In between writing for guitar publications, he produces music for film and television. His favorite axe is his custom Pelham Blue Fender Stratocaster.

Expertise: music industry, producing, acoustic & electric guitars, songwriting

Bachelor of Science in Music Industry Studies, Music Industry

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Editor: Edward Bond

Edward has been playing the guitar since 2002. So Edward has over 20 years of experience as a guitarist, has authored 15 guitar books, has written for renowned music blogs, and spent a decade teaching music. He began merging his passion for writing and music in 2020 and has written for big guitar websites such as Guitar Head Publishing and KillerGuitarRigs.com.

Originally from Seattle, Edward moved to Norway in 2021 for a master’s in music. He’s studied at the Jazz Institute Berlin and Conservatorium van Amsterdam, and currently resides in Trondheim. His education includes a European Jazz Master’s, a diploma in Film and Game Scoring from Sofia, and a Bachelor’s in Jazz from University of Oregon.

Edward has played in numerous bands and currently, Edward works on his own project Starship Infinity

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Since the dawn of the electric guitar, we’ve witnessed everything from the great pioneers of rock ‘n’ roll like Chuck Berry to jazz virtuosos like Lee Ritenour. Interestingly enough, many of the greats started out with Gibsons.

Gibson’s influence on guitar history is undeniably important. If you’ve been playing guitar for long, you’ve likely been taken aback by the beauty of high-end Gibson guitars, though for most hobby musicians, most Gibson models are overshadowed by the iconic Les Paul. 

Today, we will compare two of Gibson’s most legendary semi-hollowbody guitars — the Gibson ES-335 and the Gibson ES-339. For many years, I’ve been a massive fan of Gibson’s semi-hollowbody line. Beyond the warmth, resonance, and tonality these pieces of art provide, they also have some of the deepest histories in the world of guitars. 

Whether you’re a full-fledged rock ‘n’ roll player or a burgeoning blues virtuoso, allow me to guide you as we explore the ins and outs of two of my favorite semi-hollowbodies.

Gibson ES-335 vs ES-339: A Head-to-Head Comparison

Summary (if you’re in a hurry!)

Quick Background

• Gibson ES-335: The iconic Gibson ES-335 made its debut in 1958. With its unique semi-hollowbody, double-cutaway, arched top design, complete with f-holes, it’s one of the most instantly recognizable guitars in the Gibson lineup.
• Gibson ES-339: The Gibson ES-339 is a 2007 re-up of the old-school ES-335 with a smaller build and a more versatile tonal range.

*Consider all links in this post to be affiliate links. If you purchase, at no additional cost to you, we may earn a small commission. It helps us to keep the lights on, thanks! 🙂

Similarities

• Body Construction: These guitars use semi-hollowbody designs with laminated maple throughout and a solid maple center block.
• Necks: Both guitars feature glued-in set mahogany necks and rosewood fingerboards.
• Hardware: Both guitars use a LockTone Tune-O-Matic bridge, black “top hat” control knobs, and a floating black five-ply pickguard.

Differences

• Size: The ES-339 body size is smaller at 14 inches, while the ES-335 runs 16 inches.
• Tuners: The ES-339 has Grover Rotomatics tuners, while the ES-335 has vintage Deluxe Keystone tuners.
• Jack: The ES-339 has a side-mounted jack, while the ES-335 has a top-mounted jack.
• Color Options – The ES-335 is available in Vintage Sunburst, Sixties Cherry, Vintage Ebony, Iced Tea, or Antique Natural finishes. The ES-339 is available in Cherry and Sixties Cherry, Transparent Ebony, and Blueberry Burst.
• Pickups: While both guitars use a variety of pickups depending on the exact model and year, current factory models feature the popular Calibrated T-type Rhythm and Lead Humbucker pickups on the ES-335 and 57 Classic and 57 Classic+ Humbucker pickups on the ES-339.

When to Choose the Gibson ES-335?

If you’re looking for a classic, full-bodied vintage sound that’s great for rock, blues, or jazz, the Gibson ES-335 is the way to go.

When to Choose the Gibson ES-339?

If you’re in the market for a lighter, more modernized version of the ES-335 with a brighter overall tone, the ES-339 is a great choice.

Are you still trying to decide which of these great axes is right for you? 

Let’s explore them in greater detail!

Key Specs for Both Guitars

	Gibson ES-335	Gibson ES-339
Body Shapes	Double-cutaway semi-hollowbody	Double-cutaway semi-hollowbody
Body Size	16”	14”
Tonewoods	Maple body, top, back, and sides with a mahogany neck	Maple body, top, back, and sides with a mahogany neck
Neck Profiles	Glued-in rounded C-profile	Glued-in rounded C-profile
Pickups	2 Calibrated T-Type pickups	2 Classic 57 pickups
Frets	22 medium jumbo frets	22 medium jumbo frets
Bridge	ABR-1 Tune-O-Matic Bridge with Aluminum Stopbar	ABR-1 Tune-O-Matic Bridge with Aluminum Stopbar
Tuners	Vintage Deluxe Keystone tuners	Grover Rotomatics
Color Options	Vintage Sunburst, Sixties Cherry, Vintage Ebony, Iced Tea, Antique Natural	Cherry and Sixties Cherry, Transparent Ebony, Blueberry Burst
Price	$2,999 to $3,999	$2,999 to $3,499
Variants	ES-335 Figured, ES-335 Satin, ES-335 Vintage Burst	ES-339 Standard and ES-339 Figured

Why are Gibson Guitars so expensive?

Design & Body Dimensions

The table below displays the basic body dimensions of the ES-335 and ES-339:

	Gibson ES-335	Gibson ES-339
Body Length	19.25 inches	17.375 inches
Body Width	16.5 inches	13.25 inches
Body Depth	1.75 inches	1.75 inches
Scale Length	24.75 inches	24.75 inches
Weight	Model and year-dependent	Model and year-dependent

Materials & Hardware

As our summary pointed out, these two Gibson semi-hollow guitars share much in common regarding the materials and hardware they’re crafted from. Even so, a few subtle differences are worth pointing out.

Body Construction

The anatomy of an electric guitar starts at the body, and both the ES-335 and ES-339 take advantage of the semi-hollowbody design. A solid maple center block runs through the length of each guitar, minimizing the feedback you get from a traditional hollowbody guitar.

By the way, Anderton’s wrote up an excellent hollow-body vs. semi-hollow comparison guide, which is worth checking out if you want to learn the differences between the two.

You’ll also find a double-cutaway shape for the bodies. Beyond making the guitars more comfortable to play, the double-cutaway provides a bit more accessibility to the upper fret range. As for the actual Gibson guitar tones, one of the most defining characteristics of these guitars is the f-hole design. These f-holes allow sound to resonate from the bodies, delivering a deep, complex tone. 

Body size is where things start to differ. 

The Gibson ES-335 has a slightly larger body, meaning you’ll get more of that classic hollowbody sound you’re used to.

On the other hand, the ES-339 body shape is trimmed down, making it lighter and easier to travel with, which I prefer. 

Neck

Each guitar uses a glued-on mahogany neck, balancing out the maple body with a little bit of warmth. Though the Rounded C neck profile is the current standard for each guitar, some vintage ES-335 models feature a Slim Taper neck profile, which is excellent if you have smaller hands or are looking for a slightly easier guitar to play. However, this is not a current factory specification.

Pickups

The Calibrated T-Type Rhythm and Lead pickups are stock on the Gibson ES-335, while the Classic 57 and 57+ pickups are Gibson’s choice for the Gibson ES-339. 

Calibrated T-Types	Brighter and more transparent with a distinctive twang.
Classic 57 and 57+	Offers the same vintage warmth from Alnico Classic Pros with a bit more clarity. The difference between the 57 and 57+ pickups is that the latter has a slightly higher output.

Overall, this Gibson guitar series offers more body and warmth regarding tone than you would find in a guitar with single-coil pickups.

Check out our recent article – “Why Are Guitar Pickups So Expensive?” 

Playability & Comfort

Both the ES-335 and 339 use rounded-C neck profiles. They also share the same rosewood fingerboard material and 24.75” scale length, so the comfort level is pretty much the same in terms of fretting. 

The main difference between the two is the body size and weight. Because ES-335s are larger, they’re also heavier, meaning multi-hour gigs or sessions can be slightly more uncomfortable than if you had a 339. 

In terms of playing ease, the ES-339 takes the cake!

Sound Comparison

These guitars sound very similar in many ways, as they share many of the same features and characteristics. However, with slightly different dimensions and pickups, there are a few notable tonal differences. 

The smaller body on the ES-339 provides a more focused sound, while the ES-335 gives you that full-sized semi-hollowbody tone. Of course, the pickups play a pretty large role in the matter, too, with the Calibrated T-Types offering a somewhat brighter tone on the 335, balancing out the large, warm body sound, while the Classic 57s on the ES-339 make it a bit more aggressive. 

Overall, the 339 is more suited to modern styles of music, including pop, rock, and even blues. With a smaller, less-resonant body, it offers more versatility than the larger 335, which is better for older jazz, country, blues, and rock styles.

Gibson ES-335 vs. 339: Pricing

Though there are many limited edition models, special release models, and models that are no longer in production, let’s keep things simple and look at what you can expect in terms of pricing for the most current popular models in the ES-335 and ES-339 lineup.

Gibson ES-335 Figured	$3,999
Gibson ES-335 Vintage Burst	$3,499
Gibson ES-335 Satin	$2,999
Gibson ES-339 Figured	$3,499
Gibson ES-339 Standard	$2,999

Regarding the overall value of what you get from these guitars, it’s worth asking yourself what you’re paying for, as they all hover around the same price point. 

It’s worth noting that the main differences between the various ES-335 and ES-339 are purely aesthetic. For example, the ES-335 Satin has a satin top on the body, while the ES-335 does not, giving it a more “raw” feel. Among the various ES-335 and ES-339 models, all other features remain the same.

If we’re talking about an objective value comparison of what you get for your money, I’d say the winner is the standard ES-339.

Gibson ES-335 vs. ES-339 – Pros and Cons

Gibson ES-335

Gibson ES-335 Pros	Gibson ES-335 Cons
Full-Bodied Sound: With a larger body, you get a fuller sound.	Large: The added weight and size might make some players a bit more uncomfortable.
Vintage Gibson Guitar Aesthetics: The ES-335 is a timeless guitar, and Gibson gives us access to that timelessness, even in the new iterations.
Resonant: Even unplugged, this thing sounds incredible!

Gibson ES-339

Gibson ES-339 Pros	Gibson ES-339 Cons
Lightweight: With a smaller build, it’s an easier guitar to play for hours on end than the 335.	Less Resonant: You don’t get as much warmth and sustain from the ES-339 as the ES-335, and some semi-hollowbody lovers might find it lacking.
Modern Sound: I love the modern tone on the ES-339. It’s a bit more versatile than the 335 for contemporary music.
Playability: With a small body and smooth neck, the playability is off the charts.

Conclusion

There you have it, our Gibson guitars comparison!

When all is said and done, the biggest takeaway from this Gibson ES-335 vs. 339 comparison guide should be that these guitars are both excellent choices, even with the nuanced shape and tone differences. 

However, if I were to pick one, I’d go for the ES-339, just because I love a modern workhorse guitar with built-in versatility. Make sure to explore our guide to the best Gibson acoustic guitars if you’re looking to expand your arsenal even further!

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