PRS 594 Semi-hollow Wood Library Vs Gibson ES-335

PRS 594 Semi-hollow Wood Library Vs Gibson ES-335
PRS 594 - Mahogany body, flame maple top, Brazilian Rosewood Fingerboard, Flame Maple neck, 58/15LT pickups (humbucker mode for this demo)
Gibson ES-335 (2008) Classic 57 PU's, Indian RW Fingerboard, Maple/poplar/Maple Laminate
Demo Amp: Carr Rambler
Reverb pedal: Nuenaber Seraphim Shimmer (Shimmer off)
Wampler Tumnus Deluxe (For brief overdrive on bridge PU demo)

[@taloujazz9504]

I recognize the sound of my 335, deeper , wider, wood tone, with more air but I love the playability of PRS ;) . Nice playing and nice clean tone by the way

[@gair1944]

Thank you. I also love my 335!

[@Anton_the_Vampire]

Going to buck the trend here, but I prefer the 335. It's punchier, more distinct, & I love the tone.

[@gair1944]

I value your honest opinion. In fact, I sold the PRS and picked up an even better Gibson ES-335 Custom Shop reissue, Murphy Lab. And I still love the 335 in this video. It has great mojo.

[@CarlyonProduction]

The SE hollow body 2 would be a better comparison as it is laminate top and back and is fully hollow. They sound awesome and have that hollow character.

[@abhinavaggarwal4062]

Really clean playing and good comparison.

[@gair1944]

Thanks!!

[@gaborfarkas9352]

This PRS model has got carved solid maple top and maple neck. Those give much more shine to the sound than the mahogany neck and laminate top of the 335 despite of fatter 254 pickups. So altogether a fuller wider spectrum sound with nicely nasal low mids. I guess the superiority of PRS is reflected in its price too. I love your amp sounding clean, lots of high and musical midrange with both guitars.

[@gair1944]

Thanks for listening!

[@h20s56]

Yes they are different however the PRS just has a clarity to it that the 335 doesn't have to my ear. I would be happy to own either.

[@TucsonBillD]

A 335 does have a woodier sound that the PRS doesn’t. I had one for a while, and while I did appreciate it’s classic 335 vibe, I eventually sold it due to it’s huge size. I did keep my 339 because it was a little smaller and a lot more comfortable. I would suspect that the 339 might be closer in sound to the PRS, but it does retain a bit of the 335’s woodiness. However, it has the Memphis custom shop humbuckers, which are different from the Classic 57’s.

[@JustAnonymous970]

You are a very lucky man to have that beautiful wood library. Amazing playing as well!

[@gair1944]

Thank you

[@kevinspake7338]

The amp steals the show. Wonderful sound. To me, PRS guitars often have a bit of mud in the low mids. I prefer the 335.

[@gair1944]

I love Carr amps. I just got a Carr Telstar and I am really loving it. In ways, more than the Rambler. But when I need more clean pure headroom and sweetness, the Rambler always impresses. It is always musical. The 335 for me has more character. I love this PRS but the Custom Shop 335 Reissue is off the charts 'amazing' ...in a different way.

[@MatthewSpringer]

That Rambler sounds fantastic.

[@gair1944]

Thanks for listening. I love this amp. It is always musical!

[@MatthewSpringer]

@@gair1944 I actually liked the Rambler's I've played through so much I ended up building my own. Steve uses big Solen "fast caps" in the power supply which gives that amp just enough "zing" to pair well with the cathode bias brownpanel/tweed power section. I ended up putting a post phase inverter master volume in mine. Try it sometime through a 15" speaker cab and be amazed.

[@PrinceESL]

I've owned two of the 25" Hollobody models (an SC Artist HBI and a Wood Library HBII 10-Top Brazilian RW) and love players who used a ES-345 (i.e., with a variatone) or variant thereof that's slightly different than a 335. The HB models are closer to an archtop jazz-box kind of tone then a 335. But, they are difficult to make feedback (although I here some early models could). They might have just a hint of that semihollow sound being that they're not nearly the size of any jazzbox I've tried. To me it's basically a far more ergonomic and versatile jazz box that you can easily use for a variety of genres. Comparing it to a 335 really doesn't make sense. I have no idea what any of you mean by woodier. As much as a 345 or Lucille is the sound of my blues guitar heroes, I much prefer the ergonomics and versatility of a PRS HB. But, if I was trying get the sound of BB King, Freddie King, and Chuck Berry I'd more likely use a 345 (a 335 would do in a pinch). And all this said, I think you should play what you enjoy playing and not worry too much about what someone actually used on a song. I've heard people play BB licks on a strat and sound fantastic. It's also pretty easy to roll of any brightness you think a PRS has with the use of a tone knob or an EQ pedal.

[@gair1944]

Great post! Thanks for sharing.

[@jjmatashi]

Good man! You've convinced me to keep my 335. Still GAS'n for the PRS though, but my S2 594 will have to do for now... Boo...Hoo.

[@revelationsoundstudio]

For jazz, I would have to go for the 335....and I have one and was thinking about the Hollow body PRS. I love the PRS sound a lot, but it does not have that warmth and woody tone that we are so used to with jazz. It seems to be more rock guitar that is airy and beautiful. I could not afford both guitars, and would have to sell my 335 to get the PRS.

[@gair1944]

I agree completely

[@TheCravenIsReal]

So, the 335 does indeed bring the wood as they say. The good part but also the tricky part is that you've got such a good sound dialed in with all your gear , not to mention your playing, that both are extremely enjoyable. That said, I am fairly familiar with general vibe of the 335 (just got rid of an epi dot deluxe) and definitely prefer the higher, tighter sound of the prs. The wood will grow on you though so be careful.

[@thewhiskeycowboy-official]

Both are wonderful guitars. And you could probably adjust your amp to bring the same tones. That said, yes the Gibson has a more woody tone and the RPS has a brighter tone (though not "too" bright).

[@thomasmoore3822]

Both sound excellent.

[@gair1944]

No dog in the race. They really are very different guitars.

[@bobboitt3126]

That 335 just kills it.

[@gair1944]

Thanks for sharing Bob. Both are great but I have to agree the 335 has some classic sweet tones that are extra special! Now I want one.

[@gorillamotorsports5832]

You have to use a processor with a prs I also wouldn’t play it on an amp they are more designed as a recording style guitar. Takes a little more work to get the sound you’re looking for.

[@Erickchicas]

PRS for me.

[@donmartin3356]

Having a Gibson ES-335, I’m partial to it. But, that PRS is surely sweet.

[@gair1944]

The 335 makes me want one. So there’s that

[@tonyrabone4668]

It all sounds gorgeous. I'd be happy with the PRS but the 335 really talks to me whether you're soloing or playing chords. Is it much harder to play? Are the strings a different gauge?

[@gair1944]

Thanks for watching Tony. The Gibson plays great. I don't remember what gauge was on the PRS to be honest. I think it had .010 - .046. The Gibson has .11 - 48 but since it is short scale it plays great and is quite effortless. I actually have since sold the PRS as I discovered and bought two Collings. An I-30 fully hollow and an I-35LCV semi-hollow. I prefer the Collings for over all great quality and tones in every PU position are amazing.

[@revelationsoundstudio]

I never understood the single f hole semi hollowbody. Why not have 2 f holes?

[@gair1944]

Interesting point. Maybe its half hollow?

[@adrianguggisberg3656]

Feedback control.

[@panthersoul]

@@gair1944 yeah. i'd have been more interested in a fully PRS hollowbody vs the 335.

[@gair1944]

@@panthersoul Interestingly, it was the PRS Hollowbody II that got me interested in PRS' and I wound up preferring the 594 Semi hollow. In hindsight, maybe the Hollowbody II PRS would have been the wiser choice. I wound up selling the 594.