My New Gibson Came With "Epiphone" Pickups? | 2024 Gibson ES-330 Review ES-330 VS ES-335 Comparison

[@85aw11]

Gibson seriously need to step up their build quality for the outrageous price they charge that pick up route looks like it was done with a spoon. And the wood chips in the case is also pretty poor.

[@GaryArmstrongmacgh]

Screw Gibson. Just go buy a Heritage. Or any number of other superb independent instruments from great shops all over the country!

[@Sleepydeadbrain]

I will buy Gibson one day and bring back their discontinued archtops like the citation and the le grande and their deep body hollow bodies like the super 400 es 350 es 175 L-5 L-4 and make every solid body guitar semi hollow and upgrade that hardware on the firebird

[@BringMayFlowers]

At this point I honestly wouldn't even be that worried about the QC of a Chibson.

[@GoudLoodje]

Agreed. If I ever buy a Gibson-style guitar it’s gonna be a Collings or a Heritage for this reason. The fact they’re unwilling to spend the extra 1 minute to just make the routes better on a 3,500 dollar guitar scares me away from them so unless I’m physically in a guitar store and I really like a Gibson, I’m not buying one

[@wesleed1120]

Man... They really should do much better at cleaning up the splintery mess like that... If I was building guitars that would never go out the door like that... It just says "we don't care" and if they let that slide, what else does?

[@les-qy9lv]

Exactly,.. GIBSON Is DEFINITELY Over Rated and Over PRICED...

[@Hans_Gerber]

Agreed. It's terrible.

[@ssplintergirl]

I’m not gonna blindly defend gibson but do consider the volume of product they have to ship every day. If I was building a guitar I’d personally want every detail clean, but if I had to build 1000, I’m not sure what I’d consider passable.

[@the.communist]

3500 euros guitar

[@frankwebster9110]

Ehh, if they spent just a little more money on people to do the final QC, I bet they could eliminate these common issues. They should cut some of their marketing costs and apply those to QC. We get hammered with ads about "guitar gods" and other nonsense that we all could easily live without.

[@buddylobos5277]

My local GTC store had a 1959 330 in a rotating glass case. Single pick-up, centered position. I got to play it and I was absolutely blown away. Incredible. Sold quickly. Neck to body connection issues but it was beautiful. Enough to make you cry.

[@jeromewagschal9485]

I have one of those... Fabulous guitar... Extremely loud and lively... Especially with a bit of overdrive...

[@southernpanda33]

Between all the wood left in the body, the tooling marks on the fretboard and the Epiphone pickups, yea she’s going back if it were me. That’s unacceptable for a $3,500 guitar.

[@reno145]

With workmanship like that, I would be more likely to just buy a kit and have my local repair shop set the neck for me.

[@JoeyJoJoJr51]

It really irritates me that on a guitar at this price point, someone couldn’t spend an extra 6 seconds to run a bit of 180 grit sand paper across the inside edge of the pickup hole to clean up the scrappy bits left from the router.

[@benlogan430]

I don’t worry about the things I can’t see!

[@Zarphag]

@@benlogan430 you can see it all over the inside of the case etc.

[@googo151]

1000%

[@vorpalblades]

Just sharpen the tools properly.

[@Zarphag]

@@vorpalblades they are too busy making money

[@11000038]

Garden furniture is better finished.

[@doctoribanez]

Blows my mind that they can't clean up their routes or even blow the damn dust out for that price . Probably too busy going to court

[@hoilst265]

My Squier Affinity Strat, made in China, was finished to a higher standard. I realise it's a bit of an apples-to-orange comparison, but when I took the pickguard off I didn't find massive splinters.

[@derin111]

Too busy going to the bank! 😅

[@danwhitehurst6293]

They probably hired a twenty year old to do it

[@thomasamos4055]

@@doctoribanez bought a £150 Squier with sawdust in it, but I was cool with that

[@tvviewer4500]

You try to pay a bunch of hipsters who think they have ADHD to build guitars and see what you get

[@wesleykoch550]

I’m a huge fan of Casinos and 330s so I’m glad to see them bring this model back. It’s a shame they couldn’t get everything a bit cleaner but Gibson’s always been a bit lenient with QC things in routes and inside- you know- places a lot of people won’t see.

[@monkofwar]

I have a 1967 330 TDC. It’s a magical guitar with screaming creaming P90’s. I also just picked up a vintage cherry figured 339. Expensive! But beautiful and it compliments my ‘67 330 nicely.

[@Kahuna54]

I’d like to see a Byrdland reviewed to see why Ted Nugent loves them so much.

[@BubblesJrJr]

Bushcraft Teddy?

[@The9thChord]

They feedback uncontrollably, have a 23.5 scale, the trestle bridge allows for some gnarly acrobatics, and early Gibson PAF pickups!

[@brucegaskins7188]

He loves them because they can blow the balls off a charging rino at fifty paces just listen to Double Live Gonzo he'll tell you

[@gregorygermann5975]

He only uses vintage ones.

[@Sleepydeadbrain]

@@gregorygermann5975 cause that’s what he prefers he played that since the 1970s

[@58BURST]

5:55 nice work there guys,,,,, and its how much $ ????? They should be ashamed. SMH

[@SlashRfnR]

"nobody will see it". Yes they will. They'll find wood splinters in the case which will contribute to unwanted scratches on the guitar.

[@frankwebster9110]

And dirty potentiometers... that's how you get scratchy pots from the factory! (saw dust and debris finds it's way in)

[@videomove]

yeah, really. why are y’all getting so wound up by the cavities. that’s nothing nee and as has been said before - no one will see it…

[@Poepopdestoep]

@@videomove Doesn't matter, have some pride in your guitars (gibson) And it does matter, were seeing it here on this channel.

[@craighamley3669]

I wish you'd do a couple Heritage Guitars - they're owned by a new group also, but at least not by a Private Equity group like Gibson is with KKR. You can't sell a guitar for $3.5K with routes that look like they were done by a kid in freakin' junior high woodshop. It indicates three things: 1. they're cheapin' out by not changing out their tooling frequently enough, 2. they aren't giving their employees the time to properly clean up after the machining, 3. their Q/C is still just as bad as it has been for at least the last 10-15 years. On top of that the finish looks like crap around the edges of the f-holes. You shouldn't have to go through the bloody custom shop or else you get below Mexican-Fender '90s-level construction.

[@MegaChoo2]

Not impressed with the qc, and it is laughable internally.

[@the.communist]

3400 euros guitar

[@frankwebster9110]

There's no disagreement here, but the wiring was nice and tidy.

[@kanelfc98]

Paying 3x more because it is made by an American human instead of an Asian one has never been more silly

[@carosel43]

Paint finish on the headstock was trash too. Looked like it had random glitter flakes and fish eye all over it.

[@John-cw4no]

Thank you Trogly for helping me through election stress. Beautiful Gibsons will still be there tomorrow

[@jeffgualandijr9420]

totally understand that.

[@EnJoony]

I know of a Gibson dealer who not too long ago received an SG without the neck being properly glued in - Tuned it up to pitch and the neck started lifting off at the heel. 😂 Absolutely inexcusable.

[@jimmyjames2022]

Casino pickups and rounded heel seem to indicate this is actually a Casino not a (traditional) 330, maybe Gibson is merging the two production lines into one to save costs? Would this annoy purchasers? Looks and sounds fine to me but I'm out of the market.

[@mortonwilson795]

My thoughts, exactly! The US made Casino disappeared without a trace so why not re-label, fiddle with the neck a bit and come up with some new colours?

[@user-xd7rc9mj3x]

This makes sense that Gibson is making a 330 on the same line as the Casino. Gibson brands is treating both brands as a continuity of products and price points.

[@SteveMend]

The way you like to slide chord shapes up and down the neck… it would be nice to hear your buddy Steve Howe’s “Würm” on a demo some day. And the neck access on the 335 breaks the tie. Thanks for the vid!

[@silvernuggets1285]

What I find interesting, is why does a p90 almost always sound better in the neck? I prefer bridge humbuckers but, neck 90s sound sweet

[@AManCalledBiggles]

I have one of the Gibson Exclusive 335's with P90's - The neck pickup is so lush! I swapped out the bridge P90 for a humbucker, Hum/90 is the BEST combination!

[@Jeff-li5ri]

Was never crazy for this model but damn, that sounds really good! Especially acoustically. Great resonance!

[@laudnivek-k9]

Personally I like the look of the pick guard but many of my epiphone and my Les Paul custom didn’t have them installed. I’m not going to add it either.

[@Dragon_rls]

In this day and age, $3,500 for a guitar should mean perfection. That rattling in the center position is a deal breaker. I have a sub $300. Harley Benton that sounds fantastic. Not good value “for the money”, good value period. If I bought a Gibson, Fender, or anything else for a ton of cash more, and it looked, felt, played, and sounded as good, I would consider it a great value. Wish they were around when I got started. I’d have the same collection, and a second house. ( Not an endorsement. Just a really happy customer).

[@JustinFraser-l1j]

Love the tonal comparison between the 330 and the 335. Thank you! Have a ‘59 330 in cherry, with dot inlays, and a Bigsby… no one could pry that out of my cold dead hands!

[@TEEDUBS]

Bonus points for Halo theme

[@c1966m]

One of the best sounding gee-tar's you've documented, I want a 330 now and looks great!

[@vonroretz3307]

The ES with less higher register access.

[@jensenhealey08]

I am sure the reason for the difference in the way the neck joins the body between 335 and 330 is the balance of the guitar. The 335 body weight balances the neck. With the much lighter 330/Casino body the long neck version I tried had strong neck dive.

[@scott9143]

Hi Trogly, I am familiar with the selector switch rattle in the middle position. I have seen it on the USA casino and also in the new ES-330s, which are made on the same line in Nashville. Its not worth trying to replace the switch, because the new switchhcraft toggles have the same play, and working on the electronics of one of these is a PITA. Because they are so resonant, and the tops move (way more than the 335) they are prone to this. I got authorization from Gibson to take my USA casino to an approved repair shop and without unsoldering the switch he was able to tighten it up so it no longer rattled in the middle position. I saw how he did it and it was not involved. Gibson USA should consider something like this in this model because the tops move so much and switchcraft builds their switched with a fair amount of side to side play. When the selector is in the top or bottom position, the spring leafs keep it from rattling, but in the middle, its free to buzz like crazy. You dont hear it at normal amplified volumes, but its annoying acoustically.

[@rodolpheponthus2948]

Yeah, but this is inacceptable on a 3600€ guitar. A guitar of this price should be perfect. I sent back my ES330, it had a bunch of small defects. At the end I told myself, common 3600 bucks and the thing isn't perfect ? F... ck it, Gibson is stealing my cash, it's a fact.

[@jwilder2251]

Price is utterly ridiculous

[@michaelallen434]

Black is beautiful. Nothing beats a black guitar ❤

[@danielbreaux1842]

But, you have to turn on the lights to appreciate black! (Old Flip Wilson joke!)

[@steveoneal5257]

i had an es330 back in the day and it was sweet,iwas a 60's es330

[@brianjames5685]

maple sandwiches - Homer Simpson food groan. Only 335 I ever "played" was my 1st ever guitar lesson. I was 13 and it was in front of my guitar teachers brother who was the singer John Waite. What a waste of 2 golden opportunities lol. So embarrassing!

[@Pete_Harris]

Sorry but Eastman, Yamaha, FGN, Maybach, and others have all surpassed Gibson in QA these days.

[@MickH60]

They did a long long time ago, and are far more consistent....

[@justice9813]

They printed Gibson on that Epiphone !

[@christoguichard4311]

An Epiphone would be better finished! 😂

[@erikpedersen7977]

I have one, neck stamped 2017. She is in Sunburst,and it is amazing.

[@the.communist]

Better be for the money

[@erikpedersen7977]

@@the.communist one of the best guitars I have had in my life. I have been playing since 1972, and she is one of the best I own.

[@zanderday4466]

I have a 1959 sunburst - with p90 - plays great huge sustain

[@frankwebster9110]

We are not worthy! Very nice! Play it often!

[@hendersonbradshaw3098]

Perhaps just your playing skill, but I thought it sounded fabulous! I like the 335 sound - I’ve got an old Sheridan - but this demo’s got me wanting a 330. Good tube.

[@timmypix]

I suspect the reason they're using the same pickups as the Casino is the pole spacing is different on a 330/Casino to a regular dog-ear P90.

[@ssplintergirl]

I liked the music part of today’s episode.

[@jedjen7473]

"Gibson quality" is an oxymoron at this point

[@the.communist]

Remember the motto, only gibson is good enough

[@jedjen7473]

@@the.communist is "good enough" their new QC standard?

[@paulketchupwitheverything767]

I've owned an ES-335 and it played great and sounded lovely with plenty of acoustic resonance. I don't remember it as being especially weighty. I'd be interested to try an ES-330 for comparison but I can see why the 335 ls more popular. I'd be more likely to go for an ES-175 if looking for an 'acoustic' sounding electric. I get the impression the 175 would be better for getting traditional jazz guitar tones.

[@Red.be89]

Man, I'd love to see how this compares to the older '59 VOS ES330

[@jw_au]

I’m glad I have a Heritage H530… the neck joins at the 19th fret rather than the 16th… makes a big difference I think

[@Poepopdestoep]

And it's better made :)

[@OzziePete1]

Has anyone ever done a Gibson factory tour video that shows HOW the factory staff install the electronics?

[@samiam5557]

Anderton's Gibson tour does.

[@sunwentai1]

Wood shavings in the body and the case, tooling marks on the fretboard, fret buzzing stock from factory...Gibson is getting sloppy, especially considering this is a an expensive $3500 instrument.

[@vorpalblades]

Getting?

[@eljevidealmagro]

Really. This should cost 1/3 of the price

[@MegaRomans01]

@@eljevidealmagro even at 1,166 I would be pretty disappointed. I mean an Ibanez would prob be flawless or close at the price point.

[@jeffbarnard9246]

Yes # 28 tonight these are beautiful guitars. I like tbe regular pickups with the 335. Also nice camera work Nice thanx Trogly.

[@zx4race31]

What i miss the most of my 1984 es335 was the fingerprints on the finish

[@reddieseled]

That block isn’t even glued to the other side but the PVA was in there and it looks like It didn’t adhere? I can understand why guitars like the Stratocaster and telecaster are more appealing due to their simple design

[@bikeman123]

Lets face it, with finishing like that, therescnothing but a badge and a price tag between an Epiphone and Gibson.

[@RandallHayter]

Aren’t the USA Casinos the same price? For this model, the Epiphone is the more well known and desirable model, and I’d almost expect Gibson to charge more for it than the ES330.

[@ericbgordon1575]

As I've previously commented here, a friend of mine has a vintage ES-330 from circa 1967. He received it after his brother passed away in 2022. I played it a bunch of times during our band practices. If I had had issues with the Epiphone Casino I owned only for one year due to its heel and the gratuitous feedback, the main issue I had with the 330 was one that you've mentioned, Trogly, that the pickups tend to go out of phase in the center position as the guitar ages.

[@asw7696]

How would pickups go out of phase with age?

[@ericbgordon1575]

I just remember being informed through this channel, @asw7696 , that the vintage ES-330 was prone to phase cancellation somewhere between when it went off the assembly line and now.

[@ChrisShortyAllen]

Nice. Might look spectacular with binding on the f holes.

[@michaelsmith8453]

Definitely

[@frankwebster9110]

100% I really dig that tuxedo kind of look. Timeless imo.

[@paulshurmon138]

Thanks for the video.

[@ckelly5141]

Pick guard on.🎸👍

[@frankwebster9110]

Off for me normally. But I can see it on this one!

[@thomassawicki2065]

I have a 2015 MIJ Elitist Casino which came with Gibson USA P90 pickups. So Gibson has been making the p90's to fit Casino / ES330 for awhile .

[@tommygunangel498]

Stereo delay on 18 minutes mark was nice. Got me by surprise.

[@jaarriaga1978]

Would anyone call that a High-end guitar??

[@fntb4gotten]

Feedback monster.

[@jonbon7219]

i would never buy 1. a es 175 maybe

[@TheBigHeavies]

Keith Richards played one through two Hiwatt full stacks to half a million people at Hyde Park in ‘69 with no issues. They feedback if you point them directly at the amp but are well worth it for the sound as long as you don’t do that

[@fntb4gotten]

@ if I recall he soon thereafter only used his Les Paul or Telecaster with a humbucker in the neck all through the 70s. The concert was trash from what I heard and he used for mostly Honky Tonk Woman, Midnight Rambler…

[@TheBigHeavies]

@ he always had about 8-10 different guitars on tour in the 70s. Just not the 330 bc it was stolen along with a lot of other guitars in Nellcote during the recording of Exile on main st

[@fntb4gotten]

@@TheBigHeavies but he also never replaced it. He had a lp jr, Strat, tele, lp, Ampeg acrylic, and ES-335 from all the shows I’ve ever seen. Hyde Park is the only time I saw the 330 or the Flying V he used for Sympathy for the devil.

[@ralphwest8156]

Incredibly smart ' ...except the floating wood bits, the tones are wonderful, lovely and growly, and with the gain too, once you've got the feedback under control. It's a case of you need both 330 and 335 for the variety ...but that black ' ...you could take it out for dinner '

[@badtonestudio]

Love the tones, might need to check out an Epi

[@kenbobsquarepants6965]

My 60s cherry which I just got orange sticker says gloss as well

[@carlfrancis1247]

I have a 2018 ES330. Plays and sounds great, but the body is literally delaminating and falling apart.....well because Gibson. Luthiers tell me they left the laminate in the steam press for too long and dissolved the glue. Now the laminate is separating. Needless to say Gibson told me to take a hike since I bought it used 2019. Last Gibson I will ever buy. In the market for a Heritage H530.

[@scottpickel1282]

Hollow and p90’s is wild -

[@gayrodeo]

Trent Reznor had something similar to this but the hardware was blacked out.

[@falloutfreak111]

13:14 what is that chord or chord progression that troglys playing there? I’m completely self taught and love that sound. It’s almost like an old Donovan folky sound and I’m here for it. If anyone could help, I’d appreciate it!!

[@kellyswoodyard]

I was thinking about buying a new Gibson, but with Epiphone pickups, well where else have they cut corners?

[@asw7696]

Why is it cutting corners to use "Epiphone" pickups which are made in the same factory by the same people as Gibson pickups?

[@nightswatch8659]

@@asw7696 china made vs American made.

[@Madakalim]

I had a Epi DOT and it was sweet but still went away

[@buzzbomb67]

I rather like those older 330s! Very cool guitars! Always thought there had to be a mid-way between a 330 and 335, like a partial block, or something. If Im paying Gibson prices, it better be US made, not a rebadged Asian made one.

[@guitarsnstuff93422]

I went with the H 535 and never looked back. ✌️🤘

[@Gevin5]

Excited these are back, prefer the shorter neck feel & P90s.

[@stevenbodo965]

Sounds awesome but you gonna have to put the amp in the other room for recording :D

[@davidcharles-williams8575]

My American Fender Stratocaster that was made in America had Japanese electrics made in Japan! That was a shock!!

[@christoguichard4311]

ALL Gibsons and Fenders use Asian-made parts nowdays. They just like to hide the fact.

[@Zarphag]

3.5k for that and gibson still cant take time to get it right

[@MatthewSearles-un4qo]

Good review,it makes a change from the les paul guitars.

[@richardmurphey9049]

Would love a 330 but pretty sure I'll never be able to afford one. Nice slipping the halo theme in there too.

[@thirteenthnile3536]

Particularly enjoyed the playing today.

[@markelliott5151]

Craftsmanship vs production line targets. But are you sure that the splinters are not added ?…ie “relic’d” lol “Splinter tone”

[@vincentrandles8105]

I dig feed-back, but that would be ridiculous... And ya can't be afraid too go 'all the way over there'.👇🤘

[@danielbreaux1842]

Ted Nugent would dig it!

[@jonvig4771]

You showing this just cements my thoughts in why I will never buy anything after the year 2000. They have gotten so lazy and cheap that it's disgusting. 3500 tax and shipping to have splinters in the case, so it scratches the finish in shipping. P90s for epiphones in what's "called a gibson" and the lack of detal in the rough finishing. I would send that back tell them to shove it. Thank you for your videos they are truly very well thought out and educational! 👍

[@jeremynebraska]

I love the P90s in there. Looks good! And sounds great!

[@albaxter8711]

If you want the best es330 out there get an Eastman t64...antique varnish finish,bigsby,lollar p90s,ebony fretboard...I sold my 1967 gibson es330 soon after...the vintage gibsons let alone the new ones don't even get close to the eastman...Murphy lab quality without the stupid prices.

[@rodolpheponthus2948]

Exactly. Same experience as you. Eastman make beautiful guitars. Put Gibson on the headstock of the T64, I swear people would praise it.

[@TJP5.0]

For 3.5K I would expect it to be much cleaner inside the cavity, better off going to a custom luthier for that price

[@rosschun1]

I have been wondering why you never mention the ES 347. I have one but now I wonder how it compares with the ES 330.

[@delv2473]

Shocking finish .

[@Briansm15]

Casino with gibson headstock or original Beatles style headstock

[@denis_himself]

Wow! Great review! One question need to ask. Which pickup was used in acoustic part? C’mon, just kidding) P.S. graduating dentistry faculty soon, so looking forward for something ridiculously overpriced.

[@fancykarlmarx]

The finish is beautiful but that birds nest inside is unacceptable for this price.

[@samstinkeringaround8961]

Gibson needs to figure out how to keep their headstocks from breaking off

[@BleedingDirt-j8n]

Hey trogly, what do you think of the Jackson king v

[@robertdavidtingstrom118]

😂

[@stevep1941]

I don't know much about woodwork, but if I was making anything out of wood, I would file or sand off splinters from cutting or routing- it would take less than a minute. If Gibson workers are letting this sloppy work pass, then you have to wonder what the workmanship is like overall.

[@TheMUSICHEART]

Has Gibson experimented with partial block designs looking for a sweet spot between hollow and full center block? A half step between these? I can’t recall where I saw a review about a a partial block. Thx

[@Trog]

They have chambered center blocks, but not sure about a skinnier block

[@garettturbettmusic]

So what do the pickup readings actually mean?

[@ckelly5141]

Those pickups are bad-donkey….for sure!🎶🎸👍

[@kierenmoore3236]

I’ve got a 330 with a Bigsby … makes you wonder what the Bigsby is mounted to …

[@jeromewagschal9485]

It's a B7 model that's specially designed to be anchored to the front of the body 🙂

[@mjeh1]

Love it!

[@joestahl9102]

3500.00 with Epiphone pickups they owe u sum Gibson pickups

[@takamushinagamoto5086]

Finishes are...revolting ! I remembered a Custom Shop Nashville ES-355 from 2016 ( around 6000 $ ) with massive mapple top and back. On this, spruce strips under mapple center block was broken on the lower part and stayed ripped off... Gibson are really mocking people

[@rodolpheponthus2948]

I returned mine. The nut was repaired and reglued back together. I could clearly see the line where it split from low E to high E. So what did Gibson do on that 3600 guitar, change the nut? Nope they glued the 2 pieces back. The little plastic washer was missing on the pickguard, so it wobbled and touched the body. And the wood chips weren't missing inside the case. The rosewood on the fretboard looked pretty bland and seemed light and not dense at all. Not like the rosewood on my other guitars, wich has more ebony like density. I really had that feeling that for 3600€ Gibson was stealing my hard earned cash. Bye bye Gibson.

[@Santaheckler]

Makes me like my “inspired by Gibson” Epiphone 335 even more. Such a great guitar.

[@ajjacobson1021]

Gibsons cost too much. I have 6 Fenders but wanted a Les Paul. Since I have professional repair experience, in 2000 I bought a black Epiphone Les Paul Standard,, installed a Gibson Classic 57 pup in the neck and a Duncan SH-5 Custom in the bridge, swapped the selector switch for a Switchcraft (what Gibson uses), changed 3 of the pots to Gibson engraved pots (have to enlarge the shaft holes through the body) and 1 DiMarzio push/pull tone pot to do phase switching. So I got a killer Les Paul quality done at a lot lower price.