Les Paul's over 335's

Freebird

I took the middle road, I've got a Les Paul and a Telecaster, and I find I have more than enough variety when it comes to sound choices.

ICBM

I much prefer Les Pauls. 335s are too ungainly for me - too big, too long, awkward to play sitting down and not great on a strap either - the neck is too far to the left.

I don't agree at all that a 335 is more versatile soundwise than a Les Paul either - it may be close to *as* versatile, but it's definitely not more so, and may be less.

I much prefer 330s to 335s as well. The fully hollow body makes them much more different from a Les Paul, and the more deeply-set neck makes them feel much more compact. Best of all is the 'wrong' Epiphone Casino with the 17th-fret neck joint.

polotska

I prefer ES-335s—I find them more comfortable than Les Pauls and prefer the sound for most things: they’re more dynamic, a bit richer, less midrange-dominant, and also with a little less bass than a Les Paul. That works better for me for anything but hard rock/metal, for which I’d give the edge to a Les Paul—but I don’t really play those styles anyway!

57Deluxe

you can't bust BeBop Deluxe riffs out on a Les Paul - it just isn't right.

Corvus

I like 335s, the upper-fret access, size, sound/feel, love teetering on the edge of feedback. You feel something of the way the notes form with like a big Gretsch but they are more direct, closer to a solid body. With dirt a lot of that difference disappears.
I like the idea of LPs but they feel pretty small on me and the 335 fits nice, sound & feel has more character (or more of what I like), so the LPs are no more.

The world's not exactly short of either of 'em so if you do go LP but later change your mind, it wouldn't be too much hassle.

Rabs

Kebabkid said:

Have you tried a 339? I think they offer the middle ground here.

I would say a 336 is more the middle ground and is the CS guitar I have always lusted over...

A 339 is made from laminates like a 335..  A 336 is the same smaller size but a hollowed out solid body..   The few I have tried have all been amazing and as a HUGE Les Paul fan, I find it gives more of the sound I am used too over a proper semi hollow type construction but is a bit more capable of doing some of the lighter stuff too.

chris45

The 336 because of its construction is very similar sounding to a Les Paul.  I moved mine on as I found it quite indistinguishable from Les Paul tone wise (although a lovely instrument).

stickyfiddle

My 336 is my favourite guitar. I am very keen to add a Les Paul and an ES-330 but have no real desire for a 335.

west

It is the most shattering experience of a young man's life when one morning he awakes and quite reasonably says to himself, "I will never play the les paul again "

Rabs

west said:

It is the most shattering experience of a young man's life when one morning he awakes and quite reasonably says to himself, "I will never play the les paul again "

This is the thing I have heard from many....  That wanting a 335 (for some) is something that comes with time and experience...  Im still not there yet myself and im not sure I ever will be.. But from what I hear once you acquire that sort of taste and come to that conclusion there is no going back  

Danielsguitars

the first thing I'd say is what does a good Lp sound like to you because it's probably different to me and others

I love the cleans of a les paul, some of the best cleans come from a custom imo

hobbio

Kebabkid said:

Have you tried a 339? I think they offer the middle ground here.

I love my Epi 339, but I'm gassing for a Les Paul to go with it. In my extremely limited LP experience they have something that my 339 doesn't.

DrBob

From what you have said about where you’re at currently I think you probs need to go and scratch the LP itch 

KDS

I had a 335 for 6 or 7 years, looked great, sounded nice, versatile..... but I could never get on with the size, they are to big. Sold it on here and replaced it with an R7. R7 is great, right decision on my part

ICBM

customkits said:

the first thing I'd say is what does a good Lp sound like to you because it's probably different to me and others

I love the cleans of a les paul, some of the best cleans come from a custom imo

Agreed. I also like the deep, ringing, clear-sounding Custom tone more than the more ‘woody’ midrangy Standard tone which is closer to a 335. To me a good Les Paul has *less* midrange than a 335 - it has both more bottom-end and more top - and a more ‘linear’ sustain. The 335 is more middy and has a snappier attack with a faster initial decay, and can be a bit ‘honky’.

stickyfiddle

ICBM said:

customkits said:

the first thing I'd say is what does a good Lp sound like to you because it's probably different to me and others

I love the cleans of a les paul, some of the best cleans come from a custom imo

Agreed. I also like the deep, ringing, clear-sounding Custom tone more than the more ‘woody’ midrangy Standard tone which is closer to a 335. To me a good Les Paul has *less* midrange than a 335 - it has both more bottom-end and more top - and a more ‘linear’ sustain. The 335 is more middy and has a snappier attack with a faster initial decay, and can be a bit ‘honky’.

This is how I see it, at least re the Custom thing. Pretty much every single LP player I like uses Customs, especially on clean-ish delay-y stuff.

springhead

57Deluxe said:

you can't bust BeBop Deluxe riffs out on a Les Paul - it just isn't right.

True.  But I find even with a 335 it's pretty hard to keep up with Billy!  My brother in law bet me a fiver, 25 years ago, that I couldn't play the live version solo on Adventures... - he's still got the fiver.

I have both - LP and 335. They can cover the same ground or they can do different jobs.  Choosing one would be hard, for me possibly the 335.

skaguitar

I've had les pauls and got my first 335 a few months ago... it's the only guitar I use now but if you can afford it get a LP but don't sell your 335 to get one...or maybe go and try an ES les paul...that might be just what you're looking for..?

Winny_Pooh

335s look nicer and sound woodier to me. I'm tall and have long arns so they've always felt fine. Once I played a 330 clean though I was sold. I got hold of my cs330 and added a Creamery alii humbucker in the bridge to get closer to the best of both. Less sustain means that you cannot do some typical lead playing but it'll do great rock rhythm sounds.

Danielsguitars

I've got a Lp strung up now waiting to be finished and i put mojo low wind pafs in it

It's like a big fat tele, really very clear and getting towards a perfect Lp tone to me