I was lucky enough to learn on a 1960 e 330 Gibson as it was my Father's.I inherited it and it still sounds and plays great despite having most of the finish on the back of the neck worn off through years of playing by me and my father,still one of my most played guitars...
Great video. I have a 1967 ES 330 that I traded another kid a 72 Strat for back in 76 and I absolutely love it! Feedback was a problem when I was gigging back in the day so I ended up getting a Les Paul Deluxe, but the 330 remains my favorite guitar to play. No regrets on the trade. I have owned both Gibson's for 40 years and still play them almost every day
You missed the transition period P90 covers in 1962, which were nickel plated black plastic covers. The plating didn't wear well, so they soon switched to nickel plated metal covers. I have a 62 ES-330TD in tobacco burst, transition nickel plated balck plastic P90 covers, Bigsby trem, Stinger neck, and tiger maple back. Have had it for eons and love it!! Those P90s are incredible.
Glad to see you guys are back. Absolutely the best for a quiet weekend. Just what I needed when I saw a lovely sunburst 2013 ES-330 VOS custom shop with a Bigsby for sale locally yesterday. Decisions...
Great video folks :-) Love my 330 '61 VOS Reissue - added some VIPots, Luxe Bumblebees and OX4 P90s and it sounds absolutely phenomenal. Ultimate recording guitar :-). The tone of that '62 with the Bigsby is my favourite...tempted to add a Bigsby to mine...! :-)
I select my instruments (amps too) based on what kind of sound I need, and 330s do nice sounds that most others won't. I had my first used ('63) 330 back in 1965. Cost me £120... and I loved it!
It was interesting to hear the differences in the sound acoustically were less prominent when plugged in, id have expected them to be amplified (no pun intended). The 62 is the one i find the most desirable, it's gorgeous
Wow, I learned a lot from this video. You really made clear sense of the 330 through the 1960s, a pretty neglected topic I think. Very informative, thank you! I finally got a cherry 1961 dot neck with a trapeze bridge, which is pretty magic. Great player and lovely plugged in.
I first heard of the es330 via Grant Green. It’s such a tone monster. I’ve played a few of them including an all original ‘59 ES330 and it was killer. Wish I had the money to buy it.
Me too, his blue note albums are very underrated . The tone doesn't even come close using a humbucker epiphone the dot, maybe I will buy an epiphone cassino as my next guitar.
Great video fellas, just the ticket for a wet weekend in Bristol 😉🎸 I never realised the difference in the neck to body joins before , only the ear size ,so thanks 👍 Always liked Paul Weller in the 90's with his 60's Casino into an old Marshall Treble & Bass . Cheers !
In my headphones the sunburst sounds best of them. But I didn’t play them myself, and the feel of the guitar is important. But all of them sounded great. Thank you for a good show👍
As far as we're aware yes. Same as the 'short neck' ones. Glad you like the acoustic test. These guitars are almost as enjoyable to play unplugged as through an amp.
Great show as always Gents! I felt like I could tell that you found the red long neck easier to play and that was coming across in the way you were attacking the guitar and therefore the tones. For what it's worth I thought the red long neck sounded "best" from the clips. Saying that, I'd find it hard to walk away from the bigsby, it's too cool!!!!
I have a 65 330 and a 67 335. On my 330, the body shape is actually a quite a bit different than the 335, and I think my 330 guitar is also different from other 330s, including those you have here, that I've seen. On mine the "ears" are smaller, and the cutaway is more shallow. It is a 65 according to the serial number but has all nickel hardware. It is also just slightly wider at the lower bout than the 335. I wonder if they were perhaps more hand cut so they are subtly different in many ways. Doesn't matter really, I love the 330 and play it much more than the 335. It's much nicer to play at a low volume through a smaller amp IMHO.
Good to have you back guys! great video. If I had to choose one it would be the long neck, for the reason that I don’t have the biggest hands in the world and easy access to upper frets is a plus for me.
Nice job! I really like the single pickup 330s. The center-located P90 has a unique & versatile sound. But my fav 330 sound comes from the dual pickup version with both pickups on.
Really well done. I had a 65 casino that I got feedback to the notochord I was playing infinitely. Learned it from watching Phil Keggi in concert but he in a second Guitars could do that. I’m not talking about noise I’m talking about infants it’s a stain of a cord. Unfortunately that guitar was stolen and now I have an 81 Japanese casino that I think has mostly Gibson factory USA parts in it and it’s very nice it’s walnut. Thinking about buying a later model with the next sit in a different position to reach the high frets you may have convinced me to go ahead and pull the trigger on that deal. They’re all lovely guitars and you played them very well and explain that very well thank you
I have a 2009 330L and I used to have a blond 59 330. I do find that 330L is a better guitar for using overdrive and resists feedback slightly better. It certainly responds to more brutal playing. However, my memories of the 59 was of an incredibly beautiful sound. I can only ascribe these observations to the position of the bridge. the 330 probably vibrates more through the bridge owing to it's position further in to the guitar and this is shown in a more resonant acoustic sound. The 330L has a leaner acoustic sound and a little less resonance in the electric sound, hence the slightly more resistance to feedback. I do love the sound and find it is a great alternative to my 335 when I want something brighter and more wiry. The mixed pickup position is wonderful as turning down the bridge pup slightly gives you a wonderful jazz tone. Turn down the neck pup slightly and you get a lovely full and expressive clean lead.
While High volume is not what they are meant for, it can be done. One of my favourite bands from the early 70's was "IF", Terry Smith their guitarist used his ES330 for everything. Checkout "Forgotten roads" on UA-cam.
My local music shop had a 68 walnut finish es330 on the wall last time I was in there. That was the best feeling guitar I've ever played. I had to leave before I got too attached to it because it was 5 grand. if only...
Budget? These things are expensive. Both have their place. I had an Epiphone version of the long neck. It was wonderful. It became Christmas presents, one year.
I've known these were great guitars for a while. My real takeaway is the gasfx pedal you are using at the end. Sounds fantastic. Just ordered a kit to build!
Excellent show as aways chaps. I have one of the long-neck CS reissues from 2010 which I fell in love with as soon as I played it. Just like the ‘68 model you played, the bridge pickup is an inch or two further towards the neck, about the same place as the single pickup versions and I find it slightly less trebly than the older models. They all sounded great though. Everyone needs a 330 in their life.
Very underrated Guitars! I have a cherry ‘65 330td and I absolutely love it. I prefer the short neck verstond over the long neck since the narrow nut doesnt feel that comfortable to me. The p90’s absolutely scream!
Hi. Nice video. Construction can be different. Some have a thin 'plate' under the top from the neck past the bridge, as wide as the pickups. A piece of three ply top glued in perhaps. Also seen the top thickened with the same wood as the top inserts of a 335. Also have seen longitudinal tone bars (as per a 225 and jazz guitar tops). Have an 80s Japanese epi casino with a 1/2 inch, probably maple, section glued front to back. All sound different, and of course the p90s all have different lives of their own! Steve.
You didnt mention the c.62 black p90s that were actually metal painted black! These were just after the black plastic ones but before the nickel ones. Very rare but Ive seen at least 3. Sunburst one is the better guitar in my opinion btw!
I comment through video and I have enough with out having to have alot of work? My HUMMINGBIRDS draw back is you have to replace the lithium batteries before the indicator for a great sustain is excellent. I would put the bird on stage but luckily I don't go on stage ANYMORE. I'm hoping the Spark will be best friend because it's my passion to play around just to have fun in this miserable time especially with this COVID19 crap😜!!!!!!
The 62 is obviously the better instrument of the 3 great examples. Because it rings louder unplugged. The wood vibrates more. But the pickups could not be as well built as the other models. Since gibson was random back then
@@tonetwinstv2863 so your telling me that all 50s 60s pafs and p90s sound exactly the same? When a lot of great sources say and have proven some are hotter or more mellow than others.
I have a Bixby and tail piece but I'm a scaredy cat to install it because I have to drill holes. Sam Ash wants 65 dollars an hour to install with minimal 1 hour fee. This dog don't hunt.
Love to know your thoughts on shimming the bridge pups. Noticed your pole pieces were high on all of them except the red one which looks like it has a black plastic shim?
Good question. We do think the neck pickup tends to overpower the bridge on these guitars and it's worth noting that bridge pickup shims were factory fitted to ES225s. Having tried shimming and raising pole screws, both methods work but we prefer the latter. It doesn't take much to balance them out and we prefer the stock appearance.
I have a 1967 ES-330 and I recently installed a 1/16" shim under the bridge after years of feeling like the neck pickup totally dominated the bridge pickup. Well no longer, the bridge now actually feels slightly hotter than the neck which is exactly what I was after. I have the pole pieces just slightly above the cover. A P-90 pickup does not have the magnetic pull of a typical Fender single coil, so they can be fairly close to the string. The shim is barely visible and easily removable so I say give it a try.
As you say the 330 is not a budget version of the 335 IMHO, it is a completely different guitar hollow vs Semihollow, P90 vs Buckers.
That outro solo to close out the video really shines
I was lucky enough to learn on a 1960 e 330 Gibson as it was my Father's.I inherited it and it still sounds and plays great despite having most of the finish on the back of the neck worn off through years of playing by me and my father,still one of my most played guitars...
When the finish wears off, its just her soul shining through.
Got my 330 about a month ago. 2018 Memphis and man it’s awesome
Great video. I have a 1967 ES 330 that I traded another kid a 72 Strat for back in 76 and I absolutely love it! Feedback was a problem when I was gigging back in the day so I ended up getting a Les Paul Deluxe, but the 330 remains my favorite guitar to play. No regrets on the trade. I have owned both Gibson's for 40 years and still play them almost every day
You missed the transition period P90 covers in 1962, which were nickel plated black plastic covers. The plating didn't wear well, so they soon switched to nickel plated metal covers. I have a 62 ES-330TD in tobacco burst, transition nickel plated balck plastic P90 covers, Bigsby trem, Stinger neck, and tiger maple back. Have had it for eons and love it!! Those P90s are incredible.
Glad to see you guys are back. Absolutely the best for a quiet weekend.
Just what I needed when I saw a lovely sunburst 2013 ES-330 VOS custom shop with a Bigsby for sale locally yesterday. Decisions...
Best of luck
The burst is unbelievably cool.
The 330 is very underrated! I absolutely love mine. Just put Grant Green’s ‘Alive!’ album on.
I don't think it sounds 👍 and acoustic. What do you think? But I don't think it's supposed to.
"a time to remember"
A splendid alternative to Chappers and the Captain - keep it up, fellaz !! ;-)
You have three choices; awesome, awesome or awesome.
That ending feedback is amazing and thing that I like
Great video folks :-) Love my 330 '61 VOS Reissue - added some VIPots, Luxe Bumblebees and OX4 P90s and it sounds absolutely phenomenal. Ultimate recording guitar :-). The tone of that '62 with the Bigsby is my favourite...tempted to add a Bigsby to mine...! :-)
I select my instruments (amps too) based on what kind of sound I need, and 330s do nice sounds that most others won't. I had my first used ('63) 330 back in 1965. Cost me £120... and I loved it!
Amazing tone, specialy on outro. Tomorrow i'll get my vintage 330 new purchase
I could listen to you guys talking about vintage gear all day :) glad you can make it again into your studio - stay healthy ...
Thanks and you
It was interesting to hear the differences in the sound acoustically were less prominent when plugged in, id have expected them to be amplified (no pun intended). The 62 is the one i find the most desirable, it's gorgeous
Wow, I learned a lot from this video. You really made clear sense of the 330 through the 1960s, a pretty neglected topic I think. Very informative, thank you!
I finally got a cherry 1961 dot neck with a trapeze bridge, which is pretty magic. Great player and lovely plugged in.
I first heard of the es330 via Grant Green. It’s such a tone monster. I’ve played a few of them including an all original ‘59 ES330 and it was killer. Wish I had the money to buy it.
Me too, his blue note albums are very underrated . The tone doesn't even come close using a humbucker epiphone the dot, maybe I will buy an epiphone cassino as my next guitar.
The 1962 is the best one imo. Awesome.
Great video fellas, just the ticket for a wet weekend in Bristol 😉🎸 I never realised the difference in the neck to body joins before , only the ear size ,so thanks 👍 Always liked Paul Weller in the 90's with his 60's Casino into an old Marshall Treble & Bass . Cheers !
In my headphones the sunburst sounds best of them. But I didn’t play them myself, and the feel of the guitar is important. But all of them sounded great. Thank you for a good show👍
Acoustic test was most appreciated and the long neck version is so interesting...
It is, in fact, truly hollow?
As far as we're aware yes. Same as the 'short neck' ones. Glad you like the acoustic test. These guitars are almost as enjoyable to play unplugged as through an amp.
Great show as always Gents! I felt like I could tell that you found the red long neck easier to play and that was coming across in the way you were attacking the guitar and therefore the tones. For what it's worth I thought the red long neck sounded "best" from the clips. Saying that, I'd find it hard to walk away from the bigsby, it's too cool!!!!
Thanks!
I have a 65 330 and a 67 335. On my 330, the body shape is actually a quite a bit different than the 335, and I think my 330 guitar is also different from other 330s, including those you have here, that I've seen. On mine the "ears" are smaller, and the cutaway is more shallow. It is a 65 according to the serial number but has all nickel hardware. It is also just slightly wider at the lower bout than the 335. I wonder if they were perhaps more hand cut so they are subtly different in many ways. Doesn't matter really, I love the 330 and play it much more than the 335. It's much nicer to play at a low volume through a smaller amp IMHO.
Good to have you back guys! great video. If I had to choose one it would be the long neck, for the reason that I don’t have the biggest hands in the world and easy access to upper frets is a plus for me.
Good choice!
Very informative thanks, especially as a 330 is next on my want list.
Glad it was helpful!
If you ever decide to sell the 62 with bigsby, let me knows this is the guitar I have been chasing for years. Great video!
Nice job!
I really like the single pickup 330s. The center-located P90 has a unique & versatile sound. But my fav 330 sound comes from the dual pickup version with both pickups on.
Really well done. I had a 65 casino that I got feedback to the notochord I was playing infinitely. Learned it from watching Phil Keggi in concert but he in a second Guitars could do that. I’m not talking about noise I’m talking about infants it’s a stain of a cord. Unfortunately that guitar was stolen and now I have an 81 Japanese casino that I think has mostly Gibson factory USA parts in it and it’s very nice it’s walnut. Thinking about buying a later model with the next sit in a different position to reach the high frets you may have convinced me to go ahead and pull the trigger on that deal. They’re all lovely guitars and you played them very well and explain that very well thank you
Thanks we love them
I have a 2009 330L and I used to have a blond 59 330. I do find that 330L is a better guitar for using overdrive and resists feedback slightly better. It certainly responds to more brutal playing. However, my memories of the 59 was of an incredibly beautiful sound. I can only ascribe these observations to the position of the bridge. the 330 probably vibrates more through the bridge owing to it's position further in to the guitar and this is shown in a more resonant acoustic sound. The 330L has a leaner acoustic sound and a little less resonance in the electric sound, hence the slightly more resistance to feedback. I do love the sound and find it is a great alternative to my 335 when I want something brighter and more wiry. The mixed pickup position is wonderful as turning down the bridge pup slightly gives you a wonderful jazz tone. Turn down the neck pup slightly and you get a lovely full and expressive clean lead.
Very interesting and well thought out observations David. Many thanks for your contribution.
While High volume is not what they are meant for, it can be done. One of my favourite bands from the early 70's was "IF", Terry Smith their guitarist used his ES330 for everything. Checkout "Forgotten roads" on UA-cam.
My local music shop had a 68 walnut finish es330 on the wall last time I was in there. That was the best feeling guitar I've ever played. I had to leave before I got too attached to it because it was 5 grand. if only...
Budget? These things are expensive. Both have their place. I had an Epiphone version of the long neck. It was wonderful. It became Christmas presents, one year.
All things are relative. Compare the prices of ES335s and ES330s from 62-64 and you could say the latter is a 'budget' option.
Great video, very informative 👍🏼
I've known these were great guitars for a while. My real takeaway is the gasfx pedal you are using at the end. Sounds fantastic. Just ordered a kit to build!
Hope your build goes well and many thanks ;)
@@tonetwinstv2863 going okay so far I think! Hoping I can do it justice
Nice guys, that last piece was excellent, very Floyd esq in parts, my favourite kind of melody.
Thanks Richard, much appreciated
One of the best guitars I ever played was a vos 330. Defo one that got away.
Great guitars
Excellent show as aways chaps. I have one of the long-neck CS reissues from 2010 which I fell in love with as soon as I played it. Just like the ‘68 model you played, the bridge pickup is an inch or two further towards the neck, about the same place as the single pickup versions and I find it slightly less trebly than the older models. They all sounded great though. Everyone needs a 330 in their life.
Thanks for sharing!
Very underrated Guitars! I have a cherry ‘65 330td and I absolutely love it. I prefer the short neck verstond over the long neck since the narrow nut doesnt feel that comfortable to me. The p90’s absolutely scream!
ES330 is by no means a "budget" guitar. They are expensive and seem to not only hold value but appreciate nicely.
A very thorough approach gentlemen! Thank you!
I have the Epiphone 339 arch top but I don't care for Hollow bodies and that's why I enjoy the HUMMINGBIRD with great electronics.
Hi. Nice video. Construction can be different. Some have a thin 'plate' under the top from the neck past the bridge, as wide as the pickups. A piece of three ply top glued in perhaps. Also seen the top thickened with the same wood as the top inserts of a 335. Also have seen longitudinal tone bars (as per a 225 and jazz guitar tops). Have an 80s Japanese epi casino with a 1/2 inch, probably maple, section glued front to back. All sound different, and of course the p90s all have different lives of their own! Steve.
Great review guys, just subscribed thanks!
Thanks Richard.
this is really nice. your playing is nice!
Thank you
I'll take a P90 over a humbucker every time!
I thought T referred to Thinline, rather than Twin? D was for Dual pickups. S was for Single pickup.
Hello Hugh. I've been looking for a 330 for some time. Please do let me know if you consider selling yours (short neck). I can make you a good offer.
Hi tremolo73. I'm keeping the red 62 but the sunburst 64 is currently for sale at Vintage n' Rare Guitars in Bath, UK.
I wouldn't say budget, these days they're more expensive than a 335
We think you'll find that a 62 or 64 ES335 will cost more than a 62 or 64 ES330.
@@tonetwinstv2863 true, I was going off the retail prices on non-vintage models
You didnt mention the c.62 black p90s that were actually metal painted black! These were just after the black plastic ones but before the nickel ones. Very rare but Ive seen at least 3. Sunburst one is the better guitar in my opinion btw!
T is for thin, D is for dual pick ups. C would be for Cherry finish.
How did the 330 and the Casino differ from the Century? Was it just the neck join or was the body a different shape?
ES 330 is by Gibson and Casino by Epiphone. They are for all purposes similar.
330s are the same or even more expensive than 335s. I own both....
My funny valentine
I comment through video and I have enough with out having to have alot of work? My HUMMINGBIRDS draw back is you have to replace the lithium batteries before the indicator for a great sustain is excellent. I would put the bird on stage but luckily I don't go on stage ANYMORE. I'm hoping the Spark will be best friend because it's my passion to play around just to have fun in this miserable time especially with this COVID19 crap😜!!!!!!
The 62 is obviously the better instrument of the 3 great examples. Because it rings louder unplugged. The wood vibrates more. But the pickups could not be as well built as the other models. Since gibson was random back then
We've found 1950's Gibson to be anything but random, superb craftsmanship and consistency in all the PAF's and P90's we've ever played from that era
@@tonetwinstv2863 so your telling me that all 50s 60s pafs and p90s sound exactly the same? When a lot of great sources say and have proven some are hotter or more mellow than others.
shine on you crazy gibson
In the outro, it looks like a G Chord at the start, but does not sound like one??? Is there a strange tuning employed here?
Yes, Welsh tuning
Not a dud among them, but that '62!
I have a Bixby and tail piece but I'm a scaredy cat to install it because I have to drill holes. Sam Ash wants 65 dollars an hour to install with minimal 1 hour fee. This dog don't hunt.
The es330 is no longer budget.
Isn't really a Casino?: Dog ear p90's and hollow body.
330 came first
@@matthewcasey4795 I see
Ain’t it funny how a budget version of a guitar can just completely overshadow its more expensive counterpart to the point of it almost being unknown?
Love to know your thoughts on shimming the bridge pups. Noticed your pole pieces were high on all of them except the red one which looks like it has a black plastic shim?
Good question. We do think the neck pickup tends to overpower the bridge on these guitars and it's worth noting that bridge pickup shims were factory fitted to ES225s. Having tried shimming and raising pole screws, both methods work but we prefer the latter. It doesn't take much to balance them out and we prefer the stock appearance.
I have a 1967 ES-330 and I recently installed a 1/16" shim under the bridge after years of feeling like the neck pickup totally dominated the bridge pickup. Well no longer, the bridge now actually feels slightly hotter than the neck which is exactly what I was after. I have the pole pieces just slightly above the cover. A P-90 pickup does not have the magnetic pull of a typical Fender single coil, so they can be fairly close to the string. The shim is barely visible and easily removable so I say give it a try.
How on earth you can compare hollow body guirar to semi hollow! Why don't you compare es295 to Telecaser then?
If you actually watch the video, you should find the answer to your question. A phrase involving judging, covers and books spring to mind.