Gibson Custom ES-339 Semi-Hollow Electric Guitar with 30/60 Neck

I play primarily blues and jazz - this guitar has the full range of tones you might want for that style of music, but will rock as well (see any of the demos on Youtube).  The 339 has a richer tone than the 335s I have played; clear, not muddy on the neck pickup.  Played through a Vox AC15 or AC30, the tone is just incomparable.  The 30/60 neck is very comfortable, particularly for those with shorter fingers (like me).  Sustain is great. Overall a very well designed, well thought-out package.

You know, I really, really wish it were better.  I waited a long time before buying this guitar, so had a long time to look forward to it with high expectations.  First the good: the finish is perfect, and beautiful. Not to heavy, even with no defects.  The hardware (except for a very small but deep scratch on the pickup mounting ring) is pristine.  Tuners are fine (no complaints, as others have had, with not staying in tune).  Set up was excellent - low without buzzing - and intonation was near perfect.

Now the bad: the neck binding has cosmetic defects - noticable and not easily remedied - on both sides of the first fret.  More importantly the fretboard is not quite gouged but definitely scratched under the E and A stings at frets 5, 7, 9, 12, and 15, from barely noticable to obvious. Other posts have suggested this may be from the Plek machine, I don't know.  Doesn't affect playablty, but still.  Also, there is what seems to be excess varnish or glue on a couple of the inlays and the surrounding fretboard. As some others have noted there was also a pretty good amount of sawdust in the case - didn't bother me at all, but where do they pack these things?

Einstein said that everything in the universe is cracked, that's how the light gets in.  So nothing's perfect and sometimes the defects serve a purpose. I don't put guitars in glass cases, I play them and none of the above affects playability, which I really, really love.  Consequently, I didn't send the guitar back because I love playing it.  Also, I would be concerned about trading these defects for others that affect playability.  But as I mentioned above, I waited a long time for this guitar, thought about it a lot before ordering, and I imagine I'll keep it for much longer.  I would have really liked it to be right. Sadly, just not good quality control by Gibson.

Would have been a 10, if not for the quality control issues mentioned above.  That said, I've played guitars that cost a lot more, and that I didn't like nearly as well.  Easily my favorite guitar in this price range - nothing else even comes close.

As indicated above, a very well designed and generally well executed package.  Versitility and playability are outstanding.  It's a shame the quality control isn't better - with that improvement this would easily rate a 10.

Love the neck and balance of this guitar. She's light and fast. Not neck heavy like my Gibson Les Paul Goddess, and with more fret room above the 12th.
The Memphis circuit seems to do just what is advertised though adjusting tone and volume on the fly took a little getting used to.
And as for the pick ups.
I can see no reason to own anything else for what I do ... seriously.

The fit and finish on this guitar is way above that of the average guitar on the market in my opinion.
I have no complaints what so ever. Almost to pretty to play, and it might even stay home on those nasty hot summer gigs where I'm sweating bullets all over my axe ... we'll see.

I'm a working man with a large family to support, and the price of this guitar though not as high as some I'd considered, had my wife & I both a little bug eyed.
But once I got her home and plugged into my Carvin VT-16 ...
The tone ...
The playability ...
I'd paid twice that and not been disappointed. Broke, but not disappointed.

I'm in love with this axe. Not only does she play smoother and fit more comfortably than either my Gibson Goddess,  Epi Black Back Paul, and my Stratocasters,  the tone is beautiful, played clean. With the tubes saturated she barks like a rabid dog.
Good sustain and runs easily just at the edge of feedback the way I like for our original rock sound.
Every position on that three way switch give you a different sound ... not just a little difference.
Good usable almost infinitely variable tones due to having a tone and volume potentiometer  for the bridge and the neck.

This guitar has the most value per cost of any of my 11 guitars. It is light weight but feels very solid. The tone is clean and resonant but will certainly dirty up with the right amp and settings. Best sounding jazz guitar I have heard recently.

Beautiful guitar, nice case, pick ups are incredible.  The rosewood on the fretboard is nicely figured, almost as nice as a Ric's fret board.

I expected something really nice....and it is.

For a Custom Shop guitar, this is a great value.  And I couldn't imagine needing anything better...ever.

I returned a Rickenbacker 620 that I did not like at all and got this instead.  This guitar is in another galaxy compared to the Ric.  I could not see anyone being disappointed with this guitar.

I am actually a Strat man (love em) but, when you have Bread everyday, some days you have a taste for Buns.

The ES-339 is a smaller, thinner version of the popular ES-335.  It's size and weight put it in the same league as the Les Paul or CS-336, but with all of the characteristics you'd expect in a quality semi-hollow.  Unlike its larger counterpart, it is able to cover a bit of a wider range of sounds.  You can get great jazz and blues tones, but getting the right sound for hardcore punk (my preferred genre) is just as easy as it is with my SGs.  The maple center block makes the ES-339 resistant to feedback, and gives the guitar the Les Paul sound while being more focused and versatile.  Whether played through my JCM 900 or Mesa F-50, this guitar sings just how you want it to through its '57 Classic Humbuckers.  Switch it the bridge to get that tight and focused sound needed for modern distortion, or switch it to the neck to get that deep, soulful tone needed for clean passages.

The particular model I purchased is finished in vintage sunburst.  I'm a bit of a fanatic when it comes to the extra appointments that make a Gibson Custom model what it is.  This model has full binding on the top, back and fingerboard.  Every facet of my ES-339 was carefully constructed and attended to.  Most of the ES-339's I saw on the wall that day were comparable in terms of attention to detail.  All of the parts on the guitar are fantastic, and I would not recommend changing a thing on it.  For those who like to tinker and replace parts, this is not the guitar for you.  It has already been crafted to perfection.

When I purchased the ES-339, it was the cheapest of Gibson's Custom Shop offerings at $2,000, but in terms of sound and versatility, it held its own with the $3,400 CS-336 hanging on the wall next to it.  It really is the answer for those looking for the solid body sound with the depth and resonance needed from a semi-hollow instrument.

What can I say here that I didn't already say above?  If you're looking for your next Gibson, maybe consider giving this a spin.  When I was looking for a new SG Standard, I ended up walking out of the shop with this instead.  Give it a shot.  It might not be your thing, but it very well could be.