All good, Chris. I think I know why you would prefer the 64... you use a very “tone rolled down” tone to your normal sound, so a guitar that is naturally darker, would somehow feel less “interesting”, maybe. A brighter guitar like a 64 should allow you to better “define “ the use of those low frequencies, without bottoming too much.
‘59 for me.. Has a “woodier” body and less piercing high frequency sound. The pickups made back then varied so much even from a batch made the same day versus a batch made five years later. Bridge pick up in both guitars sound a lot similar though.
Same thoughts. There's a lot more going on with the 59 clean at the beginning. I'd rather have to tame some mids/bottom when applying drive than have the rather raspy, trebly clean sound of the 64. But I'll never be able to afford a case for either, so wadda I know?😂
Funny what our ears like... I like the 64 because it's brighter and what you are calling "woodier" I immediately thought "muffled" but maybe you're hearing more high frequencies to begin with. Also, I'm approaching this as a Fender player so they are somewhat different, baseline worlds.
I've been kicking around for well over half a century and I've been playing guitar for 12 years less than that. There are half a dozen electric guitarist that I wish I could play like. In chronological order they are; Wes Montgomery, Chet Atkins, Eric Clapton, Brian May, John Mayer and Chris Buck. You're a Welsh, and, quite possibly, a Worldwide, legend, Mr. Buck!
His phrasing and dynamics are unreal, but I’m not gonna put him up there in a category with players like Eric Johnson, Joe B or Guthrie Govan, his harmonic knowledge (or sheer chops) just isn’t there or even close to them, so let’s not get crazy here. Actually I would say even someone like Lari Basilio (who’s not super well-known) just completely smokes him in terms of harmonic sophistication and note selection, Buck’s pretty much confined to just the pentatonic scale.
5:32 simple, yet genius shot. Haven't seen it anywhere else. Great way to show the neck profile. Thanks for not drowning the guitars in overdrive so we can hear the actual differences in tone. Great video.
You can dial down the highs when you want, but if they aren’t there to begin with you can’t dial them in. I’d take the ‘64. Though that stunning fat 59 sound is extraordinary if that’s where you’re going to live. Great video Chris.
Totally agree . I always associate a 335 with Larry Carlton and I watched an old video of Steely Dan with Drew Zing playing all the great Carlton lines plus some special stuff of his own . To my surprise he played -as far as I could see -in the middle position and I would have thought a huge chunk of Steely Dan solos would be on the bridge .
I'd opt for the 64', can't stand that Bigsby, and the 64's got *that* tone. That said, was really impressed with how both guitars sounded in the middle position. *Very* nice usable blend.
Yep bigsby shmigsby. Any difference in tone considering the caliber of the instruments is probably due to the big lump of metal... I blame Johnny Marr (and possibly Bernard butler, who incidentally spent most of his time through a boss super distortion!!)
Every video intro or outro this guy makes is basically a better song than most of what’s been laboured over as an actual song released by the rest of the world. Hoping there’s a band with a guitar and song writer shaped hole in it waiting to become my new favourite.
One of the single greatest days of my life was meeting Ted McCarty in 1982 and getting a tour of the Bigsby facility, where he was president at the time, after leaving Gibson. The absolute very best of Gibson came out under his aegis. I still have his business card, which I framed. Though not necessarily Gibson's most popular model, it is, to my mind, their most "complete" instrument, insomuch as it can handle an exceptionally wide array of genres.
@@camilonavarro5997 Probably could, but the body size is a little unwieldy for performing metal. Mind you, the Dave Grohl/Trini Lopez model IS essentially a 335 with a different headstock and different-shaped sound-holes, and the body shape doesn't seem to stop him at all. Whether there is any overlap between the Foos' most aggressive material and what you consider to be "metal" is something I leave up to you. :-)
Cherry red sounds brighter to my ears ... the sunburst slightly ‘gutsier’ and more rounded - but regardless, Chris could put strings on a Dyson vacuum cleaner and make it sound great ...
Oh boy... Am I happy that I found you... Especially my ears! The last guitarist that I followed on CZcams was Andy James. Your tone is something... Ah, forget it. I am speechless. Keep good work!
@ChrisBuck, Amazing video and playing, as always. To me, the 59 sounds a bit fatter and more powerful, while the 64 has a touch more of clarity. Where these differences come from? A sum of different factors, starting from the pickups: I bet the PAF will measure a tad hotter. The chunkier neck will sound bigger too, and finally the Bigsby surely contributes somehow to muffle the "air" and "transparency" of the top end. I had for years a 62 ES-345 TD-SV, with original PAFs. Player class, not a collector's one at all. To my memory it sounded somewhere in between these two. Thin neck carve and stop tail bridge contributed to the clarity, but the bridge nylon inserts, and the two PAFs filled the tone up a bit. Sold it as I'm no collector, but rather a player, and could not make my mind up in bringing her to gigs. Too precious, not really replaceable. Now I have a Collings I-35LC, aged finish & hardware, Crimson Red, 60's neck carve, with Throbak PG102 pickups. Wonderful guitar, totally happy, even if not the same thing, but rather close.
Brilliant as always Chris . I played a 66 335 with the narrowest neck ever ! Bends were almost impossible. I played one of the 64 reissue 335s about 10 years ago and it was brilliant -no neck issues and even had the nylon saddles !
I have a mid-60's 335 12-string. Nut = 1-9/16". I bought it in 1976 with 6 strings on it and I have never strung it with 12. The neck is very narrow but after 45 years with the same guitar I have adapted. It has been my main axe 80% of the time over those 45 years. It really is a beautiful guitar. Rock, jazz, country... it does it all. My nut and saddle pieces are original. Trapeze tail. Gold knobs. The longest headstock ever! 😎 That guitar is 50 years old and still rockin'.
Your articulations are out of the box, and your unusual style indicates that there are no rules. For me, tone wise, I had a slight preference for the 59, but hearing the 64 in isolation, there's nothing to complain about.
Listening on my studio monitors and decent head phones...the 59 sounds incredible, so many layers to the sound. The 64 is good but sounds like the acorn that fell a bit further from the tree. I have an all original no issues ‘59 335 and of all the vintage guitars I own it’s magical. As always great playing Chris but I’d swap my 335 for your chops in a heart beat.
Chris, awesome demo as always, you get to play the coolest instruments! I prefer the 59. It is warmer and has a fuller tone to my ears. This is always the case, whether it’s a 50s Telecaster, Strat, Les Paul, or ES. The 50s era turned out some of the best tones I have ever heard. I know why they fetch such a high premium.
Aaah there you are. Thanks not entirely due to your good-self I have pulled the trigger on a set of Radioshop’s - I’ve gone for the mothership- IG63GT.
Wonderful comparison and your touch is always a great way to evaluate an instrument. To my ears the 59 has been diminished by the Bigsby and the 64 is the clear tone winner.
After Strats, es335s are my all time favorite guitars, I've owned 6-7 over the years. I had a 345 that is that "on my deathbed regret," list for selling. I remember thinking about how much I hated the stereo outs on it because I had to use that Y-shaped adapter to play in mono (later I made a rigid one using 2 of flat sided 90⁰ pedal jacks that you let's you put pedals really close on your board). I was driving one day years ago when a Black Keys song came on that had that ubiquitous fuzzed out tone and an idea hit me ( I don't know why it took so long), and I rushed home as fast as I could. I took the neck pickup output and ran it into a Fulltone Octave Fuzz that lets you use as the octave fuzz/just fuzz or just the octave generator, and the bridge pup through either a Way Huge Pork Loin or an old modified Sparkle Drive*(the most criminally underrated overdrive; it's literally a TS808 TS with a Wet/dry blend). With the clean mixed at 75-80%. I ran a A/B/Y switcher afterwards and ran the signals back together,: and was the best thing I'd heard to that point. I've owned a few ES335s and a really nice copy, and I converted them all to stereo, along with a few solid bodies. I still use the stereo; I'll run 1 pickup through a Wah or volume pedal, modulation, delay, etc. Any player that's heard anything I've done that with that doesn't know my rig inevitably all ask what I did to get those various effects. Long babbling story: sue me. Lo
Love the 64, very versatile guitar, was one of the best I ever played. Also noticed how you go from fingers to pick, for greater dynamics, very nicely done indeed.
they both sound good clean but i leaned slightly more towards the '64. When you put some drive on the '64 for ME sounded much more clear and I preferred it a lot more.
I had a good friend that was a Gibson rep many years ago. We got on the subject of why Gibson used numbers rather than names on most of their earlier guitars. He claimed they always included the case when you bought the guitar. He said the Gibson 335 was listed with case for $335.00 USD. I don’t know if that holds true,but seems likely. Like the J 200 acoustic was $200. This being on the first run production models. My first Strat was a 196O , it sold for $330. with tweed case. My first acoustic was indeed a J 200 which in my opinion was ,and may still be the best acoustic rhythm guitar ever made. Notice I said RHYTHM . Think medium gauge strings, and the opening guitar hooks to the Everly Brothers early classic sings. It was Bye Bye Love that changed my life. I heard those acoustic intros ,and I knew what I wanted to do with my life in 1957. Currently I play a Martin D 42, Fender 62 Strat, Fender 57 P bass. With that said I’ve not owned a Les Paul Standard in Twenty five years. I played a friends a while ago, and it blew me away. I love the fat neck as opposed to my Strat ( all my Fenders have always been maple necks ) ... The point being had I or rather my dad just kept that first Strat,J 200 ( Kalamazoo) in their original cases in a closet unstrung, I could be a wealthy man. Now the biggest mistake I ever made, and I’m sure every old timer has a few of these stories. I had a 58 Telecaster, was to die for. I was in Los Angeles in 1974 and took it to a guy named Norm who apparently collected vintage guitars. I won’t get into how this shill talked me out of the Tele but he did. Now 46 years later, this guy Norms Guitars “ where the stars buy their guitars “ etc.etc. I’ve bad mouthed him every chance I get ... Chris you’re GREAT ! Love your videos. You’ve got a great feel. I noticed that on your John Lennon rhythm guitar video. You not only got voicings right, but the tonality blew me away. Kudos from San Francisco, the shit hole of America as of now.
Jesus when you mentioned old timers stories about the guitars they let get away I had to go and have a serious talk to myself... 15 years ago I sold an oxblood Les Paul standard 1974 model. A green Clapton Strat , a Jem 7FP (with the cloth under the pickguard) , a PRS custom . For the life of me I still can’t forgive myself for letting them go. The value of all of them right now would be staggering. I’ve kept my tele’s because they can survive nuclear holocausts can’t they lol . Rock on !
Listening with headphones, I didn’t hear enough of a difference in the two. The Bigsby definitely cut the sustain of the 59, so I would most likely choose a hard tail. It really comes down to which neck profile you like the best, but it’s nice to know that a fairly cheaper early 60’s model gets you extremely close to the 59 sound. I have played a 67 and I loved the sound, but my big fingers prefer the nut width of the 64’s and earlier models.
Very skilled player. Kudos. The '59 for me. I dig a darker bluesy tone and also prefer the original 335 look with dots. I got a '58 VOS Reissue in Natural for that reason... with an aged Bigsby B7. Nostalgia all the way.
The 59 has that muffly sound at the picking, which i find to be more interesting/inspirational. It’s the same kind of quality you find in vinyls Vs CDs, I’d say. Both gorgeous, regardless.
Pickups are important but I think a lot of the clarity we're hearing is just a great tight guitar build with nice tone woods and a nice Brazilian board... Brazilian adds to much clarity I find, in my guitars my electrics with braz are just way more clear and loud, not brighter but just clear and loud.
I suspect you could get the ‘64 to sound like the ‘59 by rolling the tone down a tad but couldn’t get the ‘59 to sound as bright. I’d take the ‘64 as I think it’s range of sounds would probably make it more useable in a band setup. More likely to cut through the mix. Both great though and your playing is superb as usual!
The 59 would absolutely be my choice. I love a chunkier neck, and absolutely would prefer a bigsby over a hard tail. And last but not least, sunburst over cherry red 🔥😍
Thank you for this upload, Chris. Your playing easily adds value to any guitar, as with Paul Stanford Cook, Rich Bischoff, Jack Fossett and others. Subjectively, if given a choice between the two, my choice would be a duplicate of the 1964 Clapton spec edition. The cherry finish, stop bar and block inlays are more esthetically appealing than the ‘59’s features. Even though I’m trying today to put my interest in Gibson models on ice, I won’t deny that a model in the likeness of the ‘64 still tempts me (which is partly why I long for a Yamaha SA2000 or 2200 which are like 345s instead of 335s).
GOTTA LOVE THE ES-335 🎵 BEST SOUNDING GIBSON ES-335 THAT I EVER HEARD BELONGED TO GUITARIST KENT HENRY WHO JOINED STEPPENWOLF FOR THE LP "FOR LADIES ONLY" I'M NOT BASING MY OPINION ON THE PRODUCTION VALUES OF THAT RECORD HEARING KENT COUNTLESS TIMES LIVE IS WHAT DOES IT HIS WAS A 59 DOT NECK CARLOS GUITARLOS 90042
NEXT TIME YOU VISIT GOOD OLD NORM, I SUGGEST YOU MAKE A VIDEO ABOUT THE 10 FAVOURITE GUITARS YOU HAVE ENCOUNTERD OVER THE YEARS. WE ALL KNOW YOU HAVE SEEN AND PLAYED A LOT OF GREAT AXES. STAY SAFE, ALL THE BEST!
Wew I OWN LOTS & LOTS & LOTS & LOTS OF INSTRUMENTS AT THIS TIME A WEEK AGO BASS #40 HERE ARE A FEW FAVORITES 1965 L SERIES TELECASTER 1959 STRATOCASTER/SLAB 1905 MARTIN PARLOR 1959 LES PAUL JUNIOR 1963 GIBSON J-45 1962 AMPEG BABY BASS 1937 REGAL BASSOGUITAR 1958 SUPRO POCKET BASS 67 AMPEG AUB-1 FRETLESS 1962 PRECISION, BLACK THAT'S 10 OF THEM, OUT OF THE ONES THAT I OWN RIGHT NOW IF YOU KNEW ALL THE CRAP I OWN YOU'D SHOOT ME ✔️ CARLOS GUITARLOS 90042 "IF YOU WOULD LEAVE ME" A on 'HANDSOME WOLF' my trio, live in the studio Recorded@Winslow CT Studio HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA www.carlosguitarlosmusic.com/carlos/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/06-If-You-Would-Leave-Me.mp3
I was eleven years old when that first ES-335 was created. Would have loved to have owned one, even at that age. And the Bigsby makes that '59 all the cooler. This is a great comparison, Chris. Gotta say, I think the '64 sounds a bit better, perhaps a smidge brighter.
Chris if you can’t decide which sounds best can you keep ‘em ? There will come a time when vintage instruments are kept under wraps in glass cases and all we will be left with is more reissues and replicas. These guitars need to be played. Sonically such amazing beasts
The 59 clean sounded gorgeous and full in all positions. But then the 64 started to shine when the sound was driven. Not surprised you'd go with the 59. Yes it's darker, and the neck, and spec...but...'59 mate. Pure Mojo. BTW - cracking outro on the 64. Any thoughts on releasing some backing tracks?
A couple of thoughts, 1. Thank you for the video Chris, your Q is so good I can wait a few hours or days if its late. 2. Very interesting use of “agricultural” to describe the neck or the 59. 3. I think Rhett Shull said in one of his videos that 59 335’s are referred to as burst killers, in that they have a better sound than 59 Les Pauls. 4. I so regret selling my early 90’s ES-335 61 Reissue. I was the best sounding and playing guitar I have ever owned, just and amazing slim neck.
Chris, i heard you play every guitar that means anything....the 59 beast, vintage strats, your yammyha lol, the 335 might be your soulmate! i think youve thought it also! but who hasnt? i just chipped mine in 3 places going nots changing the pups! immmm sickkkkkkkkk!!!! lol
Hate to sound biased but the '59 takes it. Granted, PAF pickups were all different due to hand-winding, but these in particular sounds hot as hell and super...idk...earthy? Woody? Organic? Whatever word you wanna use; you know what im talking about lol
@@BenJBrandt If it has had a Vibramate added, that means that there are no holes drilled and no damage to the guitar. It bolts to the tailpiece stud holes and causes no permanent damage.
the 64 makes me feel like itll cut through MUCH better in a mix. less space occupied in those frequencies... plus... block inlays. So.. edit: finished the video. nailed it.
Sorry for the delay in posting guys; tech issues! 🤦🏻♂️
It's OK, Chris!😁
Its ok, 50% of my uploads dont go thru so I have to repost them cause youtubes system is half broken.
All good, Chris. I think I know why you would prefer the 64... you use a very “tone rolled down” tone to your normal sound, so a guitar that is naturally darker, would somehow feel less “interesting”, maybe. A brighter guitar like a 64 should allow you to better “define “ the use of those low frequencies, without bottoming too much.
so very coool that ending solo on the es 335 cherry red
im so glad with mi 2x es 335 red & iced tea
thanks for the video greeetzzz Henk.
As I expected, they sound like Chris Buck...
So absolutely glorious
The Welsh Bonamassa!
and f n awesome at that ✌️👍
@@DMSProduktions he s better than that.
@@ralphstanley84 Subjective.
‘59 for me.. Has a “woodier” body and less piercing high frequency sound. The pickups made back then varied so much even from a batch made the same day versus a batch made five years later. Bridge pick up in both guitars sound a lot similar though.
Same thoughts. There's a lot more going on with the 59 clean at the beginning. I'd rather have to tame some mids/bottom when applying drive than have the rather raspy, trebly clean sound of the 64. But I'll never be able to afford a case for either, so wadda I know?😂
Funny what our ears like... I like the 64 because it's brighter and what you are calling "woodier" I immediately thought "muffled" but maybe you're hearing more high frequencies to begin with. Also, I'm approaching this as a Fender player so they are somewhat different, baseline worlds.
@@cjkoegl I was thinking muffled was a good way of describing it too, but I see it as a good thing.
I've been kicking around for well over half a century and I've been playing guitar for 12 years less than that. There are half a dozen electric guitarist that I wish I could play like. In chronological order they are; Wes Montgomery, Chet Atkins, Eric Clapton, Brian May, John Mayer and Chris Buck. You're a Welsh, and, quite possibly, a Worldwide, legend, Mr. Buck!
My list is similar ... but a bit shorter: Eric Clapton and Chris Buck ;-)
IMO, one of the best players on the planet right now. Incredibly tasty note selection, dynamics, and feel. The guitars are great too.
Yes very tasty indeed and really underrated
His phrasing and dynamics are unreal, but I’m not gonna put him up there in a category with players like Eric Johnson, Joe B or Guthrie Govan, his harmonic knowledge (or sheer chops) just isn’t there or even close to them, so let’s not get crazy here.
Actually I would say even someone like Lari Basilio (who’s not super well-known) just completely smokes him in terms of harmonic sophistication and note selection, Buck’s pretty much confined to just the pentatonic scale.
@@primeDecompositiongeez dude. If only music were a pissing contest then you'd be right
Your gorgeous playing shines through each of these guitars and bring the best out of them man. Commendable effort once again!
5:32 simple, yet genius shot. Haven't seen it anywhere else. Great way to show the neck profile.
Thanks for not drowning the guitars in overdrive so we can hear the actual differences in tone. Great video.
That opening solo is amazingly heartfelt and I'm stealing it note for note. thank you for making me look good !!!!!
Love the passion, especially in these heartless times. Reminds us how human we really are. Beautiful
Both sound great! 64 was definitely brighter but in a good way!
You can dial down the highs when you want, but if they aren’t there to begin with you can’t dial them in. I’d take the ‘64. Though that stunning fat 59 sound is extraordinary if that’s where you’re going to live. Great video Chris.
The 64’ sounds brighter to my ears.
Thank you very much Chris that red one is just a fabulous thing apart from the great sound you get from it it looks spectacular bravo sir 👏
To me the red sounds brighter.. just a casual listen though haven’t even got headphones on
The '59 for me was the better sounding, but they both sound great.
Totally agree . I always associate a 335 with Larry Carlton and I watched an old video of Steely Dan with Drew Zing playing all the great Carlton lines plus some special stuff of his own . To my surprise he played -as far as I could see -in the middle position and I would have thought a huge chunk of Steely Dan solos would be on the bridge .
I thought so too, I preferred it
The red one’s neck pickup in particular is brighter
Farang Ki Nok me 2
I think the 64 sounds better, more open sound and brighter. The last solo was just amazing chris! Congratulations for it! Great job!
I'd opt for the 64', can't stand that Bigsby, and the 64's got *that* tone.
That said, was really impressed with how both guitars sounded in the middle position. *Very* nice usable blend.
Yep bigsby shmigsby. Any difference in tone considering the caliber of the instruments is probably due to the big lump of metal... I blame Johnny Marr (and possibly Bernard butler, who incidentally spent most of his time through a boss super distortion!!)
Every video intro or outro this guy makes is basically a better song than most of what’s been laboured over as an actual song released by the rest of the world. Hoping there’s a band with a guitar and song writer shaped hole in it waiting to become my new favourite.
Good lord those 335's sing. That opening jam was a really cool departure from your usual bluesy stuff. I really enjoyed it. Thanks for sharing.
One of the single greatest days of my life was meeting Ted McCarty in 1982 and getting a tour of the Bigsby facility, where he was president at the time, after leaving Gibson. The absolute very best of Gibson came out under his aegis. I still have his business card, which I framed. Though not necessarily Gibson's most popular model, it is, to my mind, their most "complete" instrument, insomuch as it can handle an exceptionally wide array of genres.
Totally agree but can’t play metal like a Les Paul can ;)
@@camilonavarro5997 Probably could, but the body size is a little unwieldy for performing metal. Mind you, the Dave Grohl/Trini Lopez model IS essentially a 335 with a different headstock and different-shaped sound-holes, and the body shape doesn't seem to stop him at all. Whether there is any overlap between the Foos' most aggressive material and what you consider to be "metal" is something I leave up to you. :-)
That ‘64 is a killer. It’s got the extra treble snap I crave. ☺️
Plsying ina band who cares.its a all thing.
Cherry red sounds brighter to my ears ... the sunburst slightly ‘gutsier’ and more rounded - but regardless, Chris could put strings on a Dyson vacuum cleaner and make it sound great ...
That jam to me was the best one you’ve done yet, loved it
Always a pleasure, Chris. Thanks much.
Oh boy... Am I happy that I found you... Especially my ears! The last guitarist that I followed on CZcams was Andy James. Your tone is something... Ah, forget it. I am speechless. Keep good work!
@ChrisBuck, Amazing video and playing, as always. To me, the 59 sounds a bit fatter and more powerful, while the 64 has a touch more of clarity. Where these differences come from? A sum of different factors, starting from the pickups: I bet the PAF will measure a tad hotter. The chunkier neck will sound bigger too, and finally the Bigsby surely contributes somehow to muffle the "air" and "transparency" of the top end. I had for years a 62 ES-345 TD-SV, with original PAFs. Player class, not a collector's one at all. To my memory it sounded somewhere in between these two. Thin neck carve and stop tail bridge contributed to the clarity, but the bridge nylon inserts, and the two PAFs filled the tone up a bit. Sold it as I'm no collector, but rather a player, and could not make my mind up in bringing her to gigs. Too precious, not really replaceable.
Now I have a Collings I-35LC, aged finish & hardware, Crimson Red, 60's neck carve, with Throbak PG102 pickups. Wonderful guitar, totally happy, even if not the same thing, but rather close.
Brilliant as always Chris . I played a 66 335 with the narrowest neck ever ! Bends were almost impossible. I played one of the 64 reissue 335s about 10 years ago and it was brilliant -no neck issues and even had the nylon saddles !
I have a mid-60's 335 12-string. Nut = 1-9/16". I bought it in 1976 with 6 strings on it and I have never strung it with 12. The neck is very narrow but after 45 years with the same guitar I have adapted. It has been my main axe 80% of the time over those 45 years. It really is a beautiful guitar. Rock, jazz, country... it does it all. My nut and saddle pieces are original. Trapeze tail. Gold knobs. The longest headstock ever! 😎 That guitar is 50 years old and still rockin'.
@@sirwinston2368 Sounds amazing . Remember the guitarist from Caravan played a Fender 12 string with only six strings on it .
Hats of for the intro! B-e-a-utiful!
the bigsby is just a B5 on a vibramate adaptor fitted to the stop tail, it just comes off and leaves no screw holes...
Exactly, really surprised no one else seems to have pointed this out.
Yeah........put the stop tail back........
😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮 Whatever you played on that 59 WAS IT! WOW!
That was very Gilmourish on the intro. I liked it...a lot.
Your articulations are out of the box, and your unusual style indicates that there are no rules. For me, tone wise, I had a slight preference for the 59, but hearing the 64 in isolation, there's nothing to complain about.
Listening on my studio monitors and decent head phones...the 59 sounds incredible, so many layers to the sound. The 64 is good but sounds like the acorn that fell a bit further from the tree. I have an all original no issues ‘59 335 and of all the vintage guitars I own it’s magical. As always great playing Chris but I’d swap my 335 for your chops in a heart beat.
Chris, awesome demo as always, you get to play the coolest instruments! I prefer the 59. It is warmer and has a fuller tone to my ears. This is always the case, whether it’s a 50s Telecaster, Strat, Les Paul, or ES. The 50s era turned out some of the best tones I have ever heard. I know why they fetch such a high premium.
59 is definitely warmer and dare I say sweeter. Both sound incredibly good.
Thanks for the comparison Chris. Both of those guitars sound amazing and belong in the hands of a player like you!
Don't u love how Ted says HE came up with the idea...imagine Les Paul going WTF.. cool shootout Chris..
Aaah there you are. Thanks not entirely due to your good-self I have pulled the trigger on a set of Radioshop’s - I’ve gone for the mothership- IG63GT.
Wonderful comparison and your touch is always a great way to evaluate an instrument. To my ears the 59 has been diminished by the Bigsby and the 64 is the clear tone winner.
Not 30 seconds in and bam!!🥊
Both sound fantastic, Chris. 👍
The BEST ES 335 solo demo on CZcams
After Strats, es335s are my all time favorite guitars, I've owned 6-7 over the years. I had a 345 that is that "on my deathbed regret," list for selling. I remember thinking about how much I hated the stereo outs on it because I had to use that Y-shaped adapter to play in mono (later I made a rigid one using 2 of flat sided 90⁰ pedal jacks that you let's you put pedals really close on your board).
I was driving one day years ago when a Black Keys song came on that had that ubiquitous fuzzed out tone and an idea hit me ( I don't know why it took so long), and I rushed home as fast as I could. I took the neck pickup output and ran it into a Fulltone Octave Fuzz that lets you use as the octave fuzz/just fuzz or just the octave generator, and the bridge pup through either a Way Huge Pork Loin or an old modified Sparkle Drive*(the most criminally underrated overdrive; it's literally a TS808 TS with a Wet/dry blend). With the clean mixed at 75-80%. I ran a A/B/Y switcher afterwards and ran the signals back together,: and was the best thing I'd heard to that point.
I've owned a few ES335s and a really nice copy, and I converted them all to stereo, along with a few solid bodies. I still use the stereo; I'll run 1 pickup through a Wah or volume pedal, modulation, delay, etc. Any player that's heard anything I've done that with that doesn't know my rig inevitably all ask what I did to get those various effects.
Long babbling story: sue me. Lo
Love the 64, very versatile guitar, was one of the best I ever played. Also noticed how you go from fingers to pick, for greater dynamics, very nicely done indeed.
Such phenomenal playing. Wonderful. Thank you Chris.
The '64 sounds just like my '62...if only I could play like that. They really are incredible guitars.
The 59 for me please... And keep the change. Good work young man 😂😂 diolch.
they both sound good clean but i leaned slightly more towards the '64. When you put some drive on the '64 for ME sounded much more clear and I preferred it a lot more.
The '64 does sound a bit more bright and tight. Which you prefer is completely up to you...I'd like both
I had a good friend that was a Gibson rep many years ago.
We got on the subject of why Gibson used numbers rather than names on most of their earlier guitars.
He claimed they always included the case when you bought the guitar.
He said the Gibson 335 was listed with case for $335.00 USD.
I don’t know if that holds true,but seems likely.
Like the J 200 acoustic was $200.
This being on the first run production models.
My first Strat was a 196O , it sold for $330. with tweed case.
My first acoustic was indeed a J 200 which in my opinion was ,and may still be the best acoustic rhythm guitar ever made. Notice I said RHYTHM . Think medium gauge strings, and the opening guitar hooks to the Everly Brothers early classic sings.
It was Bye Bye Love that changed my life. I heard those acoustic intros ,and I knew what I wanted to do with my life in 1957.
Currently I play a Martin D 42, Fender 62 Strat, Fender 57 P bass.
With that said I’ve not owned a Les Paul Standard in Twenty five years.
I played a friends a while ago, and it blew me away.
I love the fat neck as opposed to my Strat ( all my Fenders have always been maple necks ) ...
The point being had I or rather my dad just kept that first Strat,J 200 ( Kalamazoo) in their original cases in a closet unstrung, I could be a wealthy man.
Now the biggest mistake I ever made, and I’m sure every old timer has a few of these stories.
I had a 58 Telecaster, was to die for.
I was in Los Angeles in 1974 and took it to a guy named Norm who apparently collected vintage guitars.
I won’t get into how this shill talked me out of the Tele but he did.
Now 46 years later, this guy Norms Guitars “ where the stars buy their guitars “ etc.etc.
I’ve bad mouthed him every chance I get ...
Chris you’re GREAT !
Love your videos.
You’ve got a great feel. I noticed that on your John Lennon rhythm guitar video.
You not only got voicings right, but the tonality blew me away.
Kudos from San Francisco, the shit hole of America as of now.
Jesus when you mentioned old timers stories about the guitars they let get away I had to go and have a serious talk to myself... 15 years ago I sold an oxblood Les Paul standard 1974 model. A green Clapton Strat , a Jem 7FP (with the cloth under the pickguard) , a PRS custom . For the life of me I still can’t forgive myself for letting them go. The value of all of them right now would be staggering. I’ve kept my tele’s because they can survive nuclear holocausts can’t they lol . Rock on !
Tone! Tone! Tone! Wish these jams didn't end, especially the last one! Did I say it already? TONE!!!!
The 59' 👀❤
You’re playing is simply awesome!
‘64 for me but I’d like to own either of those. :) great video!
There’s just something about the 59 dot neck that sort of rubs my soul in the right way. Can’t really explain it any other manner.
I like the sound of the 64. Maybe because I’m a 64 😁. Both sound sooooo sweet!
'59 most beautiful mids and delicious lows.
Listening with headphones, I didn’t hear enough of a difference in the two. The Bigsby definitely cut the sustain of the 59, so I would most likely choose a hard tail. It really comes down to which neck profile you like the best, but it’s nice to know that a fairly cheaper early 60’s model gets you extremely close to the 59 sound. I have played a 67 and I loved the sound, but my big fingers prefer the nut width of the 64’s and earlier models.
Very skilled player. Kudos. The '59 for me. I dig a darker bluesy tone and also prefer the original 335 look with dots. I got a '58 VOS Reissue in Natural for that reason... with an aged Bigsby B7. Nostalgia all the way.
The 59 has that muffly sound at the picking, which i find to be more interesting/inspirational. It’s the same kind of quality you find in vinyls Vs CDs, I’d say. Both gorgeous, regardless.
'64 more open and piercing, '59 shorter and sweeter and ringing. Both fairly similar in the bridge, though. Nice playing Chris.
Pickups are important but I think a lot of the clarity we're hearing is just a great tight guitar build with nice tone woods and a nice Brazilian board... Brazilian adds to much clarity I find, in my guitars my electrics with braz are just way more clear and loud, not brighter but just clear and loud.
Your videos are the best on You Tube. I have these guitars and the difference is unmistakable but very distinct.]\
great comparison.
I wouldn't kick EITHER out of bed Chris! \m/
Sweet player, great guitars 👍 the 59 got warmer more tone. And the 64 is more open. Both are very beautiful guitars ❤
The '64 is more alive than the '59, it depends what you are after. My preference is the '59.
Excellent playing 😎🎙🎸✅
Wow, I really love the red one. After that outro though, how could you not?
CHRIS.....call the dousers....you're on fire mate. I'll take the '64.
I suspect you could get the ‘64 to sound like the ‘59 by rolling the tone down a tad but couldn’t get the ‘59 to sound as bright. I’d take the ‘64 as I think it’s range of sounds would probably make it more useable in a band setup. More likely to cut through the mix. Both great though and your playing is superb as usual!
The 59 w/ Bigsby B5 almost looks like Andy Scott's! Great playing as always Chris.
The 59 would absolutely be my choice. I love a chunkier neck, and absolutely would prefer a bigsby over a hard tail. And last but not least, sunburst over cherry red 🔥😍
Thank you for this upload, Chris. Your playing easily adds value to any guitar, as with Paul Stanford Cook, Rich Bischoff, Jack Fossett and others.
Subjectively, if given a choice between the two, my choice would be a duplicate of the 1964 Clapton spec edition. The cherry finish, stop bar and block inlays are more esthetically appealing than the ‘59’s features. Even though I’m trying today to put my interest in Gibson models on ice, I won’t deny that a model in the likeness of the ‘64 still tempts me (which is partly why I long for a Yamaha SA2000 or 2200 which are like 345s instead of 335s).
GOTTA LOVE THE ES-335 🎵
BEST SOUNDING GIBSON ES-335 THAT I EVER HEARD BELONGED TO GUITARIST
KENT HENRY WHO JOINED
STEPPENWOLF FOR THE LP "FOR LADIES ONLY"
I'M NOT BASING MY OPINION ON THE PRODUCTION VALUES OF THAT RECORD
HEARING KENT COUNTLESS TIMES LIVE IS WHAT DOES IT
HIS WAS A 59 DOT NECK
CARLOS GUITARLOS 90042
NEXT TIME YOU VISIT GOOD OLD NORM, I SUGGEST YOU MAKE A VIDEO ABOUT THE 10 FAVOURITE GUITARS YOU HAVE ENCOUNTERD OVER THE YEARS.
WE ALL KNOW YOU HAVE SEEN AND PLAYED A LOT OF GREAT AXES.
STAY SAFE, ALL THE BEST!
Wew
I OWN LOTS & LOTS & LOTS & LOTS OF INSTRUMENTS AT THIS TIME
A WEEK AGO BASS #40
HERE ARE A FEW FAVORITES
1965 L SERIES TELECASTER
1959 STRATOCASTER/SLAB
1905 MARTIN PARLOR
1959 LES PAUL JUNIOR
1963 GIBSON J-45
1962 AMPEG BABY BASS
1937 REGAL BASSOGUITAR
1958 SUPRO POCKET BASS
67 AMPEG AUB-1 FRETLESS
1962 PRECISION, BLACK
THAT'S 10 OF THEM, OUT OF THE ONES THAT I OWN RIGHT NOW
IF YOU KNEW ALL THE CRAP I OWN YOU'D SHOOT ME ✔️
CARLOS GUITARLOS 90042
"IF YOU WOULD LEAVE ME" A
on 'HANDSOME WOLF'
my trio, live in the studio Recorded@Winslow CT Studio
HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA
www.carlosguitarlosmusic.com/carlos/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/06-If-You-Would-Leave-Me.mp3
I was eleven years old when that first ES-335 was created. Would have loved to have owned one, even at that age. And the Bigsby makes that '59 all the cooler. This is a great comparison, Chris. Gotta say, I think the '64 sounds a bit better, perhaps a smidge brighter.
Chris if you can’t decide which sounds best can you keep ‘em ? There will come a time when vintage instruments are kept under wraps in glass cases and all we will be left with is more reissues and replicas. These guitars need to be played. Sonically such amazing beasts
With no gain I prefer the ‘58, but with gain the brightness of the pups of the of the ‘64 offers better clarity.
Oh yeah, that '64 is magic!
The red one is brighter! more of a single coil but thick, and the 59' is warmer, maybe better suited for jazz. '64 is my pick
It was the 64 for me! 👍❤️
The 59 clean sounded gorgeous and full in all positions. But then the 64 started to shine when the sound was driven. Not surprised you'd go with the 59. Yes it's darker, and the neck, and spec...but...'59 mate. Pure Mojo. BTW - cracking outro on the 64. Any thoughts on releasing some backing tracks?
Got to love a good 335.! :)
Do you have tabs for that? That was brilliant! 👏👏
A couple of thoughts,
1. Thank you for the video Chris, your Q is so good I can wait a few hours or days if its late.
2. Very interesting use of “agricultural” to describe the neck or the 59.
3. I think Rhett Shull said in one of his videos that 59 335’s are referred to as burst killers, in that they have a better sound than 59 Les Pauls.
4. I so regret selling my early 90’s ES-335 61 Reissue. I was the best sounding and playing guitar I have ever owned, just and amazing slim neck.
I have a red ES-335 RI from the 90's. One of the best in my collection, and no slouch when compared to my vintage '59 and '63.
Holy Smokes that intro!!
New camera? This video looks very crisp indeed
59 all the way for me! 👌
What is that first '59 Jam backing track? You also use in on the Magnatone "57 pedal video. Awesome chord progression and incredible playing!
Both sound brilliant, but I prefer the 64 as it definitely seems to sound clearer
Also the 64 necks are brilliant, I have a similar neck on my melody maker (a certainly lower grade guitar but a great neck nonetheless)
Dear Chris Really nice comparison! What Amp did you use? Did you add the KTR at some point?
Chris, i heard you play every guitar that means anything....the 59 beast, vintage strats, your yammyha lol, the 335 might be your soulmate! i think youve thought it also! but who hasnt? i just chipped mine in 3 places going nots changing the pups! immmm sickkkkkkkkk!!!! lol
Wow! Don't just show us! Teach us as well! I would love to be able to play and sound half as good as you! Ya big show aff!
The ‘59 is my fav.
Hate to sound biased but the '59 takes it. Granted, PAF pickups were all different due to hand-winding, but these in particular sounds hot as hell and super...idk...earthy? Woody? Organic? Whatever word you wanna use; you know what im talking about lol
The 59 has slightly more midrange and less top end. I hate midrange, so I prefer the sound of the 64. Though I love fatter necks. Torn!
Everytine you post i want a new and different guitar...
I prefer the overall tone clarity of the '64.
Agreed. 👍
I prefer the 64, but I'm not convinced you'd notice any difference in a mix. It'd come down to playability for me.
The sunburst looks like it has a Vibramate fitted to mount the Bigsby. Hopefully means it hasn't had holes drilled and is a reversible mod.
Worst way to add a bigsby and even worse on this guitar!!
@@BenJBrandt If it has had a Vibramate added, that means that there are no holes drilled and no damage to the guitar. It bolts to the tailpiece stud holes and causes no permanent damage.
the 64 makes me feel like itll cut through MUCH better in a mix. less space occupied in those frequencies... plus... block inlays. So..
edit: finished the video. nailed it.
Give me the 64 with the 59 pickups.
64. I'd love the 59 save the bigsby. .I'll take them both! Ha!
Saludos cordiales desde Oaxaca México! Que buen sonido tienes