New Gibson ES-335 bass (not Midtown!): wow!!! Any better details???

[Avezzano]

Link to the facebook page



I can only say that since the limited fretboard to 20 frets already, I would have expected a deeper lower cutaway for an easier access... (Casady style) but I understand the need to keep the 335 body...

[Jazz Ad]

Much like a SG, this body style doesn't fit the need of a bass at all.
It is clumsy and unbalanced.

[Avezzano]

I guess they wanted to "modernize" the old EB2D adding a 34" scale neck. Good anyway for people that plays traditional styles not past the 12th fret... if they only would have kept the 30" scale the bass would have been more commercially viable... but who knows? If you just look at some reverse experiments Fender does lately...

[ShoeManiac]

Linky to the Gibson Midtown bass thread.

[Mr.Fingers]

It's not a midtown, it's truly an 335. It has an arched top, while the midtown is a flat-top, the electronics are different,...

It looks like: "yeah, we're going to revamp the EB2", and they failed big time with the 34" scale, the T-bird pickups,... Nah, I'll just stick with the '64 I have.

[Avezzano]

as much as I love the standard long scale basses, would they have reissued the 30" EB2D (maybe even in the Epi Rivoli format) I would have bought one...

[Avezzano]

...can't believe so scarce attention to this bass...

[ShoeManiac]

Very strange. I saw this Guitar Center NAMM2013 video where they ran through the Gibson bass models. The Gibson rep specifically talked about the Midtown bass, the Thunderbirds, SG's and the new EB model. But there was no mention whatsoever of the EB-335 (I think it might be a safe bet that's the model name). And it's also not on the Gibson site, either.

[f64]

The fact that there is no recognition given plus a few other clues I wonder if this is the previous remnants of a failed marketing attempt. It may have come down to the Midtown or this and the Midtown got the green light to go into production. My basis of that thought is 1) the small headstock, 2) lack of neck binding, and 3) looks like a baked maple fretboard. The 2011 special run of the OS Les Paul Bass had all these three. The 2012 Les Paul Bass reintroduction into the standard line plus the Midtown Bass all have bound rosewood boards and the headstock shown in this pic is the identical shape as the OS special run and it is now used on the Midtown. The LP now uses a larger headstock.

[petrus61]

Are the mudbuckers in the current SG's and Midtown basses basically the same pickups found in the T-Bird? Why would Gibson do that? To me, the allure of those original 'buckers were the thunderous, chest thumping lows. The recent SG I tried had none of the sonic qualities of the early 60's EB-0 I used to play once in a while.

[C.Linton]

Are you kidding? I'd love to have one of these! Reminds me of my first bass, a Maestro/Univox:

(not mine, but the exact same model)
Nice little bass. If I could get a Gibson version, I would be stoked!

[vegas532]

The video didn't mention it because the 335's were on an opposing wall in the Gibson room. Both of the basses were strung with flatwounds and, unfortunately, I didn't get to try one amplified (typical Gibson NAMM maneuver). I picked the Sunburst one up and spent a couple of minutes riffing on it. I can say that I hated the neck on it. It felt very clunky and cumbersome to me, not comfy at all.

[stiles72]

Vegas - did you have a chance to compare it to the Midtown? And is the 335 in fact 34" long scale?

[Avezzano]

but, just asking: will the 335 be for sale actually? I mean: if they bring it to the Namm... Am I wrong?

[vegas532]

I didn't do a side by side, but I've played a Midtown. I prefer the Midtown myself because the neck has a "faster" profile to it than the 335.

[C.Linton]

A nice fat chunky neck would actually be an absolute positive to me. Even better if it's long scale, although not a deal breaker if it's not.

[bassfran]

No 'furniture mover' switch?


FAIL.

[TobaccoRipper]

Hi Folks,

the new ES 335 Bass comes with a 34'' Scale and it would be available in black(no binding), tobacco sunburst and in dark cherry red.
Look at this vid at 34:07.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Apj1ZaD67Dc

[georgiagoodie]

Hey! It's got a squished frog on the head.

[Avezzano]

excellent video! So in the end the Gibson rep says it all: pay hommage to tradition while bringing out new stuff , also...