If you could get just one guitar back.

[MartyGrass]

So I weighed the 2022 ES-345.  It is 7# 14 oz.  My H-535 from 2016 is 3 oz heavier despite being slightly thinner.  The neck on the Gibson is slightly thinner.  I wonder if there is a difference in the density of the center blocks.

[rockabilly69]

On 11/21/2024 at 6:41 AM, MartyGrass said:

I did get a replacement for my 1960s Gibson ES-345 with a 2022 version.  I've now played it enough to have an opinion.

First, the Varitone and the stereo features I didn't ever need.  Gibson stopped putting them into the ES-345.  The new version has a fuller neck than the '60s and is built to be at least as good as the earlier builds.  The finish and woods look the same.  Thumbs up.

The guitar has Phat Cats in it, which really sound fine.  I have the original pickups as well, which I haven't tried.  The reports on them are generally very positive.

I have a fairly recent H-535.  The build quality between the two are comparable.

Most "the guitar that got away" stories don't have a happy ending.  This one does.

 

 

That's a sweet looking guitar, with some nice looking wood, and the split inlays look great too!  Unless you love the Phat Cats, I would put back the stock pickups. If they are the MHS pickups, they are some of the best Gibson has done in a while. And I love that they dumped the tonesucker varitone! One thing, I think a proper set of reflectors would look great on it too, ones that have an insert that actually reflects. Here's a set of nice non aged ones for a reasonable price. 

https://toneshapers.com/products/toneshapers-kit-reflector-knob-set-black-silver-black-tip

 

[pressure]

7 hours ago, MartyGrass said:

I wonder if there is a difference in the density of the center blocks.

When Heritage built custom guitars for me that needed a center block, I always specified that they use Spruce for the block. I like light guitars.

[MartyGrass]

20 hours ago, rockabilly69 said:

That's a sweet looking guitar, with some nice looking wood, and the split inlays look great too!  Unless you love the Phat Cats, I would put back the stock pickups. If they are the MHS pickups, they are some of the best Gibson has done in a while. And I love that they dumped the tonesucker varitone! One thing, I think a proper set of reflectors would look great on it too, ones that have an insert that actually reflects. Here's a set of nice non aged ones for a reasonable price. 

https://toneshapers.com/products/toneshapers-kit-reflector-knob-set-black-silver-black-tip

 

The reflectors do look good.

The stock pickups are these: https://www.jazzguitar.be/forum/guitar-amps-gizmos/97937-new-gibson-t-type-calibrated-pickup.html  Some love them and some hate them.  Go figure.  I don't know what "calibrated" means really.

Phat Cats sound close enough to P-90s for my purposes.  They may not be as warm.  I'm not sure.

[rockabilly69]

3 hours ago, MartyGrass said:

The reflectors do look good.

The stock pickups are these: https://www.jazzguitar.be/forum/guitar-amps-gizmos/97937-new-gibson-t-type-calibrated-pickup.html  Some love them and some hate them.  Go figure.  I don't know what "calibrated" means really.

Phat Cats sound close enough to P-90s for my purposes.  They may not be as warm.  I'm not sure.

..."calibrated" is just a little hotter bridge pickup to get good balance. I don't see why they would be hated I think they sound great. This is a pretty good demo, with no BS talking...

 

[MartyGrass]

1 hour ago, rockabilly69 said:

..."calibrated" is just a little hotter bridge pickup to get good balance. I don't see why they would be hated I think they sound great. This is a pretty good demo, with no BS talking...

 

Thanks.  They sound good to me.