What Happened After Kalamazoo? | 2003 Gibson Memphis ES-335 Guide, Review + Demo

🐕 Episode Guide:
0:00 - Intro - Check Links in the Description
0:12 - Opening
0:48 - Revisiting This ES-335
1:20 - ES-335 History
2:03 - Different Types of ES-335
3:39 - How to Identify Yours
6:37 - Inside Look / Specs
15:49 - Blacklight & Weight
17:05 - Tone Demo (Clean)
19:26 - Tone Demo (Dirty)
21:10 - Final Thoughts

🎞️ Videos Mentioned:
0:15 The Size of These Two are VERY Different! | Trogly's Unboxing Guitars Vlog 120
0:22 I Found The SICKEST Firebird EVER! | 1991 Gibson Custom Shop Original Firebird V Red Snakeskin
0:22 I Bought The Johnny Winter Firebird! | 2021 Gibson Custom Shop Murphy Labs 1964 Firebird V White
0:53 This Les Paul Has A CRAZY Back! | 2005 Gibson Les Paul Standard Cherry Sunburst Flamed Back Review
3:30 Are The USA Epiphones Worth It? | 2021 Epiphone Gibson Casino Review + Demo E-230TD

⚙️ Gear Used to Make the Show: (AFFILIATE LINKS)
Guitar + Recording:
Camera:
Affiliate Links are found in this description + comments section - clicking and purchasing items from partners will help financially support the show.

[Trog]

ES-335 can be kind of confusing with how many different places they have been made. Kalamazoo, Nashville, Memphis, Custom Shop... I hope this video helps you a bit with IDing your 335.

[MrDoobie]

Trogly mentioned his help sessions; I urge you to utilize this if you are ever in doubt about anything.I recently reached out for a session as I was going to buy a vintage 345. I was just expecting him to look at the listing and say it’s good or not. He went from the headstock down, comparing the listing with pictures of originals to show all of the changes and any part swaps that were apparent and some that were a bit harder to notice. He pointed out parts that were considered by the seller as “upgrades” which really weren’t. He pointed out things I wouldn’t have thought to look for and was very thorough in his explanations and valuation. Way beyond my expectations. Utilize his service if you have questions on stuff

[leonarrutube]

Fun fact: I built the first Nashville 335 Dot on January 21st, 1982.
Randy L.

[roberthogg]

I was fortunate enough to tour the Gibson factory in Kalamazoo back in the 70's while on a middle school field trip. Definitely the most memorable experience I ever had in school.

[waynecribb]

One of my best buddies growing up had a 60s model 335. It is the only guitar he's ever had and still plays it today in his retirement. It was aways spotless and very well maintained. We were in a band together in junior high and high school. It was awesome!

[jimilee]

Very cool. I was lucky enough to tour the Memphis factory the day before they closed. Got to see the Chris Cornell guitar before it debuted at NAMM. Something cool, they still use all the original equipment to form the top and various other parts. I did buy a Les Paul there that day, good times.

[timwhite]

After Strats, 335's after my faaaavorite guitars. People always talk about how great PAFs sound in Les Pauls, I think they're MADE for 335s. You get a nice underwound PAF with a slightly scooped midrange and an articulate top end, and the way the hollow wings smooth out the attack is line magic with the PAF. Everyone gushes over vintage Bursts, personally I'd go for a vintage 335.

Personally I prefer the sightly narrower, sharper wings of the early 60s over the Mickey Mouse ears.

[zacherymitchell]

All the talk about the Kalamazoo factory got me googling. I’m a Michigander so I was curious what became of the old factory. I’d really love to see you do a review of Heritage guitars! Former employees bought the factory along with the original equipment and still make guitars. Would love to see how you think they compare to old Kalamazoo gibsons, modern gibsons etc.

[MrTimham]

What amazes me all of these Gibson Les Pauls look so alike but are so very different I enjoy watching you evaluating each guitar. Is it possible you can do a short video on how you clean a fretboard I have two vintage guitars that needed so badly. Thanks

[mhgregor]

I have a 2008 ES-335 DOT in cherry red that I bought new and absolutely love it. The D-shaped neck is lovely for me and the PAF ‘57 classics sound lovely. I love the Grover tuners too. Great video, thanks 👍

[timwhite]

I have to say this particular one sounds good, I'm not a fan of the Classic 57s. They're okay on solid bodies, but not so much on semi hollow. This one has a good neck pickup though, there's good articulation.
The sustain of 335s are what makes them. A lot of players who aren't used to these will comment "why do people talk about the sustain, " expecting the long note ringing of a solid body. It's really how long that initial note rings before it starts to decay that players like, think main riff of Sweet Child of Mine. They're great clean for that reason.
A 335 w/PAFs into an overdriven Plexi type gain, ala "La Villa Strangiato, " is bliss. That's actually what made me fall in love with these.
I agree in regards to the neck though I'd prefer a fatter profile.

[joeycastle]

Memphis is honestly one of my favorite eras for Gibson so many cool guitars

[Heavymetallord]

I did my rhythm tracks on the album one of my bands recorded with a 335 like that from right around the same year (early 2000s), and I gotta say it was probably one of the best guitars I'd ever played

[monalisajones]

Trogs,

I've got a blonde dot marker 335...made on 9/17/80...the serial number ends in 001. In 1980 I traded a Johnny Smith for it at Valley Arts Guitar in L.A. it is by far the best 335 I've ever played. I didn't realize I had the first reissue till 20 years after owning it. It's in Fab player condition
Keep up the great work! Love the channel.

[blindsleep]

335s are my favorite model of all time!

[joeosuna]

I've got a 2006 Figured ES-335 and I love it. My sides aren't nearly that flamed and it ironically has a nicer piece of Maple on the back than on the top

[Deb]

Got a tender spot in my heart for 335. My daddy was a guitarist from his teens til his 80s. All he played was 335

[allisonholmesmusic]

I used to own a 335 and hated it, but I’m still drawn to them. This one looks and sounds amazing.

[nottaller]

Why do you consider a dot fretboard more desirable than block inlays or otherwise?

[lazyboyrider]

Great show!!! I love 335s and very much enjoyed learning about the various build locations. Thanks.