Tonewood Hype and Chasing the ES-335

[torpedovegas]

Hi Guys,

So I've been musing about a Mooncaster build.  I've always wanted an ES-335 but the vintage ones would be recklessly expensive for me and I'm fairly unimpressed with Gibson's build quality as of late.  Plus the mooncaster offers me the option to have some custom features and slap on a neck with a profile that I like.  I'm not trying to make an ES-335 'copy' but something kind of close.

So in researching the ES-335 it seems that the body construction is some kind of combination of Maple and Poplar (most mooncaster bodies int he showcase are made of mahogony w/ a maple top).  So, first question is... does it REALLY matter that much? and second question is, in your respective opinions, which combination of body and laminate top will most closely approximate the tone of an ES-335.

 

[TBurst Std]

The construction difference between a Mooncaster and a 335 is so different, the wood won’t probably matter.
View a Mooncaster as a chambered (huge chambers) solid body and a 335 as a hollowbody that has a center block of wood.  Huge difference

 

[pabloman]

You might as well get an Epiphone ES 335. The dots are pretty decent too. Change out the electronics and you're there.  :bananaguitar:

 

[AirCap]

Lower buck Ibanez stuff is great.... I have one.

 

[torpedovegas]

You might as well get an Epiphone ES 335. The dots are pretty decent too. Change out the electronics and you're there.  :bananaguitar:

Unfortunately, I hate the neck profiles on Epi

 

[spe111]

The construction difference is probably bigger than the type of wood difference.

 

[TBurst Std]

You might as well get an Epiphone ES 335. The dots are pretty decent too. Change out the electronics and you're there.  :bananaguitar:

Unfortunately, I hate the neck profiles on Epi

What do you hate about them? The answer to that may lead to better suggestions.

I say that as I do as well.  Neck width isn’t there.  My Casino dreams (itwasan awesome sounding guitar) were dashed.  A Gibson 330? Yep that works but a radically different price point.  Middle ground, a Heritage and I get a higher neck joint.  That’s my best option until someone offers a true hollow kit or I get the side Bender (and all the other tools) to build one myself. 

(Yes there are 335 kits, but I don’t want the center block so no dice)

 

[TBurst Std]

And oh, are you sure you want a 335? I ask as Gigson has their Midtown, and while it looks like a 335, is actually a heavily chambered body that started like as a solid body.  Much like the Mooncaster.

I tried one for a week.  Good Guitar but didn’t scratch the itch I have.

 

[pabloman]

Check out Palermo guitars.  :guitaristgif:

 

[Kostas]

...I'm fairly unimpressed with Gibson's build quality as of late...

I'm curious how many you have played because the Memphis factory has been making ES guitars of great quality the past few years, tons of positive opinions online. My '13 ES-330 is literally perfect, I couldn't have asked for anything more.

...So in researching the ES-335 it seems that the body construction is some kind of combination of Maple and Poplar (most mooncaster bodies int he showcase are made of mahogony w/ a maple top).  So, first question is... does it REALLY matter that much?

It matters, excluding the woods it's an entirely different construction. It would be unfair for an archtop guitar to have a similar cost with two parts. Every year CME makes big offers with their "floor models", you can find Gibson ES models for lower than $2000. I'm guessing other US shops have offers.

You can see here the amount of work and skills needed for an archtop guitar
https://youtu.be/zEiiDa0twNM?t=4m23s

 

[ltwhite]

Hi Guys,

So I've been musing about a Mooncaster build.  I've always wanted an ES-335 but the vintage ones would be recklessly expensive for me and I'm fairly unimpressed with Gibson's build quality as of late.  Plus the mooncaster offers me the option to have some custom features and slap on a neck with a profile that I like.  I'm not trying to make an ES-335 'copy' but something kind of close.

So in researching the ES-335 it seems that the body construction is some kind of combination of Maple and Poplar (most mooncaster bodies int he showcase are made of mahogony w/ a maple top).  So, first question is... does it REALLY matter that much? and second question is, in your respective opinions, which combination of body and laminate top will most closely approximate the tone of an ES-335.

A lot of those 335s are all maple, back, sides, and top.  I wouldn't say that's where the majority of the tone comes from though.  I think if you did a Mahogany body with a maple top, or really anything "classic" that you're going to get in the ballpark with PAF style or '59 voiced pick ups.  I think the Mooncaster is a wonderful substitute to taking a chance on Chinese build quality from Epiphone.  If you don't like the neck profiles on Epiphones, that's even more reason to go with a Warmoth and get exactly what you want, IMO.

 

[musicispeace]

Years ago I had an Ibanez version of the 335. It was a superb guitar. I can't speak for current offerings from Ibanez but they are likely worth checking out in person. I think mine was an Artist 200 and if you can find a clean copy of one of what I had you would have a fine instrument. mine was not the rock bottom model but it wasn't the Scofield signature model either. Remember that for a period of time (which in my opinion extended beyond the "lawsuit gutars") Ibanez was making better versions of Gibson's than Gibson.

 

[rauchman]

And oh, are you sure you want a 335? I ask as Gigson has their Midtown, and while it looks like a 335, is actually a heavily chambered body that started like as a solid body.  Much like the Mooncaster.

I tried one for a week.  Good Guitar but didn’t scratch the itch I have.

I picked up a used Midtown late last year.  This is my first foray into anything semi hollow body.  TBurst Std is spot on in that the construction between the Midtown and Mooncaster are very similar.  The Midtown uses Gibson's Burstbucker pups (which sound fantastic in this guitar), but I have tuning stability issues with it.  I think a true ES335 sounds smoother and rounder, for lack of a better way to put it.  Personally, the Midtown is the best sounding guitar I've ever had experience with.

I've been toying with building a Mooncaster myself.  One thing I'm not sure on, if using standard size humbucker routes, is the spacing between the neck and bridge pups the same, or closer in distance than the HB routes for a Les Paul?  In pics, they sometimes look closer.