Gibson Vs. Epiphone ES-335: Which One Should I Get?
by Marisa Torrieri Bloom
I rarely fall in love, but when I do, it’s intense, and shifts my trajectory beyond the rational. That’s how I felt on the last Saturday of December when I first held the Gibson ES-335 semi-hollow body electric guitar against my torso and strummed a few barre chords.
I hadn’t planned on falling in love, or even buying a new guitar. I simply wanted to accompany my bandmate Anna on a fun girls day out from Fairfield, Connecticut, to Farmington, N.Y., to The Music Zoo, a music shop that lets buyers browse by appointment.
But when the store manager handed me the Gibson semi hollow body, it was instant chemistry. With its vintage sunburst color, smooth maple body and sexy hardware (including two calibrated T-Type humbuckers), the Gibson ES-335 was unlike any guitar I’d ever played. Not even my treasured Gibson SG Standard felt so close to home, like it belonged to me the moment I stood up and started strumming.
But while I was open to buying a new guitar, I wasn’t ready for the big price tag: $3,499!
Sure, I have some money in a savings account (for fun and emergencies), so I can afford a splurge, now and again. But my kids are 11.5 and 10. College isn’t too far away, not to mention sleepaway camp. Using that kind of cash on a new guitar would mean a sacrifice elsewhere (like travel).
That’s what sent me down the “Gibson vs Epiphone” rabbit hole.
Epiphone is essentially a Gibson-owned brand that makes cheaper versions of Gibson guitar models like the ES-335. YouTube videos like this one offer side-by-side comparisons. In these, it’s hard to discern any audible difference between the Gibson ES-335 and the Epiphone ES-335. Apparently, Epiphones have come a long way and, while relatively cheap, are much nicer in 2024 than they were ten years ago. They’re beautiful instruments, and fairly affordable.
Still, I am a big believer that you don’t necessarily find the right guitar so much as it finds you.
That’s how I felt when I bought my Fender Stratocaster in 2009. I’d tried on other guitars at other guitar shops. But that Fender, which I bought from a shop in downtown Wilmington, N.C., just chose me. With little hesitation, I paid $800. Of course, that was BEFORE I had kids and got the sticker shock of $800-per-week daycare costs.
So what happened when I picked up the Epiphone ES-335 at my local Guitar Center in Orange, Connecticut?
Well… let’s just say the experience wasn’t the same. The guitar was a beautiful purplish-blue version of the Gibson ES-335, and the price point of $500 (ish) was very friendly. But when I played it, the transition between chords felt less than smooth. The frets felt like they jutted out of the neck a bit. I supposed those could be sanded down at the edges, but I don’t have the skills and confidence to attempt that kind of a task.
Ultimately, was a beautiful guitar I might have learned to love. But that magical feeling I got from playing the Gibson and feeling my left hand glide across the fretboard just wasn’t there.
On the bright side, I did try on a stunning, secondhand Gretsch hollow body electric (in a very summery blue color). The price was reasonable ($899, not including setup), and it played like a dream. I’ve also wanted a Gretsch for years.
But while I haven’t ruled out this instrument completely, I’ve decided to sleep on it.
On the one hand, I am a guitar player, musician, and guitar teacher who would put this baby to use. On the other hand, every dollar I put toward something else is money that I can’t save.
As a mom with zero credit card debt, I’d rather continue to put my pennies into savings. This way, I won’t feel guilty about splurging on the next right instrument.
Marisa Torrieri Bloom is the editor and founder of Rockmommy.
Interesting piece.
what is the fifference between ghe rpi 335 and 355?
Generally the 355 has more bling, and a Varitone switch for getting different sounds from the guitar. In some cases, different pickups as well
Very insightful article. Yes, the Gibson just feels “right” but the price tag is a big turn-off. My solution? Get a good second-hand model that’s been well looked after. My ES-335 cost me €1800.
The secondhand model idea is a good one! I wish there were more stores that carried them (it’s hard to gauge quality online).
How about asking the seller to have it luthered for cleanup on the frets and adjustments to make the play a bit more enjoyable… and Gibson would like to hear comments from their purchasers.. they will reset and adjust for the next customer satisfaction… I ‘m confident they will accommodate the customer first.. it’s what they expect “feedback for quality assurance “.
What a lovely blog, you are such a talented writer. And I’m sure a wonderful musician. Me, I’m more of a beginner guitar player, even though I’ve been playing for 50 years ha ha. I bought a Gibson Les Paul because it wasn’t the eye-watering amount that the Gibson 335 costs — so I bought an Epiphone 335. I am really happy with it but then again, because I am more like a beginner, it wouldn’t really make much difference me having the Gibson version, whereas perhaps as you say, if you felt your fingers gliding across the fret board with the Gibson in a way it doesn’t with the Epiphone, well then you can remember that going forward. But one last thought, I have a bunch of guitars, a Fender Telecaster too for example, as well as a couple of Taylor semi-acoustics, and feel they each bring out a different side of one’s music, so it’s good perhaps to have a little variety, and you may even enjoy keeping your Epiphone as well as having the Gibson 335, which I’m sure you will one day, no problem. Gabriel ?
Gabriel, so many good points here — and I’m working on a blog about Strat vs Telecaster (as you can image, the hottest topic at my Thanksgiving dinner table)! A few of my friends absolutely LOVE the Epiphone 335, so it’s not surprising that you do. Sometimes it’s hard to put a finger on why one guitar “feels” better than another, and unfortunately I didn’t know the price tag of the Gibson before falling in love with it. Good luck on your guitar journey and play every single day. Stick with it. Soon, you won’t be a beginner anymore. :)
I’ve been there… I was ready to pull the trigger on a used Gibson and found a used Epi 335 Pro with factory coil splits to be the answer. A total sleeper guitar. It’s a model that is no longer in production but plays just as well as any Gibson I tried. With added tone options for a fraction of the price. No need to worry if it gets dinged and not as desirable to theives. Epiphone is a respected maker of semi and hollow body guitars in their own right.
I’ve been there… I was ready to pull the trigger on a used Gibson and found a used Epi 335 Pro with factory coil splits to be the answer. A total sleeper guitar. It’s a model that is no longer in production but plays just as well as any Gibson I tried. With added tone options for a fraction of the price. No need to worry if it gets dinged and not as desirable to theives. Epiphone is a respected maker of semi and hollow body guitars in their own right.
F Gibson and Epiphone. They’re a horrible corporate entity (see they sue everyone) and their guitars are overpriced crap. Get an Eastman hollow body. Hand made feels better.
Try an Eastman T-386. You can one second-hand for about €800 to $1,000 and they are awesome, handmade instruments with premium specs
I have a Ibanez.
John’s Schofield model 100 VT Semi hollow body. Beautiful guitar, Never heard anybody mention this one.
I missed my Gibson 335 that I had to sell because I needed the money. I I bought an epiphone”inspired by Gibson” 335, thinking I’d probably have to replace the pickups at least, but I didn’t! They sound great, and after lowering the nut slots slightly I like it even better than my American Gibson! You should check out the inspired by Gibson line of Epiphone..
I just bought a Epiphone 335. I had it plecked so fretwork is taken care and It plays great (better than any of the off the shelf Gibson 335s I’ve played) and the is action low like I like it and no rough fret ends. I also upgraded the pickups with a set from Pickups by Pete A. Flynn (again I think Petes pickups sound better than the t-type humbuckers that come stock on the Gibson 335) . Although there are still differeneces compared to the $3500 Gibson (neck is scarf jointed and the body is 5 ply maple insted of the one piece neck and 3 ply maple, poplar, maple body of the Gibson) with the work done to the Epi and the addition a hardshell case. With the work done I think my Epi 335 sounds and plays better than a stock Gibson 335. I do think the wood grain of the Gibson is prettier and the construction of the guitar as a whole is executed to a higher price point but for a third of the price I have a killer 335 that I could afford. Some may balk at putting the amount of money I did into a $550 guitar but to be honest I would have most likely had work done to the Gibson to get it to where I wanted it so to me its not that bad. I have done that same work on my Epi 60s LP Standard and Epi Firebird and agian I ended up with killer guitars for about $1100 and all three for the price of one Gibson.
I purchased an Epiphone Sheraton ll-pro recently. It is a sweet guitar. It’s a beautiful wine color, trimmed with gold accents. The action is excellent, and the Pro-burst Humbuckers sound fantastic. The push-pulls for coil tapping are big plus. Much less money for a superior guitar.
I’m 75 … been playing since the ’60s.
OK mom, here’s the deal:
No one has ever regretted buying a great guitar.
They only regret NOT buying a great guitar.
Life’s short – go for it.
thank you for saying this! Might be my favorite comment of all. I’m 45. :)
I second the commenter above who said to get an Eastman. I have an Eastman ES330 copy, and it is one of the best playing and sounding guitars I ever owned including many many Gibsons.
Interesting that Keith Richards, John Lennon, and today Gary Clark Jr (to name a few) all loved their Epiphone’s. Maybe the one you tried needed set up?
Well, not too many pro Gibson supporters in this blog, so I’d like to add this. I looked at ES 335 Gibson first always and then other similar type guitars for over a year and also felt that either the cost of a Gibson was prohibitive and that both the Epi & Gretsch just seemed like toys. Played on a few different year models at a vantage shop in Austin over several months. Then just as you wrote correctly, this one ES 347 found me! It’s an old second hand Ted Nugent sunburst. Known as an odd stepson Gibson. – and it just felt right in my hands.. well, on the third date, I pulled the trigger on that old Gibson vintage ES 347 – I paid the price and took it home…! BEST THING EVER. It’s only a tool anyway but if you don’t connect with your tools, you can’t craft your art…. life’s too short to compromise
Thank you for that feedback. I ended up getting the Gibson :)
This was the dumbest thing I’ve ever read. It didn’t explain anything about the difference between the ES-335 Gibson and Epiphone guitars. Thanks for waisting moments of my life.
Hey Justin! I get it. You’re frustrated and want more in-depth reporting around the differences between the Gibson and Epiphone ES-335. Here’s an article by Gibson that goes into detail. This is my blog, and solely about my experience as a small-handed woman and mom navigating guitar choices. https://forum.gibson.com/topic/175869-es-335-epiphone-vs-gibson/?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjw16O_BhDNARIsAC3i2GAvGe1zQDMTOiY8k5ZS8DgwQ9KCipuKvP4BOrZ_1yF-3si5KpSVDL0aAg9EEALw_wcB
I have at least 30 guitars, and yes, I do play them all. I bought my first Epiphone about 6 Mos. ago, as I’ve never had a flying V and wanted to see what all the rage was about. The fret work is the absolute WORST of any axe I’ve ever come across, hands down. I mean, SHARPedges on every one of them. I should have returned it, but I’ve been forcing myself to do my own luthier work to up my skills. It was a ton of work. The guitar is still sitting there waiting for me to do a custom paint job, collecting dust. In the end, it wasn’t worth it. That axe should have never left the Epi factory.
I realized that I didn’t really provide any advice other than knocking Epiphone’s awful fretwork. I too have been eyeing a Gretsch for a good while, just can’t decide which pups and HB vs. SH.
I do have a wonderful D’Angelico Premier DC (double cutaway, SH) that I absolutely LOVE. I believe it has Duncan ’59 humbuckers, which I also absolutely love. It’s also beautiful, with chrome, maple top, and tortoise shell looking pickguard. Wish I could attach a picture. It’s made in Korea.
It’s one of a few guitars I own where I feel like I got way more than what I actually paid for. It actually looks like a $2K guitar.
So don’t forget D’Angelico semi-hollow, double cuts, with dual HB pups. They’re under the radar.
You mentioned that you have small hands, and I think this would be a perfect fit. If I were you, I’d narrow it down to this or the Gretsch. You get the smaller scale, the body type you’re after, the dual HB, great bang for your buck, and oh, by the way, the all-important TUNING STABILITY (which you can’t get with a Gibson)!