Gibson Custom's latest creation: The ES-339 semi-hollowbody guitar

Gibson has launched its newest model, the Gibson ES-339, a traditional semi-hollow body guitar in the alluring size of a Gibson Les Paul. The newest guitar, which delivers the singing sustain and all of the characteristic nuances of the classic ES-335 Gibson semi-hollowbody guitar including the shape, resonant tone, hardware and more in the versatile size of a Les Paul, will be available exclusively through Musician's Friend and its affiliates through the end of 2007.

[CLICK HERE TO WATCH AND HEAR THE ES-339 IN ACTION ON GIBSON'S WEBSITE]

Hailing from the Gibson Custom Shop in Memphis, TN, the guitar is incredibly versatile due to its unique design. Gibson's original semi-hollowbody guitar was the famed ES-335, which was created back in 1958 to provide the perfect combination of solidbody and hollowbody features. With a solid maple block running down the center of its thin hollow body, the ES-335 provides the robust, resonant tone of a hollow body guitar while delivering the sustain and feedback resistance of a solid body. Gibson's hybrid design became known as a semi-hollowbody guitar and remains a perennial favorite of players of nearly all styles of music.

While the ES-339 features smaller body dimensions, it sacrifices none of the huge semi-hollowbody tone that makes the ES-335 universally appealing. The craftsmen at the Gibson Custom Shop in Memphis managed to shave several inches off the traditional semi-hollow body design while retaining perfect proportions that look classy and natural. All the features guitarists love about the ES-335 are present and accounted for on the ES-339 including a pair of '57 Classic Humbuckers that deliver full-bodied tone with rich midrange and singing sustain, as well as tulip-head tuners, nickel hardware, ABR-1 bridge, stop tailpiece, dot fingerboard inlays, and lacquer finish which make the guitars look like they came right out of 1958.

Gibson also included the mounting of the output jack on the side of the guitar instead of on top to keep the cable out of the way. The 339 also sports Gibson's new Memphis Tone Circuit, which preserves the guitar's high frequencies no matter where you adjust the volume control. The Memphis Tone Circuit gives the 339 a beautiful, open tonal spectrum at any volume.

The ES-339 is available in two neck sizes. The first, a 30/60 neck has the slim, wide feel of an early '60s Gibson, with an extra .030-inches of depth—perfect for today's faster playing styles. The second, a heftier '59 neck profile, is also available for guitarists who prefer a chunkier neck but still enjoy fast, smooth playing action.

Comparison photo: Les Paul, ES-339, ES-330. Photo credit Jason Carpenter.

The ES-339, comes with a hard shell case, has an MSRP of $2,821, is offered in three vintage-style finishes—Antique Red, Antique Vintage Sunburst, and Light Caramel Burst and is only available through Musician's Friend and its affiliates including GuitarCenter.com, Music123.com, Guitarsale.com and PrivateReserveGuitars.com.

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Back 04.09.2007