Gibson ES335 Memphis Series Dot Reissue Semi-Hollowbody Electric Guitar (with Case)

Feature:
Not a lot of features, but it's a classic design that's stood the test of time, so it doesn't need a lot of bells and whistles.

Quality:
I've heard horror stories about Gibson's quality control, but I've owned 2 Les Pauls, 3 SG's, and even 3 Epiphones...all of which were top-notch guitars. I've never had any issues with any Gibsons, including this one. I went over this guitar with a fine-toothed comb, but couldn't find any flaws. Maybe I'm just lucky!

Value:
It's expensive, but you get what you pay for. The price on these has steadily increased over the past few years, so my advice is if you're thinking of getting one, get it now!

Desirability:
I got this one in vintage sunburst, and it is probably the best looking guitar I've ever owned. Gibson ES-335's are legendary, and for good reason. Everybody wants one. I've wanted one ever since I was 11 (I'm 32, now). It's the best of both worlds....it sounds like a hollowbody, but with the sustain and power of a solidbody.

Sound:
Probably the best overall sounding electric guitar I've ever played. Rockabilly, country, rock, jazz, and especially blues all sound great on this guitar. When I received it, I spent 3 hours playing it. No matter what style I threw at it, it handled it with ease. The '57 Classic humbuckers are the best Gibson makes, in my opinion. They're not too bright or too dark, and they have a warmth to them that the other humbuckers don't. The neck pickup is great for jazz if you roll the tone back to around 5, but if you leave the tone on 10, it is actually very bright and articulate, which is rare for a neck humbucker. The bridge pickup is bright and snappy, but without being to harsh. Excellent blues tone and a pretty decent country tone on some songs. The middle position with both pickups is full, rich, and has a shimmer that I haven't heard from most humbucker-equipped guitars. The best sounding Gibson I've ever played, hands-down.

Ease of Use:
I was blown away at how great the playability is on this guitar. I like fat necks, but the slim-taper on this guitar is very comfortable and fast. Also the finish on the back of the neck doesn't get sticky like it does on my Les Paul. Also, it is very comforable for such a big guitar. You almost forget you're playing a semi-hollow after a while. I have to give the guys at ZZounds credit, too, because the setup on this guitar is perfect. Nice, low action, perfect intonation...it was ready to play right out of the box.

Overall:
I can't say that I'll never want another guitar, but I can say that I'll never get rid of this one. I considered an ES-175, but was worried about potential feedback issues with a full hollowbody. I was looking for a good jazz/blues guitar that could give me a nice vintage tone, and this one does that, and then some. If it was lost or stolen, I would definitely get another one. If you want the real sound, you have to get the real thing. Gibson knows what they're doing!

Sound:
This is the best sounding guitar I have ever played. This guitar allows me achieve the sound that I have always dreamed of. The classis '57 humbuckers kick ass. No other guitar is necessary with this baby.