I recently sold my '93 Les Paul Classic and have missed it ever since. I have a 2018 ES-335, but as nice as it is, it isn't a LP! So I started looking around and came across this new model by Gibson, the ES-235. I was intrigued by it's looks and soon realized they made it in 3 different levels: satin, gloss, and figured. I was drawn to the figured and had to search around some to find any available as Gibson no longer makes it in this version. zZounds had the most in inventory, and offered interest free financing, so I took a chance and bought one that I knew by the serial that it had been made in the Memphis factory. It was advertised with a soft case, so imagine my surprise when it arrived and came in a beautiful Gibson hard-shell case, score!!! I don't like buying new guitars, for several reasons, especially online. But I was knocked out at the fit/finish/play-ability of this guitar. The only fault I have found with it is a electrical connection faulting spoadically with the pickup selector, and a little glue or finish run where the fretboard and body overlap. But I would rate it as nearly flawless, and visually quite handsome!It plays differently than the 335, but in a very good way. Although, similarly laminated as the 335, the wood choices are different and this adds to its being its own animal. Very loud and resonant acoustically, and very comfortable to play whether sitting or standing. Plug it in and your rewarded with a bit more old school rock and roll sound yet it… read more sounds really good doing jazz or blues. The more I play it, the more sounds I find it can do, even very much in the Tele vein. Really like the growl it gives when you slap on a slide. Very, very versatile!! Good job Gibson!

Musical Background:
Playing for 50 years, still playing out in a band setting.

Musical Style:
Rock, blues, country, jazz. read less