Gibson CS336 Custom Shop Figured Top Electric Guitar (with Case)

No longer available at zZounds

zZounds Gear Experts Say...

With back, center block and sides carved from a single block of wood, the CS-336 is the first tonally carved guitar and one with a superbly resonant tone.

What's special about this item?

Feature:	What it does:
Bookmatched figured maple top	Matching grain pattern, bright top end
Mahogany neck	Great sustain, strength, and warm tone
Gibson '57 Classic humbucking pickups	Vintage PAF feel; warmth, depth and distinct edge
Carved back, rims, and center block	Carved from single block of mahogany; strong tone

Overview

The Gibson CS-336 Custom Figured Top semi-hollowbody is a remarkable achievement in guitar construction. Over a hundred years ago, Orville Gibson envisioned a guitar with back, sides, and centerblock all carved from a single piece of wood. It wasn't until 2001 that the Gibson Custom Shop produced the CS-336, a magnificent instrument that achieves this exact goal. Beautifully capped by a figured, book-matched maple top, the CS-336 Custom is a stunning semi-hollowbody like no other.

Unique Body Design

Traditionally, semi-hollowbody guitars are constructed with separate back, sides, and centerblock. With the CS-336, all three components are carved from a single piece of mahogany. The result is a guitar with a bold tone and staggering degree of resonance. Gibson semi-hollowbodies have always been associated with rich, woody textures, and the unique body of the CS-336 only enhances these tonal characteristics. Overall, the body is a bit smaller than an ES-335 or ES-345, with a narrow upper-bout comparable to the ES-339. As with the ES-339, players have frequently applauded the added comfort and playability provided by the more compact shape.

Classic, Versatile Tone

The CS-336 Custom sings with vintage Gibson flavor. The distinct body and dual '57 Classic humbuckers provide a rich array of tones to span genres and fill venues. A semi-hollowbody through and through, the CS-336 has no lack of vintage jazz warmth with resonant low-end and bright, ringing highs. With its… read more scaled-down body size, this Gibson projects its tone more tightly than other semi-hollowbodies, adding a little Les Paul crunch that makes this great for rock as well.

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Features:

- Compact body built from single piece of tonally carved mahogany
- Dual '57 Classic humbucker pickups
- Vintage style ABR-1 bridge with stopbar tailpiece
- 1960 slimtaper neck profile -- great for jazz playing
- Figured maple top with single-ply cream binding
- Included hardshell case and certificate of authenticity

With back, sides, and centerblock all fashioned from a single piece of mahogany, the Gibson CS-336 is a truly unique semi-hollowbody guitar. Comfortable, playable, and exquisitely finished, the CS-336 sings with rich, resonant tones.

Specs

Body:

Top wood: Figured, book-matched maple

Back, rims, and centerblock are tonally carved from a single block of mahogany

Binding: Single-ply cream on top and back

Neck:

Neck construction: 1-piece mahogany

Fingerboard wood: 22 fret rosewood

Inlays: Pearloid dot

Binding: Single-ply cream

Profile: Slim taper

Scale length/Nut width: 24 3/4 in.; 1 11/16 in.

Strings: Brite Wires .010-.046

Electronics & Hardware:

Pickups: '57 Classic humbuckers

Controls: 2 volume, 2 tone, 3-way switch

Hardware color: Nickel

Bridge/Tailpiece: ABR-1/Stopbar

Tuner style: Vintage tulip

Included accessories:

Custom Shop case, and Certificate of Authenticity.

Documents and Manuals

For support or warranty questions, please contact the manufacturer:
Phone: 800-444-2766

Gibson's Description

Gibson CS336 Custom Shop Figured Guitar

The CS-336 represents the Custom Shop's first tonally carved guitar, and the fulfillment of a goal originally set forth over 100 years ago by Gibson founder Orville Gibson: to produce an instrument with one-piece back and sides construction. The mahogany back, sides, and center piece of the CS-336 are carved from one block of wood and, when joined to the maple top, create a guitar with unsurpassed resonance and woody tone. Its scaled down body size and slim taper neck allow for more comfortable playing with no compromise in tone.

Reviews

(43 ratings)

Submitted November 17, 2007 by a customer from methode-aecd.com

Gibson CS-336 Custom Shop Customer Review

Overall:

(see rating details)

This review has been selected by our experts as particularly helpful.

Actually, I am considering purchasing a CS-356 (I wish they made one with the Varitone control, like my old ES-345).

Sound

I would place the sound of this guitar close to an ES 335 with a hint of Les Paul. With the tone controls you can really vary the sound (just like most Gibsons)

Features

Guitar has the best materials and I love the design concept. Its slightly lighter than my Les Paul 59 RI's and the tone is just as sweet and woody. You can spend a lot more money and not get a much better tone.

Ease of Use

This guitar is very easy to play. No problems with set up at all. I use 10 - 52 as I tune down half a step. The only complaint I have about the playability is the tight fit of my hand in the cut-away when playing in the upper registers (above G).

Quality

Once again the quality is top notch. Mine is a flamed top in tangerine burst. I always get comments on how good it looks and sounds.

Value

I believe this guitar is priced correctly for the build quality, tone and design.

Manufacturer Support

Never had to use it.

The Wow Factor

Already stated. It's nice to look at. It has great visual appeal, sound good, is easy to play, feels good in your hands, nice and solid, like a Gibson.