Master the volume and tone controls of a Gibson ES-335 with our ultimate guide and tone tricks
The Gibson ES-335 is an icon of electric guitar design and one of the greatest and most versatile musical instruments of all time. Don’t believe us? Here are seven reasons why you need an ES-335 in your guitar collection.
Although it is instantly recognizable and sonically familiar to fans of blues, rock, jazz, indie-rock, 1960s pop, and pretty much any other genre you can think of, the secret to unleashing the full potential of the ES-335 is understanding its onboard volume and tone controls and the way they interact with the pickup selector switch to unlock an arsenal of killer sounds.
In this video on the Gibson Gear Guide, Dinesh Lekhraj walks us through the wide range of sounds these classic instruments offer to the tone-chasing guitarist, revealing why the Gibson ES-335 and its many variants have been as popular over the years with everyone from B.B. King to Dave Grohl.
Understanding the ES-335 Tone Control Layout
Just like the Gibson Les Paul and SG, the ES-335 comes equipped with dual volume and tone potentiometers, along with a three-way toggle switch. This familiar and hugely versatile setup allows for a great range of sound manipulation. Simple adjustments can make a significant difference.
For a thicker sound, try mixing a little neck pickup in with the bridge pickup in the middle position—it fattens things up nicely and is a great way to fill out the sound in a power trio. Alternatively, that middle setting with all four controls wide open is a great place to start if you are looking for indie jangle or elastic funk. You can even explore advanced techniques such as a stutter/killswitch effect for unique sound patterns—simply roll one pickup’s volume control all the way off and channel your inner Tom Morello. And yes, thanks to its innovative center-block construction, the ES-335 can even produce heavy alternative rock and metal tones, especially on modern stages where so many players now go direct or have the kind of sophisticated monitoring that makes the need for a loud backline a thing of the past.
Regular maintenance ensures your ES-335 continues to deliver its best sound—keep those tone and volume pots clean and noise-free—and be mindful of seasonal changes in humidity.
A Brief History of the ES-335
The ES-335 was introduced in 1958, pioneering a semi-hollow body design that’s much imitated but a genuine Gibson innovation. It has been in continuous production in the Gibson catalog since then, too—more than can be said for the sunburst Les Paul Standard, Flying V, and Explorer, all launched the same year but were soon discontinued, reappearing as pop morphed into rock and players got hip to the appeal of the way those forward-facing solidbodies interacted with the louder and dirtier guitar amplifiers of the times.
As well as reducing its propensity to feed back, Ted McCarty’s semi-hollow ES-335 design gave the guitar some of the depth and airiness of a true hollowbody along with a generous helping of the punch and focus of a solidbody guitar—a ‘best of both worlds’ solution that has truly stood the test of time.
Over the years, Gibson has released various versions of the ES-335, such as the more ornate ES-345 and ES-355, and wilder still, the Trini Lopez Standard. The Gibson ES-335 is more than just a guitar; it’s an amazingly versatile instrument that, with proper understanding and manipulation of its controls, can be the one guitar in your collection to rule them all. The Gibson ES-335’s enduring popularity is a testament to its impact on music history, as seen in the hands of these and many other legendary musicians.
Famous Electric Spanish Players
B.B. King: While he is most famously associated with the Gibson ES-355 and his many Lucilles, B.B. King was no stranger to an ES-335. As one of the undisputed heavyweight champions of electric blues, his influence was a huge factor in the popularity of Gibson’s semi-hollowbody guitars.
Eric Clapton: Slowhand used an ES-335 extensively during his time with Cream, and some even believe he purchased the famous Cherry ’64 model during his time in The Yardbirds. It would feature at Cream’s famous Farewell Concert at the Royal Albert Hall in 1968.
Larry Carlton: Known worldwide as “Mr. 335,” Carlton has been a long-time user of the ES-335, showcasing its versatility in jazz, rock, and fusion genres—Kid Charlemagne lesson with Tim Pierce and Rick Beato, anyone?
Dave Grohl: The Foo Fighters frontman had a signature model based on the Trini Lopez model he purchased while still a member of Nirvana, a guitar that has featured on every Foo Fighters album.
Emily Wolfe: Epiphone’s Sheraton is a close cousin of the ES-335, and the “White Wolfe” Sheraton is based on the triple-threat rock & roll singer, songwriter, and guitarist’s popular Sheraton Stealth.
Alvin Lee: The Ten Years After guitarist famously used a modified ES-335 at Woodstock, helping to cement the guitar’s place in rock history.
Roy Orbison: Known for his emotive ballads, Orbison often used the warm tones of the ES-335 to complement his remarkable vocal range.
Chris Cornell: The late Soundgarden and Audioslave frontman had a signature ES-335 model, reflecting the guitar’s adaptability to grunge and alternative rock.
Marcus King: The young bandleader’s original 1962 ES-345 With Sideways Vibrola is a reflection of his own heritage, a highly personalized recreation of the classic model that was handed down from King’s grandfather to his father and finally to him as he took his family’s musical legacy to stages worldwide. The Custom Shop brings it to life in Sixties Cherry.
Explore the full range of ES-335 models from Gibson and Epiphone.
