History And Build Of The Gibson Es 335 Guitar
The Gibson ES 335 guitar is a staple amongst rock a blues musicians. The instrument influenced both music and instrument design with long history in popular music.
The ES (Electric Spanish) is neither hallow nor solid body, but a mix of the two. Using a solid maple block to fill the center of the body, the side "wings" are left hallow and cut with violin-style f-holes allowing the instrument to reverberate with an warmer acoustic sound. The neck is comfortable in it's slim shape, providing easy access to the upper frets.
The primary choice of wood for the instrument has been a maple body and mahogany neck. Some variations have replaced the traditional rosewood fingerboard with ebony. Two Humbucker pickups are a key factor in the guitar's authentic dark and warm rhythm and blues sound.
When it was released in 1958, the ES introduced to the guitar market a hybrid previously unseen. The model was revolutionary at a time when electric guitars were still in their infancy, and acoustic occupied a different genre. Electrics at the time offered greater sustain and less feedback compared to amplified acoustics. However, they lacked the warm sounds produced by hallow bodies. The ES acted as a compromise between the two.
The guitar has been vital in shaping the sounds of popular artists. Soon after the release of the ES, B. B. King adopted it as his own, naming his personal guitar "Lucille". This helped produced his signature sound, and later led to the B. King Lucille ES model in 1980. Since then, the likes of the Black Crows, Rush, the Foo Fighters and Blink 182 have used the instrument to define their sounds.
In the fifty years since the guitar's inception, the Gibson ES 335 guitar has left an indelible mark on popular music. Through a revolutionary design and unique sound, the guitar has become an American icon.