Les Paul v 335 - can you really hear the difference?

[Polar Bear]

Oh wow, where did you get those from? I thought they're only available in True Historics or some other equally elite Gibson models?

Off a friend. The pickups are worth more than the guitar. It's a travesty.

Same here, I have EMG's in my SX LP, the batteries are worth more than the guitar...

You got those posh energizers in there, huh?

[codedog]

As I don't have either guitar (I have a pretty good LP knockoff with Custombuckers, but I have never owned a 335) you're in a better position to argue this than me. I have played both, but mostly my thoughts on the subject come from hypothetical theory and listening to comparison videos. So I am debating this while acknowledging that you would know better, but still...

Oh wow, where did you get those from? I thought they're only available in True Historics or some other equally elite Gibson models?

Off a friend. The pickups are worth more than the guitar. It's a travesty.

That raises the question... what did your friend replace them with?

[mr_sooty]

Oh wow, where did you get those from? I thought they're only available in True Historics or some other equally elite Gibson models?

Off a friend. The pickups are worth more than the guitar. It's a travesty.

That raises the question... what did your friend replace them with?

I actually don't know, he has several Historics - I'm not sure why he had a spare set of Custombuckers.

[codedog]

Off a friend. The pickups are worth more than the guitar. It's a travesty.

That raises the question... what did your friend replace them with?

I actually don't know, he has several Historics - I'm not sure why he had a spare set of Custombuckers.

That line is perfect for a "You know you've made it when..." meme!

[Slowy]

Well... I could hear a pretty significant difference between the two... and I was listening on my phone.

But you were issued with professional ears.

[mr_sooty]

Well... I could hear a pretty significant difference between the two... and I was listening on my phone.

I just listened again with my stereo monitors? Seriously... a pretty significant difference? Enough to declare one a more versatile guitar than the other? OK man I know you're a proffesional studio engineer with probably a much better ear than me, so I will bow to your expertise... what I'm really asking myself is can I hear anything that gives the 335 away as a hollowbody guitar, and honestly, I can't. I know I have some hearing deterioration from working in music shops and playing in bands, but I don't think it's THAT bad.

[codedog]

Well... I could hear a pretty significant difference between the two... and I was listening on my phone.

Wow... ok...

I guess your job as an audio engineer meant you have a trained "palate"....

[Zaulkin]

I thought the 335 sounded "woodier". I got it right, but it could also be 50/50 luck...

[jeremyb]

I guessed it right too, the 335 was just brighter and with more presence, my experience of les pauls are they're a bit lacking in the trebbelz and upper mids.... YMMV etc..

[bender]

Well... I could hear a pretty significant difference between the two... and I was listening on my phone.

Wow... ok...

I guess your job as an audio engineer meant you have a trained "palate"....

I mean, I've spent over 20 years being paid to listen to stuff, so I guess that's accurate? Can I please use a different word though? "Palate" makes me want to spew.

[bender]

Well... I could hear a pretty significant difference between the two... and I was listening on my phone.

I just listened again with my stereo monitors? Seriously... a pretty significant difference? Enough to declare one a more versatile guitar than the other? OK man I know you're a proffesional studio engineer with probably a much better ear than me, so I will bow to your expertise... what I'm really asking myself is can I hear anything that gives the 335 away as a hollowbody guitar, and honestly, I can't. I know I have some hearing deterioration from working in music shops and playing in bands, but I don't think it's THAT bad.

Wow, that's a lot to unpack.

Yes. I can hear a significant difference.

It's not a sonic difference that would make me declare that one is more versatile than the other.

The main difference I can hear is in the dynamic response, particularly around the midrange. To me, it fits with my experience of playing hollow body and semi hollow guitars. I heard the same difference in character across all three switch positions.

Playing in bands will very quickly affect your upper midrange and high frequency response, unless you wear hearing protection with a minimum rating of around 15dB. In Ear monitors can be good for minimising SPL to your ears, but they can also be an accelerant.

I think you've missed the point about why a 335 is considered a more versatile guitar- it's more likely to be how they feel/sound to the player than how they sound when recorded. I'm basing that assumption on the fact that it's predominantly session guitarists who make that claim (rather than audio engineers).

I've always looked for guitars that feel 'lively', and almost all of the ones I've found that do are either semi-hollow, chambered, or a really lightweight and resonant wood (Paulownia and chambered swamp ash). I really miss my old chambered swamp ash Robin- it was really plain looking, but so damn good to play (and it always sounded awesome). The Paulownia Tele comes close to that.

[rickenbackerkid]

Oh, I didn't listen to the clip...just based on my experience. Most YT clips are awful tone wise. I'm assuming this one is as well?

Terrible. Also the player doesn't own a tuner, and the tone of guitar one is mostly just strings slapping against frets. Action on that thing must be crazy ridiculously low.

[Jay]

Reading what you guys can hear makes me think that my hearing is way worse than I thought it was

[robthemac]

Reading what you guys can hear makes me think that my hearing is way worse than I thought it was

Don't. I don't have any significant hearing loss, and even listening on TOTL studio IEMs, I couldn't tell which was which. The differences were subtle at best. I think Ben's right in that with experience or training (or perhaps a few genetically gifted folk) a significant difference could be heard, but I doubt many people can. Especially on phone speakers.

[mr_sooty]

Reading what you guys can hear makes me think that my hearing is way worse than I thought it was

Don't. I don't have any significant hearing loss, and even listening on TOTL studio IEMs, I could tell which was which.

I assume you mean 'couldn't'? Just guessing based on the general tone of your post.

I also worked as an audio engineer, just in radio but I was pretty reasonable at it, and I've been working in music retail a long time specialising in guitars, so I would think I would have SOME idea. But I do have a bit of high end hearing loss and some tinnitus so it's quite possible I'm just missing some of the detail others are hearing. But hearing aside, I'm just not sure there would be much of a difference scientifically. Because the pickups are mounted on solid wood, how much could the hollow bits stuck on either side of the block actually change what the pickup....picks up? A fully hollow guitar for sure, that's a whole different thing.