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Average Price: $4,036

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$1201+

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Description

Discover the essence of smooth, versatile tones with the Gibson Larry Carlton ES-335, a homage to the legendary "Mr. 335" himself. This semi-hollowbody electric guitar captures the soulful essence and technical prowess of Larry Carlton, offering musicians a piece of history with modern playability. Its unique blend of vintage aesthetic and contemporary functionality makes it a prized addition for both collectors and active musicians. The signature "Mr. 335" on the truss-rod cover not only pays tribute to Carlton's legacy but also marks this instrument as a distinctive piece in any guitarist's collection. Whether you're navigating through jazz progressions or laying down some blues, this guitar delivers with unmatched elegance and versatility.

Key Features:

  • Signature Larry Carlton ES-335 model, reflecting the legendary guitarist’s style and tone.
  • Semi-hollowbody design, offering a rich, open sound characteristic of the ES-335 series.
  • Versatile tone suitable for jazz, blues, rock, and more, thanks to its unique construction and pickup configuration.
  • High-quality construction and materials, ensuring durability and a premium feel.
  • "Mr. 335" engraved on the truss-rod cover, adding a personal touch from Larry Carlton himself.

Product specs

Brand Gibson
Model Larry Carlton Signature ES-335
Finish Carlton Burst
Year 2002 - 2015
Made In United States
Categories Semi-Hollowbody Electric Guitars
Artist Larry Carlton
Body Shape Double Cutaway
Body Type Semi-Hollow Body
Bridge/Tailpiece Type Stop-Bar
Color Family Yellow
Finish Pattern Sunburst
Fretboard Material Rosewood
Model Family Gibson ES-335
Model Sub-Family Gibson ES-335TD Block
Neck Construction Set-Neck
Number of Frets 22
Number of Strings 6-String
Pickup Configuration HH
Right / Left Handed Right Handed
Series Gibson Artist Collection, Gibson Custom Shop

FAQs

What makes the Gibson Larry Carlton ES-335 unique compared to other ES-335 models?

The Gibson Larry Carlton ES-335 features a signature "Carlton Burst" finish and is part of the Gibson Custom Shop, offering unique aesthetics and craftsmanship tailored to Larry Carlton's specifications, including a semi-hollow body for versatile tones.

Is the Gibson Larry Carlton ES-335 suitable for jazz and blues music?

Yes, the Gibson Larry Carlton ES-335 is ideal for jazz and blues, thanks to its warm, resonant tones and excellent sustain provided by the semi-hollow body and humbucker pickups.

What type of pickups does the Gibson Larry Carlton ES-335 have?

The Gibson Larry Carlton ES-335 is equipped with a dual humbucker (HH) pickup configuration, delivering a rich, full-bodied sound suitable for various music styles.

How does the neck profile of the Gibson Larry Carlton ES-335 feel for playing?

The Gibson Larry Carlton ES-335 features a set-neck construction with a comfortable neck profile, providing smooth playability and easy access to higher frets, making it suitable for both rhythm and lead playing.

Does the Gibson Larry Carlton ES-335 have a stop-bar tailpiece?

Yes, the Gibson Larry Carlton ES-335 includes a stop-bar tailpiece, contributing to its stable tuning and enhanced sustain, which is characteristic of this model.

Nicholas C. Key

Nicholas C. Key

The Two Best Guitarists EVER!!

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The Two Best Guitarists EVER!!

Nicholas C. Key

Nicholas C. Key

Video thumbnail for Gibson Memphis Larry Carlton ES-335 • Wildwood Guitars Overview by Wildwood Guitars

Gibson Memphis Larry Carlton ES-335 • Wildwood Guitars Overview

Wildwood Guitars

Wildwood Guitars

Video thumbnail for Gibson Memphis Larry Carlton ES-335  •  SN: ME300789 by Wildwood Guitars

Gibson Memphis Larry Carlton ES-335 • SN: ME300789

Wildwood Guitars

Wildwood Guitars

Reviews

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Gibson Larry Carlton ES-335.

Comparisons

  • Some suggest considering the Sire Larry Carlton H7 or Ibanez Artcore for affordable semi-hollow alternatives.

    Source
  • Some users associate block inlays with the Norlin era, preferring dot inlays for a more classic ES-335 aesthetic.

    Source

User experience

  • The ES-335 is praised for its versatility, making it suitable for a wide range of musical styles.

    Source
  • Potential buyers are advised to play the 335 first, as it's noted that comfort can vary and impact satisfaction.

    Source
  • A professional jazz guitarist reports owning multiple ES models, finding the 2022 Ebony ES-345 as the perfect fit after trying several others.

    Source
  • A long-term player describes a 1993 Ebony 335 with dot neck as the best electric guitar they've played, capturing the quintessential Larry Carlton sound.

    Source

Value and pricing

  • It's pointed out that Jazzmasters and Les Pauls are generally cheaper, making the ES-335 a more significant investment.

    Source

Features and functionality

  • Split parallelogram inlays add a unique Gibson aesthetic not commonly found on 335 copies, making them a distinctive choice for some enthusiasts.

    Source

Setup and maintenance

  • Bigsby installations may be problematic; users have reported compatibility issues with Vibramate sizes on recent series Ebony ES-335s.

    Source

5.0 out of 5

Based on 1 Review and 2 Ratings

5 star
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1 star
robert_degray

I owned a mint, cherry 1963 es 335 with the nickle Bigsby. One of the finest guitars Iv'e ever owned.

Excellent guitar for blues, jazz, rock, yes and even hard ass rock. These puppies can howl. Equipped with a rather low output PAF It's the tone that sends the chickens home to roost. There's a reason why players such as Joe Bonamassa, Larry Carton, and Robin Ford play this guitar. I had one because Chuck had one, cause Keith had one, because Rick Derringer had one.

jimmarchi1

its got the misplaced stop tailpiece and everything just like Larry's badly modded 60s 335... nice attention to detail from Gibson there. Warts and all!

Artist usage

Add artist
See how Larry Carlton uses Gibson Larry Carlton ES-335

Larry Carlton

Guitarist

Steely Dan

...
Verified via YouTube

At 0:54 in this video interview, Larry Carlton talks about his most notable guitar, saying, "Yeah this guitar is the one that I played the majority of my sessions on and my solo records on. The choice to get the 335 was actually a very practical choice for me and so know I play a lot of different styles of music and for me I wanted to get a guitar that could cover a lot of bags so I didn't always have to switch to a bebop guitar for this blues guitar for that and this one covers most of the bags that I want to play or was called on to play. So that's how I ended up picking the 335 and the little store I went to in 1969 to buy a 335, it had three 335s hanging on the wall and I chose this one out of it because it sounded the best to me and the rest is really history, isn't it? ... Brand new...Yeah 1969... although I ended up carrying everything but this one seemed to cover most so I didn't have to keep pulling a new guitar out."

Asked if the guitar has had many modifications to it Larry responded, "Not really. Obviously the stop tailpiece because it came with the trapeze; same original pickups; a number of fret jobs over the years because I played it so much and we put in it the graphite nut. Long time ago Mike McGuire said gotta try this man there is no stick and it won't ever wear out and it doesn't stick and doesn't wear out other than that, you know, replace the tuning pegs when you need it... Nothing else. Yeah I copied this guitar [1969 ES-335] and it's really cool they came out really good... They copied everything and even the color they call this a Carlton Burst and so that's the label on it."

Genre Usage

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Used With

Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Gibson Larry Carlton ES-335, it is most commonly used with the following gear.

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