Originally Posted by: ianroxWow, cool this thread picked up again. Appreciate all the feed back. My birthday is in August and the wife gave me the thumbs up on the upgrade. I think I have decided it will definitely be either the 339 or 335. honestly I keep leaning toward the 335 because it is such a classic and at my age not really sure how many guitars I will have a shot at. The 339 keeps coming into play because I hear nothing but good things. Keep thinking this is the beginning of a new Gibson classic. I am getting close to start playing them at the store and I will narrow it down. I know myself well, though, and I tend to spend the extra bucks at the finish line. That would mean the es 335, maybe even block inlay. Ouch!! I'll let you all know in a couple months.

I might be biased with having an ES but I think the 335 is hard one to beat. I mean, it has been a classic guitar for so many artists and for good reason. If something stands the test of 50 plus years, there's got to be a reason.

Still, the instrument has to sing to you. No matter the history or cost, it has to make you want to play it.