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I've been looking at the Gibson ES-339 and wondered how they make that carved look in the top and back. These guitars are laminated top and backs. I assume that they mold them in some way... Do they use a mold of some kind? Wet the plates...? Any idea how this is done? I would like to build this type of guitar... or a CS-336 type which is a solid top on a routed out mahogany body. I understand this type of construction and carving makes sense. But what about the ES-339? Any thoughts on this? Are planes available? ...Building discussions...?

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Steve Sollod (pronounced sorta like "Solid")
www.swiftcreekguitars.com

Yes, they are molded - but I do not know Gibson's process for doing so.

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"Act your age, not your shoe size" - Prince

Might give Ken Mckay a holler.

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Steve, you are right the ES-339 is a smaller bodied version of the classic ES-335. The construction is also very similar in that the ES-339 uses pressed tops and backs or in the case of Ken McKay's - veneer laminated. Have a look at Ken McKay's current thread http://www.luthiersforum.com/forum/view ... 23&t=43370 that has links to threads on other forums that shows how he builds a ES-335 like guitar. If you follow the threads on the two other forums, they are about the best that I have seen on how a ES style guitar can be luthier built.

Here is a video where they show the body being constructed in the factory in Memphis.



I've been on the tour twice and this video shows more details that you get on the tour. At about 4:37 they start showing the plate\veneer info. There isn't a detail shot of the top and back molds but they show the press that is used.

That's pretty cool. I had no idea the maple block was so large in a 335.

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"Act your age, not your shoe size" - Prince

Chris, in the ES-335 the soft maple block is 4" wide by about 17+" in length and the thickness of the ribs and weighs just over 3 lbs. Newer ES-335's have a small cut out notch around where the bridge pickup is to facilitate wiring. Lift a 335 then a 330 and you'll feel the weight difference.

I have always wondered what a 335 style guitar would sound like if it had a mahogany or basswood block instead of a maple block.

If you are serious about building this style of guitar, check out the thread on the other site that I referenced above.

Most of the semi-hollows on the market use laminated pressure molded tops and backs Gibson, Gretsch along with several others.

In regards to the sound of a Mahogany block version , try a CS-356 . I have both the ES-339 and CS-356 .. same body shape /size same pickups , the ES is wonderfully open and has a great vintage vibe, it does tend to feedback easy at the higher end of volume. The CS is a bit different , being a heavily routed mahogany billiet and a carved top is much more like a semi hollow Les Paul .

James, can you hear a difference in the CS with a mahogany block? I am not really familiar with the CS 356 or ES 339 and their construction other than that they are a smaller body version of the ES-335 series.

Yes indeed . The CS has better sustain and handles high volume better , it is a bit punchier as well .
I love both , but the CS is in a class by itself . I'd say it is between an ES and Les Paul in tone . I have a '79 LP custom and playing wise they are very close in feel .

I'm happy that both the ES and CS have Ebony fretboards , the newer ones have Richlite ... not my cup of tea.