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Verified Purchaser zZounds has verified that this reviewer purchased this specific product from us.

I recently sold my '93 Les Paul Classic and have missed it ever since. I have a 2018 ES-335, but as nice as it is, it isn't a LP! So I started looking around and came across this new model by Gibson, the ES-235. I was intrigued by it's looks and soon realized they made it in 3 different levels: satin, gloss, and figured. I was drawn to the figured and had to search around some to find any available as Gibson no longer makes it in this version. zZounds had the most in inventory, and offered interest free financing, so I took a chance and bought one that I knew by the serial that it had been made in the Memphis factory. It was advertised with a soft case, so imagine my surprise when it arrived and came in a beautiful Gibson hard-shell case, score!!! I don't like buying new guitars, for several reasons, especially online. But I was knocked out at the fit/finish/play-ability of this guitar. The only fault I have found with it is a electrical connection faulting spoadically with the pickup selector, and a little glue or finish run where the fretboard and body overlap. But I would rate it as nearly flawless, and visually quite handsome!It plays differently than the 335, but in a very good way. Although, similarly laminated as the 335, the wood choices are different and this adds to its being its own animal. Very loud and resonant acoustically, and very comfortable to play whether sitting or standing. Plug it in and your rewarded with a bit more old school rock and roll sound yet it sounds really good doing jazz or blues. The more I play it, the more sounds I find it can do, even very much in the Tele vein. Really like the growl it gives when you slap on a slide. Very, very versatile!! Good job Gibson!

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Verified Purchaser zZounds has verified that this reviewer purchased this specific product from us.

Out of the many guitars that I have purchased and played over the past 30 years, including an ES-137 custom (the guitar I have played for about 10 years), this one really plays and sounds like a dream. The body of this guitar is a bit larger than a Les Paul, but much lighter and the sound is great. Although I bought this for jazz, it sounds great with distortion as well. No problems with feedback so far, so I'm impressed.I got the figured guitar which fortunately comes with a case which is pretty good, but not as solid as the case for my 137. The only negative, and it is just a minor thing, is that I think the the pegs on the tuners should have been the keystone style, but this only my personal taste.The fit, finish, and action was perfect out of the box. I can honestly say Gibson put out a winner.

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