Smaller ES, Bigger Voice: Gibson ES-339 Transparent Ebony
If you love the airy bloom of an ES-335 but want something lighter and tighter that feels closer to a Les Paul, the ES-339 hits that sweet spot. This one brings classic semi-hollow chime, plenty of bite, and a sleek Transparent Ebony look that means business on any stage.
Compact Semi-Hollow That Still Breathes
The ES-339 keeps the legendary ES recipe intact: 3-ply maple/poplar/maple top and back wrapped around a solid maple centerblock with quarter-sawn spruce bracing. You get that open, woody resonance and bloom, but the centerblock focuses the low end and keeps things tight when you crank the amp.
At 6.8 lbs, it feels shockingly lightweight for a semi-hollow, so long sets are no big deal. The gloss nitrocellulose finish in Transparent Ebony lets the wood move and resonate instead of choking it under thick poly, and it will only get sweeter and more responsive the more you play it.
Rounded C Neck That Feels Instantly Familiar
The mahogany neck uses Gibson’s rounded C profile, which fills your hand without ever feeling bulky. It is that comfy middle ground a lot of players spend years chasing: substantial enough for big bends and vibrato control, relaxed enough for hours of rhythm work.
The 12 inch radius rosewood board with 22 medium jumbo frets is made for fluid bending and clean chord work. It plays fast without feeling like a shred stick, and the fretwork is clean and consistent so you can get your action right where you like it without fighting buzzes or dead spots.
’57 Classics: Vintage Soul With Modern Control
The pickup pairing is a classic for a reason. A ’57 Classic in the neck gives you warm, smoky cleans and syrupy lead tones, while the slightly hotter ’57 Classic + in the bridge adds extra cut and grit when you need it. Roll back the volume and they clean up to a glassy, articulate shimmer that loves edge-of-breakup amps.
Gibson’s hand-wired control assembly with 500k pots and Orange Drop tone caps means your volume and tone knobs actually do something musical. You can ride the controls for everything from jazz club smooth to classic rock crunch without ever touching a pedal. Real talk, this guitar rewards players who use their hands and their knobs.
Stage-Ready Hardware And Pro Details
An ABR-1 Tune-O-Matic bridge and aluminum stop bar tailpiece are anchored into the maple centerblock for rock-solid tuning and long, singing sustain. Nickel hardware, black 5-ply guard, Grover Rotomatic tuners with kidney buttons, and a Graph Tech nut keep things stable and in tune through big bends and aggressive right-hand work.
All the little touches are there: black top hat knobs with silver reflectors, cream switch tip, dual strap buttons, and a proper hardshell Gibson case with accessory kit. It feels like a lifer guitar the moment you pull it out of the case.
Dialed In By Players, For Players
This specific ES-339 (serial 218250331) is sitting in our Evansville shop right now, weighing in at a very comfortable 6.8 lbs. Our techs, who are all gigging players, have gone through it front to back so it is ready to hit a gig or a session straight out of the box.
Every guitar from Moore Guitars gets a full Player-Perfect setup to your specs, inspected three times before we ship, and backed by our 72-Hour Love-It Guarantee. Photos are of the actual guitar, so what you see is exactly what will show up at your door.
Questions about this guitar or how it stacks up against an ES-335 or a Les Paul in your rig? Call (888) 794-8482 and talk to a real player on our team. No scripts, no fluff, just honest gear talk.
