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Epiphone Joe Bonamassa 1962 ES-335
Gibson Flying V
VS
Playability
72
Sound
72
Build
60
Value
68
Score
68
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Playability
73
Sound
72
Build
69
Value
66
Score
71
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Epiphone Joe Bonamassa 1962 ES-335 vs Gibson Flying V

Reasons to Get
Epiphone Joe Bonamassa 1962 ES-335 over Gibson Flying V

Release Year
2022 vs 2019
From a more recent year
Body Type
Semi-Hollow vs Solid Body
Lighter and allows more gain than a hollowbody
Tone Knobs
2 vs 1
More tone control
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.84'' (21.3mm) vs 0.82'' (20.8mm)
More comfortable open chords for big hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.94'' (23.9mm) vs 0.92'' (23.4mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for big hands
Bridge
Tremolo vs Fixed
Simple vibratos without too much maintenance
Value Score
68 vs 66
Better price/quality relationship

Reasons to Get
Gibson Flying V over Epiphone Joe Bonamassa 1962 ES-335

Country of Manufacturing
United States vs China
Built with higher quality standards
Body Type
Solid Body vs Semi-Hollow
Feedback free
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.82'' (20.8mm) vs 0.84'' (21.3mm)
More comfortable open chords for small hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.92'' (23.4mm) vs 0.94'' (23.9mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for small hands
Bridge
Fixed vs Tremolo
Good sustain and needs no set-up

Other Key Differences
Epiphone Joe Bonamassa 1962 ES-335 vs Gibson Flying V

Body Wood
Maple vs Mahogany
Different Body Wood
Fretboard Wood
Laurel vs Rosewood
Different Fretboard Wood

Shared Features
Epiphone Joe Bonamassa 1962 ES-335 vs Gibson Flying V

Bridge Pickup
Gibson BurstBucker 3
Same Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Gibson Burstbucker 2
Same Neck Pickup
Neck Wood
Mahogany
Same Neck Wood
Headstock
3-3
Same Headstock
Nut Material
Ivory Tusq
Same Nut Material
Strings
6
Same playing style
Switch Positions
3
Same pickups versatility
Volume Knobs
2
Same volume control
Pickups
HH
High output without hum
Number of Frets
22
Same maximum octave
Nut Width
1.693'' (43mm)
Same string separation at the nut
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Scale Length
24.75'' (628.7mm)
Same string tension and fret separation
Fretboard Radius
12'' (304.8mm)
Same fretboard comfortability
Pickups Power
Passive
Cleaner sound and no battery needed
Neck Profile Type
C
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Neck Joint
Set
Neck is glued to the body
Type of Frets
Medium Jumbo
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings

Common Strengths

  • High-Quality Nut
  • Top Pickup Brand
  • Expensive Wood

Common Weaknesses

  • Neck-Through Build
  • Pickup Alter Switch/Knob
  • Locking Tuners
  • Stays in Tune (Evertune)
  • High-Quality Frets
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • Luminescent Sidedots
  • Strap Lock
  • 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • Active/Passive Preamp

Table of Contents

Price History Comparison

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Which One is Better Overall?

After going through our comparison algorithm, the results show that the Gibson Flying V is probably the better product overall with its final score of 71 compared to the Epiphone Joe Bonamassa 1962 ES-335's 68 score, although not by a lot.

The Gibson Flying V wins when it comes to playability, build quality. On the other hand, the Epiphone Joe Bonamassa 1962 ES-335 has the upper hand when it comes to value for the money.

If you got small hands, you'll probably feel more comfortable playing the Gibson Flying V.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, the Epiphone Joe Bonamassa 1962 ES-335 is the better choice.

The Epiphone Joe Bonamassa 1962 ES-335 meets 4 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Gibson Flying V meets only 3. This takes into account the type of frets, scale length, nut width, bridge type, fretboard radius, and neck profile to determine the easiest combination for new players.

New Player Friendliness

Epiphone Joe Bonamassa 1962 ES-335
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners

New Player Friendliness

Gibson Flying V
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable shape
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners

Nevertheless, when it comes to choosing an instrument, you should pick the one more compatible with your personal style. Still, below we'll try you to give you our results as objectively as it's possible to help you decide.

Epiphone Joe Bonamassa 1962 ES-335 Overview

  • From Epiphone's 2022 Artist Collection series
  • Joe Bonamassa Signature
  • Made in China
  • 6 strings
  • 24.75"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • 5-ply Layered Maple body
  • Mahogany neck
  • Indian Laurel fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Gibson BurstBucker 3 (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Gibson Burstbucker 2 (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 2 volume and 2 tone Bell knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Maestro Vibrola bridge
  • Rounded C Set neck
  • 22 Medium Jumbo frets
  • Epiphone Deluxe with Double Ring Buttons tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Gibson Flying V Overview

  • From Gibson's 2019 Original Collection series
  • Made in United States
  • 6 strings
  • 24.75"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Mahogany body
  • Mahogany neck
  • Rosewood fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Gibson BurstBucker 3 (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Gibson Burstbucker 2 (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 2 volume and 1 tone Bell knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Aluminum Nashville Tune-O-Matic bridge
  • Slim Taper Set neck
  • 22 Medium Jumbo frets
  • Grover Rotomatics w/ Kidney Buttons tuners
  • Weight between 7lbs (3.2kgs) and 7.8lbs (3.5kgs)
  • Compare Specs >

Sound Quality Comparison

The wood used in an electric guitar or bass is not as important to determine the final tone. However, some people prefer specific wood types, so we'll take a look at those first. Then, we'll take a look at the electronics to determine the versatility and sound quality of each instrument.

Woods Used in Both

Mahogany wood pattern used for guitar building
Mahogany

Mahogany is a fairly rare wood nowadays. It's used mostly for bodies due to its relatively lightweight. Gibson popularized it with their Les Paul guitars during their golden years, so this wood has a lot of good reputation behind it. The most expensive type comes from South America and it's still used by Gibson even today. Find out more about Mahogany.

Woods Used in the Epiphone Joe Bonamassa 1962 ES-335

Laurel wood pattern used for guitar building
Laurel
Maple wood pattern used for guitar building
Maple

There are many types of Laurel, but East Indian is the most common for guitar building. Its color can vary from dark to light brown with black lines. Many people find its tonality similar to Rosewood, which favors the warmer frequencies. Find out more about Laurel.

Maple is one of the most popular necks for good reasons. It is a strong wood that is relatively cheap to make and looks beautiful. The highest quality maple is the hardest that comes from North America. Find out more about Maple.

Woods Used in the Gibson Flying V

Rosewood wood pattern used for guitar building
Rosewood

Rosewood is an almost purple-looking wood that is used mainly for fretboards since it's heavy, rare, and expensive. It's sometimes used on acoustic guitar bodies to create stronger warm tones. Find out more about Rosewood.

Winner: Gibson Flying V.

Pickup Configuration

Both pickup configurations are HH. Double Humbucker (HH) is the choice for people who want a fuller, more round sound with tons of mids and lows. Humbuckers also get rid of the hum noise that plague single-coil pickups. They can work out for almost any genre going from Djent to even Jazz.

Pickups Quality

Both come with very good pickups from at least one of the specialized brands in the market. With pickups like these, you probably won't need an upgrade anytime soon.

Both use Passive pickups. This is what's used for most music genres. They have a regular output and will serve you for both high-gain and clean tones. The alternative (Active pickups) offer a higher output that is mostly used for heavy music.

Winner: Tie.

Versatility Comparison

Some instruments offer you more ways to explore your creativity than others. Below you'll find how both compare when it comes to versatility.

Switch Options

Both are equal when it comes to the pickup switching option.

Neither of them come with some kind of coil split or pickup mod option. This makes both lacking in terms of versatility.

They both share the following switching options:

Epiphone Joe Bonamassa 1962 ES-335 and Gibson Flying V pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Epiphone Joe Bonamassa 1962 ES-335 and Gibson Flying V's switch options

When evaluating versatility, we also take into consideration bridge and neck joint type, number of frets, switch options, amount of pickups and more.

Winner: Epiphone Joe Bonamassa 1962 ES-335.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Epiphone Joe Bonamassa 1962 ES-335
Pickups 90
Sustain 70
Versatility 63
Tuning Stability 65
Sound 72
Gibson Flying V
Pickups 90
Sustain 75
Versatility 51
Tuning Stability 70
Sound 72

Build Quality Comparison

When it comes to build quality, we like to take into account everything used to build the instrument. This includes materials, hardware and the quality control expected depending on the country where it was built. Let's see how the Epiphone Joe Bonamassa 1962 ES-335 compares to the Gibson Flying V.

Country of Origin

The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. The Epiphone Joe Bonamassa 1962 ES-335 is built in China while the Gibson Flying V is made in United States.

China has a bad reputation when it comes to building quality. However, times have changed and now respectable brands use China's cheap labor to build good instruments for a lower price. Don't discount a guitar only because it was built in China, but also expect more quality from countries like Korea.

The United States is considered one of the best electric guitar manufacturers in the world. A guitar made in this country is supposed to have world-class quality control. Nowadays, guitars made in other countries can beat some of the ones made in the US, but most of the time, this country offers the best you can get. Of course, that comes at a price.

Winner: Gibson Flying V

Nut Material

If you want your guitar to stay in tune and sound good, you need a well cut nut. Nut quality can be inconsistent even when comparing two copies of the same model. The best way to make sure you're nut will be well done is by getting a nut made by an expert company like TUSQ or Micarta.

In this case, both have Ivory Tusq nuts. Ivory used to be considered the best material for guitar nuts due to its beauty, durability, and the rich harmonics and sustain you could get from a guitar with it. However, the way to obtain it is simply unethical. Enter TUSQ ivory nuts, which are made synthetically to imitate ivory. Technically, it's better than ivory because it is consistent piece-to-piece, while natural materials can vary a lot, even if they're made from the same.

Fret Material

Most fret wire is made of nickel silver. This material eventually wears down after a lot of use and most instruments end up needing a complete fret replacement. However, some expensive models come with stainless steel frets. This is what you should aim for if you can afford it.

Unfortunately, none of them come with stainless steel frets.

Winner: Tie.

Bridge

The perfect bridge for you will depend on your playstyle because they all have advantages and disadvantages. However, some bridges are more expensive—like Floyd Roses and Evertunes—and thus add more value to a guitar.

The Epiphone Joe Bonamassa 1962 ES-335's brige is a Tremolo. Tremolo bridges give you more versatility than fixed bridges. They let you perform the intense vibrato effects that would be impossible with a fixed bridge. However, since the bridge floats and there's less contact with the body, the strings lose sustain slightly faster. They can also be a bit harder to restring and set up correctly than fixed bridges.

On the other hand, the Gibson Flying V's is a Fixed. It's a simple bridge that is very beginner-friendly since it doesn't require any set-up. You can swap strings easily. It might also give more sustain since it doesn't have complex moving parts that make the strings lose vibration. However, it doesn't have the same versatility as a tremolo bridge.

Since we need to be objective, the most expensive type of bridge will be the winner of this section. In the end, this doesn't matter if you're not going to use the bridge for its original purpose, so choose the bridge that fits your playing style better.

Winner: Tie.

Tuners

Both come with regular tuners. The Epiphone Joe Bonamassa 1962 ES-335's are Epiphone Deluxe with Double Ring Buttons while the Gibson Flying V's are Grover Rotomatics w/ Kidney Buttons

Winner: Tie.

Neck Joint

Contrary to popular belief, the difference in sustain and tone that some neck joints give to a guitar is simply unperceivable—if they're all well built. However, some of them do have advantages over the others.

Both have a Set neck joint. This neck is tightly glued to the body. They give you the least versatility because you can't swap them for a neck that fits your hand better if you want to, unlike bolt-on necks. Some people think this gives more resonance and sustain, but there's no real difference if the bolt-on joint is well built.

Winner: Tie.

Here is the list of features that were considered when choosing the winner in the Features subcategory:

Strengths & Weaknesses
Epiphone Joe Bonamassa 1962 ES-335
  • Expensive Wood
  • Ivory Tusq Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Tremolo
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in China
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock
Strengths & Weaknesses
Gibson Flying V
  • Made in United States
  • Expensive Wood
  • Ivory Tusq Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Tremolo
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

Final Build Quality Scores

Epiphone Joe Bonamassa 1962 ES-335
Quality of materials 56
Features 60
Quality Control 65
Build Quality 60
Gibson Flying V
Quality of materials 66
Features 50
Quality Control 90
Build Quality 69

Playability Comparison

Let's now compare their playability. Bear in mind that the instrument will feel different depending on your hand size and play style. That's why you should always test before buying. But if you can't or want a second opinion on it, we can still take a look at each of the important measurements of the instrument for you. This way, we can predict how easy a guitar might be to play, or how different it will feel compared to the other.

Remember that, even though the difference might seem small, every inch counts when it comes to feeling of the instrument in your hands. Any variation can completely change how comfortable a guitar feels in your hands.

Nut Width

Epiphone Joe Bonamassa 1962 ES-335 Nut Width
Both Guitars Have The Same Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, both have a nut width of 43mm (1.693'').

This is within the most common range of nut widths for a 6-string guitar. It offers a good balance of string separation at the nut. It's the size that most guitarists prefer as it gives them just enough space to play open chords without muting the strings, but without spreading the strings too wide and making bar chords difficult to perform.

Scale Length

Epiphone Joe Bonamassa 1962 ES-335 and Gibson Flying V's Scale Length
Both have the same scale length

The scale length is one of the things that influences playability the most. This is the distance between the nut and the bridge and will affect everything from low action allowance, difficulty to perform bends, fret separation, and even tone.

In this case, both have a scale length of 24.75".

This is the scale length that Gibson uses for most of its Les Paul guitars. It's a smaller scale than the typical Stratocaster's 25.5''. Short scale lengths like this make it easier to bend the strings, which is pretty important if you have a fixed bridge. They also have a shorter fret separation, which makes it easier to change position fast at the fretboard.

On the other hand, a shorter scale like this one will make fret buzz more likely, which can affect you if you want to use thicker string gauges.

Lastly, remember that you can also affect the tension of the strings by changing your string gauge. You can use a thicker gauge for more tension and a lighter one for less tension.

Neck Profile

Epiphone Joe Bonamassa 1962 ES-335 Neck Profile
Epiphone Joe Bonamassa 1962 ES-335's neck profile
Gibson Flying V Neck Profile
Gibson Flying V's neck profile

No single neck shape is better than others. However, most people tend to prefer a thinner necks because it doesn't get in their way when playing fast and most hand sizes can adapt to it pretty well. However, some people still prefer thicker necks for a better grip, especially if they have big hands.

Both the Epiphone Joe Bonamassa 1962 ES-335 and the Gibson Flying V have a C-shaped neck. This is what you'll find in most modern guitars. Most people feel like the thickness of a C neck is simply the less intrusive one for playing fast, while at the same time allowing you to grab the neck easily for resting if you want to.

Fretboard Radius

Epiphone Joe Bonamassa 1962 ES-335 Fingerboard Radius
Both Guitars Have The Same Fretboard Radius

Most guitar fretboards are not flat; they usually have a curve or arc across their width. A curved fretboard will make it easier to perform chords without muting strings, while a flatter one will make it easier to play single notes, which is good for bending and soloing in general. The best fretboards have a compound radius that varies across the fingerboard, but they're not common since they take a lot more work to build.

Both the Epiphone Joe Bonamassa 1962 ES-335 and the Gibson Flying V have the same fretboard radius of 12". This is the radius used in most Gibson guitars. It gives you a good balance for playing chords without muting, but also good comfortability for playing single notes and bending.

Hand Size Comfortability

Everyone has a different hand size, and that's why it's recommended to try a guitar before buying, even if others tell you that it's comfortable to play. However, we can know whether a guitar favors small or large hands just by knowing its exact measurements.

And after taking into account the scale length, nut width, neck profile and fretboard radius, we can conclude that the Epiphone Joe Bonamassa 1962 ES-335 favors large hands more than the Gibson Flying V.

Epiphone Joe Bonamassa 1962 ES-335:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Gibson Flying V:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Epiphone Joe Bonamassa 1962 ES-335 and Gibson Flying V Frets Size
Both have a similar Medium Jumbo fret size

Both have a Medium Jumbo fret size. These are slightly shorter than full Jumbo frets, so you'll still feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings. However, they interfere less with your fretting hand than medium-size frets. This is a good size if you like easy-to-press frets, but would still like to feel a bit of the fretboard when playing.

Final Playability Scores

Epiphone Joe Bonamassa 1962 ES-335
Bending & Vibrato Ease 80
Chord Playability 65
Solo Playability 70
Playability 72
Gibson Flying V
Bending & Vibrato Ease 85
Chord Playability 65
Solo Playability 70
Playability 73

Specs Side-by-Side

Epiphone Joe Bonamassa 1962 ES-335 vs Gibson Flying V
General Epiphone Joe Bonamassa 1962 ES-335 Gibson Flying V
Brand: Epiphone Gibson
Year: 2022 2019
Configuration: HH HH
Strings: 6 6
Made in: China United States
Series: Artist Collection Original Collection
Colors: Red Natural
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Semi-Hollow Solid Body
Body Material: 5-ply Layered Maple Mahogany
Bridge: Maestro Vibrola Aluminum Nashville Tune-O-Matic
Neck
Neck Joint: Set Set
Tuners: Epiphone Deluxe with Double Ring Buttons Grover Rotomatics w/ Kidney Buttons
Fretboard: Indian Laurel Rosewood
Neck Material: Mahogany Mahogany
Decoration: Small block Acrylic Dots
Scale Size: 24.75" 24.75"
Shape: Rounded C Slim Taper
Thickness: 1st Fret: 0.84'' (21.3mm) - 12th Fret: 0.94'' (23.9mm) 1st Fret: 0.82'' (20.8mm) - 12th Fret: 0.92'' (23.4mm)
Frets: 22 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver 22 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 12" 12"
Nut: Ivory Tusq Ivory Tusq
Nut Width: 43mm (1.693'') 43mm (1.693'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Gibson BurstBucker 3 (Humbucker / Passive) Gibson BurstBucker 3 (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: Gibson Burstbucker 2 (Humbucker / Passive) Gibson Burstbucker 2 (Humbucker / Passive)
Switch: 3 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Bell Bell
Pickup Mods: None None
Volume Controls: 2 2
Tone Controls: 2 1