Swap
Swap
Epiphone Marty Schwartz ES-335
PRS SE Mark Holcomb
VS
Playability
73
Sound
71
Build
66
Value
75
Score
70
FIND IT ON:
Sweetwater logoMusician's Friend logo
Playability
75
Sound
75
Build
58
Value
74
Score
69
FIND IT ON:
Sweetwater logoMusician's Friend logo
Add to Compare
Add to Compare
Add more to comparison
Show Full Spec Comparison
Epiphone Marty Schwartz ES-335 vs PRS SE Mark Holcomb Specs Comparison
Epiphone Marty Schwartz ES-335 PRS SE Mark Holcomb
General
Brand: Epiphone PRS
Year: 2023 2023
Configuration: HH HH
Strings: 6 6
Made in: China Indonesia
Series: Artist SE
Colors: Red Black Burst
Left-Handed Version: Yes No
Body
Type: Semi-Hollow Solid Body
Body Material: 5-ply Layered Maple; AAA Flame Maple Veneer Mahogany
Bridge: LockTone Stop Bar PRS Plate Style (String Through)
Neck
Neck Joint: Set Set
Tuners: Grover 502C Roto-Grip Locking Rotomatic PRS Designed Tuners
Fretboard: Indian Laurel Ebony
Neck Material: Mahogany Maple w/ Satin Finish
Decoration: Pearloid Small Block Birds
Scale Size: 24.75" 25.5"
Shape: 60s SlimTaper, Rounded C Wide Thin
Frets: 22 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver 24 Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 12" 20"
Nut: Ivory Tusq PRS Propietary
Nut Width: 43mm (1.693'') 42.9mm (1.688'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickups: Alnico Classic PRO (Humbucker / Passive) Seymour Duncan Mark Holcomb "Scourge" (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: Alnico Classic PRO (Humbucker / Passive) Seymour Duncan Mark Holcomb "Scarlet" (Humbucker / Passive)
Switch: 3 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Bell Dome
Pickup Mods: Coil Split, Phase Out Coil Split
Volume Controls: 2 1
Tone Controls: 2 1
Hardware
Strap Lock: No No
Hardware Color: Nickel Black & Chrome
Show Diagrams Comparison
PRS SE Mark Holcomb pickups switch and push knobs diagram
PRS SE Mark Holcomb's switch options

Reasons to Get
Epiphone Marty Schwartz ES-335 over PRS SE Mark Holcomb

Type of Frets
Medium Jumbo vs Jumbo
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Pickup Mods
Multiple vs Coil Split
Body Type
Semi-Hollow vs Solid Body
Lighter and allows more gain than a hollowbody
Volume Knobs
2 vs 1
More volume control
Tone Knobs
2 vs 1
More tone control
Locking Tuners
Yes vs None
Easier to change strings
Nut Width
1.693'' (43mm) vs 1.688'' (42.9mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle
Scale Length
24.75'' (628.7mm) vs 25.5'' (647.7mm)
Easier bending, shorter fret separation and warmer natural tone
Fretboard Radius
12'' (304.8mm) vs 20'' (508mm)
Easier to play chords without muting strings
Value Score
75 vs 74
Better price/quality relationship

Reasons to Get
PRS SE Mark Holcomb over Epiphone Marty Schwartz ES-335

Country of Manufacturing
Indonesia vs China
Built with higher quality standards
Frets Height
Taller vs Shorter
Easier to press down strings and bend them
Type of Frets
Jumbo vs Medium Jumbo
You won't feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Pickups Brand
Seymour Duncan vs None
Pickups from a renown brand
Pickup Mods
Coil Split vs Multiple
Splits humbuckers into single coil pickups
Body Type
Solid Body vs Semi-Hollow
Feedback free
Number of Frets
24 vs 22
Allows to reach higher notes
Nut Width
1.688'' (42.9mm) vs 1.693'' (43mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes
Scale Length
25.5'' (647.7mm) vs 24.75'' (628.7mm)
Lower action and brighter natural tone
Fretboard Radius
20'' (508mm) vs 12'' (304.8mm)
Flatter fretboard makes it easier to play single notes and bend

Other Key Differences
Epiphone Marty Schwartz ES-335 vs PRS SE Mark Holcomb

Bridge Pickup
Alnico Classic PRO vs Seymour Duncan Mark Holcomb "Scourge"
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Alnico Classic PRO vs Seymour Duncan Mark Holcomb "Scarlet"
Different Neck Pickup
Body Wood
Flame Maple vs Mahogany
Different Body Wood
Neck Wood
Mahogany vs Maple
Different Neck Wood
Fretboard Wood
Laurel vs Ebony
Different Fretboard Wood
Nut Material
Ivory Tusq vs PRS Propietary
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Epiphone Marty Schwartz ES-335 vs PRS SE Mark Holcomb

Headstock
3-3
Same Headstock
Strings
6
Same playing style
Switch Positions
3
Same pickups versatility
Pickups
HH
High output without hum
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Bridge
Fixed
Good sustain and needs no set-up
Pickups Power
Passive
Cleaner sound and no battery needed
Decorative Top
5-ply Layered Maple; AAA Flame Maple Veneer vs Beveled Maple with Quilted Maple Veneer
Finished with beautiful natural wood patterns
Neck Profile Type
C
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Neck Joint
Set
Neck is glued to the body

Common Strengths

  • High-Quality Nut
  • Expensive Wood

Common Weaknesses

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

Price History Comparison

Epiphone Marty Schwartz ES-335 Prices

SET PRICE ALERT

PRS SE Mark Holcomb Prices

    SET PRICE ALERT

    These are affiliate links. We may earn a fee if you purchase after clicking. These prices are prone to error. Make sure you're buying the right product after clicking on a link from our site. We are not liable if you buy the wrong product after following these links. As an Amazon Associate site we earn from qualifying purchases.

    Hand Size Comfortability

    After taking into account the scale length, nut width, neck profile and fretboard radius, we can conclude that both favor small hands .

    Epiphone Marty Schwartz ES-335:
    Big Hands
    Small Hands
    PRS SE Mark Holcomb:
    Big Hands
    Small Hands

    Beginner Friendliness

    The Epiphone Marty Schwartz ES-335 meets 5 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the PRS SE Mark Holcomb meets only 4. 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 Marty Schwartz ES-335
    • Comfortable shape
    • Easy-to-use bridge
    • Locking tuners
    • Tall frets
    • Comfortable neck
    • Comfortable fretboard
    • Narrow nut
    • Short scale

    New Player Friendliness

    PRS SE Mark Holcomb
    • Comfortable shape
    • Easy-to-use bridge
    • Tall frets
    • Comfortable neck
    • Comfortable fretboard
    • Narrow nut
    • Short scale
    • Locking tuners

    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 Marty Schwartz ES-335

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

    This wood has beautiful patterns only found in specific types of maple.

    Woods Used in the PRS SE Mark Holcomb

    Maple wood pattern used for guitar building
    Maple
    Ebony wood pattern used for guitar building
    Ebony

    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.

    Ebony is a high-end wood, so it is not cheap. It's only used for fretboards because it's also very heavy. It does an excellent job as a durable material while looking elegant. Find out more about Ebony.

    Winner: Tie.

    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

    The PRS SE Mark Holcomb pickups from a more specialized brand than the Epiphone Marty Schwartz ES-335. Its pickups should give you a fuller, richer sound, although it all depends on what type of music you're going to play. We recommend these pickups for Hard Rock and similar genres.

    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: PRS SE Mark Holcomb.

    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.

    Both give you different pickup mod options.

    The Epiphone Marty Schwartz ES-335 offers Coil Split, Phase Out.

    Coil Split lets you disconnect one of the pickup coils. When used with humbuckers, it turns them into single-coil with lower output and cleaner tone.

    When the Phase Out option is activated, the pickups will ''work against each other'', meaning that they will cancel out their shared frequencies. The result is a very thin sound, instead of a full, rich tone. This is an interesting sound for genres like reggae or funk and has also been used in classic Hard Rock.

    On the other hand, the PRS SE Mark Holcomb comes with the following: Coil Split.

    Coil Split lets you disconnect one of the pickup coils. When used with humbuckers, it turns them into single-coil with lower output and cleaner tone.

    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 Marty Schwartz ES-335.

    Final Sound Quality Scores

    Epiphone Marty Schwartz ES-335
    Pickups 60
    Sustain 75
    Versatility 68
    Tuning Stability 80
    Sound 71
    PRS SE Mark Holcomb
    Pickups 85
    Sustain 80
    Versatility 64
    Tuning Stability 70
    Sound 75

    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 Marty Schwartz ES-335 compares to the PRS SE Mark Holcomb.

    Country of Origin

    The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. The Epiphone Marty Schwartz ES-335 is built in China while the PRS SE Mark Holcomb is made in Indonesia.

    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.

    Indonesia is becoming the most popular country for guitar building because they can make good instruments for a low price. Some people think that they're 'the new China' when it comes to build quality. But the truth is that Indonesian guitars are more consistent, although Chinese quality has improved a lot in the last few years.

    Winner: PRS SE Mark Holcomb

    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.

    The Epiphone Marty Schwartz ES-335 has a Ivory Tusq nut. 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.

    On the other hand, the PRS SE Mark Holcomb comes with a PRS Propietary nut. It's similar to TUSQ nuts, but they're not as hard, and the tone is not as bright. However, the material is self-lubricating, and it's usually well cut, so they have good tuning stability.

    Winner: Tie.

    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.

    Both come with a similar bridge: 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

    The Epiphone Marty Schwartz ES-335 has the best tuners of the two because they are locking tuners. They'll help to keep your guitar in tune because they allow you to tune it without wrapping the strings around the posts. This avoids variations in the tuning due to the strings changing position at the post after a bend. They come at the disadvantage of being slightly heavier than regular tuners. Also, it makes it a lot easier to restring.

    Winner: Epiphone Marty Schwartz ES-335.

    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 Marty Schwartz ES-335
    • Locking Tuners
    • Expensive Wood
    • Ivory Tusq Nut
    • Coil Split, Phase Out Pickups
    • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
    • Made in China
    • No Top Brand Pickups
    • No Neck-Through Build
    • No Luminescent Inlay
    • No Tremolo
    • No Compound Radius Fretboard
    • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
    • No Strap Lock
    Strengths & Weaknesses
    PRS SE Mark Holcomb
    • Expensive Wood
    • PRS Propietary Nut
    • Top Brand Pickups
    • Coil Split Pickups
    • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
    • No Locking Tuners
    • Made in Indonesia
    • No Neck-Through Build
    • 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 Marty Schwartz ES-335
    Quality of materials 68
    Features 70
    Quality Control 60
    Build Quality 66
    PRS SE Mark Holcomb
    Quality of materials 48
    Features 55
    Quality Control 70
    Build Quality 58

    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 Marty Schwartz ES-335 Nut Width
    Epiphone Marty Schwartz ES-335 Nut Width
    PRS SE Mark Holcomb Nut Width
    PRS SE Mark Holcomb Nut Width

    The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Epiphone Marty Schwartz ES-335 has the wider nut with 43mm (1.693'') vs 42.9mm (1.688''). This is a 0.1mm (0.0050000000000001'') difference

    This means that it will be more difficult to do bar chords on the Epiphone Marty Schwartz ES-335, especially closer to the nut. However, it's also easier to play without muting strings accidently. This favors people with big hands.

    Scale Length

    Epiphone Marty Schwartz ES-335's Scale Length
    Epiphone Marty Schwartz ES-335's Scale Length
    PRS SE Mark Holcomb's Scale Length
    PRS SE Mark Holcomb's 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.

    The PRS SE Mark Holcomb has the longest scale: 25.5". The Epiphone Marty Schwartz ES-335 is only 24.75" long. This is a 0.75'' (19.1mm) scale length difference.

    This longer scale means that the strings need more tension to get in tune. This is good if you want to avoid fret buzz, which can happen when the strings are too loose and touch the frets while vibrating. This is especially important when playing in lower tunings. This will also let you reduce the gap between fretboard and strings (low action) to make them easier to press down. However, this higher tension will also make it harder to perform bends and vibratos as the strings will feel stiffer.

    This also means that the frets have a longer separation between each other, so this will make it harder for people with smaller hands when playing some chord positions.

    Another characteristic of a longer scale is that it makes the guitar sound 'snappier' or brighter. This is due to the extra separation between harmonics and overtones produced by the tension. This influences tone more than any other factor (except the pickups).

    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 Marty Schwartz ES-335 Neck Profile
    Epiphone Marty Schwartz ES-335's neck profile
    PRS SE Mark Holcomb Neck Profile
    PRS SE Mark Holcomb'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 Marty Schwartz ES-335 and the PRS SE Mark Holcomb 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 Marty Schwartz ES-335 Fingerboard Radius
    Epiphone Marty Schwartz ES-335's Fingerboard radius
    PRS SE Mark Holcomb Fingerboard Radius
    PRS SE Mark Holcomb's Fingerboard 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.

    In this case, the Epiphone Marty Schwartz ES-335's fingerboard radius is smaller, which means it's more curved than the PRS SE Mark Holcomb's. This extra arc will make playing chords easier in this model. You won't be as likely to mute the strings, especially if you have big hands. However, playing single notes and bending will be easier on the PRS SE Mark Holcomb.

    Fret Size

    Epiphone Marty Schwartz ES-335 Frets Size
    Epiphone Marty Schwartz ES-335's Frets Size
    PRS SE Mark Holcomb Frets Size
    PRS SE Mark Holcomb's Frets Size

    The PRS SE Mark Holcomb has Jumbo frets, which should be taller than the Epiphone Marty Schwartz ES-335's Medium Jumbo frets.

    Some people prefer taller frets because they result in more sustain since the strings get pressed cleanly without interference from the fretboard. However, if they're too tall—like Jumbo frets—, you might change the pitch of the strings accidentally if you press too hard because you won't be touching the fretboard with your fingers. This is also why some guitarists with a heavy grip prefer smaller frets. They like to feel the fingerboard to avoid pressing down too hard and getting out of pitch.

    Final Playability Scores

    Epiphone Marty Schwartz ES-335
    Bending & Vibrato Ease 85
    Chord Playability 65
    Solo Playability 70
    Playability 73
    PRS SE Mark Holcomb
    Bending & Vibrato Ease 85
    Chord Playability 50
    Solo Playability 90
    Playability 75