Epiphone

ES-3352021

The Epiphone ES-335 is a semi-hollow guitar with a center block, not fully hollow like the Casino, which makes it a bit more mod-friendly and less prone to feedback at volume.

12 mods reviewed: 9 drop-in, 2 need verification, 1 needs modification.

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Andertons

£499.00In stock

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The Epiphone ES-335 is a semi-hollow guitar with a center block, not fully hollow like the Casino, which makes it a bit more mod-friendly and less prone to feedback at volume. It uses a LockTone Tune-O-Matic bridge with a separate stopbar tailpiece on Nashville-spec posts, the modern Epiphone standard, and current production typically has 10mm tuner holes rather than the vintage 8.8mm size, though this hasn't been confirmed on a spec sheet. Standard humbucker routing means most aftermarket humbuckers drop in without extra work.

Quick facts

Tailpiece

Trapeze

Neck mounting

Set neck (glued)

String spacing

52mm (2.05")

Scale length

24.75" (629mm)

Tuner hole size

10mm (25/64")

Not published by Epiphone: bridge mounting spacing. Measure this before buying a bridge.

Watch out

This guitar's bridge is listed as LockTone Tune-O-Matic, but Epiphone does not publish which post spec it uses, ABR-1 (narrower, vintage-correct) or Nashville (wider). Most modern Epiphones use Nashville spec, so the Nashville-spec bridge below is marked Likely drop-in as the better bet, while the ABR-1-spec option is marked Needs verification, the fallback if this guitar turns out to be the exception. Epiphone uses the same metric stud thread on both variants, only the post-hole diameter differs slightly, so a wrong guess here carries less risk than the same mistake on a vintage-spec USA Gibson, but you should still confirm your actual bridge style before ordering. Tuner hole size, by contrast, is well corroborated at 10mm across multiple independent sources and does not need separate verification.

Bridge

4 options

Illustration, photo coming soon

TonePros NVR2 Locking Nashville TOM

Likely drop-in

A locking Nashville-spec bridge upgrade. Epiphone bridges commonly share the same stud size across bridge styles, so this is a lower-risk swap than on a USA Gibson, worth confirming your exact bridge style before ordering.

Why we say this

TonePros' Nashville-spec locking bridge. Epiphone bridges of both ABR-1 and Nashville style share the same 6mm metric stud, so a Nashville-spec retrofit carries less risk here than on a vintage-spec USA Gibson, though the exact factory bridge variant on this model has not been independently confirmed.

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Hipshot 6-String Tone-A-Matic Bridge

Needs verification

This bridge is designed for Nashville and Epiphone-style Tune-o-matics, which is likely what this guitar has, but worth checking the stamp on your bridge before buying.

Why we say this

Hipshot's Tone-A-Matic is built for Nashville and Epiphone-style mounting, not ABR-1, per Hipshot's own published spec. This guitar's LockTone bridge is presumed to be the Nashville import-style hardware typical of modern Epiphones, which would match what Hipshot build to, but the exact bridge stamp on this specific guitar has not been independently confirmed.

Help confirm this fit

TonePros AVR2 Tune-o-Matic Bridge

Needs verification

A locking ABR-1-spec bridge upgrade, the option to reach for only if you confirm your factory bridge is the narrower vintage style rather than Nashville. Most modern Epiphones use Nashville spec, so check before buying.

Why we say this

TonePros' ABR-1/vintage-spec locking bridge. Guitar's actual factory bridge variant (ABR-1 vs Nashville) is unconfirmed and most modern Epiphones use Nashville spec, so this ABR-1-spec product should not carry the same confidence as the Nashville-spec option below unless your specific bridge is confirmed as ABR-1 style.

Help confirm this fit

Faber ABRN Nashville Bridge

Requires modification

This bridge is built for genuine Gibson Nashville posts, not Epiphone's. You'll need to swap in Faber's own conversion posts first, no drilling required if you use their simplest kit.

Why we say this

Faber's own FAQ states Epiphone and other imported guitars use bridge posts that screw into bushings, not original Nashville inserts, and require Faber conversion bridge studs (NSWKIT, BSWKIT, or iNsert) to use any Faber bridge including the ABRN. NSWKIT is a straightforward stud swap with no drilling. BSWKIT is more invasive, needs the body inserts removed and tapped. The plain ABRN alone is not a drop-in for this guitar.

Help confirm this fit

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Pickup

3 options

DiMarzio DP151 PAF Pro Humbucker

Likely drop-in

Soldering

Fits the standard humbucker route and mounting on this guitar. A more vintage-voiced alternative to a higher-output pickup. You will need to solder it in.

Why we say this

Standard humbucker footprint, direct fit for the stock ES-335 humbucker route and mounting. A medium-output, more vintage-leaning alternative to a higher-output pickup like the JB.

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Seymour Duncan Alpha & Omega Humbucker Set

Likely drop-in

Soldering

Fits the standard humbucker route. Needs soldering, not a plug-and-play part.

Why we say this

Standard humbucker footprint, direct fit for the stock ES-335 humbucker route.

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Illustration, photo coming soon

Seymour Duncan JB SH-4 Humbucker (Black)

Likely drop-in

Soldering

Fits the standard humbucker route and mounting on this guitar. You will need to solder it in.

Why we say this

Standard humbucker footprint, direct fit for the stock ES-335 humbucker route and mounting.

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Tuner

5 options

Illustration, photo coming soon

Gotoh SG381 Locking Tuners (Magnum Lock-Trad), 3+3

Likely drop-in

Gotoh specify a 10mm bore for these, matching this guitar's holes. A straight locking upgrade, no reaming.

Why we say this

The Epiphone ES-335 has a Gibson-style 3-per-side headstock drilled at 10mm, and Gotoh specify a 10mm bore for the SG381 housing, so the posts seat in the existing holes.

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Gotoh SG381 Tuners (Standard, Non-Locking), 3+3

Likely drop-in

Built for 10mm holes, same as this guitar's. A direct swap for the stock tuners.

Why we say this

The Epiphone ES-335 has a Gibson-style 3-per-side headstock drilled at 10mm, and the SG381 housing is built for a 10mm bore, so the posts seat in the existing holes.

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Illustration, photo coming soon

Grover 102 Rotomatic Tuners

Likely drop-in

Grover's Rotomatics are built for 10mm holes, which is what this guitar has. Straight swap, no reaming.

Why we say this

The Epiphone ES-335 has a Gibson-style 3-per-side headstock drilled at 10mm. Grover's Rotomatic housing is built for a 10mm bore, so the posts seat in the existing holes.

£129.99 at Andertons

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Grover 502 Roto-Grip Locking Rotomatics Tuners 3 x 3

Likely drop-in

The locking version of Grover's Rotomatic, built for the same 10mm holes this guitar has. Swaps in without reaming.

Why we say this

The Epiphone ES-335 has a Gibson-style 3-per-side headstock drilled at 10mm, and Grover's Roto-Grip locking housing uses the same 10mm bore as their non-locking Rotomatics, so the posts seat in the existing holes.

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Illustration, photo coming soon

Kluson Revolution Diecast Locking Tuners

Likely drop-in

Kluson's Revolution uses a screw-in bushing sized for 10mm holes, which is what this guitar has. No reaming needed.

Why we say this

Current-production Epiphone ES-335 tuner holes are 10mm. Kluson's Revolution uses a screw-in hex bushing built for a 10mm peghole, quoted by Kluson as 25/64 inch, so it threads into the existing holes.

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This page has 3 open questions

If you have fitted any of these to this Epiphone ES-335, tell us what you found and we'll update the data.