Epiphone 1962 ES-335 Reissue Sixties Ch

Epiphone 1962 ES-335 Reissue Sixties Ch review

The Epiphone 1962 ES-335 Reissue Sixties Ch is a red, semi-hollow electric guitar inspired by the Gibson Custom Collection 2025. It has a five-ply maple and poplar top, back, and sides, with a maple center block and a set-in mahogany neck. A rosewood fingerboard, small block inlays, and single-ply body and fingerboard binding complete the period-inspired look. The package includes a case.

At a listed price of 1,059, the guitar makes a substantial promise: familiar ES-335 styling, two Gibson Custombucker humbuckers, and traditional hardware at a lower price than a Gibson Custom Shop instrument. Owner reports suggest that it can deliver a convincing playing experience, but setup and fret finishing vary enough that buyers should check their individual guitar carefully.

Construction and feel

The neck has a '60s Slim Taper C profile, a 43 mm nut, and a 629 mm scale. There are 22 medium-jumbo frets. Several owners describe the neck as slim and comfortable, including players who prefer a less substantial profile. Others found the large semi-hollow body awkward when seated. That is a familiar consideration with this style of guitar, and personal fit matters more than the specification sheet can settle.

Cosmetic impressions are often positive. Reports praise the Sixties Cherry finish, binding, inlays, and overall vintage-inspired appearance. The included case also received favorable comments from some owners, though another found theirs flimsy. The instrument weighs around 3.7 to 3.75 kg in the reports provided, a useful reminder that a semi-hollow guitar with a center block is not automatically lightweight.

Fretwork is the most consistent concern. Some owners received examples with smooth fret ends and no obvious problems. Others reported sharp edges, uneven frets, or buzzing that required dressing, polishing, or leveling. These accounts do not establish that every guitar has the same defect, but they make inspection worthwhile. Check the fret ends along both sides of the neck, listen for buzzes across the fretboard, and assess whether the action is comfortable before deciding to keep the instrument.

Setup and electronics

Setup quality appears similarly variable. Some buyers found their guitar ready to play, while others needed to adjust the neck, action, intonation, and pickup height. One owner said a paid setup made the guitar play well straight out of the box. Another reported several hours of fretwork and adjustment before being satisfied. If you do not handle guitar setup yourself, allow room in your budget for a technician's work.

The electronics follow a straightforward layout: two Gibson Custombucker humbuckers, separate volume and tone controls for each pickup, and a three-way toggle. The bridge is an ABR-1 Tune-O-Matic with an aluminum stop bar. Epiphone Deluxe tuners and nickel-plated hardware round out the specification. Several positive reports describe responsive controls and a convincing range of clean and overdriven sounds.

Descriptions of the pickups differ sharply. Some players heard a warm, creamy neck pickup and a forceful bridge sound, with the middle position offering useful balance. Others found the tone thin, bright, or harder-edged than expected. One comparison with a Gibson ES-335 was favorable, though the player explicitly framed it as a personal impression rather than a controlled test. Amp choice, strings, setup, and taste all affect these judgments, so the Custombucker name alone cannot guarantee a particular result.

Verdict

The Epiphone 1962 ES-335 Reissue Sixties Ch has an attractive specification and, in favorable examples, delivers the slim neck, classic semi-hollow character, and polished appearance that draw players to this design. Its strongest case is the combination of Gibson Custombucker pickups, traditional controls, and a detailed vintage-style finish at a price well below a Gibson Custom Shop guitar.

Quality control is the reservation. Reports range from excellent finish and easy playability to sharp fret ends, poor adjustment, and disappointing tone. Those differences make a hands-on inspection more important than relying on the model name or another owner's verdict. Try it through an amp you know, check every fret, and confirm the setup. A well-finished, properly adjusted example can be a strong value. One that needs significant fretwork or simply does not suit your ears may not feel like a bargain.