Gibson ES-335 Figured Blood Moon

Gibson ES-335 Figured Blood Moon review

The Gibson ES-335 Figured Blood Moon pairs the familiar semi-hollow format with a striking Blood Moon Burst finish and a detailed hardware package. Available since January 2025, it is made in the USA and listed at $3,399. Its figured maple exterior, mahogany neck, rosewood fingerboard, and two calibrated T-Style humbuckers establish the core of the design. A hard case and accessory kit are included.

Owner feedback describes a guitar that arrived well finished and carefully set up, ready to play after tuning. One player, comparing it with a US-made Fender, preferred the Gibson's sound and ergonomics, while noting that this was a personal impression. Other comments praise the finish, tonal character, and ease of playing, with one owner also reporting impressive sustain and accurate octave tuning. Those are individual reports rather than controlled measurements, but they offer useful context for what buyers have found in practice.

Body, neck, and playing feel

This is a semi-hollow guitar, not a fully hollow instrument. The body uses a three-layer construction of AAA figured maple, poplar, and maple. The top is maple, and the Blood Moon Burst finish gives the figuring a prominent visual role. Cream single-ply binding frames the body, while the nitrocellulose lacquer finish and nickel hardware complete the traditional presentation.

The mahogany neck is quarter-sawn and shaped to a rounded C profile. Its rosewood fingerboard carries 22 frets. The 628 mm scale is Gibson's shorter scale length, and the nut measures 42.8 mm wide. Together, these details describe a familiar, compact-feeling layout, although hand size and playing preference will determine whether the neck suits you. One owner specifically praised the guitar's ergonomics and playability, and another described it as motivating to pick up and play.

Reports also point to strong setup quality. Owners described the instruments they received as well finished and correctly adjusted, including one report of accurate octave tuning. Setup can vary between individual guitars and retailers, so it is still worth checking tuning stability, intonation, and fret feel when your instrument arrives. The feedback supplied here is consistently positive, but it represents owner experience rather than a guarantee for every unit.

Pickups and hardware

Two calibrated T-Style humbuckers provide the guitar's pickup configuration. The control circuit uses CTS potentiometers and Orange Drop capacitors. The available specifications do not give pickup output readings or a detailed tonal range, so claims about exact frequency response would go beyond the information provided. In owner comments, the sound is a clear strength: one player preferred it to a US Fender, while another described the tone as excellent. These impressions suggest that buyers value the instrument's voice, but listening in person remains the best way to judge whether it fits your playing.

The bridge is an ABR-1 design with titanium saddles. Vintage-style tulip tuning machines and nickel-plated hardware keep the hardware visually in line with the guitar's classic styling. There is no tremolo. That leaves a straightforward fixed-bridge setup, with the saddle and tuning hardware providing the main points for adjustment.

Finish, case, and value

Blood Moon Burst is central to the model's appeal. Owner feedback calls the color especially impressive, and the AAA figured maple construction gives the finish an expressive surface to work across. Reports also describe the workmanship as clean, with no recurring complaints about the small fit-and-finish issues that can sometimes frustrate Gibson buyers. These are encouraging signs, though a personal inspection is still sensible at this price.

At $3,399, this is a substantial purchase. The price buys a USA-made semi-hollow guitar with figured maple, a quarter-sawn mahogany neck, calibrated humbuckers, and included protection and accessories. The package includes a case and accessory kit, but no separate gig bag is listed. Buyers focused mainly on specifications may want to compare the pickup and neck details with other guitars in this price range. Those drawn to the ES-335 format, distinctive finish, and reported setup quality have more direct reasons to consider it.

Verdict

The Gibson ES-335 Figured Blood Moon has a clearly defined appeal: a figured, layered maple body, a rounded C mahogany neck, two humbuckers, and a vivid burst finish. The owner reports provided are notably favorable about its setup, workmanship, playability, sound, and sustain. At this price, inspect the specific instrument and play it if possible, but the feedback suggests a polished, ready-to-play guitar for buyers who want this particular Gibson design and look.