Head to head
ESP E-II SN-III Ht Tiger Eye Sunburst vs Gibson ES-335 DOT, Antique Faded Cherry
The verdict
The ESP E-II SN-III Ht Tiger Eye Sunburst comes out ahead overall — 82 to 72 on our estimated score.
Estimated from specs & owner reviews — a starting point, not a substitute for playing both.
ESP E-II SN-III Ht Tiger Eye Sunburst wins on
- Better build (97 vs 87)
- Better playability (78 vs 64)
- Better sound (76 vs 71)
- Better value (72 vs 62)
Gibson ES-335 DOT, Antique Faded Cherry wins on
- Lower price ($2,999 vs $3,369)
Scorecard
| Metric | E-II SN-III Ht Tiger Eye Sunburst | ES-335 DOT, Antique Faded Cherry |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 82 | 72 |
| Build | 97 | 87 |
| Playability | 78 | 64 |
| Sound | 76 | 71 |
| Value | 72 | 62 |
Full specifications
| Spec | E-II SN-III Ht Tiger Eye Sunburst | ES-335 DOT, Antique Faded Cherry |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | ESP | Gibson |
| Type | Electric | Electric |
| Years | — | — |
| Country | JP | US |
| Body wood | Alder | 3-ply Maple/Poplar/Maple |
| Neck wood | 3Pc Maple | — |
| Fretboard | Ebony | — |
| Strings | 6 | 6 |
| Frets | 22 | — |
| Scale | 25.5" | — |
| Pickups | Fishman Fluence Single Width Black / Fishman Fluence Modern Humbucker Ceramic Black Nickel *(Pull Tone for Voice 2) | MHS II Humbucker Rhythm / MHS II Humbucker Lead |
| Rating | — | — |
| Price | $3,369 | $2,999 |
| Bridge | Hipshot Fixed w/ String Thru | ABR-1 Tune-O-Matic |
| Bridge pickup | Fishman Fluence Modern Humbucker Ceramic Black Nickel *(Pull Tone for Voice 2) | MHS II Humbucker Lead |
| Case | ST-1 Guitar Form Fit Case | Gibson Hardshell |
| Case Included | Y | — |
| Construction | Bolt-On | — |
| Controls | Active | 2 volumes, 2 tones, 1 toggle switch, hand-wired with 500K potentiometers and orange drop capacitors |
| Finish | Tiger Eye Sunburst | Nickel |
| Fretboard radius | 305mm | — |
| Hardware | Black | — |
| Middle pickup | Fishman Fluence Single Width Black | — |
| Neck pickup | Fishman Fluence Single Width Black | MHS II Humbucker Rhythm |
| Neck profile | Thin U | — |
| Nut | Black Bone | — |
| Nut width | 42mm | — |
| Scale length | 25.5" | — |
| Strap Button | ESP Strap Lock | — |
| Top wood | Flamed Maple | 3-ply Maple/Poplar/Maple |
| Tuners | Gotoh Locking | Grover 'Milk Bottle' Rotomatics |
| Accessories | — | Gibson Accessory Kit |
| Back | — | 3-ply Maple/Poplar/Maple |
| Binding | — | Single-ply Cream |
| Body Finish | — | Gloss Nitrocellulose Lacquer |
| Body shape | — | ES-335 |
| Body Styles | — | ES |
| Bracing | — | Spruce |
| Centerblock | — | Maple |
| Control Knobs | — | Black Top Hats with Silver Reflectors |
| Model | — | ESDPFCNH1 |
| Pickguard | — | 5-ply Black |
| String gauges | — | .010, .013, .017, .026, .036, .046 |
| Switch Tip | — | Cream |
| Switchwasher | — | N/A |
| Tailpiece | — | Aluminum Stopbar |
| Truss Rod Cover | — | Engraved F Hole |