Gibson Memphis 2013 ES-330

As readers who have followed previous installments of this Longterm Test will know, I sold an ES-335 that I was using for a Hendrix/ Cream tribute gig, plus used a bit of extra savings, to get a reissue ES-330.

- Jamie Dickson

As I use a fair amount of effects, the change of voice from Strat-and-335 to 330 has prompted a rethink of what drive pedals I use. For the Jimi/Cream gig, my main drive pedal was the excellent .45 Caliber by J Rockett Audio Designs. The .45 Caliber is designed to sound like a JTM45 and, in terms of my earlier gig, it worked a treat. What I was looking for there was something with a clear, mid-rich voice that kicked the amp in the pants and fattened up the Strat’s single coils without being over the top on the gain side of things. As it turned out, it worked well with the 335, too, and really helped me evoke the sound of two legendary Plexi-playing bands.