The OE-30 had linear taper volume controls instead of audio taper pots, which are often used today on guitars that will be significantly overdrive the amp. The pickguard is located where the body is much wider and looks kind of small. This moves the pickups bridge tailpiece and pickguard significantly closer to the tail of the body. However, because the OE-30 is a bolt-on neck guitar the neck meets the body at a lower fret than the Gibson. The pickguard on the Oscar Schmidt is actually about the same size as the ES-335. I have fabricated a new larger pickguard out of 5 layer bwbwb material (like the ES-355). They sound fabulous and give the guitar a much more 'proper' vintage look.Дў. I did not like the look of the open pickups (although there was nothing wrong with the sound) so I have swapped them for a pair of mightymite PAFs. It is truly an amazing instrument for the price and a really nice guitar at any price. The Country Gent was definitely fancier, (gold hardware, elaborate binding, inlays, etc.) but in many ways this guitar is better made.

In those times most 335 (at least those I saw) were cherry and when I saw the price of this guitar I had to have it. I always regretted buying the Gretsch and wished I had bought a 335. Back then, I had a Gretsch Country Gentleman. I have been playing off and on since the 60s.

Washburn oscar schmidt oe30