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I went into the LMS to pick up my order of a lifetime (given my current life expectancy) supply of Fender 451 Extra Heavy picks and, while there, checked out a new Epi 335 they had hanging on the wall. I ran it through a BlackStar Debut.
Very nice. The vintage burst actually did have a vintage feel to it and it felt like an older guitar. It played very well and it sounded fine through the Blackstar. I liked it a lot.
And, frankly, not too expensive at $899 CDN (and I do have $500 from a show I played recently burning a hole in my pocket).
I noticed the current Sweetwater price of $860 US. That would be $1200 CDN. An extra 30%. Why would that be? Not to get political mes amis, but I think you’re getting screwed.
I’ll at least sleep on it. Maybe go back and have another look tomorrow.
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08-25-2025 11:32 PM
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You might have noticed that the USA has raised many tariffs on imports lately. If Canada's import duties and tariffs are different from those charged by the USA, then a comparison of Canadian and USA prices using only currency exchange rates will be misleading.
Originally Posted by Bach5G
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I'm trying to figure out which model you're talking about? I'm seeing one Epi ES335, the one with the Gibson headstock, for $1149 at sweetwater and another vintage sunburst without the Gibson headstock for $599.
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I recently played an Epi 335-something (might've been the Jim James version? Black finish, dot inlays). It was the house guitar at a studio where I was playing some big band charts, and I grabbed it because it reminded me of my long-lost Gibson ES-345.
Anyway, it played okay, sounded more-or-less like what I think a 335 will sound like -- perhaps a bit brighter, less warm/rich than what I was expecting?
But I did note that it had some conspicuous neck-dive, a condition I don't recall experiencing with any Gibson I've ever played.
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If the Epi Inspired By Gibson is $1150 US that translates into nearly $1600 CDN!
In the past the local LMS was typically within $20 -$30 of the Sweetwater price after currency conversion.
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Yes, and the non inpsired by Gibson model you seem to be mispricing in US dollars is $599. I'm just not seeing the $860 you quoted. Where did you gtet that number from or was it just a mistake? Originally Posted by Bach5G
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There ARE several EPI 335 variants. I have seen many and played quite a few.
If I can summarize, there's the Dot 335 (least expensive), the 335 Pro that I own which was a real bargain - on sale for $475 back around 2018, the newer offerings at $1299 for the 1959 355, several non signature 335's, with Gibson headstocks and pickups at around $849, and the the various sig. models.
I've seen these at the GC site and in their stores.
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And then there is Sheraton. (Or is it Sheraton II?)
I had one (pearly white) for some years and all I remember is that it was heavy.
Is it a good Epi 335 or is it totally different game?
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The dot I tried was more carpenter built than luthier built.
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There are a bunch of Sheraton models now but the Sheraton ii pro I had was a nice axe but had neck dive. Vs a 335 it's a bit less airy and more focused, but still has a good sound. No one would know or tell at a gig if you switched between them for the most part. I chalked up most of the difference to the five piece maple-walnut neck which gave a bit more brightness/focus vs mahoghany on a 335. Originally Posted by Herbie
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There a Jens Larsen video on YouTube in which he compares his Sheraton, an older (60s?) Gibson 335 and an Ibanez 335-like model.
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Good old Jens! He seems to be of the conviction that we are better off studying music and how to play guitar than fooling about with tone-hunting dogma and buying a lot of different guitars.
My Monday afternoon playing buddy has an Epiphone... Sheraton, maybe? The one with P90s. It's really a nice guitar. The neck is excellent, the tone is very good and I enjoy playing it. In addition he has an Ibanez AS180, which doesn't seem to be all that common, which is also an excellent instrument. I find that both of them sit just a little oddly on my lap compared to the guitars that I am used to; I've never played either of them standing. I have always liked that family of sounds (ES-335 type guitars).
Hey, wait a minute. Maybe Jens is on something (as I look at the 9 guitars, 6 mandolins, octave mandolin and tenor banjo in my living room between my wife and I).
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Most likely a Casino (which is fully hollow, like a 330, not semi hollow). If not that, then the pickups were swapped. Or maybe a Sheraton or Riviera with mini-humbuckers? Originally Posted by Cunamara
That is unacceptable. You are forbidden from enjoying guitars that cost less than $2000 and failing to obsess over gear minutiae. Report to re-education center 12 for immediate re-inculcation. Originally Posted by Cunamara
Same thing as an AS-200, but less bling. When I was on my semi-hollow hunt way back when I almost got one of those (it sold before I could pull the trigger). They are indeed way less common than AS-200s (and usually a lot cheaper). Originally Posted by Cunamara
Good thing guitars come in different sizes and shapes, just like we do. Originally Posted by Cunamara
I agree with his overall point about being able to get a "jazz" tone out of any guitar. I have 4 different electric guitars that are as different from each other as electric guitars can get, but all work fine for jazz. Yes, they do sound a bit different from each other (or a lot different, depending on how OCD one gets about it), but there's a core similarity to nearly all neck pickup tones. I will say, though, that those early MIK Sheratons are very nice guitars. I tried one, and thought it was really good, and a friend of mine has one that he sounds great on. I can see why Jens thinks it's as good as his more expensive gear. Originally Posted by Cunamara
FWIW, I have a D'Angelico EX-DC semi. Mine is the first MIK incarnation (made ca. 2005-8). It's a little different from the standard 335 template (and later MIK D'As) in that it has a laminated spruce top. It also has a trapeze tailpiece and an ebony fingerboard. I've compared it extensively to a friend of mine's 335, and the differences in sound are really not very obvious.
They do feel a bit different because of the tailpiece and the differences in neck profile (mine is a little more "D" shaped, and the 335 is a little more "C" shaped, but both are pretty slim). There's also very subtle scale-length difference -- Gibson's "24.75-inch" is actually about 24.6", whereas most other nominal 24.75" scale guitars actually are 24.75" (as is D'A; I've measured). But these are not dramatic things. You mighty notice them, you might not, or think "hmmm, there's a difference, but I can't quite figure out what," at least with your eyes closed.
My friend and I swap guitars for the heck of it most times we get together. The similarities between these two are more striking than the differences. Ditto for his '70s LP Custom and my recent LP '50s Tribute with P90s. As different as you'd think those two would be (all kinds of construction differences, plus completely different pickups, and they're different colors!), they're really not that different. I have no trouble acknowledging that my having several electric guitars is much more an indulgence than a need.
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Well, I went back and bought the guitar I mentioned in my original post. I tried it 4 times since late August, through 3 different amps, and liked it. In the meantime the price dropped by $100, so $799 CDN (or about $575 US) with 0% financing for 12 months. With the approval of SWMBO, I took the plunge.
I compared it to my Gibson 339 tonight. I really can’t tell if one is better than the other. The Epi also looked almost identical to a new Gibson 335 that was on display at the music store. That guitar was $3999.
My only complaint is that it is a snug fit in my Protec gig bag. Maybe the Epi headstock is a bit longer?
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SWMBO, jeeze that's horrible! LoL
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You're not married, I take it.
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Enjoy that new guitar. Yeah, the headstocks can be bigger. What kind of p/ups? Any way to know? The Alnico Pro's are very good.
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According to Epi’s website: Alnico Classic Pros. Sound nice to my ears.
Last edited by Bach5G; 10-26-2025 at 01:41 AM.
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Or a Rumpole fan. Originally Posted by sgosnell
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Originally Posted by sgosnell
No. Thank you!
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