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Sadowsky semi-hollow.
Godin Montreal Premier
D'Angelico EX-DC
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04-18-2016 06:17 AM
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If you like the AS-200, you might check out the JSM-10. It's based on the early 80s AS-200 and sounds and plays great.
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Seventy Seven
Comins GCS
Yamaha SA2200
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I have played some outstanding guitars in my time. I have played some outstanding semi-acoustic guitars. A couple of Matsumoku-made, Gibson copies come to mind. So do a couple of Ibanez AS-200 guitars.
However, I must confess that I have never played a better semi-acoustic guitar than a late-50s or early-60s ES-335. They are truly magical guitars. As a kid, my next-door neighbor (who taught my mother and father to play) had a very early, late-50s 335. It's the first electric guitar I ever had my hands on. I couldn't make it sound great, but my neighbor sounded like a Bakersfield hot shot on it.
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Even the '67 and '68 specimens I have played have been better guitars than other semi-acoustics I have played. Those older Gibsons are pretty special.
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I've said before but I think the Ibanez SA-200 is a far better guitar than the AS-200. It is obviously of the same standard as the As-200 which superseded this model. Might be a welcome break from the old AS but they can be tricky to get hold of and the price seems to fluctuate. They also suffer from pick guard gassing.
Yamaha Sa2200 are great, exceptionally well made, would make your average Gibson 335 look like as described earlier. They do feel a little stiff and can lean towards that Japanese sound/feel which you seem to like.
Guild SF4 (westerly) are my favourite 335 alternatives very close to the Gibson feel and sound but with none of the down falls. I ask think the decreased neck angle makes them so much easier to play. Theuy are fantastic guitars. If I could get my hands on a vintage early 70's SFV I'd be happy.
I would also recommend the Epiphone Elite/elitist Sheraton
Last edited by Archie; 04-18-2016 at 01:29 PM.
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Doesn't the Talladega have a 25.5" scale length? If so, I would consider that too big a difference to be compared with a 335.
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I have owned a few Semi's in my day (three 335's, two Guild Starfires, Heritage 535, Gibson Pat Martino and Howard Roberts Fusion). I have played countless others. At the end of the day, a good 335 is still the best. Yes, there are many mediocre 335's out there, but there are some gems as well. Gibson Memphis is building some fine examples. You simply have to play a few until you find the right one.
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I'd get a 25.5" 335 (or a good copy) in a heartbeat!
Originally Posted by Jim Soloway
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Along w/ the other semihollows I mentioned earlier in this thread I also owned a Hamer Talladega. More of a Tele than LP guitar than any thinline. Jim Soloway points out rightly the longer scale makes this sound more Fender like!
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Yes, and I agree that it is not really comparable to a 335 in tone or feel. Actually, I get tones out of my Tally that are more comparable to the guitars you used to build. Originally Posted by Jim Soloway
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I know this is an ancient thread, but I wanted to point out that the model name "SA-200" couldn't have been shorter lived. If that is the guitar you are looking for, like the one pictured here, it will show up on eBay and Reverb as the model 2630. Originally Posted by ArchtopHeaven
I've said before but I think the Ibanez SA-200 is a far better guitar than the AS-200. It is obviously of the same standard as the As-200 which superseded this model. Might be a welcome break from the old AS but they can be tricky to get hold of and the price seems to fluctuate. They also suffer from pick guard gassing.
Yamaha Sa2200 are great, exceptionally well made, would make your average Gibson 335 look like as described earlier. They do feel a little stiff and can lean towards that Japanese sound/feel which you seem to like.
Guild SF4 (westerly) are my favourite 335 alternatives very close to the Gibson feel and sound but with none of the down falls. I ask think the decreased neck angle makes them so much easier to play. Theuy are fantastic guitars. If I could get my hands on a vintage early 70's SFV I'd be happy.
I would also recommend the Epiphone Elite/elitist Sheraton
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I had an Ibanez AS80, which is a no frills AS200 as far as i know, it was wonderful, but the neck was tiny and i just couldn't vibe with it... I also would love a Hamer Talledega, but never see them around...
I had one great es335 that I probably should have kept, but most of the Gibsons just don't seem that great (i know, i know)
I'd love to find a Yamaha sa2000 or 2200 locally... because i think the necks would work better
the 'fat neck' es335 i see are ridiculously expensive, as are Collings in my book.... but i see all these guys who are working musicians around the city with Marchione guitars, which are like 20k... so i'm just cheap maybe
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My favorite was a Guild GSR Starfire VI which came with Seth Lovers. While it has the Guild name it has little in common with the traditional Guild Starfire, but it was an amazing guitar. A close second was an early 70’s Guild Starfire V I got as a teenager. Unfortunately, I no longer own either of those, but I did just trade for an Eastman T386. The build quality and tone are excellent, but the output is just a bit low for my taste. I will eventually replace the pickups, but for now I am enjoying playing it quite a bit.
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I would rank the best Ibanez semis as every bit as good as all but the most exceptional Gibsons I have played or owned. (I have been fortunate to have played some exceptional 335 examples from the late-50s onward.)
I have been well pleased with my Polytone Improv II. It is more like a 345 or 355, but without Varitone. It is an extremely well made semi-acoustic guitar, with a fairly big neck--which I greatly prefer.
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Westville Water seems to have a sweet slightly deeper resonance than a 335 ...expensive and only from demos but I always hear it.
Hear the resonance and bloom when he starts to sustain a note ( but never does)- but I have never heard a 335 sound like this.
I want something like this with neck PU in parallel = this sound.
Then in full Humbucking Mode like a 175 kinda but this sustain and bloom ...
Might just be a short block in a 2.25" or 2.5" deep semi....
Here's another by Westville Subsidiary - Archtop Tribute AT 130 (based on ES 330 )
Full even on high strings and seems to have long sustain - sounds deeper .
BUT are all of them this good ?- I keep seeing this blonde one ...In other words are all the AT 130s resonant like this one with no thin harsh top on high E and B like 335s are often ?.
However - if you guys have 335s that are like this - I will be glad to be wrong on this..
These are very nicely priced ...Last edited by Robertkoa; 02-05-2019 at 10:04 PM.
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What is 'better'? Here are a few videos of Alexis Kasinos, playing a 77 Exrubato Custom (the 2007 version, different headstock logo). As one can hear, a great but different sounding 335 model. Also different from any Westville.
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I to bought a new GSR Starfire VI but still have mine. I also have a 2009 ES-345 and a 1973 Guild Starfire IV w/mahogany body. All three guitars are great in there own way but the GSR Starfire VI is unique. It has a laminated spruce top and maple back and sides along with the Seth Lover pick ups as snoskier posted. All 3 have a 24 1/2 scale and have .011 gage strings but the GSR Starfire is lighter and plays like it has .010's. They are all unique enough to keep but the GSR, which is 15 of 18 made, would be the last one to go. Luckily I don't have to make that choice.
Thanks John
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If you really want a better 335 , shorten the center block make it 2.25 " deep and a spruce top , maybe laminate spruce to keep it darker sounding ...instead of turning tone knob way down...
20 fret neck .
This will never happen of course because there is nothing to copy .
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How about solid carved spruce top, chambered mahogany body just under 2" deep and 22 frets? Originally Posted by Robertkoa
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Still, the question is what 'better' means. Better in regard to what? Darker? Could be a matter of taste. Originally Posted by Robertkoa
Some of the darker sounding Westville guitars that have your interest have a spruce top, and are about 2,5 deep (Solar, Corona). Not cheap guitars, but fairly priced considering their quality. I assume that will also apply to the Gibson guitar mentioned above. So perhaps it is more a budget issue that you would like to have a 4000+ guitar for a much lower price?
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Collings I35LC Aged Faded Red
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'Darker 'is kind of an eccentricity let's say - means I don't have to turn the tone knob much or at all - so listeners hear the' string' more . Originally Posted by stevus
Notice the AT 130 I posted - it does not get thinner at all on the high strings - and even with the Pick - keeps that tone - without tone knob rolled way down [ excellent especially on a less than $2000 Guitar.
Yes - you are right on the $2000 thing - and I agree that at $4000 the Westvilles are very reasonable .
But - you know better than I because you have been there ( correct me if I am wrong )- some of those AT ( Archtop Tribute ) Guitars sound like very high quality anyway.
So the Archtop Tributes lead me to think I can possibly get something for $2000 - although I want [probably ] something with a Stoptail for added sustain and bloom at ends of lines.
And not a 335 sound , generally deeper darker , like Kriesberg with a bit more 'string' although that AT 130 is darn good , thinline or not .
I am trying to get my hands on a few specific used no longer made Guitars to see what they are actually like also.
I listened to the Aruba you mentioned - wow! Has that reslly sweet resonance like the water but fatter sound- excellent probably great Guitar.
4K is more than I want to spend right now - but I would like to play one to try out...Last edited by Robertkoa; 02-16-2019 at 09:20 PM.
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Anyone play/like/thoughts on the Heritage 555?
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Nice Collings and nice Headstrong amp. Great combination. Yeah...as good, if not better than a Gibby.
Here's the Polytone Improv II at a gig:
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