ES175 copies - Ibanez FA100 vs. 2355

**bill.lee** · 12-12-2015, 07:16 PM

Hi guys!

After owning several different cheap semihollow and full hollow guitars, I want to buy a "proper" instrument. I'm interested in vintage Ibanez ES175 copies. I found a '77 2355 in nice shape but left unplayed for some time, so it probably would need some work, and a '79 FA100 in great conditions. They both cost roughly the same (around 1000 €).
How do they compare? Are they exactly the same (except for the headstock shape) or is one better than the other, at least on paper?

Thanks for your helpful advice,

Federico

**mad dog** · 12-12-2015, 08:14 PM

I've been able to try one of each. Hardly a survey. The FA100 is owned by a buddy. I tried hard to buy it, but he won't do it. It's a really nice guitar. The 2355 was a craigslist thing in NYC. Picked it up, put it right down. Nothing compelling about the feel or sound.

Which tells me more about the need to try out different guitars than the actual merits of each model. Each guitar is so different, could be perfect or not and the only way to tell is to play it.
MD

**Archie** · 12-12-2015, 09:43 PM

Having had both I wold go for the 2355M. The standard 2355 has stick laminate spruce/birch top which gives the guitar a very dark sound.
You'll probably find the Fa100 easier and more flexible in getting the sound you are looking for.

**icr** · 12-13-2015, 12:06 AM

Catalogs I have seen show near identical specs except for the following:

1976:
2355M Arched curly maple top with curly maple back and rims
2355 Arched spruce top with selected birch back and rims

1978:
FA100NT Arched curly maple top with curly maple back and rims
FA100BS Arched birch top with selected birch back and rims

**va3ux** · 12-13-2015, 12:09 AM

Dutchbopper - known here not only for his playing but also for his stable of high end Gibson laminate guitars - bought a FA100. So that says something.

**bill.lee** · 12-13-2015, 04:42 AM

Thanks guys!

Actually the guy selling his FA100 lives closer to me than the other guy (who is 3-4 hours far), so I'm gonna try his guitar first..

**bill.lee** · 12-13-2015, 10:17 AM

I also found an '80s Westone Session II, an ES175 copy made in Matsumoku. It looks like a very nice instrument and it should be, usually Matsumoku instruments are great.

Does anyone know more about that particular model?

**Archie** · 12-13-2015, 11:23 AM

Originally Posted by bill.lee

I also found an '80s Westone Session II, an ES175 copy made in Matsumoku. It looks like a very nice instrument and it should be, usually Matsumoku instruments are great.

Does anyone know more about that particular model?

Yeh they usually go for about £450 to £500 in the Uk. They look very good an highly underrated but I suspect that is due to the looks. At the right pricer I'd grab one, as I would any of the guitars mentioned.

I just feel the asking price for some models (like the 2355) is getting a bit silly. They are good guitars but not that good :-)

**bill.lee** · 12-13-2015, 02:53 PM

Thanks, ArchtopHeaven!

I'm going to try some of these guitars in the next week, I'll let you know how it goes!

I also found a great looking '60s Shaftesbury Barney Kessel copy with Seymour Duncan '59s, looks really really interesting but there is almost nothing on the web about it, and it's too far to go and try it.. we'll see

**GNAPPI** · 12-13-2015, 03:51 PM

Originally Posted by bill.lee

I also found an '80s Westone Session II, an ES175 copy made in Matsumoku. It looks like a very nice instrument and it should be, usually Matsumoku instruments are great.

You're dead on, unfortunately some of the Matsumoku models are selling for nearly as much as the genuine article. I don't know where you live but there's an Aria Herb Ellis now on EBAY in Louisiana at a good price. This one is a very nice and pretty darn close copy as far as playability and sound go.

**bill.lee** · 12-13-2015, 04:39 PM

GNAPPI, unfortunately I live in the north of Italy. Thanks anyway for the suggestion!

**pingu** · 12-13-2015, 05:14 PM

Originally Posted by bill.lee

Thanks, ArchtopHeaven!

I'm going to try some of these guitars in the next week, I'll let you know how it goes!

I also found a great looking '60s Shaftesbury Barney Kessel copy with Seymour Duncan '59s, looks really really interesting but there is almost nothing on the web about it, and it's too far to go and try it.. we'll see

I'm old enough to remember the old Shaftesbury's ... they weren't very wonderful
I'm afraid (or CSL's)

**bill.lee** · 12-13-2015, 07:40 PM

Ok, so one guitar less to lust over ;-) In the meantime I also found a cheap Aria Herb Ellis, which seems to have lots of praise... First I need to try the Westone is in my town, then we'll see, even if the Aria is quite cheaper

**pingu** · 12-13-2015, 09:46 PM

Originally Posted by bill.lee

Ok, so one guitar less to lust over ;-) In the meantime I also found a cheap Aria Herb Ellis, which seems to have lots of praise... First I need to try the Westone is in my town, then we'll see, even if the Aria is quite cheaper

Aria Herb is a good guitar
its got a soundpost under the bridge
its heavily built too

**dnabbet2** · 10-07-2016, 03:03 AM

Originally Posted by icr

Catalogs I have seen show near identical specs except for the following:

1976:
2355M Arched curly maple top with curly maple back and rims
2355 Arched spruce top with selected birch back and rims

1978:
FA100NT Arched curly maple top with curly maple back and rims
FA100BS Arched birch top with selected birch back and rims

Anyone know whether the neck on the FA100 is mahogany? Or is it maple?

**jim777** · 10-07-2016, 05:10 PM

It's maple, or mine is at least. Mine is a '78 and it is going to one of my children in my will.

I had Norio Imai replace the pots on her a few years ago, but other than the pots and knobs its stock. I only ever use one knob, can you guess which one?

**agentsmith** · 10-10-2016, 01:41 PM

Neither of them have the tone of a good gibson 175. I have owned and played them both. They are nice instruments but not in the same league as a good gibson 175. OTOH, they may be nicer than the average gibson 175 since the gibson quality varies so much. However, if you can get anything late '80s or earlier, the likelihood is good the the gibson will blow it away.