Gibson ES-335 Copies

**derek** · 03-17-2010, 03:12 PM

Ibanez. I had an AS80 for a while that was just wonderful for $250-$300 used. I wound up giving it to a jazz student several years back. The other way to go would be an Epi Dot. I have a student with one, and it is a very nice guitar also for the $. Happy hunting.

**six6string** · 03-17-2010, 04:01 PM

Man I hope the Ibanez AF80 that is "on the way" does the trick for me....got if for under $300 including shipping and case...not made anymore.....hated to buy without the ability to test drive....but not much down side, even if I'm unhappy and have to resell it quickly.

**bkdavidson** · 03-18-2010, 02:58 AM

I'd second the Sheraton. If you're willing to spend the money, go for it. I had one and did ultimately sell it to get my Gibson ES-135, but I could see myself owning a Sheraton again at some point.

**RoyaleT** · 03-18-2010, 04:20 AM

I just acquired an Epi Dot, and reworked all hardware for less than $300. Tuners, all electronics, Duncan Humbuckers, Grapheech nut, bridge and tailpiece in black. I traded a Samick for the Dot, which I find more comfotable, and it was worth the upgrade. Pics...

**jbear** · 03-18-2010, 10:18 AM

A few months ago I played a couple of walls of $1,500-$2,500 Gibsons, Heritage, Hofner...and some Epiphones (I had a very nice MIJ Sheraton II a while back). I picked up an Ibanez AS-103 because the finish caught my eye. Not one of those other guitars felt as good in my hands, was as well finished, or sounded better dirty or clean, so...that's the one I picked. I was ready to spend a lot more, but... Anyway, something to try if you want to.

**millman** · 03-18-2010, 11:04 AM

Ibanez AS73. I've had mine for two years and its wonderful. At under $400.00 you can even change out the pickups and electronics and still spend less than your listed high end. Try it you might like it.

**woyvel** · 03-18-2010, 05:30 PM

Add Epi Lucille to the list. I like the Ibanez Artcores. The AFS75 is thin and lighter than an Epi Dot. You'll have to try it to see if the tone and playability is to your liking when comparing to the 335 clones.

**famousbirds** · 03-18-2010, 06:07 PM

I play a MIK Hamer Echotone that is one of the best 335-style guitars I've ever laid hands on.

Paid $400 with case for it.

**bodidR** · 03-18-2010, 09:07 PM

I had a 1968 real Gibson 335. It was MY guitar for many years. Bought it in 1969 from the original owner. I won't tell you what I paid for it, and what I sold it for, but it was better than the stock market. I replaced it with an Epi Sheraton II and love it. Has a wider neck, more glitz than can be comprehended, and it plays better. $300 used. Get one with a three-piece neck and wax potted pickups.

**RoyaleT** · 03-19-2010, 04:23 AM

The Samick I traded for the Dot was a Royale 3,( hence my name) which I loved the tone of, but found the size a bit small for me. Nice Duncan designed PUPS, very good in staying in tune, a very versitile axe.

**Squint** · 03-19-2010, 03:34 PM

+1 on Samick. Haven't tried the Greg Bennetts, but my J-9's were made by Samick for Washburn. Just keep in mind that you can do a lot to upgrade a guitar with new pots, etc... as long as you have a quality platform to start with. Good luck!

**Jim Bastian** · 03-19-2010, 11:48 PM

If you are looking in that price range to play jazz, I find the Epiphone Casino (completely hollow) to be a great bargain. Essentially a Gibson 330 styled guitar, it has a very good warm tone for traditional jazz and doesn't have the nasally honk that many 335's have, with their center block. Great for playing jazz gigs outside or in locations where you don't want to take a really expensive archtop. But...if you want the center-blocked 335 honk...the Stadium label guitar is a great bargain...you can pick those up for a few hundred...the import guitars have REALLY improved in the last years.

**Little Jay** · 03-20-2010, 05:40 AM

I like the ES330/Casino a lot, being a Grant Green fan...

But for a 'real' ES335 you could also consider an ES333, which is basically the same guitar for half the money.
I recently purchased one (my first Gibson :-) and I already love it to death!

**cosmic gumbo** · 04-22-2010, 03:13 AM

You can still find an Oscar Schmidt OE30 on ebay for less than $200. Bolt on neck!

**Little Jay** · 04-22-2010, 03:16 AM

Congratulations!
I own a Crafter acoustic and I think they make exceptionally well made instruments for what you pay! Didn't know they make a 335-clone, but it looks great!

**Tom Karol** · 04-23-2010, 08:55 AM

Update:

All seems to be in order. Everything is solid: no buzzes or rattles, very good initial setup, great neck! Only glitch is pickup polepieces don’t align perfectly under strings, but it seems to be a visual, rather than a sonic, problem. Still need to put on my own preferred strings (but it came with 11’s, which are the gauge I use), and then I’ll fine tune the set-up.

Initial sonic impressions:

I’m only going for traditional Jazz tone with this one, and with the Henriksen set dead flat with volume and reverb @ 9:00, I got it! I haven’t used the Gibson control configuration for quite a while, and the pot taper seems different than what I’m used to.

Here’s what I came up with (neck PU for solos, both PU’s for rhythm):

Neck Volume @ 9, Neck Tone @ 5; Bridge Volume @ 1, Bridge tone @ 5. Seems odd, but works great!

Pickups seem sort of mild – good for Jazz – but perhaps not versatile for more aggressive tones, so maybe it’s not a suitable fusion guitar; sort of sounds more like an ES175 than an ES335. That’s fine by me; this is my Jazz guitar! Bridge pickup alone doesn’t do much for me, but I’ve never liked bridge humbuckers very much; in fact, the only bridge pickup I ever found useful is the Tele bridge pickup.

So, more experimentation is definitely warranted, but I’m diggin’ the Jazztone bigtime! And it looks gorgeous!

**brad4d8** · 04-23-2010, 09:22 AM

I've played a few Crafter acoustic flattops, and if they are any indication, you got a good instrument for a good price.
Enjoy it.
Brad

**nrand** · 04-23-2010, 07:16 PM

To answer the question it depends on whether you want to buy new or used. IMO if you can find a good used hollowbody that has not been abused it will have had time to settle in and mature.

I have what many would consider to be an 'el cheapo' 1974 MIJ Epiphone EA 250 but it is 36 years old and the build quality is really starting to become evident. The Electonics are beginning to show signsd of age but the body and neck are still tight and flawless - electronics can be replaced. The guitar - shown here on another thread here cost me $500 + postage - add two P 90s and a new wiring harness I have basically a new vintage guitar for under $800.

Those made with cheaper timber components, glues and resins will start to feel and sound cheap in time - and the jury is still out on the imports coming in from China at present - they are so quickly made - we won't know for ten years at least if these are any good.

I personally would buy a good used guitar - or pay the extra money for a top line current guitar - it depends on your budget.

**Jazzophobe** · 04-23-2010, 07:58 PM

Originally Posted by Tom Karol

I think I want a budget 335-style guitar - $600-$800 max. (Well, what I really want is a Sadowsky Semi-Hollow, but that's another story!) Any suggestions? Used is perfectly acceptable. Thanks!

I've got an Epi Dot that I run through a Seymour Duncan pickup booster and it sounds fantastic!

**mongrel** · 04-24-2010, 05:49 PM

I just satisfied my 335-type Jones this afternoon after I got tired of reading all the "which semi hollow?" posts, Ebay and Craigslist. Epi Dot made by Samick in 1999 in natural finish and nice, hardly played condition. Now comes the "which mods?" phase. First will be the set of Chromes sitting in a drawer for months. Maybe a trapeze tailpiece, a Casino rig should fit. The set of nickel covered Phat Cats has been idle for a couple of years.

**Blue_Jazz** · 04-25-2010, 12:46 PM

If your buying a new one Ill go for Lucille Epiphone version, otherwise a good search on Ebay. Good luck

Archie · 03-12-2011, 02:11 PM

I've played a bunch of guitars, but never found anything that would "blow away" a 335. I recently sold my 335 and kept my 135, just because it's a little bit smaller and lighter.

**helios** · 03-12-2011, 03:10 PM

I have a Yamaha SA2200, and with a pickup change (some feel even this is unecessary), it is comperable to a ES-335. I have played lesser 335's at any rate!

**mattymel** · 03-12-2011, 09:25 PM

my advice is try and find a used Gibson 59' Reissue 335. awesome guitars. i have a Nashville made one, though the Memphis made ones are supposed to be great as well. i would say the workmanship of the custom shop guitars is hard to beat. many people like the fat neck 335s as well.

my experiences have taught me the harder a guitar is to find used, the better it usually is.

**barrymclark** · 08-03-2011, 01:16 PM

My fav' 335 killer is the Heritage 535. If you want a vintage Gibson 335 made the way vintage 335's were made... the H535 is your guitar. They will cost you a little over $2k new as a base. You can customize it for days or until your wallet dries up. It's handmade.

It is on par with the Gibson Custom Shop in terms of quality but on par with the mass production Gibsons in price.