Ibanez AS200 vs Gibson ES-335, size matters?

**Guitar Freak** · 01-25-2019, 02:37 PM

Hey thanks Namely, I had those specs too, but was looking for a comparison to the 335 dimensions. I'm hearing that the AS200 is just slightly smaller, which is fine by me. I'm not a big guy (5'9") and actually considered a 339 sized body at one point, but the tone just didn't do it for me. I'm resigned to the fact that the guitar may look big on me, but tone comes first

... thanks for the reply!

**Guitar Freak** · 01-25-2019, 02:39 PM

Thanks, Flat! I've seen the Heritage 535 name come up quite a bit as a great alternative to the 335, in my research. I appreciate your response!

**Guitar Freak** · 01-25-2019, 02:41 PM

Thanks GitFiddler! I'm enjoying the hunt quite a bit... it's definitely fun to branch out from what I'm used to.

**jim777** · 01-25-2019, 04:34 PM

I've got an '81 AS200 and it is a superb guitar. I'll probably end up having to sell it shortly to help cover the cost of my new (to me) L5, but it is a good one and I'll be sorry to see it go. They do sound different to me than a Gibson 335, but I've never played a 335 that was as well built as any AS200 I've played. The AS200, and high end Japanese Ibanezes in general are superb instruments, superb. Also, Seventy Seven makes a nice guitar (basically a dead ringer for the 335) called the Exrubato you may want to check out - more Japanese craftsmanship that will almost certainly blow the (average) Gibson away.

**339 in june** · 01-25-2019, 05:00 PM

Maybe I'm a bit late to the party, but,
talking about semis, have you considered a Seventy Seven Exrubato ?
See a recent thread of our esteemed forumite JZucker reviewing and demoing it.

**jbear** · 01-29-2019, 06:38 PM

I've got several Ibby's and two 335's. They are all ridiculously well made and finished guitars, and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend any of the lot. That said...they all have very different voices and feel. And that said...nobody listening to you play will notice those differences...just us guitarheads (and some of that will be mental invention...I think I just titled my next track there). I love the neck and fretwork on the AS103 (mine has SD59's, Grovers, and chrome hardware). It's heavier and has a brighter tone then the others. I love the Super 58's and have them in an AS100 (which I prefer over the 200...cuz I don't care for gold hardware and don't need the switching). The AS120 also has 58's and it's very light and airy sounding (at least mine is). The hardware is faded so I don't mind

The 120 and 100 have slightly shallower necks than the 103 or the 335's. The 335's...one is a 59 RI with a really fat neck and one a dot RI...thinner but not shallow at all...completely different...both light...both beasts. Oh yeah...what's the point? Right...well...you really have to get them in your hands with your amp/pedals, but if the neck feels good...you can probably make it work. With a lot of these higher-end guitars, if you have to buy without playing first (provided you do your due diligence with the buyer), you can always turn it around for something else if it doesn't speak to you...sort of like a rental.
Just remembered...I bought an Eastman T165MX from JackZ here several years ago...another monster guitar that's impeccably made. It's a single cut and more hollow than those under consideration, but they make 335-style guitars too.
Thanks again Jack...that Eastman is my Rosenwinkel-tone go-to guitar

**Guitar Freak** · 01-29-2019, 06:53 PM

Thanks Jim! I've gone ahead and ordered the AS200, and to your point will return it if it doesn't speak to me. I usually know within a few minutes whether a guitar is right for me. With the neck, I know almost instantly

**Guitar Freak** · 01-29-2019, 06:54 PM

Thanks for the response! I've ordered the AS200... can't wait!

**Guitar Freak** · 01-29-2019, 06:56 PM

Thanks JBear... I ordered the AS200 a few days ago... on back-order, but once I get it, I should know pretty quickly whether it speaks to me... especially the neck

... love that emote! LOL

**Knuckles** · 02-17-2019, 12:32 AM

I think the 335 and the AS200 are very different. Gibson invented this style and the 335 is iconic. The AS200 is something different. Same style, different animal. You have to play both to decide. I am personally a big Ibanez fan. That said, its hard to argue with Larry Carlton.

There is great Utube footage of John Scofield playing an AS200 with Carlton as well. Here is a link I think. Try pasting this:

Autumn Leaves by Larry Coryell ,Larry Carlton.J Abercrombie?J?Scofield?Tal Farlow

Some great iconic guitarists as well as guitars. Two vintage Ibanez and some nice Gibsons. Some great solos and amazing guitar tone.

**Grez** · 02-17-2019, 11:51 AM

As a general comment, the design of a semi-hollow matters as much as the size. You compaired a 335 and 339 and didn't care for the smaller. In that case, the design is the same and only the size changed, but you shouldn't take away from that experience that smaller isn't to your liking. Only that the way Gibson designes smaller isn't your thing. For example, you might like a Collings 15" as much or more than the Gibson 16" and the design and materials are what make that a possibility. Now you might still prefer the 335 and that's fine, I'm just pointing out that the 335/339 comparison is manufacturer specific and doesn't represent the industry.

**patshep** · 02-17-2019, 11:59 AM

to me, the average ibanez is better built, and i like the pickups better, but they sound more mid focused,like a les paul, and the necks are tiny
gibsons have less quality control, but have a bigger, fatter sound, have better necks... but i want to change the pickups every time.. also you have to sift through a lot of dogs to find a good one

**zokamaks** · 03-02-2020, 04:53 PM

Late at the party, but wanted to comment in case someone in random search (like me) runs up into this thread.

As I’ve just finished playing both my Gibson es-335 and Ibanez AS200 (early ‘80) through the same amp (Fender vibroverb), I have to say that those two guitars are very different. AS200 is much more solid body sounding and feeling guitar, trebley and more aggressive (rockey) comparing to 335, which is more jazzy soundwise, darker and even boxy. Super 58 pickups are like some wild beast. 57 paf pickups are very inspirational (someone might say noble) and dynamic, but much less aggressive. Ibanez is 30% heavier than Gibson. Size is almost the same as well as feel of size. Both are amazing but very different guitars. Getting just one would not satisfy the need for another, no way!

Best regards to all of you

Zoran

**DustinG** · 05-01-2026, 02:31 PM

Originally Posted by mr quick

I'm a big fan of Ibanez, but as I found out when I got my Gibson ES: Only a Gibson is a Gibson. That doesn't diminish the quality of an Ibanez, of course - I'm sure that what I perceive as magic or mojo wiht my ES is more to do with association and emotion, being mostly a placebo... What I can definitely say though, is that the neck profile, thin nitro finish, and big frets on my Gibson come together to make it play much smoother than my Ibanez AF 75. Granted, there's hundreds of dollars in price difference, but it's absolutely tangible and worth it.

Why don't you just head to local music shops and try a few out? The only thing that matters is how it feels to play

I know this is a real old post, buy you're comparing a $4k U.S.-made Gibson to a $400China-made budget Ibanez.