Your Preferred ES-335 Based (Non-Gibson) Guitar

[frail]

This is good enough for me.
1981 TOKAI ES-100
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2n568TE]

[Gitfiddler]

My first 'quality' 335 style guitar was a '79 Ibanez 2630 purchased from a pawn shop in the mid-80's. Over the years I replaced the pickups with Super 58's and swapped the t.o.m. bridge with a Gotoh. It is still my favorite semi-hollow, and will never be sold. Over the years the binding has corroded and the bright work isn't as bright in places. It shows signs of aging just like its owner.

Several years ago I spotted a gently used Ibanez JSM100 for sale and couldn't resist buying it. I viewed it as an upgraded version of the 2630, and a great replacement if it ever fell apart in my arms. (Not likely. It's built like a tank). Still have the two Ibanez semis.

The next two semi-hollows I dearly love are my Heritage H-535 and H-555. To me they are what Gibson should have made but didn't. Heritage uses solid rims along with the traditional laminate top and back. As with the two Ibanez semi's, the input jack is on the rim, my preferred location and out of harms way. (I once damaged the top of a short-lived Ibanez LR10 when I inadvertently whacked the guitar cord!). The LR10 had a slim neck profile, so it had to go.

In all the many years of playing, I've never owned an ES-335. However, recently a buddy of mine put up his ES-355 Lucille for sale...and I hope to possess it in the near future. In addition to being a huge BB King fan, I've always wanted a 355 since as a kid pouring over the Gibson Guitar Catalogues of the 60's and 70's.

Oh, and the ES355 Lucille has the input jack right where I like it...on the rim, of course!

[Jabberwocky]

I have the Exrubato Standard, Exrubato Custom, Exrubato Jazz from Seventy-seven Guitars, Japan. They are 77 Guitars' takes on the 335, 355, and double-cut ES-150 Thinline with a pressed spruce top.

[Jabberwocky]

[Average Joe]

I have the Exrubato Standard, Exrubato Custom, Exrubato Jazz from Seventy-seven Guitars, Japan. They are 77 Guitars' takes on the 335, 355, and double-cut ES-150 Thinline with a pressed spruce top.

I understand that the older Exrubatos were fully made in Japan whereas the newer ones are made elsewhere in Asia and simply "tuned" in Japan. Have you had the chance to compare the two types?

[Jabberwocky]

I bought mine in 2012. Haven't had a chance to check out current production. There was a shortlived cheaper line that was Made in Philippines and "tuned in Japan". But the flagships have always been Made in Aska, Japan. Seventy-seven Guitars is a small workshop under the Deviser umbrella.

[stevus]

I have the Exrubato Standard, Exrubato Custom, Exrubato Jazz from Seventy-seven Guitars, Japan. They are 77 Guitars' takes on the 335, 355, and double-cut ES-150 Thinline with a pressed spruce top.

Great guitars, indeed. I have the one missing in your Exrubato collection, the Custom Koa version.

[Crm114]

i

im not really a semi hollow guy I’m really more of a true hollow body fanatic but I do have two double cutaways that I really like. Here are some pictures one is a semi hollow and the other is a fully hollow
OK
The first is a Guitar I’ve always Jonesed for it’s a 80s Moonstone M.80 this one has a carved top and back the top is Spruce and the back is a really lovely figured Koa and it weighs about 10 1/2 pounds ha ha Ha
The other that I’m really fond of is a 1969 Gibson Rosewood Crest Gold yeah it’s fully hollow and it’s built more like a 330 where the neck comes further into the body and it’s made of laminated Brazilian rosewood everywhere mahogany neck and this one’s been modified by the original owner - I bought it from his surviving son it’s got Seymour Duncan center it’s a really great
I call that one my Johnny Rivers guitar

[dreamguitars]

[QUOTE=Crm114;1182928]





Wonderful guitar, did I get it right that you own this one?

[citizenk74]

, Dreamguitars!

[citizenk74]

This is good enough for me.
1981 TOKAI ES-100
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2n568TE]

[charleyrich99]

I have a Guild X170t that I think is a great alternative to the Gibson 335, actually I think it is much better. It is fully hollow, but with the right pickups can handle anything from blues to straight ahead Jazz.

[Webby]

I'll throw in a guitar you rarely see out in the wild.


The Peavey JF-1. When i bought mine they sold for about 350€ new. They did some clever things with it, like moving the input Jack from the top to the side. The biggest selling point for me though is the special Set-neck design, which feels incredibly good, especially higher up the neck.

Paul

[burchyk]

edit: oops, non Gibson.. might be the D'Angelico SS

[Alter]

If not Gibson I'd go Ibanez for a quality 335 style guitar.

[jim777]

I bought mine in 2012. Haven't had a chance to check out current production. There was a shortlived cheaper line that was Made in Philippines and "tuned in Japan". But the flagships have always been Made in Aska, Japan. Seventy-seven Guitars is a small workshop under the Deviser umbrella.

The Seventy Seven current stance is the Exrubatos are never coming back. The JT Exrubato guitars are made in the Philipinnes with thinner necks, and they've told their US importers that the JTs are here to stay. I think Deviser is likely going to make all of their 77 guitars in the Philippines in the near future, and leave STR and Momose as their top of the line bass and guitar brands going forward, but that is just my opinion. Deviser is STR, Momose, Bacchus, Headway, and Seventy Seven.

[Jimmy Mack]

I've had quite a few Gibsons, Guilds, and Epiphones. Their vintages ranged from 1961 to 2019.
I still have a few of those.
But it depends on your budget, and importantly....your ability to get around and try out a few guitars in person.

Some are not worthy, and some are wonderful surprises, new, used or floor models.

You simply have to try a bunch, and try a few more!

I have bought 4 recent EPIPHONES. All made in China. Tried them in the stores, and could not leave without buying them.(in some cases, I was not even looking to purchase a guitar) - A Lucille, an ES 339 Pro P90, a 1961 RI Casino, and an ES 335 Pro. All great, and cannot part with either of them, even tho I should pare down. They sound and play absolutely great. I've had plenty to compare to over the last 56 years.

[Old Guitar Player]

Over the last 50 years, I've owned almost every popular brand & model of solid body electric (at some point). I currently own a Martin Acoustic/Electric, Fender HSS Deluxe Stratocaster, Fender PPlus Nashville Telly, Gibson HP Les Paul (Plus top) and a DAngelico SS as described below...

A few years ago, I was told about reasonably priced D'Angelico Semi-Jazz boxes being manufactured overseas (Korea & Indonesia) and that they were considerably better constructed than I might imagine (built at the same factory as the PRS SE models). Eventually, I came across a "stupid deal" on one at my local G.C. I absolutely I loved the way it played, sounded, and looked.

It came with a set of authentic USA Seymour Duncan "Hot Rod" pickups (SH2, SH4) and had great workmanship, but the factory wiring harness and hardware were a bit underwhelming. Easy fix, I added Locking Grover Imperials, a Tonepros locking roller bridge & locking tailpiece, finally I added a new hand-wired harness (which includes a Switchcraft toggle & jack, Orange drop caps, Bourns (military spec) push-pull 500k pots, and cloth wrapped wire). In the end, I was still under $1000 in total investment!

I re-cut the nut, leveled and dressed the frets, installed the upgraded hardware and electronics and fine tuned it. Next, I plugged it in, and compared it to my best friend's 1999 ES 335 (also illustrated below). Honestly, I feel like it easily holds it's own for approximately 1/4th the investment.

[Greywolf]

My 2017 Heritage H535 LTD fills the bill nicely when I'm not playing my 335 . It has SD 59/57 's and covers a huge pallete of tones and styles .

[Greywolf]

or this rare bird , A Tony Nagy built Jaros Gatlinburg with low wind Fralins and coil taps, Earvana nut , locking tuners. The back matches the front , it's a deep tenon neck .. goes in to the bridge.

[classict1]

So many sweet guitars in this thread! I have a ton of love for the Heritage H535 and Japan Seventy-Seven guitars. Owned a Seventy-Seven Albatross that was an absolute clean tone machine.

Here’s my ranking of 335 style guitars I’ve owned
-

Heritage H535
Yamaha SA2200
Eastman T64
Tokai ES-155
Comins GCS-1
Comins GCS-1ES
Ibanez AS103
Epiphone Dot

Artcore/budget Ibanez guitars and Epiphones are really not in the same class as the rest on that list. My Tokai was a 2011 and very similar in quality to the Comins guitars. Eastmans feel just a touch better with their thin nitro finishes.

The model that goes overlooked too often is the Yamaha SA2200. Briefly owned one that had immaculate fit and finish on top of sweet tone. The perfect 335 variation for cats going for a fusion sound - especially a John Scofield vibe.

[Little Jay]

Recently one of my guitar mates bought a Sire H7 Larry Carlton and I am pretty impressed by that guitar, althought it has a bit brighter and clearer sound-print than a 335, probably because of the maple neck. They go for around $600 overhere (Europe).

[Jazz_175]

Yours looks more like a 355 rather then a 335 as you say.

I re-cut the nut, leveled and dressed the frets, installed the upgraded hardware and electronics and fine tuned it. Next, I plugged it in, and compared it to my best friend's 1999 ES 335 (also illustrated below). Honestly, I feel like it easily holds it's own for approximately 1/4th the investment.

[John A.]

Mine is a D’Angelico EX-DC that I got on eBay in 2011. it’s the first version that D’Angelico made before shutting down in 2008. Mine is a little different from the ones they made in 2011-12 and 2013-present. It has a laminated spruce top,the headstock looks different, and it has Kent Armstrong HPAG pickups instead of the current Duncans (not sure about other details like neck profile). I had it refretted recently, and I swapped the knobs for numbered speed knobs a ways back.

[mr. beaumont]

I've owned 3 semi-hollows in my life, two were 335 style and a Hofner Verythin.

I've sold them all. They ain't for me. Or maybe I need a real 335...oh boy.