Model 335 recommended D'Angelico, Ibanez, Seventy seven

**Max53** · 12-12-2023, 03:00 PM

Originally Posted by frabarmus

Personally, I've never tried this guitar but I like the sound. Sounds like what you are looking for?

I also really like the sound, thanks to the SD pickups... a guitar that I would like to consider in the large form (not mini) but perhaps it costs too much and the aesthetics of the gold tuners don't drive me crazy.

**rpjazzguitar** · 12-12-2023, 03:16 PM

A few thoughts.

I have a 2009 or so EXDC which is a good guitar. It was my main instrument for some years. Body is a little large for me, although not for others. Sound is on the dark side, which I liked at the time. Under $1000 used, I should think.

I then went to a Comins GCS-1, which is my main guitar now. Very comfortable. Sounds good. Also tends to be dark, but it has a coil split on both pickups, so it can be brighter. Also a very good guitar. Under $2000 new - still available.

One issue I didn't see raised is the type of tailpiece. The trapeze tailpiece makes the action feel different (softer) than the stop tailpiece. I prefer the trapeze, even though I haven't been playing one lately. It's because the length of string behind the bridge also stretches when you fret a note -- the string slides over the saddle a little bit -- and you can feel that.

**jim777** · 12-13-2023, 10:59 AM

A lot of guitarists say '335' when they really just mean they want a semi-hollow guitar and not an actual 335 or very close 335 copy. I think that's entirely understandable as there are so many wonderful semi-hollows available these days

But if you want a 335 (mahogany neck/rosewood board), and not a more 355 sound (maple neck/ebony board) then you should also consider Tokais. I have a Tokai ES and an Ibanez AS200, and they are both fantastic guitars, but the Tokai basically 'is' a 335, and fashioned very closely after a '59 Gibson ES-335 (except for the '62-'64 small blocks in the neck) and the Ibanez is a very well made semi-acoustic guitar that's closer to a 355 in my opinion than to a 335. You can't go wrong with a Japanese Tokai.

**John A.** · 12-13-2023, 01:45 PM

How about this one:

Excel DC Tour - D'Angelico Guitars

Made in Korea (so better than the "Premier" D'Angelicos"), and simpler decorations. I heard someone play one recently at a jam, and it sounded great. List price is $699. D'Angelico doesn't list weights, but I suspect all their 16" semis are at least 3.5kg (mine is about 3.8).