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Nicce article on Reverb about less expensive 335 alternatives.
ES-335 Alternatives: 13 Under $1300 | Reverb News
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02-02-2022 08:23 AM
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just picked up one of these. (FES-1200)
Kurosawa | Stafford FES & FAB serise
Interesting design: the middle block does not touch the back, and thus has nice resonant acoustic sound from its 15.5” body.
Two-ply body.
6.25lbs!
Gotoh hardware. Previous owner put Gibson 57’Classics in it.
Played a couple of gigs with it last week and liked it a lot.
It’s sorta like a cross between 330 and 335.
One of the best 335 alternatives under $1k used.
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Disappointed that the Eastman T486 did not make the list. Two years ago, I went through this search and came up with the T486. Waited nine months for delivery and have been playing it for a year now. It is everything that I hoped, making me a very happy camper.
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Heritage 535 May be a little more expensive though
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Unfortunately, since the article is from 2014, the title should be under $2,000 since most prices are up. Reverend no longer does the Manta Ray btw but it obviously can still be found used.
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The 386 did make their list.
Originally Posted by Oldjock
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I didn't notice the dating. I wonder why they're posting it now. Originally Posted by blille
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No Gretsch? missing the boat. 5422 (hollow) or 5622 (center block) are amazing values.
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But Gretsches sound NOTHING like Gibsons. Originally Posted by ronjazz
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I remember seeing that article not too long after I had gone through my semi-hollow acquisition process, which included trying several of those guitars. For some, the blurb descriptions seem way off to me, and some that they say were under $1300 were quite a bit more than that, even at the time. Overall, I doubt that article involved much hands-on comparison or price research. I think it was mainly a copy/paste/re-write job of reviews found on the web (of varying degrees of quality and accuracy).
Last edited by John A.; 02-03-2022 at 12:39 AM.
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Maybach anyone?
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That makes them Gibson alternatives. Originally Posted by ruger9
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Originally Posted by Christian Miller
...and Stanford? Maybachs are a little pricier afaik (just checked: they are almost as much as a Gibson)Stanford is about half of a Maybach: @ € 1.200,00. You can still get Tokai 335 models at decent prices and the newer Epiphones - 335 and Riviera models - seem to be very good.
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I really like the way the Epiphone Rivieras look
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MIJ Tokais can be quite nice
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No: an "alternative", as this article infers, is "same but cheaper". "How can I get that Gibson sound, but without the Gibson price?" Originally Posted by Cavalier
Gretsch ain't it. Coming from someone who plays a Gretsch. If you put PAFs in a Gretsch you'd be closer, but still not the same thing. Believe me, I would love my 6120 to sound like an ES-295. Never gonna' happen LOL.
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So far I have not come across a guitar player that sold his 335 and kept the alternative`. I myself have not found an alternative that comes close to my beloved Gibson 335. The best value for money that I could find was a nice 1977 set neck Ibanez 2467. No cheap guitars either, but well built. I sold that one.
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[QUOTE=hotpepper01;1178277]So far I have not come across a guitar player that sold his 335 and kept the alternative`. I myself have not found an alternative that comes close to my beloved Gibson 335. The best value for money that I could find was a nice 1977 set neck Ibanez 2467. No cheap guitars either, but well built. I sold that one.
/QUOTE]
The only 2 brands I have come across (that had people selling their Gibsons), are Heritage and Collings. I'd LOVE a Collings I35-LC, myself.
Altho: if you bring Les Pauls into the picture, Tokai makes that list as well. I've seen many people prefer the older Tokai LPs to Gibsons.
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I have a friend who was trying to sell his Collings semi, great guitar. I think he thought better of it …. I wonder ….
he has some bloody nice guitars.
I’ve heard a few horror stories about Gibsons in recent years but tbh I’ve never played a Gibson I haven’t liked (aside from that L5). Heritages seem good, but don’t have the same vibe….
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The center block 5622 with the Broadtrons has a great smooth sound with some PAF cream, a dash of spark on top. They remind me a little of a 355 with varitone actually. Originally Posted by ruger9
A Guild Starfire IV from Westerly is a great option, closer to a 335.
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Nice "walnut" finish on that! Originally Posted by hotpepper01
So far I have not come across a guitar player that sold his 335 and kept the alternative`. I myself have not found an alternative that comes close to my beloved Gibson 335. The best value for money that I could find was a nice 1977 set neck Ibanez 2467. No cheap guitars either, but well built. I sold that one.
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Those low end Gretsch guitars are knock out gorgeous and I hear that they are very creditable instruments… Originally Posted by Cavalier
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The 5622 is one of their midrange Electromatic series, a solid step up from the Streamliners. Interestingly I've played several of the 5622 and found traditional Gretsch fans tilt the Blacktop Broadtrons in a effort to get them to sound more "Gretsch" as they are much fuller and midrange centered than usual, especially when used in a normal level position. They compare well to Ibanez up to about the 95 model range. Originally Posted by Christian Miller
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My first electric guitar was this Peavey JF-1 (JF stand for Jazz Fusion).
It's not an expensive guitar, but I really like it. The neck is set at an angle which - at least for me - feels extremely good, especially on the upper frets.
Paul
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Just got my first Gibson 335 (93 Dot). It is a very good guitar. I also have a '89 Heritage 535 and current D'Angelico EX-SS (a bit apples/oranges but still a semi). Need to dig everything out, settle into the living room, and form an opinion.
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