Can anyone advise off a 335 type guitar that gives a good clean sound for Country!

Sammy

I currently now mainly play Country and use two Tele's and also have a Fret King JE, which has Wilkinsons pickups and does have quite a reasonable clean sound, but never take that out when we do gig, as doesn't seem to sit right with me when playing standing!

Therefore would really like to get a 335 type guitar, not a cheapy but not too expensive and reasonably lightweight, as have always loved these style of guitars. I have had/tried quite a few in the past including two Gibsons I owned, but always found they were more suited to blues/rock sound and never really had a nice clean sound especially Gibsons which to me, always sounded a bit muddy!

I always like to try a guitar first, but most seem to be only available online or the other end of the Country, so want to try and get it right first time, as hate all the hassel of sending them back etc.

I have currently been looking at the Ibanez JSM10, which from the videos could be ideal, and also the Eastman's, got an Eastman acoustic for my son which we tried and bought from a shop, which has now unfortunately closed, and that was great, but there are so many Eastman models! Also D'Angelico, but again so many different models.

Just to say, not too keen on the Yamaha's, great guitars but not my cuppa tea don't really like the necks.

So any help would be much appreciated
Thanks
Sammy

munckee

What about a Gretsch electromatic. Some of the centre blocks are pretty 335esq and have filtertrin type pickups so more twangy

Jalapeno

335 is pretty versatile, possibly THE most versatile guitar - just lay off the gain.

Semi-hollow for clean/country - easy !  Tele Thinline.

ICBM

A 335.

I know someone who uses a '63 Reissue for country/Americana-type stuff, it sounds brilliant.

On the other hand he previously used a Les Paul! So maybe it's just the player .

munckee

I would add if you go to country to country you see more les Paul’s than anything else I would say. 

Dominic

More down to the pickups than anything else ; and the way you set amp and controls
Any 335 / 335 type with a set of filtertrons or P90 s will do the job very well
I can get my 335 that has Wiz pickups to sound very similar to my tele 
"Country " can mean anything from Merle to Keith Urban
you would be surprised how much drive Paisley /Urban / Volkaert actually use
The nature of the compressor is also a big factor

Keefy

I play a fair bit of country, and I usually take any 2 of the following:

Tele
Strat
Gretsch Duo Jet

I've also been known to use my Ivison LP Junior repro - there is precedent for this in the form of Frank Reckard:



EDIT: I realise I have done nothing to answer the OP's question here!

Sassafras

I'd be looking at some sort of Gretsch.

Teyeplayer

As above I’d recommend any 335 type that you feel happy with the weight and neck profile of. I wouldn’t necessarily go down the route of x-brand, y-model, as this is a personal choice and needs to be something you can bond with. Swap in some low wound un-potted humbuckers and you are there; imo most of the pickups these style of guitars ship with are very generic and aim to please the broadest audience possible. Equally, try p90s or filtertrons -though a good low wound paf type should get you in the same territory.

Sammy

Sassafras said:

I'd be looking at some sort of Gretsch.

Have had a few different Gretsch's over the years but never really gelled with them. The only one I really liked, was a Tennesse Rose at the Guitar show many years ago, should have bought it!  Tried another one sometime later and was nothing like the one I tried. Never liked the 335 shape Gretsch.

Sammy

I know as some of you have mentioned change the pickups etc, but have done all that sort of thing in the past, too old now Would like to just get something from stock that plays and sounds good to me, like the three I currently have.

breezytele

330/Casino  is another great option. 

More comfortable than the Mickey Mouse eared 335s, due to 16th fret neck join.

I also have a lefty 63 335 reissue, with the narrower 60s horns and ,  although it doesn’t look hugely different,
it is definitely more comfortable, than the 335 with original horns/ears

Sammy

Dominic said:

More down to the pickups than anything else ; and the way you set amp and controls
Any 335 / 335 type with a set of filtertrons or P90 s will do the job very well
I can get my 335 that has Wiz pickups to sound very similar to my tele 
"Country " can mean anything from Merle to Keith Urban
you would be surprised how much drive Paisley /Urban / Volkaert actually use
The nature of the compressor is also a big factor

It's mainly down to the woods and construction of the guitar in semis/ hollow bodied guitars and if they don't sound that good to start with, pIckup changes won't make that much difference, but agree on a good sounding guitar they can really make it sound better, though as stated, I'm really hoping to get something from stock that suits, new or used.

Brad Paisley could get a great sound out of a one string guitar

Sammy

Teyeplayer said:

As above I’d recommend any 335 type that you feel happy with the weight and neck profile of. I wouldn’t necessarily go down the route of x-brand, y-model, as this is a personal choice and needs to be something you can bond with. Swap in some low wound un-potted humbuckers and you are there; imo most of the pickups these style of guitars ship with are very generic and aim to please the broadest audience possible. Equally, try p90s or filtertrons -though a good low wound paf type should get you in the same territory.

I agree with you as I'm not looking at particular brand, if a semi guitar feels right and plays well and has a ring to it played acoustically, with the profile neck & weight I ilke that's great, doesn't matter the make. Though as previously mentioned I'm not into swapping pickups now, the last time I did it was on a Tele, I went through four pairs, all recommended which sounded worse than the originals, until I tried the fifth ones which sounded superb.

rossi

My Midtown covers it with burstbuckers .Not a laminated construction and no arch top but a sort of  Fender thinline   routing  with a flat top but 335 in shape and size (ish).I bash out country licks as well as Jazz and blues  all mainly finger style .I have the 2015 with a rosewood board ,

Sassafras

Sammy said:

Sassafras said:

I'd be looking at some sort of Gretsch.

Have had a few different Gretsch's over the years but never really gelled with them. The only one I really liked, was a Tennesse Rose at the Guitar show many years ago, should have bought it!  Tried another one sometime later and was nothing like the one I tried. Never liked the 335 shape Gretsch.

Try a few more Tennesse Roses, they're terrific guitars.
Especially for country twang.
Extremely comfortable to play as well.

shaunm

Duesenberg Starplayer TV

Greatape

https://www.reverendguitars.com/guitars/manta-ray-390

TheMarlin

Gretsch Panther. 

https://www.musicradar.com/reviews/guitars/gretsch-g6137tcb-panther-center-block-583061

JayGee

If the Gretsch option doesn’t do it for you (while it’s still early days yet, and the GAS honeymoon is still happening my 5422TG is lush, but if it does work for you...) then maybe something with P90s for a bit of added snap and twang? 

Possibly a 330/Casino for added fully hollow goodness?

Sammy

Sassafras said:

I'd be looking at some sort of Gretsch.

Have had a few different Gretsch's over the years but never really gelled with them. The only one I really liked, was a Tennesse Rose at the Guitar show many years ago, should have bought it!  Tried another one sometime later and was nothing like the one I tried. Never liked the 335 shape Gretsch.

Try a few more Tennesse Roses, they're terrific guitars.
Especially for country twang.
Extremely comfortable to play as well.

Just listened to the newer model Gretsch G6119T players edition sounded really good, I have previously many years ago only tried the older models. Have you tried the newer version?