WTB 335 style guitar

Devil#20

Due to lockdown and working from home and not going to the pub I'm not really spending as much and tempted to maybe buy another guitar. Just from reading some of the threads this week (one of mine included) it seems that Fender and Gibson are resting on their laurels nowadays and becoming the next Apple corporation (overpriced new models every 5 minutes and not much in the way of development). Therefore, it won't be a guitar from their stable. I've decided to go for one of the budget brands to see if they're as good as they're cracked up to be. I think I'm going to limit my budget to ~1k and get something with a reputation for good quality and not overpriced. I'd quite like a semi-hollow body 335 style guitar, as I've always hankered after one of them from being a fan of Alvin Lee and Ten Years After. Epiphone is probably the obvious choice but is there anything else I should consider? Not sure if I should get one with a Bigsby on it or not. Second hand or new, I'm not bothered. I fancy a red one and need to factor in budget for a peace symbol to stick on the lower bout. Any recommendations? 

Kebabkid

Take a look at this thread and the FGN Masterfield's
https://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/192435/ngd-japanese-goodness#latest

The Sire H7 (Larry Carlton Model) is also worth looking at

https://www.andertons.co.uk/guitar-dept/electric-guitars/hollow-semi-hollow-body-guitars?#facet:307445734561667667583105114101&productBeginIndex:0&facetLimit:&orderBy:&pageView:grid&minPrice:&maxPrice:&pageSize:&;

ICBM

Probably a little more left-field than you were thinking, but I've got a 70s Maya Japanese-made one I'm thinking of selling. One of the cheap ones with a bolt-on neck and a nearly full-hollow body, but it does play and sound pretty good. It's burgundy/maroon rather than cherry red, and has a trapeze tailpiece not a stoptail (and can't be converted due to the lack of centre block - but would take a B7-type Bigsby), so I won't feel offended in any way if it's not what you want... but it will be a *lot* less than a grand .

Devil#20

Kebabkid said:

Take a look at this thread and the FGN Masterfield's
https://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/192435/ngd-japanese-goodness#latest

The Sire H7 (Larry Carlton Model) is also worth looking at

https://www.andertons.co.uk/guitar-dept/electric-guitars/hollow-semi-hollow-body-guitars?#facet:307445734561667667583105114101&productBeginIndex:0&facetLimit:&orderBy:&pageView:grid&minPrice:&maxPrice:&pageSize:&;

Never heard of either of those. The FGN looks an interesting construction. 

lovestrat74

This? Loads left over for a Bigsby and sticker 

https://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/comment/2729306/#Comment_2729306

Pabcrane

I fairly recently got a secondhand Tokai which I quite pleased with. It seems to be put together well and it plays great. I think they have some models which are well under a grand.

I know people that have Epi Dots and are happy with them. They aren't on the level of some of the suggestions by other posts above such as the FGN, but they are really quite inexpensive for an okay guitar.

Do you like the idea of Gretsch? I've got a 6119 which is above your limit but I'm sure others here have some experience of their more affordable Korean or Chinese ranges.

duotone

I was looking at these ones a few months back:

Ibanez AS73 (£400-ish)
Ibanez AS93 (£500-ish) https://www.guitarguitar.co.uk/product/191125351549008--ibanez-am93qm-antique-yellow-sunburst
Hagstrom Viking  (£600-ish)

mike257

Yamaha SA2000 or 2200 if you can find one in budget. My brother had an early SA2000 and it's one of the finest guitars I've ever played.

Funkfingers

Some of the PRS SE semi-hollow models should be worth a look.

dindude

Been on this journey recently, briefly owned one of the new Sire Larry Carlton ones mentioned above, was great quality for the money and sounded nice, but the nut width is very narrow (40mm) and there’s also little supply in the UK with the first batch gone (although my return one will probably show up in Anderson’s shortly).

I bought the FGN Masterfield above but it’s a bit more than your budget and they don’t come up much s/h.

I’d probably go for this for a grand https://www.musicradar.com/reviews/eastman-t386

Or a s/h Yamaha SA2200 as mentioned.

Gerz6558

Eastman all day long for me. New can get you the T386, hand made, nitro finish, case, rosewood board and Kent Armstrong pickups. The T486 is just over a grand but worth it for the upgrades over the T386, (Seymour duncan pickups, ebony fretboard, es345 type inlays).

There's a sunburst T486 on ebay for £900, and will easily be on par with a Gibson ES335.

Devil#20

I like the spec on the Eastman. Looks the business. It's there at my budget. There's a T486 with a Bigsby too for a bit more. Some other good suggestions too. I've had Epiphone solid bodies before and wasn't too impressed with faults on them from new and crappy switchgear. I still have an Epi LP but hardly ever play it because I don't seem to be able to set it up well. I think I'll steer clear of them unless you think they've improved. 

Devil#20

Funkfingers said:

Kebabkid said:

The Sire H7

It is about time that @HarrySeven had his own signature guitar! (Something with a set neck and a repaired headstock break.)

•

Some of the PRS SE semi-hollow models should be worth a look. 

Never thought to consider them. 

chris_john

I was all set on buying a Gibson ES-335 after a prolonged bout of GAS for a semi-hollow. Then as I was browsing the local 2nd hand market, a 2013 Custom Shop Yamaha SA2200 popped up for a good price (around 700 quid). Amazing guitar, but it needs a refret. The frets had dents in, and they were quite low to begin with.
Taking it for a stainless steel, narrow/tall fret upgrade this weekend. 
Here's a picture:
https://ibb.co/7XRyj4J

Gerz6558

Devil#20 said:

I like the spec on the Eastman. Looks the business. It's there at my budget. There's a T486 with a Bigsby too for a bit more. Some other good suggestions too. I've had Epiphone solid bodies before and wasn't too impressed with faults on them from new and crappy switchgear. I still have an Epi LP but hardly ever play it because I don't seem to be able to set it up well. I think I'll steer clear of them unless you think they've improved. 

I've always had a soft spot for epiphone. I think their semi hollows are decent, something like a Sheraton I'm sure will he nice. But the Eastmans will be in a different league, as will the Yamaha. They do cost more mind you, but you shouldn't want to change a thing on them.

I've had peerless era epiphone Riviera and Casino, and they did feel quite nice. But it's always the same story at that price point, there will most likely be something you would want to change, whether that is pickups, electronics, bridge. There is absolutely nothing I'd want to change on the Eastman I recently got, and it slays the Gibson ES335 I had.

Gerz6558

Also regarding epiphone, they have pretty much refreshed all of their lines apart from the thin lines in the last 12 months. I wouldn't be surprised if that will come next year. Their refreshed electrics match the gibson line, so maybe that means some nice new affordable ES335 and 345 types soon.

Dominic

The Japanese built Tokais and the Yamaha SA series are outstanding ; at the risk of upsetting Gibson owners I would have to say that they are equal if not better than 9 out of 10 Gibsons and certainly more consistent ; I've only played one Gibson 335 out of about 20 that was better than my Tokai

HarrySeven

Funkfingers said:

Kebabkid said:

The Sire H7

It is about time that @HarrySeven had his own signature guitar! (Something with a set neck and a repaired headstock break.)

Abso-bloody-lutely! Spot on...

@Funkfingers, @Bridgehouse, et al...do you reckon it’s time to start a “What specs would the H7 signature model feature?” thread?

Devil#20

Eastman and Yamaha seem to be coming out on top of list at the moment. The Eastman's seem to hold their second hand value pretty well so I'd probably buy new. FGN seem harder to get hold of. 

Bridgehouse

HarrySeven said:

Funkfingers said:

Kebabkid said:

The Sire H7

It is about time that @HarrySeven had his own signature guitar! (Something with a set neck and a repaired headstock break.)

Abso-bloody-lutely! Spot on...

@Funkfingers, @Bridgehouse, et al...do you reckon it’s time to start a “What specs would the H7 signature model feature?” thread?

Yes.. definitely need a thread for that.

As a minimum:

- Comes in an easily stackable case that fits into the boot of a rover

ICBM

Strung Out Guitars in Glasgow have a Yamaha SA2200 in near-perfect condition with a Duesenberg Les Trem fitted. It’s a tiny bit over your budget but they might be willing to negotiate.