Gibson 335 alternatives

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Wally

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Heritage 535. I wanted a ES-335 and tried a couple USA models and a Historic. The Historic was the best out of all of them.

The Heritage seemed to be nicer than the Gibson USA models and the top was way nicer plus I liked the neck better. It was used, $1000.

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Yessir....congrats. Bargain...beautiful wood and workmanship.
 

ebb soul

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Thats a real spruce top, like a byrdland.
 

ebb soul

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A Collings might be better than a Hofner, by a small degree, but 1000 dollars more.
A spruce topped minibucker German handbuilt Verythin is the best semi I've played.
Even the korean line is as good as any es335.
 

Wally

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Thats a real spruce top, like a byrdland.

Is that a hollow Body? With a tuneomatic type bridge? Is there a block under the bridge? I don’t quite understand what difference a spruce top makes on a guitar that is not fully hollow.
Byrdlands are in essence short-scale L5’s...solid spruce tops that are hand carved and solid maple back and sides. Acoustically active instruments.
https://reverb.com/item/7214295-gib...wc-C2gIVHLjACh11MAX3EAQYBCABEgIklvD_BwE&pla=1

ES-335/345/355 and the modern variations..some smaller bodies, etc....are very different animals....as I am sure you know.
 

user34603

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Consider ES339 from Epiphone if it is an older one with Gibson '57 Classics in it. I am selling a Hohner HJ-3 7A in Reverb for about $500 that beats most all but the very good real Gibsons.... like an ES339 crossed with semi-hollow Les Paul
 

ftbtx

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The 2016 Gibson ES 335 Studios were on blowout by Chicago Music Exchange at $860 USD. Some are starting to show up used at great prices.
 

Obsessed

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I love my MIK Sheraton II, but to get it like a 335 ... and it is, I did the 50s wiring, new pots, Switchcraft switch and jack and some Alnico II PAFs. The neck is much nicer than the Epi Dots IMO. However, with that said and how much I enjoy my Sherry, if I knew how much I enjoy playing it, and I own an Eastman acoustic, I would have bought an Eastman T486.
 

ebb soul

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Is that a hollow Body? With a tuneomatic type bridge? Is there a block under the bridge? I don’t quite understand what difference a spruce top makes on a guitar that is not fully hollow.
Byrdlands are in essence short-scale L5’s...solid spruce tops that are hand carved and solid maple back and sides. Acoustically active instruments.
https://reverb.com/item/7214295-gib...wc-C2gIVHLjACh11MAX3EAQYBCABEgIklvD_BwE&pla=1

ES-335/345/355 and the modern variations..some smaller bodies, etc....are very different animals....as I am sure you know.

It has a spruce block under the bridge. All these ES style tops viberate some.. Real spruce has a voice three ply laminate does not.
I have beared this out on a thineline build, with no f hole.
It's just better.
About the only way to improve the overall ES design.
 

Otis Fine

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I played a Gibson 335 a couple years ago and it was a 10 out of 10 for sure. I forget what it cost. At least 3 thousand dollars.
I bought a Chinese Epiphone Sheraton II Pro for $500 WITH a hard case and it’s a great guitar. I no longer have any gas for a Gibson.
1DA67663-2EA3-434C-9284-432602333183.jpeg
 

zeedoctour

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I lucked into a purchase I never expected, that satisfied two things I always wanted. A 335 style of guitar and P90's. Ebony fingerboard also turns out to have been a nice bonus. The center block in this one doesn't run to the end bout stopping just behind the bridge, so it's more hollow than a 335. Plus it's almost a Telecaster.

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Plays great, and really growls.
 

rad1

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I had a Gibson 335, I did not like it so I sold it. I went on a replacement search and went through 3 other hollowbody guitars until I found my Gretsch. Stunning workmanship, fantastic 12” radius neck and great tone from the humbuckers.
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Chicago Slim

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I've played Gibson, Epiphone, Heritage and Ibanez semi-hollows, for the past 40 years. I've now switched to PRS semi-hollows. The Zach Myers that I own is a light one, 6.5 lbs, and sounds like a semi ($500). The 8 pounders, sound more like a Les Pual. My S2 Singlecut semi-hollow was was $995, used, and is the best semi-hollow that I have owned.

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Henry Mars

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Ibanez, guild, and Heritage .... in my mind any of these are fine guitars. The Epiphone Dot Elitist is a great choice but they are tough to come by. I played one and realized that there is no need to buy an ES-335 .... probably why they were discontinued.
 
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