335 or similar semi-hollow GAS

[greatmutah]

I have an early 2000s Sheraton I love. The only thing I did to it was yank the stock Epi buckers and replaced them with older Gibson Classic 57s and it’s been great since. I normally am not a fan of the Epi headstock shape from that time, but I dig the oversized Epi headstock with the clipped ears on that guitar. It just looks right to me. Natural finish too.

 

[soundxplorer]

I feel like if I bought an ES-335, I would need to learn how to play VERY well in a hurry. Otherwise it would just be embarrassing.

I mean, if you see someone pull a Les Paul or Strat out of a case, there's no assumption about talent level. They might be able to shred, or they could still be struggling to hold down an F major chord.

But if they whip out a 335, I think "Oh, they know what they're doing."

 

[AutomationBias]

But if they whip out a 335, I think "Oh, they know what they're doing."

Especially if the strap is super short.

 

[greatmutah]

I play Soundgarden and Rush on my Sheraton. I barely know what I’m doing.

 

[likitlikeyoulikeit]

I play Soundgarden and Rush on my Sheraton. I barely know what I’m doing.

I used my epi 335 in a metal band I was in. All the dudes gave me shit. But I think I proved them wrong.

 

[spawnofthesith]

I chugged the crap out of my old Sheraton and wrote a lot of music on it. By far the best epi I’ve played even tho it was a newer Chinese one

 

[greatmutah]

I chugged the crap out of my old Sheraton and wrote a lot of music on it. By far the best epi I’ve played even tho it was a newer Chinese one

Mines an older MIK I found used at GC a few years back. Guitar played great and the sound had potential. Yanked the stock Epi Classic buckers (basically their version of a 57 Classic), put real 57 Classics in and it’s been a keeper since.

 

[spawnofthesith]

Mines an older MIK I found used at GC a few years back. Guitar played great and the sound had potential. Yanked the stock Epi Classic buckers (basically their version of a 57 Classic), put real 57 Classics in and it’s been a keeper since.

The Sheraton I had had the epi versions of one of the burstbuckers… which ironically I liked better than the real BBs I had in my Lp. That isn’t necessarily saying much, as much as I’m a Gibson fan boy I don’t tend to like their pickups much Haha

 

[la szum]

I think a Telecaster and a 335 are going to duke it out eternally for the most
versatile guitar of all-time. Sorry, Superstrat. Sorry.

 

[greatmutah]

The Sheraton I had had the epi versions of one of the burstbuckers… which ironically I liked better than the real BBs I had in my Lp. That isn’t necessarily saying much, as much as I’m a Gibson fan boy I don’t tend to like their pickups much Haha

Burstbuckers are very guitar dependent and even then I think there’s better options. I had a set of BBs in my R7 that sounded good. Prior to that I had a Standard with a Burstbucker 2 bridge but it wasn’t great in that guitar (previous owner had swapped the neck for a Duncan Antiquity which was AMAZING). Wound up swapping the bridge to a 498T. The R7 sounded much better with BBs. The R7 kept its BBs for a while until I got pickup curious and put in some Mules. Once I put the Mules in I didn’t look back at the BBs at all.

 

[Alex Kenivel]

I'm so out of my wheelhouse when it comes to Gibby HB's. I still have the stock whatever-the-fuck-buckers are in my IBG 335. They sounded so open and crisp compared to the stock pickups in my S2 that I immediately had to change those.

 

[Frankencat]

I have a rule, never pay over $1000 for a Chinese guitar. Sorry if that sounds racist, it is not meant to be, it is about economics. There are some fine Chinese luthiers for sure but the items that come over in huge containers are not those. I have to agree with Eagle in the sense that I am a pro luthier and I have all of these guitar coming through my shop all the time. Based on what I have seen the Sire stuff is nothing special and I would go for Epiphone over Sire given the choice. Eastman is too expensive and for a few dollars more you can have the real thing. Edwards are hit and miss but can be a good bargain if you can get a good deal on a good one. That said, I have an Ibanez AS-93FM that is superb after a little setup work. A high quality instrument for around $700 that satisfies that semi-hollow thing when I need to. It is not however a Gibson ES-335 and it never will be. I have owned and played a few and am currently on the hunt for a nice one for myself.

 

[soundxplorer]

Burstbuckers are very guitar dependent and even then I think there’s better options.

Particular models of Burstbuckers sound vastly different too.
BB1 (neck) and BB2 (bridge) is a fantastic combo, which I would describe as a great example of how I expect a Gibson to sound.
BB Pros (Alnico V) are quite bright - almost like a thick, noiseless single coil sound. I like them, but they are different than what players typically expect when they buy a Les Paul or 335.

 

[greatmutah]

In both my cases it was the BB2 in the bridge. In the R7 I had a BB1 in the neck. Couldn’t stand the BB2 in the Standard. The R7 was a different story. Much better in that guitar but ultimately I preferred the Mules I installed. I wouldn’t mind trying some BB Pros sometime but I like the pickups I currently have in my Gibsons and Epi. My R7 has Mules, my 85 Standard has its original Shaws, 94 Studio has the 490R/498T combo it originally came with (that was my first guitar too so at this point I’m keeping it as close to original as I can) and my Sheraton has the 57 Classics (no plus. Just the standard). I guess I should get a 2H SG to try some BB Pros in…

 

[bikescene]

I’m a cheap guitar guy. I grabbed a an Epiphone ES-335 for $400 from AMS a little over a month ago. Seeing threads like this probably nudged me to making the impulse purchase.

I’ve been liking the stock Alnico Classic Pro pickups in it. They sound better than the same models in an Epiphone SG that I have. The post 2013 Epiphone pickups are a definite improvement from the early 2000s versions that I was first exposed to. I’ve used their Probucker bridge pickup too, which is the Burstbucker-based one. It sounded good, a bit thick but not muddy. I went with a Wolfetone Dr. V over it for a brighter lower output sound.

I’ve picked up a few other semi or full hollow guitars over the past few years: a Gretsch G5420T, Vox Bobcat S66, and a Vox Bobcat V90. I’ve grown to like the feel of a semi-hollow for lower gain

 

[la szum]

I’m a cheap guitar guy. I grabbed a an Epiphone ES-335 for $400 from AMS a little over a month ago. Seeing threads like this probably nudged me to making the impulse purchase.

I’ve been liking the stock Alnico Classic Pro pickups in it. They sound better than the same models in an Epiphone SG that I have. The post 2013 Epiphone pickups are a definite improvement from the early 2000s versions that I was first exposed to. I’ve used their Probucker bridge pickup too, which is the Burstbucker-based one. It sounded good, a bit thick but not muddy. I went with a Wolfetone Dr. V over it for a brighter lower output sound.

I’ve picked up a few other semi or full hollow guitars over the past few years: a Gretsch G5420T, Vox Bobcat S66, and a Vox Bobcat V90. I’ve grown to like the feel of a semi-hollow for lower gain

Which one? The Olive Drab or the Iced Tea?

I snagged the Iced Tea and am super impressed with it. I am not changing
anything on it other than strings. Have had a couple of Gibby 335s in the
past including a 70s Reissue Walnut, and the Epi is killer. For $400 I am all
about it.

 

[bikescene]

Which one? The Olive Drab or the Iced Tea?

I snagged the Iced Tea and am super impressed with it. I am not changing
anything on it other than strings. Have had a couple of Gibby 335s in the
past including a 70s Reissue Walnut, and the Epi is killer. For $400 I am all
about it.

I grabbed the Iced Tea too. I was on the fence about grabbing either a B-Stock Casino Worn or Uptown Kat, but then saw the ES-335 at that price.

Also good to hear that it stands up to the Gibson.

 

[la szum]

Plays great. Sounds great. Looks great. Didn't cost great.

 

[Boudoir Guitar]

I think a Telecaster and a 335 are going to duke it out eternally…

I was just talking to a friend about how I’ve juuuuust about settled on a two-guitar arsenal of tele and 335 being all I need.

 

[likitlikeyoulikeit]

I was just talking to a friend about how I’ve juuuuust about settled on a two-guitar arsenal of tele and 335 being all I need.

This does both and more.....