Wanted: ES 335 type

[Ageinggroover]

My Heritage was the same sort of quality as my Gibson, but it was the same design
I'm not sure what's best for those people working there, but for me it would be more attractive if they did variations, like a hollow body without a baseball-bat neck that gets very thick past the 8th fret, not everything about the past designs is attractive

Consider the difference between getting a top-of-the-range signature Ibanez (i.e. the GB, PM, JSM ones), that has the top-level Japanese quality, with a modernised design, against a straight copy of a Gibson, but without Gibson written on it. Both have around the same price used or new.
Of course if you buy new, the Gibson will hold more value, much though it pains me to accept.

I suppose now I think about it, the Heritage versions should be cheaper than they are really, since you are not paying for the name, and the quality is similar

My first thought was to buy Japanese. I've had a few really superb quality Japanese instruments, some back in the days when Japanese was sneered at in the way that some view contemporary Chinese guitars. My experience with the latter as well as the former is that there's good and bad, but certainly with Japanese instruments they're difficult to fault when at the top end of the market.

My ten year old Les Paul Custom, whilst a very nicely made instrument, is a little shabby in some areas such as the finishing of the binding etc. For a guitar that retails at the thick end of three grand it seems like a fairly poor level of attention to detail. In contrast all the Japanese guitars I've owned, both mid priced and higher end, have been pretty much without manufacturing faults.

[ellangus]

I Have a Yamaha SA700 in Red which I'm torturing myself over whether or not to sell to fund a Les Paul!

Problem is, every time I get close to selling, I pick it up and play it!!!

Would you be interested in some sort of a trade with the LP Custom?

[Ageinggroover]

I Have a Yamaha SA700 in Red which I'm torturing myself over whether or not to sell to fund a Les Paul!

Problem is, every time I get close to selling, I pick it up and play it!!!

Would you be interested in some sort of a trade with the LP Custom?

I might be interested in the SA700, but the LPC isn't up for trade.

[Ageinggroover]

Bump

[RocknRollDave]

Forgive me if I'm covering old ground here (haven't gone back through the thread, sorry!) but Guitarist magazine gives a very good review to a Washburn semi this month that may fit the bill - very 335-ish and looks very nice too.




EDIT: Not got the mag with me here but a quick scan of the 'net tells me it is (I think) a Washburn HB36 Vintage. Less than £450 by the looks of it. Never tried one myself, but I'd check one out if I had the money to

[cm01]

The new Chinese made Burny 335's (RSA's) are superb value - I've had 2 (still got one) and they were both really well made, nice figuring and played great. I upgraded the pickups but in all honesty probably didn't need to... they seem to go for around £300 with case if you can find one

[211dave112]

I have an Ibanez AS103bm that I'm looking to part ways with due to an engagement ring shaped purchase. Great guitar with amazing craftmanship (the fret ends for example are all filed perfectly, I know, it's only a small thing but I like it!)

It does have a few imperfections, most notably one of the pickup rings isn't the stock wooden rings as it split and the back of the neck has had the gloss taken off it. It's in used but well looked after conditon, the gold plating for example is starting to wear but I think it's looking better for it (a bit less bling). Due to the little issues I'd be looking for around £280 inc a nice hardcase.

Can get pics tonight if interested?

[Ageinggroover]

Thanks for the thoughts, but I'm only looking for Japanese or US (in my dreams) made guitars. My Korean Sheraton (on my knee as I type) is a great quality guitar, so I'm looking for an improvement over this. Also only looking for used (so someone else has paid for the initial depreciation).

[citizen68]

I have an '88 Yamaha SA900 '335 type which I initially thought was MIJ but closer inspection reveals it was actually made in Taiwan- I've read that Yamaha moved some manufacturing there from 1984 - 2002.

For what it's worth I have compared my guitar with a mates MIJ SA2200 and there isn't a world of difference! Obviously nicer woods and fittings but finishing and attention to detail are still top notch on the Taiwan made guitar.

[camf]

PM'd