NGD: First Semi Hollow 335'ish

samzadgan

I got real GAS for a semi recently, and was researching all the different versions and prices and history. I thought i would be able to get an older Japanese one...but that seemed way out of my budget. So I gave in to buying something a little more modest like an Epiphone 335 Pro, which i saw second hand. I would have to buy it online, but i wanted to try a few in a shop before committing to buying that one.

I went into a second hand shop, and they had an Epi Casino, a Dot and i noticed a black 335 custom style Yamaha. I took all three along with a new Gretsch streamliner. The assumption was, it was between the dot and the casino, and the other 2 were just there to compare...and the Yamaha was really there as a benchmark.

So i started playing them all acoustically first, as one of my main uses will be playing them acoustically in the lounge room. The gretsch was the loudest, the casino and Dot were next, but all three very neutral sounding...then the Yamaha...as loud as the epi's but a different sound...a little darker...and ever so slightly like a cocked wah type sound. 

The feel on the gretsch was horrible, really thin frets and not a nice neck (for me), the two epi's were ok, the casino was nicer in the neck for me and just a better feel and it had fret edge binding which I was quite surprised with. The Yamaha on the other hand was perfect. It reminded me of an SG1000 i played years ago, which to this day was the smoothest guitar i ever played.

Plugged in...The Gretsch and Epi's were very similar...nice and full sound, but a little bland and average; they just sounded like any other guitar. On the other hand, the Yamaha had a character all its own. Some of that probably came from the different acoustic resonance it had and of course the pickups. Both the bridge and neck had a nice cut in the high mids without being overbearing and low end was way more controllable than the other guitars, especially on the neck pickup.

I conceded that the Yamaha was the best, but i wouldn't be able to afford one as they regularly sell for approx $2000 (AUD), and the next best was the Casino. 

So I walked out with this...




When i spoke to the guy...turns out the is a SA2100 from 1987...made in Taiwan...and was priced at $1100...but we settled on $950. Yes it was a little more expensive than the Casino...but...its sooooo much better!

kjdowd

Love that. Happy NGD!

Nitefly

That's a really good score, matey!

I had a late-80's SA-1100 for years - dots, rosewood and chrome, against your blocks, ebony and gold - and it was a great guitar in every respect.

Does yours have the coil-split feature?

lovestrat74

Enjoyed your little story and the happy ending 

gilby

As soon as you said Yamaha I knew what the outcome would be.
Happy ngd

Phil_aka_Pip

gilby said:

As soon as you said Yamaha I knew what the outcome would be.
Happy ngd

^ This ^

Yamaha SAs are excellent.

samzadgan

Nitefly said:

That's a really good score, matey!

I had a late-80's SA-1100 for years - dots, rosewood and chrome, against your blocks, ebony and gold - and it was a great guitar in every respect.

Does yours have the coil-split feature?

Yeah it does...I read about this and never checked it...I checked earlier tonight and realised it has the Spinnex...even more stoked with the deal...it’s basically Japanese except for a person in Taiwan working on it! 

Wolfetone

I'm not surprised that you bought the Yam. It would be light years ahead of most other semi's. I would guess it has an ebony fretboard?

Chalky

I had the SA2200 for a few years but always felt like it played more like a solid body rather than a 335.

Phil_aka_Pip

Chalky said:

I had the SA2200 for a few years but always felt like it played more like a solid body rather than a 335.

The only similarity between an SA2200 and an ES-335 is that they're both DC semis with humbuckers, 3-per-side headstock, and Gibson-style control layouts.

I have both, and both are wonderful instruments, each having their own reasons for being wonderful.

Jack_

I remember my first semi.

Oh those halcyon days.

pintspiller

Sounds like you got that best. The Dot is overrated to be honest.

I went looking for a semi about ten years ago and ended up with a hollow-body!

samzadgan

Wolfetone said:

I'm not surprised that you bought the Yam. It would be light years ahead of most other semi's. I would guess it has an ebony fretboard?

yes mate, ebony board...

now the not so good news...the frets are pretty worn, not surprising given the age, but its a good thing because it shows it was well used. 

not sure if i should do a fret dress now and do a refret in a years time...or just hold out for a refret? Is a fret dress a good temporary solution, especially given the frets are pretty worm down already?

polotska

I love the SA2000/2100/2200—my black 1985 SA2100 led me to sell my Gibsons.

Regarding the frets: while it’s impossible to tell without seeing them, I wouldn’t assume that it needs a refret—fretwear often looks much worse than it is, so a dress may be all it needs.