Gibson ES-335 alternatives?

Dontgiveupyourdayjob

Slightly left of field suggestion, but maybe a Gretsch with double-cut and a centre-block?

https://www.guitarguitar.co.uk/product/181121335201008--gretsch-g6620t-players-edition-nashville-center-block-double-cu

LordOxygen

I really wanted an ES-335 and ended up with a T59v.
Prefered the look, tone and feel over the Gibsons and also the Yamaha I tried. I guess with guitars of this ilk there's perhaps more variation in built quality.
You've got to get hands on with these guitars before making any decsions. I certainly wouldn't buy one without holding it first. 

A problem with Eastman is they have the wrong name on the headstock, not exactly an aspirational brand. You'll lose a big chunk of £££ the moment you walk out of the shop, so it has got to be right. Picking one up 2nd hand would be a good move if you've any doubts about keep it. 

Ive had mine for over 12 months now, I love the clarity of the PUs and the neck is bang on the money imo.

imalrightjack

Dontgiveupyourdayjob said:

Slightly left of field suggestion, but maybe a Gretsch with double-cut and a centre-block?

https://www.guitarguitar.co.uk/product/181121335201008--gretsch-g6620t-players-edition-nashville-center-block-double-cu

I just sold a very nice Tennessee Rose recently. I didn’t think the Bigsby befitted my jazz aspirations. Might regret that, as it was amazing. 

DrJazzTap

I had a tokai es130 which was an amazing guitar. Quality on a par with gibson custom shop. 

Dominic

I have some expertise with Tokai and have had 4 various Yamaha SA2000 together with a very rare SA2200 S ,the Spruce top model of which only 20 ever came to the Uk
I have played numerous ES335 and only ever played one which was truly outstanding (it has Wizz pickups in it ) and is a beautiful thing owned by a member on here . Every other one I have ever played has been meh !
 All the Yamahas were perfect players with great pickups but they are slightly brighter and more refined in sound exactly as @Roland says .....they do lack any warmth on the bridge and I tend to dial the tone down to 5 on them.Necks are a bit too skinny for me.
The Tokai s ( all Japanese high end ) are just outstanding ;each one I have had/played has been a nicer player than any of the Gibsons including the one very special one . They sound great too but not identical to a 335 which is still slightly woolier and softer ......some to the point that they are mushy in the bass .
 I put Wizz pickups into my best Tokai ,a 1982 ES120 to imitate the 335 mentioned above ......it's a fantastic guitar that plays magically and sounds fantastic but it still sounds brighter than the Gibson with the identical pickups .
All in all Tokai is the best non-Gibson by far.......I have played a few Collings which are great but I don't find them any better than the Tokais and a bit Emperors new clothes.

Lebarque

Great insight thanks, @Dominic . My old es120 had a neck that was too fat for me. Do any of the Japanese ones have a medium C neck?

Dominic

Yes....I have definitely played some high end ones with slimmer necks but I dont know that there is any model number that makes a difference ;
I have had 2 early 80s ES120 guitars recently ......One has a 59 ish type neck and the other is noticeably a lot slimmer .

Lebarque

Cheers. Will keep a look out. Miss having a semi in the stable.

imalrightjack

Lebarque said:

Miss having a semi in the stable.

Is that a euphemism?

RonnieHotdogs

Epiphone Sheraton 

DB1

imalrightjack said:

Lebarque said:

Miss having a semi in the stable.

Is that a euphemism?

I'm sure that the horses are appreciative though.

Another one for the Sheraton. I had a couple and found them to be very nice guitars for not much money. 

rlw

Secondhand Sheraton and a few upgrades and you can have a very very good guitar for not too much cash.

Voxman

Epiphone Sheraton II, Epiphone Casino, Epiphone Riviera. 

All derived from 335. Casino has p90s and full hollow body, Riviera and Sheraton have a central block that helps to prevent feedback. Sheraton has humbuckers and new versions have coil splitting, Riviera has mini humbuckers but also comes with P90 variant.

Personally I liked the Sheraton best (I have a 1989 Samick factory, in natural, and upgraded the pups to Seymour Duncan SH1 59s.)

RonnieHotdogs

I tried to sell my natural 2015 Pro II Sheraton recently, push pulls, immaculate, great grain
no interest whatsover.
so keeping it, it's the most versatile guitar I own 

Rowby1

Another vote for Eastman. I have no plans to buy another guitar at the moment but when I do I’ll be looking at Eastman first.

Blueingreen

I’m a huge fan of the smaller body alternatives, I have a 339 and 336 and they get more playing time than my other guitars. I have at times been tempted by some of the boutique equivalents like Collings but the big hike in the price of high end guitars over the past 2 or 3 years has killed that aspiration for the time being. £3-3.5k didn’t seem totally silly, £5-5.5k does.

imalrightjack

Blueingreen said:

I’m a huge fan of the smaller body alternatives, I have a 339 and 336 and they get more playing time than my other guitars.

I need to research other models. I wonder how far off a 135/137 or the likes is?

danishbacon

I found the 339 to be a bit cramped on the upper frets for my fat hands but a very balanced guitar

breezytele

Well this vid came up on my YouTube ...
It is  aimed more at the lower cost versions , which may or may not appeal

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AmXhPH_WjY4

Lebarque

I've got to admit, the 336 and 339 just look squashed and wrong to me! Maybe they work better if you're short, since I view the 335 as a tall man's guitar.