Gibson ES-335 alternatives?

Blueingreen

Lebarque said:

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.

I'm over 6 feet. They're slightly larger than a Les Paul or SG and  I can't remember anybody suggesting that these were too small.  To think that the 339 looks small you'd need to have internalised the idea that that particular type of guitar is "supposed to be" a particular size: in other words, be part of the minuscule minority of the population that fusses about the minutiae of guitar iconography. I've been asked several times whether my guitar is a 335 (to be fair I've also been asked whether it's a Les Paul: guitarists have a preposterously exaggerated sense of how much ordinary folk notice these things.  The people who asked these questions still know more than most).

Besides 335s themselves were an attempt to create a more practicable, smaller bodied alternative to the traditional archtop.  And yet smaller bodied versions of those have been around for a long time and have been played by several of my favourite players including Kurt Rosenwinkel, George Benson, Jon Herington and Eric Krasno - none of whom is short.

Philly_Q

Lebarque said:

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.

I think you have a point, if you see a picture of a 336/339 next to a 335 it does look a bit strange.  But on its own it looks just fine.  Must be a trick of memory! 

I like my 336 a lot, although I'll admit @danishbacon is right about the cutaways being a bit cramped.  It's just something to get used to.

And yes I am short.  A 335 body is too big for me.

imalrightjack

I might have just bought a 339...

Jalapeno

Hofne Verithin worth trying

Voxman

Some clips of my Sheraton II here at about the 6 min mark. 

Fifty9

Peerless hardtail

Dan_Halen

Fifty9 said:

Peerless hardtail

That’s my other nickname. 

longjaw

Ibanez AS200 Artist.

Roland

breezytele said:

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

I was going to tag that video, but then I realised that it’s designed to score click through points, rather than present a balanced comparison

Toms_Dad

I have a Yamaha SA2200. In terms of build quality, it is a work of art. As others have said, the neck is on the slim side, but I have small hands and like it. It’s a personal choice. The pick ups are brighter, a bit hotter, but have coil taps which add versatility. 

When I bought it, I also tried a Tokai semi, a smaller body Eastman semi, and a Gibson.
The Tokai was also beautifully made, it looked just like the Gibson, but better finished. It sounded great.  It was, however, new and more expensive than the secondhand Yamaha, which affected my decision. I would have been happy with either. There was nothing wrong with the Gibson, but it didn’t quite do it for me and it was the most expensive by far. The Eastman was also well made, but the body was too small and it didn’t balance well for me.

Pete.R

It's hard to beat the japanese craftmanship, even more at the pricepoint...

https://i.imgur.com/jguqP9l.jpg

FGN Masterfield Trio

Blueingreen

Toms_Dad said:

I have a Yamaha SA2200. In terms of build quality, it is a work of art. As others have said, the neck is on the slim side, but I have small hands and like it. It’s a personal choice. The pick ups are brighter, a bit hotter, but have coil taps which add versatility. 

When I bought it, I also tried a Tokai semi, a smaller body Eastman semi, and a Gibson.
The Tokai was also beautifully made, it looked just like the Gibson, but better finished. It sounded great.  It was, however, new and more expensive than the secondhand Yamaha, which affected my decision. I would have been happy with either. There was nothing wrong with the Gibson, but it didn’t quite do it for me and it was the most expensive by far. The Eastman was also well made, but the body was too small and it didn’t balance well for me.

My 339 and 336 both weigh a smidgen over 7lbs.  I've always really liked the look of the Yamaha semi-hollows, they look beautifully made and finished, and I like the idea of the coil tap, but any time I've shown an closer interest in one it's turned out to be heavier than I wanted it to be.

Aornic

I really, really like my Ibanez AS153. Lots of tonal options and beautifully constructed with a bone nut.

Philly_Q

Blueingreen said:

Toms_Dad said:

I have a Yamaha SA2200. In terms of build quality, it is a work of art. As others have said, the neck is on the slim side, but I have small hands and like it. It’s a personal choice. The pick ups are brighter, a bit hotter, but have coil taps which add versatility. 

When I bought it, I also tried a Tokai semi, a smaller body Eastman semi, and a Gibson.
The Tokai was also beautifully made, it looked just like the Gibson, but better finished. It sounded great.  It was, however, new and more expensive than the secondhand Yamaha, which affected my decision. I would have been happy with either. There was nothing wrong with the Gibson, but it didn’t quite do it for me and it was the most expensive by far. The Eastman was also well made, but the body was too small and it didn’t balance well for me.

My 339 and 336 both weigh a smidgen over 7lbs.  I've always really liked the look of the Yamaha semi-hollows, they look beautifully made and finished, and I like the idea of the coil tap, but any time I've shown an closer interest in one it's turned out to be heavier than I wanted it to be.

Yamaha make (or possibly used to make) a model called the SAS1500 which has a smaller body like the 336 and 339.  Unfortunately it's Japan only, but I've got close to buying one a few times.

ellangus

Yamaha SA700. I had one a few years ago and really regret letting it go.
Every bit as good if not better than any Gibson 335 I've played.

https://www.guitarguitar.co.uk/product/px200702359859003--yamaha-sa700-pre-owned

imalrightjack

Regarding the Yamaha SA2200, are recommendations for older models (80s)? Are more recent one up to scratch?

imalrightjack

imalrightjack said:

Regarding the Yamaha SA2200, are recommendations for older models (80s)? Are more recent one up to scratch?

@Schozz - @Toms_Dad ;Do you know?

Toms_Dad

Mine’s quite recent. Don’t know the exact year, but it still had the plastic on the pick guard when I bought it (secondhand). I just acquired a Gibson ES330 today, courtesy of the the estimable @DB1. ;It is my current favourite guitar of course. Lighter than the Yamaha amongst other differences. Might be prepared to let the Yamaha go if you’re interested.

DB1

Glad you like it and I hope it makes up for me being an old tart about selling the ES-130.  Pleasure to meet you and your lad.

I've not owned an SA 2200 but have played a couple at Sound Affects in Ormskirk. As a used buy, I think they're great.

markv

imalrightjack said:

Regarding the Yamaha SA2200, are recommendations for older models (80s)? Are more recent one up to scratch?

I wouldn't claim comprehensive knowledge but mine's from 2009 and it's really well made and a great player. Before I bought it a couple of years ago, I'd tried some in the Yamaha store in London and they couldn't be faulted either. Yamaha is well known for its consistency, particularly on the high end guitars. I don't think you'd have much to worry about with any SA from the last 40 years (notwithstanding ill treatment from previous owners, of course)