Hi all, been lurking a while but I’m getting close to a purchase and would appreciate some opinions-been a bass player for 30+ years, my band has folded so I’m looking to improve my guitar playing so I can do something on my own-decided on a 335 style. Can’t justify big money, but about the £300-350 mark. Been eyeing up Gretsch g2622’s and Epiphone ES335 pros (was initially looking at Dot’s but been advised against those). Now leaning towards the Epi. Annoyed as I recently missed a Sheraton for £300 (not averse to something used). Any thoughts? Anything else I should be considering? Thanks.
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Either way, dont dismiss them until you have played one.
Good hunting
Adam
I’ve a gretech 2420t and that’s very well made also. Not quite as good as the peerless.
I quite like the Ibanez...
https://www.andertons.co.uk/guitar-dept/electric-guitars/hollow-semi-hollow-body-guitars/ibanez-as53-semi-hollow-electric-guitar-in-tobacco-flat
https://i.imgur.com/uV2PNSc.jpg?1
https://i.imgur.com/fa1EPjR.jpg
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If you can bear to be seen with something smaller, the Midtown/ES-336 models are worth considering. So is the old PRS SE Custom Semi-Hollow - especially after American pickup upgrades.
On a budget, an Ibanez is the smart purchase for that style of guitar.
I’m a big Gretsch fan, but at that price, you get much more for you money with Ibanez. The Gretsch will have a problematic Bigsbys B50, a crap nut, poor setup and severe tuning issues. The Ibanez will be spot on out of the box.
I’d take an Ibanez AFS75T over a Gretsch G5420 any day (hollow, not 335 style).
The Gretsch 2622 can be sorted. A new nut, ‘Bigsby Tuning Stabiliser mod’ for the B50, and a proper setup by a tech who gets Gretsch (most don’t), and you’ll have a stunning guitar, but that’s extra cost and a load of ball ache.
For example, I bought a Fairlane Blue Gretsch G5420 when they came out. Sounded crap, played crap, felt crap. I had the tubers upgraded, had the nut replaced, sourced a squishy spring for the Bigsby, had it setup by someone who know his way around Gretsch foibles, and replaced the rattling bridge with a Tru Arc. I then spent a weekend fettling the pickup and pole piece heights until it sounded perfect.
The end result was an incredible guitar, phenomenal sounding, fantastic playing beastie....... but I hated it. I had reached my limit of patience with frigging around with it to get the best out of it, plus the cost of the parts and work combined with the buying price resulted in a very dissatisfied wallet. I sold it in sharpish.
The guy who bought it from me got an excellent guitar at a very reasonable price, that was utterly lovely to play and pain free.
Moral of the story, if you want a Gretsch, save your pennies and buy s proper Pro Line guitar. Leave the cheaper models well alone unless you live to mod and fettle guitars to your hearts content (or buy a used one from me, as they’re always perfectly sorted by the time I sell them)...!!
My cheap Ibanez is quite lovely. Mine was modded before I bought it (Filtertrons). A friend had the same guitar with stock pickups. I think his sounds better than mine! Stock, it’s an awesome guitar.
Otherwise I'd suggest the Epi Dot - these can be picked up used for 200 if you look around (gumtree seems to breed them!)
There are bargain Epi Sheratons too, but I don't get on with those so wouldn't recommend one!
If you can stretch to £500, I am led to believe (although have never played one myself) that Peerless guitars are excellent value too. There is this one on Reverb right now, black with the ripple showing through, 3 x P90....
https://reverb.com/item/14961641-peerless-wizard-p90-archtop-guitar-gloss-black
Adam
I had a Wizard Custom too, it felt great though the pickups were a bit dark I think, it had a surprising amount of sustain for a hollowbody. Was a good bit nicer built than the older MIK Dot I had, but both were perfectly good playing machines. Although as^^ for me the third pickup was in the way often.
Washburn did some 335 types too I think? Not played any though.
Remember, it's easier to criticise than create!