Best 335 style guitar for under 500

fuzzbrew

I'm saving to buy a 335 style guitar a few months down the line and want some opinions. I mostly play rock (Black keys, Led zep, The Beatles, CCR) British blues (Peter Green, Rory Gallagher) and heavy rock (Queens of the stone age, Soundgarden, Fu Manchu, Sabbath) styles....

I know a good few of the options out there, ie Sheratons, Dot, ES-339 pro, Hofner very thin, Ibanez Artcore, Tokai, Reverend, Gretsch etc...... All suggestions for other models appreciated.

Would like opinions based on what would be suited for the style i play and the best finish/build quality. As far as pick ups go i will probably be changing them out later on so stock pick ups aren't as important. I like a slimmer to medium neck but not too slim, preferably with out any glossy varnish on the neck/ fretboard either, satin finish i think they call it, but most guitars in this price range don't come with that sort of spec so will probably have to be a wire brush job. Will get a professional to that. Neck binding would be a plus and center block is a must. Had a casino before, puts out some good tones but can't handle the dirt pedals. Preferably not a bolt on neck either.

fuzzbrew

obviously i mean Gretsch electromatic. Seen a couple of used ones around 500 quid

fuzzbrew

I know there are lots of threads on this subject already but none of them really address my own personal needs

PTO

I had a DeArmond Starfire for a while. Great guitar! Still regret letting it go!! Worth a look if you could get one 2ns hand!

Ravelleman

It's very hard to go wrong with a Sheraton.

Gretsch Electromatics with two cut-aways are full-hollowbodies so surely your criteria would exclude them.

The Reverend Manta Ray is their closest equivalent to a 335 but they're so far away in terms of specification that it doesn't really seem valid to compare them.

Fingers Mcginty

Yamaha SA1000 ...nicer than any 335 I've ever played. Slightly outside your budget though I'd say.

fuzzbrew

Fingers Mcginty wrote: »

Yamaha SA1000 ...nicer than any 335 I've ever played. Slightly outside your budget though I'd say.

that it is bro,i played a yammy SA1000 recently though and it was impressive. I am thinking i will go for the ES-339 pro:

http://www.epiphone.com/Products/Archtop/ES-339-PRO.aspx

I here they sound akin to a les paul with a bit of the character of a 335 also. I would get the ES-335 pro but they seem to be discontinued:

http://www.epiphone.com/Products/Archtop/ES-335-PRO.aspx

it will probably be a toss up between the 339 or the Hofner:

http://www.hofner-guitars.com/electric-guitars/verythin-guitars/verythin-ct.html

fuzzbrew

Ravelleman wrote: »

It's very hard to go wrong with a Sheraton.

Gretsch Electromatics with two cut-aways are full-hollowbodies so surely your criteria would exclude them.

The Reverend Manta Ray is their closest equivalent to a 335 but they're so far away in terms of specification that it doesn't really seem valid to compare them.

I was unsure about the Gretsch being semi or completely hollow. As for the Reverend, i think it could be suited to my style and on the neck 'bucker i am sure you can still get a convincing 335 style blues or Jazz tone out of it. Like i said before though, for now i am thinking about an Epi ES-339 pro or a Hofner contemporary Very thin. Has any one experience with these guitars?

fuzzbrew

For now i am thinking about an Epi ES-339 pro or a Hofner contemporary Very thin. Has any one experience with these guitars? I played a 339 pro in waltons & it felt like a decent enough guitar, I can't speak for the sound as i didn't get to try it plugged in.

seachto7

Yamaha AS93. Most sub €500 will be similar though. I'd say you won't go wrong.
I played a Yamaha AS93 next to a Gibson 339 and obviously the Gibby sounded WAY better, but the Yamaha was pretty decent. Not really my sound though, so I moved it on....

fuzzbrew

http://www.crazyparts.de/new-arrivals/diy-guitar-kits/es-project-kit.php

What about building one using one of these? They seem to be high quality. I've read that a lot of cheaper semi-hollow body guitars use cheaper woods and use a thick gloss like finish that is detrimental to the tone, this worries me. These look as if they use high quality woods and are not finished with anything. Would I be able to get a guitar closer to the quality of a Gibson say buying one of those and using after market hardware? I know I will go over my set budget but if it gets me closer to the quality of a Gretsch or Gibson it may be worth it.