ES-335 sound

[gtrmac]

I've become a convert to the sound of the ES-335. I recently posted about my purchase of an Epiphone Elite Dot semi-hollowbody and since I got it I have been playing the guitar exclusively. People have said that the ES-335 is a versatile instrument and now I know what they were talking about. This axe is great for Blues and Jazz but I'm really surprised how it can get some sound that are close to my Strat for Funky stuff too. The shorter scale length and smooth action really make it fun to play. I'm using .011 gauge strings which give it a nice tight feel and good pitch for chords.

 

I'm really loving this thing and I wonder what took me so long to discover how good they are. The body shape is very comfortable both sitting and standing too. I can see why ES-335's have been in production for so long.

 

The Epiphone Elite, now named Elitist models are a great deal. They're made in Japan for Gibson and they use U.S. made pickups and hardware. They cost a lot less than the comparable Gibson ES-335, only lacking the Flame Maple veneer on the body but mine has some nice Birdseye in the top.

 

OK, end of commercial

[Super 8]

How do those 335-esque Artcores stack up against a real 335?

[Sean Eldon]

I played a few Artcores when looking for a backup guitar. Hated them all. Played a Carlo Robelli semi-hollow that I liked a million times more (and bought. what a deal. one quick bridge adjustment to take away string buzz and now it's perfect).

 

I'm pretty sure that the "Elite" model doesn't use USA-made pickups as advertised. I'm pretty sure they're made overseas and then tested and distributed in America.

[James-Italy]

You are so right gtrmac, the ES-335 is one versatile guitar!

 

Shimmering cleans, blues, jazz (I'm guessing), country, funk are all there waiting to be coaxed out. Mine even raaaaaawks very nicely, thank you!

[gtrmac]

Originally posted by Sean Eldon:

I'm pretty sure that the "Elite" model doesn't use USA-made pickups as advertised. I'm pretty sure they're made overseas and then tested and distributed in America.

http://www.epiphone.com/elitist/pickups.htm

 

I guess that they could think it was worth risking false advertising but I can't imagine why.

 

I compared the guitar side by side with the Gibson RI and it sounded almost identical if not better to me. These guitars list for almost $1800 by the way.

 

I would assume that the standard Epiphone models, made in Korea, are very similar to the Korean Carlo Robelli guitars but the Elite Epiphones are made in the same factory that Gretsch guitars are made in. The workmanship is definately better even at a glance.

 

But both the Korean Epiphones and the Carlo Robelli guitars are amazing for the $300 price tag. Enjoy yours

 

I haven't tried the Artcores yet. I've treid an Ibanez Pat Metheny and George Benson models though and they are really nice. But they cost about 4 times as much as an Artcore.

[Sean Eldon]

regarding elitist pickups: note that "made in the USA" is in quotes, and on the pickup itself, it just says "USA" and it leaves out some key words...like "made in".

[Blue Strat]

Originally posted by Super 8:

How do those 335-esque Artcores stack up against a real 335?

I was wondering that myself, since the Artcores are about $250 cheaper than what an Epiphone Sheraton sells for... I was looking at the AS-73 or AS-83 in someone's sales paper... I'd get it for that B.B. King blues tone.

 

It should also be noted that Delores from The Cranberries used an ES-335 on their Saturday Night Live performance. Great cleans and a killer distortion tone on Zombie...

[Super 8]

Originally posted by Sean Eldon:

I played a few Artcores when looking for a backup guitar. Hated them all.

Far out, man.

I'm surprised to hear this after all of the raving people have been doing about them.

 

By the way....as a sidenote;

I downloaded some of your tunes and loved them so much, I added them to my MP3 collection. I hope you don't mind. Just killer material! You got any lyrics to go with it?

If you ever release a CD of that stuff, make sure and let me know!

[Bejeeber]

Dang, those Artcores aren't cutting it, huh? Too bad, they looked kinda nice on paper.

 

To think that I posessed a BEAUTIFUL '69 Gibson ES335 - walnut with gold hardware - and when the time came that I had to sell either it or my strat I kept the strat! Doh!! Wish I had that to do over again.

 

I've always felt that acoustically the 335 is a sweeter, more sustaining, more expressive guitar for lead playing than a strat(probably having a lot to do with scale length and the 335's set in neck). That is unless you're hitting the guitar really hard ala SRV, where the strat has obvious advantages.

 

And the strat has a definite edge in the clarity dept. IMO.

 

Well Nowadays I'm thinking you can have all that stuff in one guitar - a setup I'd like to try would be a 335 type guitar for it's great playability coupled with a Roland VG-8 guitar modeller, which actually models all kinds of guitar pickups and pickup placements really well.

 

Hopefully people will keep posting to this thread regarding which 335 type guitars are the good ones - I know I'm definitely interested.

 

I'd like to see Line6 come out with a 335 style Variax.

[tiger85]

Its hard to beat the Epiphone Sheraton II when it comes to reasonably priced ES-335 style guitars. Nice workmanship, good looks and plays great. The sound? Great humbucking sound for clean or dirty. Also a wonderful clean chord sound ( at least through my Fender Deluxe 90).

Can't beat it for the price!

[Sean Eldon]

Originally posted by Super 8:

By the way....as a sidenote;

I downloaded some of your tunes and loved them so much, I added them to my MP3 collection. I hope you don't mind. Just killer material! You got any lyrics to go with it?

If you ever release a CD of that stuff, make sure and let me know!

thanks a bundle. if you're referring to the ones at my purevolume site, i can pm you some lyrics. if you're referring to the ones at http://www.asobrock.com/seankit/demos those are demos i did for a band i just started called bashi-bazouk. lots of mathrock stuff. just added another mp3 today of a song called "The Hip Bone's Connected To The Murder Of Seven Teenage Girls", listed as "hip.mp3" in the directory. they do infact have lyrics, but these demos are just so that the band can learn the songs before practice. as far as vocals, just imagine three guys yelling (not screaming) in tune.

[Sean Eldon]

ignore.

[Super 8]

Actually, the stuff I'm referring to is on the website in your tagline

http://www.purevolume.com/seaneldon

I did listen to the demos that you posted. I'll look forward to hearing them with your new band if you post them.

 

I have to say, you're a pretty competent musician -especially for being a young guy. I didn't realize it was you playing all the instruments. Very impressive. How long have you been playing???

 

I gave your band ASOB's a listen as well. Nice stuff, but I like your solo stuff better than the Ska thing. Still, it's a really good band.

 

Yeah, if you were willing to pm me the lyrics to the tunes on your site, that would be really cool. I'd wouldn't mind covering some of your stuff live sometime, unless you were opposed to that for some reason.

 

Sorry for hijacking the thread...

We return you now to your regular 335 discussion already in progress.

[Blue Strat]

Originally posted by Sean Eldon:

I played a few Artcores when looking for a backup guitar. Hated them all.

Was it a problem with the setup, the construction, the electronics, or a combination of factors?

[miroslav]

I hated my Artcore AFS75T so much...

 

...that I went and bought a second one...

 

...the Artcore AG-85!

 

They both sound great...and not the same.

 

The Neck PU's on both are very bluesy, chunky and warm...with the AG85 having a more fuller tone...probably because of its wider body and different wood finish (Bubinga)

 

They both rock with the Bridge PU's...with the AFS75T showing just a tad more edge...but neither are super crunchy/distorted...just a sweet bark-n-bite!

 

I considered one of the Epi's...but just didn't see where the extra cost was worth it...quite the opposite actually.

The AG85 is just stunning in its finish.

I did redo the setup...but I would expect to do that with any shipped guitar...and most store bought ones also.

 

Anyway...I'm no guitar snob...I have mostly inexpensive sub-$500 guitars...except for a couple.

I find a certain beauty/uniqueness in each one...even if they don't have expensive brand names on the headstock.

 

Oh...the Oscar Schmidt "335 style that I picked up for $150 from Musician's Friend is also a very playable and good sounding guitar...I was quite surprised.

I really didn't expect that from a $150 guitar, and was originally planning to just raise the action on it and use it only as a slide guitar.

But when it arrived...I changed my mind and decided to keep it set up for regular playing.

Now I'm still looking for a "slide-only guitar!

[Sean Eldon]

Originally posted by bluestrat:

Originally posted by Sean Eldon:

I played a few Artcores when looking for a backup guitar. Hated them all.

Was it a problem with the setup, the construction, the electronics, or a combination of factors?

pretty much a combination. really cold/bad wiring, pretty poorly built (specifically neck joint), tough to play the way i want to (though that can be fixed with a quick truss rod adjustment, still, i wouldn't buy it)

 

Super 8: Been playing various instruments for about 11 years. Piano the longest, I guess. Lyrics are on their way, and cover them all you want as long as you're not passing them off as your own

[Major Tom]

I'm pretty sure that the "Elite" model doesn't use USA-made pickups as advertised. I'm pretty sure they're made overseas and then tested and distributed in America.

I would imagine that using pickups "made in the USA" for japanese gibson guitars has to be a marketing gimmick/scheme/ploy, as a result of marketing research that documented player's perceptions that somehow that makes them better. I have seen in forum posts before how people seem to assume that USA made pickups are inherently better than offshore models. ..... Japan has been a world leader in automotive, electronic, camera, and other high-tech (yes and guitar) manufacturing for 30+ years. I'm pretty sure they can find someone to wrap wire around a bobbin.

 

[Super 8]

Originally posted by Sean Eldon:

[Lyrics are on their way, and cover them all you want as long as you're not passing them off as your own

Of course not.

 

Thanks man...

[zeronyne]

Speaking of Epi Dots...

 

There's a super bargain basement version by Epiphone that come in a few solid colors. I personally could not stand the look of them...but today I saw a black one that was really nice looking.

 

Has anyone played one of these? Does it sound like a real 335? I'm looking for that Rush "Hemispheres" era sound.

[Dave da Dude]

I can't believe all the negative comments about the Ibanez Artcores!

 

Every 73S that I've tried has been at least passable, and one or two have been almost as good as the Epi Elitist Dot that I tried. An awesome value IMHO

 

Dave the Acoustic Dude

[Tedster]

For every Artcore detractor, there's a supporter. Our own NMcGuitar proudly displays his artcore in his avatar. A few months ago, there was a jazz gal who posted briefly who's main axe was an Artcore.

 

Guitars are like food (but louder)...gimme a menu. Some folks will only like certain entrees...some will like more.

[sgguitarzz]

I also just picked up an Oscar Schmidt OE30 from MF for $150 and you can't beat it for the price. It is more than a decent guitar. I was very happily surprised. I used at a gig last night for the first time and it performed great.

[NMcGuitar]

I'm coming in a little late on this (been busy the past week and haven't had time to check in).

 

Obviously it's always a matter of taste, and as we all know, individual guitars each have their own feel/vibe.

My experience was that the Artcores far surpassed the other 335-style axes I was looking at. I ended up with the AF75 (full hollow body) instead, but it was a close race - it just seemed to call to me a little louder. I played the Epi's and was kind underwhelmed. I played a couple of Gibsons, and couldn't see any superiority to the Artcore (but I could see that they were about $600 more expensive). The Hamer Echotone was pretty nice, but, again I prefered the Artcore.

 

I find that they are tremendously well-made guitars, and I absolutely love mine. It has become my primary axe now.

 

Anyway, as I said, it's always a matter of personal taste/preference, so I guess the best thing to do try 'em all until you find the one that speaks to you.

 

gtrmac - I'm glad you're enjoying the guitar so much. That style really is versatile.

[Funk Jazz]

i finally played an artcore 85 (gibson es 175 copy) and was pretty impressed. played it through a mesa lonestar and it was really easy to get passable tones. i'd definitely consider one for a jazz gig, but it lacked all the shimmer neeeded for anything else.

 

i have picked up a couple of others here and there and was far less impressed. it seems like you would have to try out a bunch to get a good one. then spend some time on the setup as the factory adjustments have been ridiculously bad.

[Funk Jazz]

oops

 

forgot to add that Hamer's 335 copies in the 400-600 range are the best i've played personally.

[Dave da Dude]

The best ES335, or clone, that I've played so far has been an AS73 TRD at a local shop.

 

Just awesome

 

And only $380

 

I'm wavering

[Super 8]

Originally posted by NMcGuitar:

My experience was that the Artcores far surpassed the other 335-style axes I was looking at. I ended up with the AF75 (full hollow body) instead,

What kind of music are you playing with this?

 

I've read that the resin in the laminate finish on the guitar has a dampening effect on the body's resonation. I wonder if this might eliminate the need for a centerblock.

 

Thoughts?

[NMcGuitar]

Originally posted by Super 8:

Originally posted by NMcGuitar:

My experience was that the Artcores far surpassed the other 335-style axes I was looking at. I ended up with the AF75 (full hollow body) instead,

What kind of music are you playing with this?

Well, I got it thinking I would use it for jazzier stuff, for pit orchestras, and so forth - places where I'd want a fairly clean, fat sound. But it has become my primary axe for just about everything now.

My band does mostly blues and classic rock (with some southern rock and hard rock influences) - think Stones, Allman Bros., Doobie Bors., SRV, CCR, John Mayall, Aerosmith, Three Dog Night, etc. - and this axe is great for all of it. The singer is always giving the other guitarist a hard time about the fact that he's always switching guitars, and I only play the Artcore.

 

Anyway, while it does have some great fat tones, it can really scream too. Not to mention being able to get a nice tight funky sound as well. It won't give you the same "snap" as a strat, but it gets fairly close (certainly close enough for playing in local clubs). I'm also impressed with it's ability to get controlable, musical feedback - something I never seem to be able to get with my strat (or even my LP).

 

I will say that if you're planning to play any really loud gigs, you'll need to mic your amp. While it will give you a good bit of punch before it starts feeding back, it is still a hollowbody... I have no troubles with it at bar-band levels. I use a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe, and for my gigs I have the volume at around 4. Plenty loud, and no feedback issues. But if you're going to something bigger, plan for some reinforcement.

[TeleCarlos]

I got a Sheraton II...

 

I plan on "shoegazing, Cure type stuff.. to garage rocking like my man Valensi (The Strokes that is).

 

I noticed he uses some P90 type replacement on his and saw Seymour Duncan carries them. They fit in a Humbucker hole but sound like a 90 I guess.

 

Got me thinking......

[Dave da Dude]

TeleCarlos,

Seymour Duncan carries them. They fit in a Humbucker hole but sound like a 90 I guess.

Isn't that the "Phat Cat"?

 

I played a Godin with SD P90-3's and it was awesome

 

BTW, what are you doin' with an ES335, TELE Carlos?