Best es 335 knock off

[skiroy]

Im starting a new post because I want to specifically focus on the es 335 sound. I since wrote off the hahstrom viking. Seems like a well built guitar and sounds good to,but there is something about it that doesnt quite nail the sound I want. So its down to the Epiphone Dot or a rondo music es 335 knock off. Can anyone recomend the best DOT odel and or the best sounding rondo music knock off. Or if you know of any others. looking for that meters sound. The viking is a little moe organic bluesy.

[YRLK]

Have you ever tried a Godin Flat V? Those are fun.

[Brent Hahn]

The best knockoff 335 I've ever played was a Tokai ES 135 from the late 70's lawsuit era. Tremendous instrument, there seem to be quite a few of them around, and they go for a fraction of the price of the real thing. Ibanez made some great knockoff guitars and basses during that period, too, but I've never played one of their 335's.

[syntax]

While the epiphone sheraton also comes to mind, you might dig around for a vintage (80s) Ibanez AS-100. This is the Scofield guitar. Solid construction and huge tone that can be had for under $1000.


Here's some pics of one (already sold apparently)
Vintage Guitars, SWEDEN - 1982 Ibanez AS-100

[Jerry Pbury]

I have owned one of these for years. Fantastic quality, feel and sound. Nails the ES335 sound.

Heritage Guitar, Inc. of Kalamazoo - Semi Hollow Body


Jerry

[Steffmo]

The Tokais pre lawsuit were really something. At the time they basically aced both Fender and Gibson at their own game.

And that Ibanez Scofield model is nice.

You might try an Agile. I have a Les Paul Gold top with p90s from them....about 250 bucks. all the guitar guys love it and are never afraid to use it on any track.

The make 556 knock offs for 350.00 or so. Cheap enugh to upgrade the electronics and have a nice set up done.

Nice, workable instruments that deliver quality within 85 percent of the real deal at 10 percent of the cost.

[rogerbrain]

Originally Posted by syntax

While the epiphone sheraton also comes to mind, you might dig around for a vintage (80s) Ibanez AS-100. This is the Scofield guitar. Solid construction and huge tone that can be had for under $1000.


Here's some pics of one (already sold apparently)
Vintage Guitars, SWEDEN - 1982 Ibanez AS-100

Ibanez or the Yamaha

both work quite well

[Stitch333]

I've had a lot of luck with an older Epiphone Casino with burstbuckers.
It held its own with an original 335.

[Steffmo]

The Tokais pre lawsuit were really something. At the time they basically aced both Fender and Gibson at their own game.

And that Ibanez Scofield model is nice.

You might try an Agile. I have a Les Paul Gold top with p90s from them....about 250 bucks. all the guitar guys love it and are never afraid to use it on any track.

The make 556 knock offs for 350.00 or so. Cheap enugh to upgrade the electronics and have a nice set up done.

Nice, workable instruments that deliver quality within 85 percent of the real deal at 10 percent of the cost.

[mikecorwin]

I have an Ibanez 335 from the early 80's that smokes! It's been one of my main gigging guitars for years.thumbsup

[Blue May]

Epiphone Sherraton is a great guitar.. i have one and it really sounds and play like a guitar twice the value... complaints.. the tuners are budget.. they deserve to be replaced.. pickups could be better but still very useable.

cheers.

[rty5150]

yup, i vouch for ibanez as well. the artstars are nice and the budget artcores are nice as well. their premium artcores are crazy nice. i own an af-107, which is a fully hollow single cut. they also have a 335 semihollow in that range, too. killer!
Ibanez :: Hollow Guitars :: AS

[Musiclab]

I have a pre lawsuit Agile. It's good guitar but you have to change the pickups. The newer ones don't really look right if you care about the 335 style look. But they do play well, a few years ago when Rondo music still had a store in NJ I went and played a bunch
of different Agile guitars, Les Pauls, 335's Tele's and Strats. That day I wound up with an Agile Cool Cat which is basically an L5 copy, which is a gorgeous guitar and plays great.
That sent my on a little Agile binge, I now have the 335 which I won in an Ebay auction, and an SG copy, and the Cool Cat. BTW if you like ebony fingerboards which I prefer Agile makes a 355 mono copy, which is basically a 335 with an ebony board.

[soul&folk]

Look into the Jay Turser 335 copies. I have one and couldn't be happier. Every guitarist friend I know that picks this up is impressed with it. They go for $225 on ebay right here.

The only thing I would do to improve mine is change the tuners. The action was fine, the p90s are fine, the tone is fine.

[sleep over jack]

Owned one of those pre-suit Agiles and I thought it was horrible.

The Epi Dot beats the Agile.

The Sheraton beats the Dot.

The Ibanez AS-80 and AS-120 from the 80's/90's kills the Sheraton.

The Gibson 335 beats the Ibanez.

And the Heritage 335 beats the Gibson 335.

In that order.

[Musiclab]

gee I guess you got a shitty one, because my Agile 335 copy destroys any epi dot I played. In general the agiles I've found to be much better instruments than the epi's or cheap fenders. You must change the pickups though. The Sheraton is a guitar which I wouldn't call the Dot

[Gretsch 6120]

I’ve played most of the ones mentioned here, with the exception of maybe the Agile and Jay Turser. At one point I owned both a 1970 something Gibson 335 and a 1997 Korean built Epi 335—don’t think they were calling them “Dots” at that time. Epiphones are hit and miss IMO—no matter what make of Epi we’re talking about. Gibsons are plain overpriced and too proud of their name these days IMO….played some new Gibsons that I wouldn’t give $200 for because the frets needed dressing, the factory setup was terrible, and the guitar just didn’t feel balanced.

The Tokais are nice, but you’ll pay for them because of the novelty factor mostly. With the money you’ll spend on a Tokai you might as well buy the genuine article (the Gibson 335).

The Ibanez versions are decent, but I’ve yet to play one that’s worth writing home about, so-to-speak.

While I’ve no direct firsthand experience with the Agile and Jay Turser versions of the 335 I do know that those companies manufacture their guitars in the same overseas plants as companies like Ibanez, Washburn, Oscar Schmit, etc. Basically, they’re all subsidiaries of Samik and Cort, and I have extensive experience with Samick and Cort because I’ve been working in a local music store that carries these brands for years now.

If budget isn’t too much of an issue the I’d opt for an older Heritage 335 hands down, as long as it was one of the older builds. Admittedly, I’ve not played any of their newer guitars, but the ones that I have played (mostly late 90’s guitars) were fantastic My understanding is that the newer ones aren't as good because they're having a hard time finding quality woods....not sure if that's 100% true, but I've read that claim on other boards.....However, keep in mind too that these aren’t cheap--even the older secondhand ones. The downside is that they don’t have the resell value of a Gibson. Nevertheless, they're resell value is pretty good if you can find a buyer that knows what he's buying.

A close second choice on a budget would be a Greg Bennett Samick Royale (RL 4 or 5). These aren’t exact replicas of the 335; rather, they’re refined instruments that were inspired by the 335 design. What I love about these guitars is that they embody all of the 335’s good attributes but don’t suffer from many of the well-documented problems that plague the old 335 design. It’s a more balanced and better playing instrument IMO than most 335’s, but it’s also a little smaller. It will maintain it’s intonation and stay in tune. When you get into the RL 3, 4, and 5 editions you’re getting top notch hardware trim, finish, and electronics. All of the Samicks use quality wood, and most of them come setup really well from the factory, which is impressive to store owners. Also keep in mind that these are a fraction of the price compared to a Gibson, Tokai, or Heritage, and you’ll get a lot more bang for your buck. These are professional grade quality instruments that will hold up and last way beyond a lifetime if properly cared for. A secondhand one that's been taken care of is a steal.

Of course, you can search for some old sleeper Yamahas, Epis, and Ibanezes, and you’re eventually bound to find a winner there too.

BTW, I gave up the search for the perfect 335 a few years ago when I discovered my Gretsch 6120. It does everything a 335 can do and more, but sometimes I still miss the thinner line of the 335…not too much though.

Cheers,

Chris

[Steffmo]

I have to agree with Lou....I havem't had a bad agile here and that has been 6 guitars. But anyone can make a bum one when they are turned out that fast.

My sister has a Heriitage 335 and its beautiful, vut you can hardly putit into a "knockoff" conversation.

One could argue its more the real 335 than anything gibson currently makes. Hell...its probably all the guys that made the GREAT 335s.

And of course...they aren't priced like a 335 knockoff.

I looked at the current rondo site and the Agiles actually look like the had tomod the shape a pinch. I didn't know there had been a suit, but anytime a knockoff company makes a better guitar than some the source company does, there is going to be one.

If you aren't a collector, and you want a playable guitar, buy an Agile, replace the guts and do proper set up. You'll be in 600.00 or so, but it will be nice guitar you can take anywhere without fear of theft or other unsavory occurances.

[AudioWonderland]

Yamaha SA2200

[skiroy]

What about an ibanez am73 not as73?

[jproc]

One of the best sleepers is the Squier Starfire... yes, you heard me right... Squier...

When Fender bought Guild & DeArmond, they re-badged the DeArmond version of the Starfire with a Squier logo... but nobody was willing to pay $900 for something with the Squier brand name on it...

Beautiful guitars... bargain prices.. I got mine for $400 with a brand new hardshell case, and it blows away any Epi...


(also... +1 on the Tokai guitars...)

[swempa]

Tanglewood is pretty good.

[baskervils]

I used a Hondo Revival for years - a light and good looking 335 copy.

I liked it better than the real 335, because I found the real 335 too heavy and hulky sounding, even through a Fender amp. Even guitar techs said that the Hondo was a good guitar, but it doesn't really stack up to a real Gibson.

I say a real Les Paul Special (Gibson, not Epiphone) recorded nicely can give you all of the best qualities of a 335 with the control and versatility of a hard bodied guitar. They are also a much better recording guitar than Epiphones and Gibsons have better intonation. Best of all, you can get a 2nd hand Gibson for nearly the same price as an Epiphone.

[ianzxcvb]

I have a sheraton - it's about 20 years old now. The neck is amazing - low action without choking and really wide making it easier to play difficult chords than my solid body gibsons and fenders.
I sounds great too; though with maple neck there's a little more sparkle to the tone than a smoother Gibson ES335.
It's a great guitar in it's own right, but not an ES335.