Best ES-339 type guitar That's not Gibson or Epiphone?

[B2D]

Hey folks. A friend and I are on the hunt for a guitar that cops the general vibe and the body size of an ES-339, but we want something nicer than the Epiphone version and are looking for alternatives to the Gibson original design.

What's good around the $1000 mark in that body size that works well?

 

[Hank-]

Re: Best ES-339 type guitar That's not Gibson or Epiphone?

Godin might be worth a look

 

[Lucius Paisley]

Re: Best ES-339 type guitar That's not Gibson or Epiphone?

Go on, buy a Gibson. I gather from a recently deleted video that they need the money.

 

[VinceT]

Re: Best ES-339 type guitar That's not Gibson or Epiphone?

Slightly different look, but at that price point, have to put the Reverend Manta Ray on the list.


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[ehdwuld]

Re: Best ES-339 type guitar That's not Gibson or Epiphone?

Eastman has a version

 

[NegativeEase]

Re: Best ES-339 type guitar That's not Gibson or Epiphone?

The Guild Starfire iV has a body size somewhere between a 335 and a 339.

It's a great import -and the lil' buckers are cool -and will keep everything you play from sounding like literally every rock song ever like a Gibson -as they are slightly less round and warm with more top detail (which can always be rolled off)



There are tons of fantastic Guild Lil Bucker demos on you tube.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Best ES-339 type guitar That's not Gibson or Epiphone?

The Eastman T484:

 

[ehdwuld]

Re: Best ES-339 type guitar That's not Gibson or Epiphone?

The Dean Shire is the size of a LP
But made of pressed laminate like a 335
Also has a piezo bridge

 

[beaubrummels]

Best ES-339 type guitar That's not Gibson or Epiphone?

Ibanez artist hollow body series (can’t remember the model number). Rhythm player in my band back in the 80’s/90’s had one. The ones from the 1980’s/1990’s sound just like a 335.

 

[ibanezrocks]

Re: Best ES-339 type guitar That's not Gibson or Epiphone?

There's the Ibanez AM models

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[NegativeEase]

Re: Best ES-339 type guitar That's not Gibson or Epiphone?

There's the Ibanez AM models

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That's a great suggestion

 

[Gstring]

Re: Best ES-339 type guitar That's not Gibson or Epiphone?

Way back in 2005 or thereabouts I scored a natural Washburn HB35 from Sam Ash for $449 shipped. I was in the US at the time. The guitar was beautifully made and stunning to look at and as in was around $2 to the £ at the time it was a real steal for me. Stock pick ups were not that bad but I also got a really good deal on a set of Seths at the time . Should probably have upgraded the pots but I hate working on semi hollowbodies. Have had no probs with stock chinese electrics.Tuners are 18: 1 Grovers and tuning is rock solid. Guitar is very versatile and plays and sounds great. Definitely a keeper.

Demo vid

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBYh7mO0KqU

There are several others on You Tube

Vid comparing stock pups with SD Phat Cats

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MVcuFoJlSvA&t=109s

 

[Artie]

Re: Best ES-339 type guitar That's not Gibson or Epiphone?

Gretsch. Just because I've been on a Gretsch kick lately. (This one comes in at around 6 bills.)

 

[B2D]

Re: Best ES-339 type guitar That's not Gibson or Epiphone?

Go on, buy a Gibson. I gather from a recently deleted video that they need the money.

I will, but only if I can't find a non-Gibson I like better, which means equal or better quality for less $$.

 

[ibanezrocks]

Re: Best ES-339 type guitar That's not Gibson or Epiphone?

I will, but only if I can't find a non-Gibson I like better, which means equal or better quality for less $$.

Just to play devil's advocate: the Gibson will be easier to find used and easier to sell if you ever decide to.

But yeah, you can usually find better guitars for less money, especially if you're only looking at new guitars and/or aren't picky about where it's made. The massive used market on Gibsons tilts things back in their favor somewhat.

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[ehdwuld]

Re: Best ES-339 type guitar That's not Gibson or Epiphone?

Send a picture of one to a builder in China

Have them manufacture a copy

 

[ibanezrocks]

Re: Best ES-339 type guitar That's not Gibson or Epiphone?

Send a picture of one to a builder in China

Have them manufacture a copy

Didn't the first guitar you get from them have tons of defects? Why are you such an advocate for this method (I recall you wanted to get your name on the headstock, can't remember why else)?

If he can afford $1k for a guitar, he's probably looking at getting the best possible guitar for the money instead of the cheapest possible guitar that he can subsequently spend money on fixing up to be merely acceptable.

Also, it's pretty vague to just say "get one from China". There's a lot of Chinese people of varying skill in guitar making.

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[ehdwuld]

Re: Best ES-339 type guitar That's not Gibson or Epiphone?

Didn't the first guitar you get from them have tons of defects? Why are you such an advocate for this method (I recall you wanted to get your name on the headstock, can't remember why else)?

If he can afford $1k for a guitar, he's probably looking at getting the best possible guitar for the money instead of the cheapest possible guitar that he can subsequently spend money on fixing up to be merely acceptable.

Also, it's pretty vague to just say "get one from China". There's a lot of Chinese people of varying skill in guitar making.

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Yes there are many Chinese people

Yes there are also many builders

Yes the first one had a bunch of defects

Yes the only one I have posted a link to was the last one

And yes it is much better than the first

Eastman is from China as well as Epiphone

Not all Chinese builders are garbage

Thank you

 

[B2D]

Re: Best ES-339 type guitar That's not Gibson or Epiphone?

Just to play devil's advocate: the Gibson will be easier to find used and easier to sell if you ever decide to.

But yeah, you can usually find better guitars for less money, especially if you're only looking at new guitars and/or aren't picky about where it's made. The massive used market on Gibsons tilts things back in their favor somewhat.

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This is true. Hence why I'm not counting Gibson out, I'm just exploring options.

 

[B2D]

Re: Best ES-339 type guitar That's not Gibson or Epiphone?

Send a picture of one to a builder in China

Have them manufacture a copy

The last guitar I had built was done with a luthier local to SoCal and it came out beautifully.

I'm an hour's drive from LA - I'm spoiled for choice if i want one built from the ground up.

I'll go international for almost anything but when it comes to hand built stuff, I'll keep my business domestic for now.