buying a new 335-style guitar

[Bear]

Don't discount the Ibanez Artcore guitars. I wasn't impressed with a bass in that line that I had tried, but I picked up the jazz box with the floating bucker and was startled to find out it wasn't a George Benson model. (And I'd encountered one of those before.) Really solid build, good sound, and played superbly. There's an equivalent build-level 335-style, and you might get lucky with a lower-end one.

Bear

[mat]

Thanks jimipage for Your input

Actually I studied luthierity for two and half years so I can set the guitar up for me easily I would have built 335-style guitar already if it wouldn't take so much time to build something like this. I know I have built one L-5.

For now.. I just want to play

[mat]

This would be about 850€'s Any other suggestions for 335-copys ? Actually I'm not too fond of the original ES335 shape...

If you are truly open to thinking outside the box, may I suggest a look at the G&L semi-hollow Bluesboy (Seymour Duncan "Seth Lover" neck pu and Tele-style bridge pu)? I got one of those and was so impressed by the build that I jumped on a ASAT Jr (semi-hollow, mahogany neck and body, quasi-P90s) too. Both are light and well-balanced instruments - each cost me less than $800. I sold my '79 Gibson ES-347 and '84 Fender Esprit Ultra SP.

I'm leaning more and more towards the traditional two humbucker setup. I love the simplicity and all 3 positions sounds are very usable to me. Thanks for Your suggestion.

[jimipage]

I know I have built one L-5.

killer! I would love to see some photos of that. Many moons ago I was a diehard jazz player and always wanted one of those (and still do )

[mat]

I know I have built one L-5.

killer! I would love to see some photos of that. Many moons ago I was a diehard jazz player and always wanted one of those (and still do )

I sold the L-5 years ago. Sorry, only photo I have of it is this one on my diy-projectpages scanned from old paperphoto http://koti.welho.com/mtiilama/DIY%20Guitars.htm. Its the one on top of the page with the other diy's.

[mat]

Ok, I bought the IBANEZ AS93-VLS ,like this: http://www.thomann.de/gb/prod_large_AR_167597.html

Would have prefered black one with dots but they dont make that color any more I tried 4 different (same model) guitars and teased the music store people by playing couple of hours trough Mesa Boogie Lonestar combo (how can it suck so big time comparing to D-style amps )

The one I bought was by far the best among the 4 guitars. It also resonated nicely towards my beer-gut

Also ordered Seymour Duncan 59 pair for it (Robben Ford uses them..)

Thanks for all the answers! My hunt is over

[jimipage]

stunning (the L5, that is -- that Ibanez looks pretty sweet, too)

[skyboltone]

Ok, I bought the IBANEZ AS93-VLS ,like this: http://www.thomann.de/gb/prod_large_AR_167597.html

Would have prefered black one with dots but they dont make that color any more I tried 4 different (same model) guitars and teased the music store people by playing couple of hours trough Mesa Boogie Lonestar combo (how can it suck so big time comparing to D-style amps )

The one I bought was by far the best among the 4 guitars. It also resonated nicely towards my beer-gut

Also ordered Seymour Duncan 59 pair for it (Robben Ford uses them..)

Thanks for all the answers! My hunt is over

How many Euros with the Duncans?

[mat]

Ok, I bought the IBANEZ AS93-VLS ,like this: http://www.thomann.de/gb/prod_large_AR_167597.html

Would have prefered black one with dots but they dont make that color any more I tried 4 different (same model) guitars and teased the music store people by playing couple of hours trough Mesa Boogie Lonestar combo (how can it suck so big time comparing to D-style amps )

The one I bought was by far the best among the 4 guitars. It also resonated nicely towards my beer-gut

Also ordered Seymour Duncan 59 pair for it (Robben Ford uses them..)

Thanks for all the answers! My hunt is over

How many Euros with the Duncans?

Everything costs here (Finland) more than in USA. Ibanez was 420€ and the two Duncans were altogether 122€.

Ibanez work quality seems to be really good. I'm amazed the playability and sound looking at the price of the guitar. The tuners seems to be (so far) really sturdy also. Only place I would change is the pickups (am going to). I have a spare bridge + tailpiece, will check if those make any difference, but I doubt not.
Also when checking about 20 semi-hollows the Ibanez'es had all very good fretwork. No buzz to be found on any of the notes.

Btw. Any experiences with covered pu's. More treble or less treble ?

[stelligan]

mat,
Congratulations on the new guitar. I'm sure that Ibanez will please you. Especially after the new p-ups. Nothing like the inspiration of a new guitar to add a couple 'o licks to the repertoire!

[skyboltone]

Everything costs here (Finland) more than in USA. Ibanez was 420€ and the two Duncans were altogether 122€.

I don't think the price is that much more than US actually. You paid rock bottom for the Duncans. There are simply no new alternatives to the Ibanez in that price range with that quality. I have an Heritage H535 that I paid $1100 for used. I'm very happy with it but will someday replace the Shallers with Lollars. A used Yamaha SA 700-2200 is of course a viable alternative too but there aren't that many around, at least here in the states.

I think you done good mister.

[benoit]

I know what you mean. My wife and I vowed on January 1, 2006, not to buy anything from China.

Just out of curiosity, why?

[jimipage]

China's idea of human rights, well, just doesn't exist. And that's putting it as politely as I am able. They are still a Communist country. They are NOT our friends. Until that country begins to treat its citizens like humans rather than animals or robots, I feel that the U.S. has no business doing business with them.

[benoit]

China's idea of human rights, well, just doesn't exist. And that's putting it as politely as I am able. They are still a Communist country. They are NOT our friends. Until that country begins to treat its citizens like humans rather than animals or robots, I feel that the U.S. has no business doing business with them.

I understand how you feel, to some extent, but I disagree. I lived in china for 6 years ('96 to 2002), and while its true that the average Chinese citizen does not have as many rights as someone living in this country, it is not what you think it is. In fact the average chinese person does not feel oppressed, (nor should he). Aside from a lower standard of living (which is quickly rising) his life is not that different from yours. There are the sweatshop scandals that we hear about so often here, and those are terrible (though by no means the norm). Kinda like the way people here take advantage of illegal aliens. Yet no one says "I won't buy american til we treat our workers like human beings." Yes, I know they aren't working legally but that's no excuse to take advantage of them.

Of course I don't actually advocate not buying American products because they might have been made by illegal aliens working under substandard conditions. If you care about the aliens (or the chinese people who are being oppressed, which you seem to - and I applaud you for that), DO buy the things they make. Who do you think you're hurting by not buying chinese products?? The government? They'll make sure they get theirs one way or another. The only person you really hurt is the people working in the factories, whose products you chose not to buy. When enough people decide not to buy, for example, chinese guitars, the factory closes, the workers are unemployed (the official rate last I heard in china was 40% but the actual number is prob higher, though improvements are taking place). Now they don't eat. I think its great that you care enough about the chinese people to want to do something about it, but I feel that the boycott method doesn't do any good to the people who need it.

On the other hand, it IS your decision to make and I don't really want to tell you what to do, just to give you another perspective. At very least I respect your intentions, and if you think your way is the way to make a difference you gotta go for it.

Sincerely,
Ben

[jimipage]

You are well spoken. I appreciate your perspective, as well as taking the time to respond. On a basic level I agree with you regarding the fact that workers need to eat. It surely is not their fault how their government treats them. Unfortunately, there are far too many reports of just how little Chinese laborers are paid, if they are ever paid at all. And now China holds too much of the U.S. debt for there to be a level playing field economically. In other words, they hold the upper hand should any kind of serious conflict arise between them (or one of their allies) and the U.S. If they dumped the dollar, the Great Depression would look like a day at the park. And it would also have a serious impact in many other countries as well. The U.S., of course, is an equal player in that game, having not imposed any real consequences for the ever-rising trade deficit. I hold my own government just as responsible. On top of that, China has chosen to severely limit the free speech rights of their people, and religious persecution is rampant. I could go on, but I don't want to start any argument here, with anybody.
Funny thing is, having stated my stance here, I also just posted on 18Watt about my new PT's from MPS. I didn't realize they were made in China until I received them. I am thinking about emailing Matt, the owner of the company, to ask him some details about the business practices of the company that he contracts with to manufacture his product. He comes across as someone who not only stands behind his product, but as someone who cares about his customers. I would like to deduce from that that he also has a sense of ethics, both business and personal, and has taken into consideration the rights of those whom he effectively employs. This, of course, is my responsibility to find out, especially if I am to stand atop my own declared ethical beliefs.
Anyway, I appreciate your taking time to discuss this, Ben. It's actually pretty cool to be able to talk about these kind of issues in a civilized forum (no flame wars) with folks who are able to think on their own two feet.