cheap es-335?

[frigid midget]

I'm pretty much a fender addict, alder or ash bolt on's have always been a constant for me, even for playing music that's typically associated with gibson style guitars. Not to mension the ergonomics and playability, nothing beats a jazzmaster or strat in that regard imo.

Anyway, one type of guitar is sorta an exception to that, I think thanks to the somewhat airy/open/jangly/whatever character that sets it apart from more dry/direct/pristine sounding les pauls and sg's: The ES-335!

Anyone get their doom on with one? Not too much feedback issues? Also, I sort came to the conclusion that the cheapest copy out there that meets my requirements (spot on replica, black, slim'ish neck profile) would be the Tokai ES60. So if anyone has another/better contender in mind: Lemme know.

[Doesy]

I'd be questioning the feedback issues at high volumes I think. A guy I used to play with a bit had an ibanez hollow body that suffered from some pretty bad feedback when we boosted it.

[t-rey]

Whiskey has/had a 335 I think and he plays at seismic volumes.

van_muddlestein played a hollow body Gretsch when I saw his previous band. High volumes in a really reflective (read: all cement and aluminum) room, and he managed to keep it under control and had good toanz.

[AxAxSxS]

the trick is to have a volume pedal. really lets you use the feedbalck to your advantage without it becoming an annoyance. Imo, Should be stanfard on every board, but really shines when you are using a hollow or semi.

[frigid midget]

Sounds like its worth a shot than. And I guess there's also still the old damping trick (t shirts or towels stuffed in the f holes), in case I do run into feedback issues.

I totally agree about vol peds by the way, mine is by far the most used thing on my board. I'm using an EB vp jr, which surprisingly enough seems to be immensly popular. Mine's served me well for a couple years, but imo the build quality is questionable to say the least. I'm derailing though, I'll leave my vol pedal issues for another thread.

[whiskey_face]

Whiskey has/had a 335 I think and he plays at seismic volumes.

van_muddlestein played a hollow body Gretsch when I saw his previous band. High volumes in a really reflective (read: all cement and aluminum) room, and he managed to keep it under control and had good toanz.

I had a 135 and a 335!

the 135 had fholes and at volume the guitar flexed so much and there was so much air moving in and out of the Fholes it literally felt like putting my arm infront of a sub port. . . I actually thought that I was going to blow that fucker apart at the seams. . . good volume knob control is #1 priority with those guitars.

I also had a 335 studio that was semi hollow but F hole less. I bought it thinking it wouldn't resonate/feedback/holy fuck shes gonna blow as much as the 135.

at my volumes, it did. . .

so I traded them for a 4003.

now to get enough svts that it makes a 4003 flex like my 135 did

[D.o.S.]

Yeah feedback's always an issue. I second AxAs's comment on the volume pedal.

[ALLisNOISE]

I used one in a psych/noise band.
I would get great controllable feedback that I could control the timbre of by my relative position to the amp.
I used the guitar and amp like an eBow, letting chords ring out indefinitely.
With a delay and some modulation (use of fuzz is implied), I got a rich pad-like background on which the bassist and drummer could play against.
Judicious use of a volume pedal is necessary, but it add great dynamics anyway.

[darthbatman]

i'd like to hear some of that good feedbacky psych rock you described. sounds dope
i'm a bass player with a semi-custom birdsong 4-string which i absolutely love but sometimes wish it were a hollow.

[D.o.S.]

I use a Casady semi hollow and feedback can be a real bitch on occasion.

The solution: Who the fuck uses rests ever?

[frigid midget]

I actually owned a gibson es-335 for a while. Black, plain top, the non-glossy kind. It pretty much knocked me out of my boots, never ever played a gibbo before that i like that much. The 'air' and overtones I got...Is probably what you'd call 'bad feedback' when it goes overboard, but it just got me this orgasmic chaotic liquid mojo vibe...I was seriously depressed for a while when my financial situation forced me to let that guitar go again. I dont often put my hands on an electric thats just so damn inspiring, forgiving, versatile, etc etc....

So I figured I should try my luck with a cheap chinese copy, and maybe do a couple upgrades if I have to. Im picky when it comes to aesthetics as well as overal quality though, and the availability/price of '80s high end japanese copies isnt in my favour these days:s

[Harry_Manback]

I played a 335 and it squealed like a banshee with gain.

My current one and only is a semi hollow Hagstrom. Mojo resonance and feedback.

[van_muddlestein]

I used a full hollowbody for a long time as T-Rey mentioned. The feedback is very controllable and musical if you can understand that you're NEVER going to be able to get as much gain as you'd like. A noise gate will cure all of it though, for the most part.
I didn't use one, I just got really well adjusted to where I needed to stand away from the amp, working my volume knob, etc. It's got pros and cons like any other guitar but if you're willing to put in the work they're absolute monsters tone wise. I miss my gretsch a lot.

[louderthangod]

I have an ES-137 which is like a 335 but shaped like a 175. I've tried several pickup configurations and I've always had massive, uncontrollable feedback. The guitar was incredibly resonate and so much air was coming through the f-holes it was weird like a fan was in my guitar. I tried f-hole foam plugs and that helped but kinda killed the liveliness of the guitar. Now I just use it for lower volumes and recordings. Still sounds amazing and I wish I could use it live but too much volume and too much gain (though really just fuzz doom type gain not death metal stuff or anything).

[kbit]

Highly recommend a Schecter Corsair in your 335 search. I know, Schecter is far from the pinacle of cool, but mine feels absolutely beautiful and ive never played a guitar that resonates or has as much natutal low end. Admittedly I am selling mine but it ain't due to a lack of the guitar being awesome.