Japanese 335. Yamaha or?

KentNZ · Post by **KentNZ** » Tue Sep 16, 2014 4:29 pm

Ooo. Will be watching that one.

TMG 03 · Post by **TMG 03** » Fri Sep 19, 2014 12:30 am

KentNZ wrote:Ok. So if I miss out on eds SA700... Which I probably will.

Educate me. I'm looking for a good Japanese build 335 for similar money. Early teens ish. What should I look for and from where? Japan guitar dot com? Or?

Late 70s or early 80s or is more current fine?

Yamaha. Ibanez? Tokai?

You can get these SA700 on ebay all the time. The SA100 is a little rare and the SAS1500 rarer and cost about 2k.
Does it need to be a Yamaha ? Or vintage ? The current epip dot are a good place to start at.

StrummersOfThunder · Post by **StrummersOfThunder** » Fri Sep 19, 2014 5:50 am

TMG 03 wrote:
KentNZ wrote:Ok. So if I miss out on eds SA700... Which I probably will.

Educate me. I'm looking for a good Japanese build 335 for similar money. Early teens ish. What should I look for and from where? Japan guitar dot com? Or?

Late 70s or early 80s or is more current fine?

Yamaha. Ibanez? Tokai?
You can get these SA700 on ebay all the time. The SA100 is a little rare and the SAS1500 rarer and cost about 2k.
Does it need to be a Yamaha ? Or vintage ? The current epip dot are a good place to start at.

I agree with what you say about the 700, they do pop up,a lot. There is almost always one or two 1000s on eBay or j guitar.
Plate 70s/early 80s is best if you ask me.
Now, the epiphone dot. I tried a fair few of these when I was shopping round for a 335. Didn't find one I liked. To me they definitely felt 'cheap'. But there must be good ones out there as people do continue to recommend them.

KentNZ · Post by **KentNZ** » Fri Sep 19, 2014 9:41 am

The thing is, is the difference just what you see - hard ware changes/god chrome etc, finish, and bridge type? I imagine all the bodies are the same internally? I know some are laminate top and some solid.

TMG 03 · Post by **TMG 03** » Fri Sep 19, 2014 1:08 pm

The thing with the ES style guitar is that they are almost always made from Laminate as some say, or Ply as others do.

Most have a centre block made from pine/ cheaper wood. Some mahogany, they are cheap to make as the actual wood content it low. the real part that is hardest about them is the wiring loop. that is why you always see them with original pickups as nobody can be arsed changing them out via an f hole.

Tokai, Edwards, Greco , Grassroots ,Epiphone , Yamaha all made a ES style guitar. Some are MIJ, or MIK or MIC. Its a stable product line with those guys.

I have found that with ES guitars they are all much alike. I tend to notice the neck size more than the body as plywood is plywood IMO. Where as a solid body MIK, MIC can really be a different animal in wood quality. And in some cases the MIC stuff coming out now is very well made.

What is the J guitar site everybody mentions?

KentNZ · Post by **KentNZ** » Fri Sep 19, 2014 1:33 pm

TMG 03 wrote:What is the J guitar site everybody mentions?

See third post.

KentNZ · Post by **KentNZ** » Fri Sep 19, 2014 6:16 pm

So, changing the pickups is a nightmare then?

KentNZ · Post by **KentNZ** » Fri Sep 19, 2014 6:48 pm

OK - before someone else jumps in with a summary - this is a great page to at least see all* the models one after the other.

http://bluebookofguitarvalues.com/elect ... _SA_SERIES

*OK, some.

SA700, anyone?

Jay · Post by **Jay** » Fri Sep 19, 2014 7:59 pm

Re: Japanese 335. Yamaha or?

Postby KentNZ » Fri Sep 19, 2014 7:48 pm
OK - before someone else jumps in with a summary - this is a great page to at least see all* the models one after the other.

You'll find a lot more info on my web site on the two digit Superaxes, and it is free. I also have info on the SA700 bu it is not on my website. You can PM me your email address and I will send some stuff. (This was offered earlier in this thread). And since you are in Auckland you are welcome to try out any of my Superaxes, including the SA1000.

KentNZ · Post by **KentNZ** » Fri Sep 19, 2014 11:39 pm

Thanks mate. Will do.

hellblazer · Post by **hellblazer** » Sat Sep 20, 2014 11:12 am

I'm feeling kinda tempted by that Epi Lucille on TM.

No f-holes either, so swapping pickups would be nice and simple through the plate on the back. Plus I think the goofy Epiphone headstock actually suits a nice big hollowbody.

KentNZ · Post by **KentNZ** » Sun Sep 21, 2014 9:53 pm

Any comments on Tokai Es? They seem to be more expensive though.

KentNZ · Post by **KentNZ** » Mon Sep 22, 2014 2:05 pm

jvpp wrote:http://www.ebay.com/itm/1978-Yamaha-Sup ... 3395382efe

Photo a bit big, use 'Ctrl -' and 'Ctrl +' to decrease/increase

Went for about $1000 in the end. 820US. I wasn't ready to bid.

KentNZ · Post by **KentNZ** » Mon Sep 22, 2014 2:10 pm

If only. https://trademe.co.nz/783438224
GIBSON ES 335 CUSTOM SHOP DOT FIGURED GLOSS

KentNZ · Post by **KentNZ** » Mon Sep 22, 2014 8:56 pm

Are the 'Memphis Gibsons' "less" or "more" than a standard 335? They seem pretty well priced.