Ibanez vs. ES 335

Tom Gorr · Post by **Tom Gorr** » 11 Dec 2004 10:18 pm

Has anybody compared off the Ibanez guitars (GB ??) vs the Gibsons?

Thoughts & Comments?

I've played neither and will probably have to take my chances on ebay to get one.

Stephen Gambrell · Post by **Stephen Gambrell** » 12 Dec 2004 2:25 am

I can't remember the model number, but I bought an Ibanez semi-hollow guitar, after playing several 335's. NO CONTEST! The Ibanez's neck felt better, the finish was cool, the guitar sounded, well, better, and I saved about 1500.00! Wish I still had it.

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 12 Dec 2004 8:37 am

The Artist 335 type guitar was very very nice.

I still have a solidbody version with the exact same type of neck.

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 12 Dec 2004 12:35 pm

The Gibsons cost 3 to 4 times as much. All you have to do is decide whether the "name" is more important to you than what you're actually getting.

Bill Simmons · Post by **Bill Simmons** » 12 Dec 2004 4:47 pm

I had an Ibanez "2630" (about 1979)335 in an "Antique Violin" finish; gold parts and a coil tap. I also had a Gibson 335 and a Gibson 347. The Ibanez was somewhat better for tone and was great looking. By the way, it was the much cheaper and was the best sounding...I wish I still had it!!!

Tom Gorr · Post by **Tom Gorr** » 12 Dec 2004 8:42 pm

Thanks Guys!

Name is not important - I'm obsessive about getting high quality at a "reasonable price". For me that is rarely less than $1000, and rarely as high as $2000.

Sounds to me like the Ibanez's are the bargains of the century from that perspective.

Please continue to provide more recommendations on Ibanez models that I should focus on. Also, is there quality issues or preferences by year of manufacture?

Thanks Again

Jerry Hayes · Post by **Jerry Hayes** » 13 Dec 2004 5:13 am

The Ibanez guitars are doing well in the Jazz world (George Benson, Pat Metheney, etc) with players who could afford anything they want. I had one of the 335 styles years ago and sold it in favor of keeping my Gibson which was a mistake. I do still have an Ibanez Artist solid body which is about 25 years old and is the absolute best guitar in my collection. I was going to get rid of some instruments a few years ago and kept the Ibanez and sold my Les Paul standard as the Ibanez looked, sounded, and most importantly, played better. The phase like comparing Hondas to Cadillacs doesn't work in the guitar world. I've got a Korean made Epiphone Sheraton that I'd compare to any 335, 345, or whatever Gibson you could put up against it and I only paid $250 (used) for the dang thing. JH

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Livin' in the Past and Future with a 12 string Mooney Universal tuning.

Darvin Willhoite · Post by **Darvin Willhoite** » 13 Dec 2004 5:44 am

Peavey has a nice 335 style guitar available now, the JF-1. It is an import but the quality and finish is really nice. I have two of them, the first one I bought new from Musicians Friend as soon as they were available for $299 with free shipping. I had to do very little tweaking on it to make it play and sound great. I bought another one used for $170 but it had a high fret, so I did a level and polish job on the frets and now it plays great. The two I have are red and sunburst. They have a black one available too, I guess I need to buy one of them to have the complete collection. Peavey does not offer a case for these yet and they are just a little too large for a 335 hard case. I bought gig bags for mine at about $50 each. They are definitely worth checking out if you're in the market for such a guitar.

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Darvin Willhoite
Riva Ridge Recording

Don Joslin · Post by **Don Joslin** » 13 Dec 2004 6:24 am

I used to have a George Benson and I really liked it over the Gibsons. And, I REALLY liked the price. I'd probably still have it but I traded it in on a solid body Ibanez Artist. Wish I still had that one too.

I also used to have a Black Lab named Ibanez!

Don

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Country Music - (kun'tree myoo'zik) n. - Three chords and the
--------- truth.

Charles French · Post by **Charles French** » 13 Dec 2004 7:55 am

I have a 1985 ES335. I love this guitar. I sold my Ibanez 335 copy. Personally, there is no comparison in sound to me. I didn't have any complaints with the Ibanez, played good, sounded pretty good. But seriously my Gibson's sound is head and shoulder's above the Ibanez IMO.

Oh and new don't mean nothing to me. I bought my 335 from a friend of mine, paid $1200 in 1994.

Steinar Gregertsen · Post by **Steinar Gregertsen** » 13 Dec 2004 8:07 am

I would like to play a thirty something year old Ibanez.

Though perhaps not 30 years old, I have played several Ibanez and Tokai models from around 1980, and I can assure you they age very well.
In fact, these models are highly sought after today and it's not unusual for a 25 year old Tokai to sell for ~$1000.

Steinar

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www.gregertsen.com

Jerry Hayes · Post by **Jerry Hayes** » 13 Dec 2004 11:17 am

Steinar, have you seen the Tokai Tele copies which have the B-Bender in them? I'd like to score one of those babies. I saw one in a store once and played it a little but didn't have the bucks at the time to buy it. The thing was every bit as good as any Tele out there.

Back to Ibanez, they have the Artcore series out right now which has hollow body jazz type thick body guitars, 335 style, and the single cutaway thin body F-hole guitars. I have a single cutaway model in blue with the Ibanez vibrato which works just like a Bigsby. I use it on some gigs I do with an Elvis Impersonator for the Scotty Moore stuff and it does the job great...JH

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Livin' in the Past and Future with a 12 string Mooney Universal tuning.

Steinar Gregertsen · Post by **Steinar Gregertsen** » 13 Dec 2004 12:00 pm

Jerry,- I tried one at a jam session many years ago. As I recall I was as impressed with it as I've been with most Tokais I've tried.
I friend of mine has a Tokai strat and "Pastorius" fretless jazz bass, both pretty old, and though many have tried, there's no way to make him sell any of those.

Steinar

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www.gregertsen.com

Stephen Gambrell · Post by **Stephen Gambrell** » 13 Dec 2004 12:20 pm

"Other than that the only thing foreign I am buying is gas.(oil)"

So what kind of TV you got? Microwave oven? Where was your shirt made?

Stephen Gambrell · Post by **Stephen Gambrell** » 13 Dec 2004 4:25 pm

Not trying to insult anybody, James, but I heard a radio guy say that if Wal-Mart were a country, it'd be China's 8th largest customer. I drive a Chevrolet Monte Carlo---engine built in mexico, body in Canada---and BMW has a HUGE plant, right here in South Carolina???
To get this back on topic, I would RATHER have a good ES-335, than an Ibanez. But when I was shopping for mine, I ABSOLUTELY could not find, new or used, a 335 that knocked me down like that Ibanez did.
And, for what it's worth, my Mexican Fenders sound just as good as any American Fenders I've played.

Dyke Corson · Post by **Dyke Corson** » 13 Dec 2004 9:22 pm

If you want a quality American Made 335 style guitar at a very fair price consider the Heritage 535. These are hand made in the oldest original Gibson factory building in Michigan by some of the original Gibson employees. My stores here in Illinois have done very well with this line. We have sold several in the $1595 - $1795 price range (prices vary with wood, finish, pups, etc.) Includes deluxe hardshell TKL case. We are sold out at this time but hope for more soon.

Henry Nagle · Post by **Henry Nagle** » 14 Dec 2004 12:46 am

I've got a Tokai telecaster ("breezysound") that I've had since I was 17 ( I'm presently just about 29). I've bought and sold some pretty nice guitars in that time and I never considered selling the Tokai. It's as good as any Fender I've played. I payed $250 for it.
Does any one know how to date these guitars? The headstock is shaped just like a Fender. I heard that that practice didn't last too long. Late 70's, maybe?
I've also got a newer Epiphone Casino. I got it because I couldn't afford a Gibson 330. It's been a great guitar for me.
I had an older Fernandes Stratocaster too. It was stolen two days before I got the Tokai. That was a pretty nice guitar too.[This message was edited by Henry Nagle on 14 December 2004 at 12:50 AM.]

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 14 Dec 2004 2:25 am

ok..I'll buzz in..

I've had 3 real deal 335's, one was a 63 Red with factory Bigsby..this WAS..IS..a great guitar..I sold it to my friend in the early 70's as I was collecting cash for my first Steel. He still has it. I have had 2 new 335's since then, neither could stand up to the first one. a mid 70's and a mid 80's. Interestingly I sold the mid 80's Tobacco burst just a few yeas ago as I was collecting cash for another Steel in 2001 ! ?? . Do I sense a cycle going on here ? Both the mid 70's and the 85 ( pretty sure) looked great but were terrible players. The fret dressing on the 85 was the worst, the edges were rough and it just didn't feel right.

So..here we are , 2004 almost 2005..I recently bought a Korean Epiphone 335 off of EBAY for $200 BUY IT NOW..I figured, how bad could it be..well..it's not bad..in fact...it's great ! So great I bought another Epiphone being the Wildkat . 2 P90's with a Bigsby and this in my wacky 60's left over opinion is maybe the nicest Hollow Body Electric Guitar I have ever owned. Quality, Craftsmanship, playability, sound, neck, frets..

OK..my thoughts on the Ibanez guitars is the same..I think they are great for the money..I think that both the Epi's and Ibanez guitars are more consistent and have "Immediate Playability" .

What you don't get is the headstock bragging rights and the continued value that the brandname demands.

And Stephen is right abouth the Tele's..although my main axe is a 1989/52 RI , I also have a 50's classic ( MIM) which is probably one of the finest Tele's ever put on the market..it sold new in the $600 range.

And I also have a mid 80's MIJ Squire Tele..hard to beat these little baby's as well..

oh..and the Tokai's from the early period were excellent..very desirable guitars...

Before you buy the Ibanez, at least pick up the Epiphone 335's..

happy Tuesday..
t[This message was edited by Tony Prior on 14 December 2004 at 02:30 AM.]

Steinar Gregertsen · Post by **Steinar Gregertsen** » 14 Dec 2004 6:32 am

Does any one know how to date these guitars? The headstock is shaped just like a Fender. I heard that that practice didn't last too long. Late 70's, maybe?

I think they changed the headstock in 1984.

Steinar

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www.gregertsen.com

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 14 Dec 2004 6:49 am

Does any one know how to date these guitars?

First, buy some nice flowers...

(Sorry, guys, but I had to do this before HowardR got to it; it coulda been much worse, y'know, if he had...)

Darvin Willhoite · Post by **Darvin Willhoite** » 14 Dec 2004 11:11 am

Here is one of my favorite guitars, a Ventura "lawsuit" Howard Roberts model, made in the Ibanez factory in Japan. I bought it used in 1979 in a Pawn Shop, so I really don't know what year it was made. I changed the original pickup to a Bartolini Hi-A a few years ago. The original pickup was kind of weak. It plays and sounds as good as any of my Gibsons.

I have a couple of Heritage jazz guitars too, and they are nice, but the price is up there pretty high, although they are generally cheaper than Gibsons, and the quality is probably better.

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Darvin Willhoite
Riva Ridge Recording

Chris Brooks · Post by **Chris Brooks** » 14 Dec 2004 1:17 pm

Like Tony, I bought a Korean copy--and I really like it though I haven't played out with it.

It is a DeArmond, carbon copy of a Guild (I like Guilds). Two gold DeArmond pickups, the Guild pickguard, distinctive tailpiece, headstock, etc.

$800 with hard-shell case. Works for me.

Chris

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now living in the Ocean State ....