Guitar Gear Forum

I picked up my Epiphone 335 that I bought used and had some hack so the electronics swap and pick up installation. It needs a new bridge and because it's an import, that's less than easy to find. It's been pretty unplayable for 2+ years and it pissed me off.

Normally, I'll resurrect a guitar but the semi-hollow shit I just can't be bothered with. Especially for the $300 I paid for it. So, I went looking online for what's good these days and then went to a GC.

I actually picked up a used version of what I ended up buying from Sweetwater. The GC one was just covered in shit and needed a set up (like every fucking guitar in there). I noticed that the frets were great, rolled edges, and the electronics actually work rather than being glorified on/off switches.

Apparently Sire makes all their own hardware and components. It sounded good for what it was at GC and I have a pair of mojotones that are like Seth lovers that I can put in if I don't like the stock ones.

My pictures are too big but here is the model
https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail ... hrough-red

UPDATE

They nailed this guitar. Fretwork is amazing. Rolled finger board. Not a single thing to get snagged on. Finish is beautiful. There are some scratches here and there, on the surface. Nothing serious. Mine is very resonant and acoustically loud, as one would hope a semi-hollow would be. Pick ups are basically Gibson 57 classic clones. Unpotted. Sound pretty good to me. Not in a rush to swap them. The electronics all work and have wide sweeps. Beyond impressed with the price point. $750 out the door at SW.

Very curious to hear your thoughts on this one. I think they look great and I liked the one I played at GC but I've seen some mixed reviews on them.

But I want a 335 style guitar and this one has been on the top of my list.

I won’t even lie, I was looking at the white one as a pseudo Alex Lifeson 355 tribute thing to have. HNIGD!

The Sire stuff is punching WAY above its weight class. Bought a Sire Marcus Miller 4-string jazz bass about 2 years back. We compared it to a lot of other basses that day and had the budget for a much more expensive model. After going through about 6-8 basses from Fender, Sterling, Ibanez, Jackson, Charvel, Schecter, Carvin, and an older USA-made Peavey, it was obvious that the Sire not only held its own but beat out most all of them. It came down between a Charvel PJ san dimas and the sire. The sire sounded every bit as good and was half the cost. Love the rolled fret edges and the active preamp is no slouch.

Played one of their Tele shaped super strats (HH, gotoh 510 style bridge) at Chuck Levins a few months ago and it was a great guitar. I probably would have changed the pickups but it was a good sounding guitar and with the rolled fret edgees felt great in the hand.

My Sweetwater rep said a LOT of free lance guitarists have been buying this 335. Sounds like a working man's guitar and that's what I would like.

Guitarbilly wrote: ↑Tue Apr 02, 2024 2:14 pm Very curious to hear your thoughts on this one. I think they look great and I liked the one I played at GC but I've seen some mixed reviews on them.

But I want a 335 style guitar and this one has been on the top of my list.

go check out the new Epiphone Custom 335.... Gibson Custsom headstock, Custombuckers, CTS Pots, Mallory capacitors, ebony board.... $1299...

Updated above