....well sort of!

Ive decided to part company with my Seven string (Already got buyer) and was setting my sights on a used Gibson ES-335. I'm still sure that its a good choice but I'm not totally clued up on semi-hollows so thought I would just see if theres anything else out there of a similar nature (ie a hollowbody!) that you guys think might be worth looking at, I love blues and rock and my budget is around 1000 GBP.

cheers!

There's a few others that are slim line semis I'd suggest Sted -

Gibson ES345 which is less popular and you might be able to get it a bit cheaper than an ES335 if you look around. Normally they see for more though. In a simlar manner maybe a 355 or a Lucille and the Howard Roberts Fusion (not a double cut though).

Ibanez George Benson and Pat Metheny signatures- there's a couple of different versions around and I think they are all single cut rather than double though the Metheny does have a shallow cut in to the top horn.

Yamaha SA2200 - well made and I think very similar to a 335 but cheaper.

Vox HDC77 - nicely made and a bit different. Not sure if it'll devalue badly though.

If you can find them and are happy with a used guitar- Guild make/made some nice double cut semis in the 70s and 80s. I think they were called something like Starfire...

Rickenbacker or Gretch if you want a sort of Beatles/Byrds type vibe.

If you have lots of money Collings make some nice semi but they cost about 2x more than an ES335

Hollowbody isn't my cup of tea but I would look at FGN guitars (japanese made in the Ibanez Fujigen factory), Ibanez semiaccoustics and ofcourse Gretsch and Vox

Thanks mate,

Looked at 345's, very nice but seem to go for a lot more like you say, the 339's also look nice but not many used about. I looked at the Vox 77 series but I'm not sold on its looks and theres no way I'd get to test one either, quite interested in the Yamaha though, I'll check that out, lots of time for yamaha guitars!

As for a collings, yeah, I wish!!

Check out Ibanez JS signature model, maybe You can get it used for decent money? Otherwise the whole series of AS guitars from Ibanez is very good and comparable to Gibson for less money.

//Staffay

EDIT: I own both a AS-200 (3/4 of the 335) and a GB10 (George Benson Signature), and they are both awesome guitars in every detail. New, they will cost You similar to a 335 though.....

//Staffay

I heard this Gretsch Brian Brian Setzer Signature Nashville Guitar which sounded so sweet! Don't know about its price, but its a cool full hollow body guitar!

Just a thought - a couple to maybe avoid if you come across them on ebay Sted are IMHO the Gibson ES125 and 175. If I remember correctly both are laminate tops and I think they're without the lock of maple that sits in the centre of the 335 etc under the arch top. Without it they're much more prone to feedback.

I agree about the look of the vox - one reason why i kind of doubt that it will hold its value.

+1 here brother, that gretsch is AMAZING.

For that much money you should check out in detail Ibanez hollowbody range, they seem good too.

But if you ask me, if that Gibson is good - go for it. Gibson is Gibson, they rarely make mistakes in production - build quality is somewhat guaranteed. Just be sure to check the guitar in DETAIL when you try it.