Semis/Jazz Boxes on a budget

Fran · Post by **Fran** » Mon Jan 04, 2010 2:12 pm

Its been years since i had my last 335 type guitar but since playing James's jazz box at Doogfest i've been considering something similar. Something that can lay around the house, played casually but also be capable of a gig maybe.
The Epiphone and Ibanez Artcore stuff is more than i want to pay to be honest, i've looked at the Hofner Verythins, Hagstrom Viking, Cort New Yorker. The Verythin looks great but it does'nt have the projection of the Cort (from what i've tried), its more of a solid body. I wanted that earthy acoustic capability for around Â£300.

I was looking for some suggestions, i dont have the money yet but its something im considering.

Thanks.

stewart · Post by **stewart** » Mon Jan 04, 2010 2:25 pm

what about those aria semis?

deez ones- BIN Â£235.

Fran · Post by **Fran** » Mon Jan 04, 2010 2:29 pm

Lank broked. Is it the TA-70 model? They look okay actually, i hope you did'nt mean the BNP 335 with union flag

Post by **Mike** » Mon Jan 04, 2010 2:33 pm

Second hand Epiphones are too expensive for you?

Fran · Post by **Fran** » Mon Jan 04, 2010 2:35 pm

They dont seem cheap even second hand Mike, Casino's and Sheratons seem thin on the ground too.

lorez · Post by **lorez** » Mon Jan 04, 2010 2:41 pm

i used to love my sheraton. i cryed the day i sold it. definitely worth scouting around for

lorez · Post by **lorez** » Mon Jan 04, 2010 2:46 pm

i've also seen plenty of epi dots about and seem a good price

Post by **Mike** » Mon Jan 04, 2010 2:48 pm

Fran wrote:They dont seem cheap even second hand Mike, Casino's and Sheratons seem thin on the ground too.

Weird. I think it's the fact that Strokes guy plays Rivieras, and the Casino is overpriced by the Lennon association.

stewart · Post by **stewart** » Mon Jan 04, 2010 2:59 pm

Fran wrote:Lank broked. Is it the TA-70 model? They look okay actually, i hope you did'nt mean the BNP 335 with union flag

try it now.

(TA-40, btw)

Fran · Post by **Fran** » Mon Jan 04, 2010 3:25 pm

Fuck, that is nice. Pickup only though...

Yeah Mike, i looked at the Epi's and was shocked how much they'd jumped up in value.

stewart · Post by **stewart** » Mon Jan 04, 2010 3:26 pm

liverpool's do-able though, no?

Fran · Post by **Fran** » Mon Jan 04, 2010 3:31 pm

I dont fancy it. Got a buddy over at JS from there might pick it up, saying that i've not got the money yet really..

lorez · Post by **lorez** » Mon Jan 04, 2010 3:37 pm

take a look at the dots then plenty in your budget - link

James · Post by **James** » Mon Jan 04, 2010 3:44 pm

Are you going for the 335 depth more than the 175? I've been looking at both for quite a while. I fancy a 335 type but the big name Japanese ones (Ibanez, Tokai etc) recently shot into the Â£700-1200 sort of range.

For Â£300 max, that Aria is a good bet even being bolt-on. You could probably catch a train or coach to Liverpool quite cheap but it's half a day gone, too. But if you don't quite want it it's a lot of hassle to go through.

There are quite a few similar ones that pop up on ebay, but you really have to not be picky about exactly what you want. You can find a 335ish double cut with two pickups quite easily, but you might get a trem, or not, and you've a very small chance of being specific about the brand. You can still be picky about what looks quality or not of course, I just mean this sort of market is quite unpredictable.

For 335 types, Korean Tokais can be had for a touch under Â£300 and seem quite decent (although not up to the Japanese standard, the Japanese ones don't seem like they'd justify the jump in second hand value). For larger ones you'll struggle outside of the Stagg and Artcore stuff. I thik you could maybe pick up an Artcore for Â£270 if you were patient.

I'm going to be selling my ES-175 later in the year. Donk has quite firm dibs (I think he'll take it if funds allow) and it'll be pushing Â£400 rather than around Â£300, but you're welcome to put a second dibs on that if you like.

[/long ramble]

Fran · Post by **Fran** » Mon Jan 04, 2010 3:52 pm

I think im more inclined to go for the 175 depth after my visit to the local guitar shop. Just dont want some great big Gretsch clone and a bigsby does'nt interest me. The extra acoustic projection is what im after.
Is yours an accurate copy of a 175 in size? If so i think thats what i should be looking at.

stewart · Post by **stewart** » Mon Jan 04, 2010 4:23 pm

what about that orange thing donk was selling? although i suppose even if he still has it, it'll be in ireland and he's in NZ... still, you could look into a new one.

edit: never mind, it's a gretsch copy with a bigsby, which you just said you didn't want...

toez10 · Post by **toez10** » Mon Jan 04, 2010 5:02 pm

I often see Epiphone ea-250's in the states popping up for around $250, which isn't bad for a 70's/80's japanese hollowbody. The few I've gotten to play in shops have had nice necks, and didn't feel as cheap as some of the kingston/teisco/oscar schmidts.

James · Post by **James** » Mon Jan 04, 2010 5:05 pm

Fran wrote:Is yours an accurate copy of a 175 in size? If so i think thats what i should be looking at.

If it's not it's certainly very close. I've not been that close to too many 175s because the guitar shops that have a few tend to put them off to one side in a 'ask to view' section. From what I have seen up close it's the same though. I imagine it's as close as an old japanese strat copy is to a real strat. The depth and that sort of thing is the same.

Progrockabuse · Post by **Progrockabuse** » Mon Jan 04, 2010 5:11 pm

i've got a westfield 335 clone doing nothing if you want it fran.

ekwatts · Post by **ekwatts** » Mon Jan 04, 2010 5:21 pm

Fran, you want this:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... K:MEWAX:IT