Grateful Dead Music Forum

I've been scanning the forum for years, never posted. Here's the deal, picked up the acoustic again after about ten years, been noodling, and now I'm on the ledge. Always wanted a Gibson es 335, can't afford it. Leaning toward epiphone dot. I know I'm not gonna get the Jerry sound with my new hollow body, but I need this guitar. Any ideas?

Shipofools wrote:I've been scanning the forum for years, never posted. Here's the deal, picked up the acoustic again after about ten years, been noodling, and now I'm on the ledge. Always wanted a Gibson es 335, can't afford it. Leaning toward epiphone dot. I know I'm not gonna get the Jerry sound with my new hollow body, but I need this guitar. Any ideas?

Those Epi Dots are pretty good guitars. I sold a bunch of them when I was managing a music store. Replacing pickups would be the only mod I would consider. Depends on which Jerry sound you're after. He used a Guild hollow body for a while. It would be good for a 60s tone.

You will be fine - remember its not the gear, it's the player. Jerry could make anything sound good. Just keep practicing and that alone will get you there man.

I have an Epiphone Sheraton II (like a Gibson 335) and I think it plays and sounds great. Changing the pickups help but even the stock ones sound pretty good. I used to own an old Gibson 335 as well.

If that's what you can afford and it sounds/feels good to you, go get it. You have to start somewhere. You can change the pickups, add coil taps, paint it purple, etc. down the road when you need a change.

Low end guitars ain't what they used to be. You can get a really decent guitar now for $500-$600, comparable to what would have cost quite a bit more 15 years ago.

If I were looking for a low budget Jerry style guitar, there are a few on Phreds "Phantastic Deals" page.
There is a hollowbody with 3 pickups there also:
http://www.phredinstruments.com/phantastic.php

fwiw, I played one of those 2012 Ligers just last night (one with no pre-amp or OBEL, but it had two 1/4" outputs and a battery compartment so it could be upgraded). A local friend has one. 'Sounded pretty Jerry-ish to me for such a cost effective axe, having 3-'buckers with split coils.
I thought it was nice. It has a full/deep C-shape neck, which I believe I could get used to (I have a Telecaster pickin' friend who swears by very thick necks for "his tone").

Cmnaround wrote:remember its not the gear, it's the player. Jerry could make anything sound good

I am reminded of the old Chet Atkins joke....after hearing him play, a guy commented on how good "that guitar" sounded. He responded, "oh, yeah", and put it down on a chair. He then said, "how does it sound now?"

thanks gguys - I'm leaning toward the Joe Pass signature, sheraton or ES 339. THey all sound and feel really good - priced the same , around $500-600. I literally want to do a blind test. go in blindfolded, have them hand me each one, play it - and pick the one I like the best.

Ok, so I tried the Sheraton 2, the casino, the joe pass, and the es339 ultra. I LOVE them all, AND I can't decide which color I like. Never thought this would add to the mid life crisis.

Wait a year, save more money, get what you want

Two suggestions. 1) Think about buying used. Tons of message boards out there where people are selling well loved guitars at half cost, which means you can get more guitar for about the same as a lesser guitar new. Its a good market right now and the people you deal with are usually a good knowledgeable people who just like to flip gear constantly so they respect the process and honor a code of ethics. 2) Throw an Ibanez into the taste test. I did a similar comparison years ago and ended up with an AS83. For what I was looking for it was the hands down winner. But it seems like you can't go wrong with the others on your list either.

Ok maybe a third suggestion. Enoy the search. I have been looking for a new guitar for about 8 months now. I know what I want, I could have bought one 4 times over at this point, but truthfully the hunt is sometimes the best part. Call me lame, but scrolling TGP and other sites for hours at night has become an addiction and when I finally buy it I'm not sure what I'll do to fill the void. God forbid I actually play guitar or be productive with that time...


Jeff

I had an Epi dot for a couple of years.....didn't sit right with me....traded it towards a new Ibanez AR 325 .....$499 at Guitar Center...got a $100 off sale....what a great guitar at least for me.....much better tone...split coils and easier to play....I know its personal preference but you might want to go play one if you get the chance....I absolutely love it...
George