Affordable Gibson alternative?

[jrcorp]

I'm trying to cut down my guitars to my Strat and a humbucker model. As a bedroom player, I can't justify having so much invested in gear. My buddy has a nice Les Paul Standard and an ES-339, both great guitars, but I don't feel anything special about either and Gibsons are way too much for me personally.

I recently traded away a MIM Tele for a "modded" (hacked up) Schecter C-1 E/A, which I was excited about. But after stripping it down and cleaning it up, I think its more work than it's worth for me to keep.

I'd love to find a mahogany body, mahogany neck guitar with two humbuckers that I could buy for around $400 used. Semi-hollow would be awesome, but I'm open-minded. Scale length doesn't matter, though some kind of thickness in the neck would be great. I have a few sets of pickups to try so poor stockers aren't an issue.

Brands that I think of include Schecter, PRS SE, and Washburn. Even a mahogany Tele with buckers might suit me well. I'd even try some Epiphones or Gibson studios. The Schecter seemed awesome because it was semi-hollow and felt more or less like a Strat.

Any ideas?

 

[ispunk]

Used Epiphone

 

[Serenity]

Epiphone ES-335 Pro. Good pickups stock, so you shouldn't have to upgrade, and they're coil tapped.

 

[Crossroads]

Epiphone ES-335 Pro. Good pickups stock, so you shouldn't have to upgrade, and they're coil tapped.

came in to post this. one of the best values out there.

 

[73Fender]

Wasant there a sale on Dots some place recently?

 

[Elduderino73]

For a semi-hollow in the best-bang-for-the-buck category it is hard to beat an Ibanez Artcore. Also, look into a Sheraton. Great guitars.

And if you want to cover all your bases, also get a P90 guitar or convert a humbucker-equipped guitar by dropping in some humbucker-sized P90s.

Check out craigslist and Reverb. Lots of great deals to be had.

 

[VintageKnob]

I picked up a used Ibanez Am93 for $250.00. For the quality of the build and the tone, it was a gift.
I've tried the Epiphone 339 Pro and I passed. Felt cheap, to me, the Ibanez doesn't.

YMMV - D

 

[smcgov]

All Epi archtops are on sale this month... I just grabbed a ES 339 Pro for $399, 335 and Dot are $350. It didn't arrive yet but lots of good comments out there about current Epiphone models.

 

[Jo-Jo Beans]

For a semi-hollow in the best-bang-for-the-buck category it is hard to beat an Ibanez Artcore.

This. I've owned an Ibanez Artcore AS93 and an Artist AR325 (not an artcore, but a relative of it in the same price bracket). The Artist was all-mahogany with a beautiful figured bubinga top. Both of those styles of Ibanez have great neck heels and are really easy to play up high. Their new price is about $600 but one can be had used for $400 pretty easily.

 

[Elduderino73]

This. I've owned an Ibanez Artcore AS93 and an Artist AR325 (not an artcore, but a relative of it in the same price bracket). The Artist was all-mahogany with a beautiful figured bubinga top. Both of those styles of Ibanez have great neck heels and are really easy to play up high. Their new price is about $600 but one can be had used for $400 pretty easily.

Comfy neck profile too. My first taste of a semi-hollow was my AS93...that I still own. I got spoiled with the way the design allows for great upper fret access. A few years later I decided I simply had to have that classic rounded shape so I bought a Sheraton. Fine guitar but I was disappointed by the upper fret access and thinner neck.

I'm eyeing either an AS153 or 253 simply for the ebony board.

 

[misterturtlehead]

I think you might like a Yamaha SHB400.

 

[groovington]

I agree with the others that say to look into some used Ibanez Artstar (or newer Artcore) series guitars. Great quality for the money you'll spend.

 

[wrxplayer]

Samick made some nice semi-hollow guitars, like the one seen here: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Greg-Bennet...621?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item43d65949ad

I believe they make many of the better-known brand guitars you see out there as well.

 

[AirForbes1]

Edwards, Tokai or another Japanese LP. Don't know about Tokai, but Edwards make 335s at well. But, for semi-hollow, Ibanez are hard to beat for the price. Depends on how much you want to spend, really.

I have a gibson LP, but I still want an Edwards too.

 

[David Garner]

I'd look at a used Epi Sheraton II for that price.

I'd take a REAL hard look at used Gibson SGs though. You can get a Special close to that, and I've seen Standards run $650 or so. Personally, I'd save up for a used SG Standard and just cruise Craigslist until I found one.

 

[pbmw]

I played an Edwards 335 a bit ago. Nice guitar.
I have a Epi Dot that works pretty well too.

 

[monkey man]

Heritage

 

[e???]

Heritage for 400? Man I wish... I'd say look into the epiphone pro line. Cool lp's, es's, and all that. I've wanted everyone I've tried

 

[JoePass]

Check here...

http://www.rondomusic.com/cgi-rondomusic/sb/productsearch.cgi?storeid=*0c1421a8d614cc26

 

[Bradleyonmic]

Epiphone ES-335 Pro. Good pickups stock, so you shouldn't have to upgrade, and they're coil tapped.

Or the 339 version if you want a little bit smaller body.