EP #9 CHEAP, VERY CHEAP "335 Style" - Is it Worth It???
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- Опубликовано: 28 авг 2024
- Guitar Fetish UnBranded Special Factory Buy -- "335 Style" Super cheap with problems...is it Worth it??????? Be sure to watch EP#9 & EP#27 for updates on this project.
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Such a good replica of a brand new 5000$ Gibson that, just like the real thing it need a full set-up just to be playable. Impressive.
Thanks
i bought one of these a couple of months ago for $240 shipped in a hardshell case (highly recommended). The one I got has a few very minor finish/fretwork issues but overall it looks good and plays and sounds suprisingly well. Definitly worth it.
so glad it worked out for you. hard case is a must!!!
Over the decades I've done what you've done . . Walked into a guitar store for a packet of strings, or a slide, or whatever, and walked out with a guitar! From 2002 to 2017, I enjoyed an artist endorsement from Gibson and Epiphone at the Brisbane dealership. The sales manager would actually keep aside for me any ES-335, Epiphone Sheraton, etc, that he thought he could tempt me with. I'd go in for a month's supply of strings and walk out with the strings . . and a factory second or a traded in guitar, a repaired guitar, whatever, and always at an incredible price just for me. That makes life worth living!
I bought one of these. Took a couple of days to set up and tweak. Plays great. Looks great. One of my grandsons will be happy to have it
Great...hope the video helped
Nice job with minimum effort. Did basically the same with a flea market Oskar Schmidt Delta Blues Harmony semi hollow body recently. After cleaning up the frets, linseed oiling the fret board, and adjusting the action and pick ups, made a nice kick around guitar out of it that sounds good. Not a Gibson 335 or Gretsch Country Gentleman, but less than $150 invested.
Nice looking guitar. Even if it's not playable, it would be fine wall art.
Wall Art & Playable would be my goal. The more I play it , the more I like it...just have to do something about the pickups... replace or rewind???
@@jimdarrstoneshifterguitars2309 Change the pots-caps-switch-wiring, then you might not have to change the pickup, which may sound great after doing that.
As I watch in to your presentation, when you fret level.....you should go across the width of the fret board as the main action and then as you do that...move up a bit and go up in segments.....because you want to follow the radius. If you go up and down like you were going....the center of the radius will get leveled more that the ends of the radius....which you wouldn't want to do. You want to maintain the radius but level the contact points within the radius by going side to side with the width. >>>> generally I personally would not re-crown the frets to round them off, as I find that the flattened tops play better and bend better and moving from position to position with fingers on the strings is way better when there is a flat contact surface. I started on a vintage Les Paul Custom "FRETLESS WONDER" when I was learning to play.....not the typical Gibson fat JUMBO frets you'd find on a LP. >>>>> SO when you level the frets, they are still rounded leading in to where its become flattened from the leveling....and its not a sharp break over. I tend to use a KNIFE SHARPENING STONE as my plane.....a fresh new stone, as I can buy them at the local dollar store. I think of them as a 1 use situation as the stone wears in after a guitar or 2 depending how much metal gets polished out in the process. I generally use a sharpie to color the fret tops for the processing and polish with the stone.....so its very apparent how much metal gets removed....in the side to side method as that leaves little to do otherwise as a final smooth polish. I generally don't even go to the last step as I let the strings essentially BURNISH the fret tops and polish them out that way....playing.... but I bend alot playing how I play
Thanks for the thoughtful comment. I agree with what you are saying, generally. I treat each fret level differently, as each possess its own situation. I tend to use different techniques for each situation, and sometimes several for each guitar. I always re-crown and polish.... I find if the frets are flat-topped the guitar won't intonate properly unless you modify the nut string break point. We each develop are own approach and techniques and modify them over the years. Thanks for commenting.
..yea, ..I really like it too. 🐥
Anytime you get a steep string angle from the tailpiece to the bridge, simply raise the tailpiece by putting a piece of cloth over the posts and adjusting them by laying a screwdriver or other piece of metal horizontally in the groove and turning. Do this carefully until string bending becomes easier, and make sure both posts are raised equally.
I just got one of these from Guitar Fetish and it's not holding tuning. I think they're Jay Turser guitars judging by the shape of the head. I enjoyed your video and wish I had someone like you to work on mine. I don't know whether not holding tuning is a machine head issue or a bridge issue or both.
sorry hear you are having tuning problems. It might be the strings, but likely the bridge, nut, or tuners. does the pitch drop after being tuned pitch, or do the strings "pop" as you are tuning them? Try some graphite on the nut and bridge saddles. keep me posted.
For a cheap 335 imitation, the best quality you'll get for the money is the Firefly 338.
Went in to buy strings and came out with a new guitar?? On impulse? Counseling is available. lmao
I grabbed a Firefly FF338 while I could. And again... "unavailable" 2 days later.
Does it stay in tune? Many budget guitars don't. Looking at Firefly.
Pretty cool and at that price! 😎 ...AND you being able to do all adjustments and pickup upgrades you'll have a smoking guitar in no time!!! ❤👍
hopefully others will do the same
of note, I pulled everything out of my guitar and redid the wiring to vintage spec's. I found the grounding wire for the bridge or tail piece.....where ever they establish the ground point for the strings.......was not GROUNDED. The wire was present but never soldered to any ground point in their harness. >>>>> the factory pickups are deceiving as what looks like screw pole pieces through the pu cover.....they don't go through the bottom base plate, and when I pulled the covers off the pickups.......the "SCREWS" were actually slug pole pieces with slots cut in the tops to appear to be screws............>>>>>>>>>>>>>I'm just in process of assembling pickups for mine. I'm looking forward to hearing your guitar when you get your pickup selection made and installed.
I can't wait, but have too. The finishing process takes a couple of weeks. But, think it will work and sound great. Fingers crossed.
lmao... I DID notice that the "polepieces" never raised or lowered no matter how long I turned them!
Great video. You have a new subscriber. Cheers from Canada 🇨🇦 !
Thank you to my new friend up North
I am 82 years old. Been there, done that dozens of times.
These guitars are on AMAZON under "BEST CHOICE PRODUCTS" as the brand name on the headstock....obviously chinese clones. The AMAZON deal come with gig bag case, clip on tuner, capo, strap & strings plus picks..... for $179......and NOT A SECOND
Based on input from several subscribers I tend to agree...still a very interesting project.
I just bought one based on your review Jim. I had an Epiphone Casino that I loved but sold many years ago. So, this is my attempt at getting a similar guitar back in my collection. I love fixing broken guitars and setting them up, so this is a perfect opportunity. Like Jim, I'm interested in finding out what brand these were. I bought one of the $114 one's because blemishes don't bother me.
Chuck, Good luck with the project...keep us posted on this journey. Sounds like this is right up your alley. We now believe the importer is Best Choice Products, based on Sean Molloy's input and I tend to agree. But not sure of the retail name. Thanks for your comments.
@@jimdarrstoneshifterguitars2309
Hi Jim, Yes, I do believe you are right about the importer. These have the Best Choice branding, so it's a brand also:
bestchoiceproducts.com/products/all-inclusive-semi-hollow-body-electric-guitar-set?variant=32453121409102
www.walmart.com/ip/Best-Choice-Products-All-Inclusive-Semi-Hollow-Body-Electric-Guitar-Set-w-Dual-Humbucker-Pickups-Pickup-Selector-Red/684581830?selected=true
They look identical. I really enjoy making a silk purse out of a pigs ear, so I'm just hoping the guitar is functionally good. I can deal with cosmetic issues and setting it up, but a twisted neck or something cracked headstock would be disappointing. The only claim made on the one I got was that the pick-ups were misaligned and the photos show finish blemishes.
@@chuckmiller7214 Fingers Crossed!!!! I found their description and pics to be accurate.
I've noticed that you can usually use some context clues from other clearance listings to help determine branding. Right now, there are some basses and modern LP style guitars that have inlays similar to each other, and I managed to find that one of the LPs says Eruption on the headstock with a little Googling, I found a similar Eruption LP on reverb (closed listing) that had a complete headstock branding of the same shape and eruption font. The brand was VIG, which, from what I can tell, if a small "custom" production place that closed up recently, so these must be what the factory had of their stock when they got the call to stop production. They are in various states of completeness. Some as low as $79. That's not bad for a set neck project guitar. :)
They also have a Tele Deluxe style with URBAN on the headstock along with an inlay logo. Matching logo on the back of the body at the bottom with an illegible signature. Sure enough, looks just like a Keith Urban guitar.
I'm sure with some more digging it could be discovered which factory in Asia produces these, but this is as far as I'm going. :) It took me all of maybe 15 mins to figure it out, if that long.
@@NeoRichardBlake Thanks for the Detective work...
I was hoping you could have played the guitar so we could hear how it sounds
Steve, I did...checkout the end of EP#27. Let me know what you think! Also watch EP#9 & EP#11. Jim
well done!
THANKS
Great and informative video But me I don't want to work on guitars. I just want to play them.
Understand..thanks
It looks like a best choice products guitar
Sean, thanks for the input. BCP is the importer...do you know the manufacturer and country of origin?
The BCP product for this style has gotten mixed reviews. Have you played one...thoughts???
@@jimdarrstoneshifterguitars2309 I am not sure of the manufacture, but I know they are most likely made in China. I haven’t played one, but I heard they can be good for the price if you get a good one.
@@seanmolloy4123 Agree, most likely China built. With a little setup, this particular guitar actually sounds great!! Might order another to see if there is consistency.
Construction, maybe Cozart?? Really not sure.
Thanks for your input.
I bought one as well,and a friend of mine showed me a Leo Jaymz headstock,and I think that's it. The Les Paul copy in the picture he showed me was also very similar to the ones that Guitar Fetish had in the same section.
I have never yet found a headstock label that sounds any different from any other headstock label .... try playing them , they all sound the same .... with the huge choice of after market parts at our disposal means that any well put together axe can be tweeked to perform well if not great .. if the fool wants to waste money on over priced brands F .. G .. M .. etc just to boost ego then more fool them ... I personally have some top end guitars but have recently become a devotee of Tokai and more recently Artist Guitars which I understand you cannot purchase in Yankland
At the end of the day my understanding is that guitar parts are mostly being source and manufactured offshore anyway , so where do you think the cheaper brands are sourcing their parts from ?
Yes, price does not necessarily mean better sound or playability. These cheap copies offer an Opportunity and Experience to explore what makes a guitar Play and Sound great. It is a learning experience without risking a high $$$ guitar in the process. Each player has their own concept on feel and tone. These guitars serve as platforms for this so inclined.
Yeah, you'll have that same vial of oil long after most guitars you own 😜 Well worth the purchase 🙂
a little goes a long way!!!
I stay away from unbranded anything! (B-stock or not) Why a company would make something and sell it without the free advertising makes no sense to me other than it is a pile. I guess if you can set up and fix all the neck issues yourself they are worth it. I try to ward people off of guitars less than $200. I have a similar Grote 335 style that came with a VERY nice gigbag ($50 at any guitar store) for $217 shipped. It plays as nice as the $400 Tagima ja3 that I had set up at the store I bought it from. After practicing I would always end up with my daughter's Epi LP studio to noodle around on and now I always end up with that Grote.
Courtney, I generally agree with what you said. This project is really an experiment to see if these type of deals are worth it based on each person's skill sets. A lot of people like DIY projects. For me, even for more expensive and very expensive guitars, I always do a setup which includes fret work. Also, I tend to swap pickups out often. Never played a Grote, but would like to... maybe another project soon in my future. Thanks for your comments.
Really like that. I might check them out and buy one of those . Good video, I subscribed.
Thanks. Let me know if you "go for it". See the followup video I did last week...I think this one is a keeper!!!!
Just raise the tail bar . Playing %80 Better !
Ha ha ha how do I know. Looks like a cool deal!
It really is a cool guitar!! And, how do you Know? Thanks for the comment
I have a firefly and it sounds and plays as well as a Epiphone and sounds better.
glad it works for you!!!
Just got a FireFly FF338 today. Like it so far...In-depth review next!!!
The pickups on fire fly are so microphonic this can't possibly be true.
Hello sir. How I can make an order for this guitar? It's really beautiful 😍. Does it cost more money to fix the issues?
..jack and the b - stock
What wood?
Which brand is this?
could you answer a question for me , i stopped playing 6 string guitars 35 years ago and now i have a hankering to pick up the 6 string again but i am torn between this guitar and the amazon firefly which would you recommend and why ?
I am reviewing the FireFly ff338 as my next channel project....so stay tuned. Without spilling the beans , I would say that the FF is Superior to the Unbranded Red one. But read the FF forums, it appears the new arrivals may have some QC issues..Mine did not!!
@@jimdarrstoneshifterguitars2309 i will be using an old Peavey Nashville 400 amp designed for pedal steel guitars, do you think it would make a good amp for the FF ?
@@steelguitarplayer1Not familiar with that amp
@@jimdarrstoneshifterguitars2309 i just bought the firefly !!! should get it one day next week
Looks like a Grote.
We think it is a BEST CHOICE PRODUCTS offering
@@jimdarrstoneshifterguitars2309 I thnik it's An Artist brand , bu t Artist have dot inlays so not sure .
..because you need more guitars
Yak, yak yak