Arbor AJ135

I own the AJ135 model in a vintage sunburst but I do not agree that it is an ES335 clone, it has the same basic features as a 335 although inferior, but the body shape is much closer to a Gretch Country classic. I would suggest changing out all of the wiring and parts for higher quality pieces, especially the toggle switch but those are problematic on most guitars.

The stock pickups are good and have a nice mellow tone but in my opinion not enough clarity and get muddled when pushed.

I have had to put quite a bit of work into my setup, needed a new nut and am almost tempted to do a re-fret, but for most it is an exellent starting guitar.

Once setup and customized it is an awesome workhorse. for the price who cares about dings, in fact in my opinion they make a guitar look better because its being PLAYED.

Never had to get ahold of them, I do all repairs myself.

Good Guitar but needs work to make it a great one, will never be perfect.
I am going to add a varitone swith a la BB King's Lucille
but still a good solid guitar , I would recommend it to anyone needing a good starting guitar with potential

Cherry Sunburst 335 Style-Gold Hardware-Binding Headstock-Neck f-holes:Medium wide neck w/ medium jumbo frets 25/scale-Nice Finish.

With stock pickups this sounded ok-Changed to Duncan 59`s and Guitar sounds GREAT W/Fender Deluxe Reverb Amp-Very Versatile Toneful Sounds Not a Gibson but closer than any import I`ve tried to date.

Guitar bought used -but played great all over neck-some very minor finish flaws-neck is better than average for this price guitar real nice player.

This Arbor 335 is definately a sleeper- seems exceptionally well made for import-hard to find in stores?

Not an issue for me.

Been Playing over 20 years-I`ve owned mostly 2nd hand guitars-this one is a PLAYER!!>>-Sounds way above Average.

The Arbor AJ135 is ES335 clone. I purchased it used and love the guitar.

# 22 frets
# Chrome die cast tuners
# 2 humbucker pickups
# Chrome ?Tune-o-matic? style bridge with 2 volume, 2 tone, 3-way switch controls
# Sunburst finish
# Limited Lifetime Warranty

Tuners are high quality and smooth.

I play mainly acoustic guitars, but do some blues. I wanted a semi hollowbody to get a BB King type of sound. This guitar hit the bullseye, It is a blues monster, tone and sustain. Not noisey at all. I would not change the pickups. The sound is exactly what I want.

Factory set up was quite good, but one fret was high and needed to be filed down by my luthier. The nut that holds the jack in was only hand tight and needed to be re-tightened. The action is extremely good, intonation is perfect, no buzzes, no finish flaws. I am rating a 9 only because of the high fret

I would take this guitar anywhere and perform live wiothout a back up.

I purchased used.

I have been playing for 30 years. I have Martins, Taylors, Guilds, Gibsons, and Fenders. The guitar is a fantastic value. I would immediately buy another if it was stolen.

New black 335 knockoff. Well made, finished well, good piece of even
grained rosewood for the finger board, neck feels like a late 70's
Les Paul coustom to me, here's a good one though, neck pick up meters
out at 6.8k, bridge at 13.8k. I think they sound like alnico slugs
and a ceramic bar might be in there. Sweet vintage. Besides the neck
joint that we all know is down by the headstock somewhere, the only thing separating this as a functioning tool from the 2K+ club is a
switchcraft switch and the ends of the frets needed to be dressed,
and they weren't that bad. This guitar is amazing. And yes it was
setup well with 10's right out of the box.

If you can do it on a 335, you can do it with this thing.

Hardware is more than adequate, Nashville style bridge, pegs are 14:1, high strings were just down in the nut, low strings tops were just out, I mean the attention to detail in design and construction
is just silly for the price. The chrome plating hasn't gotten to
the american level yet though. There is one spot just above and
between the pickups that is a small dimple that was propably a small fisheye repair when finishing, but there again, you really have to look for it.

It seems very well made. I guess the wood could move around over time
but I'm not worried. If it breaks, i'll buy another one. I just hope
I can find one if that happens.

I've been looking for a blues fungo stick to carry to jams for a month or two and played the Epi dots and various "cats" all those Ibanez thingss, Oscar Washburn and whatnot, and this takes the ring. Surely the King of cheap Dots. Oh, and mine has zebra bobbins under the covers. Why with that Gibson custom binding, gold speed knobs and creme frames seem to be just the thing. So if you're looking for
some cheap thrills, get one of these, and save your dough for a good
amp to do it justice if you don't already have one.

See the other description as this one is the very same. I'll rate it a 9. It's got everything it needs for a semi hollow.

I am shocked and amazed just how good this guitar sounds. I don't know who or how they made these pickups sound so good but they are just sweet. I use a Fender Princeton Chorus and a Roland JC120. Various effects at different times but most often I just plug and play.It doesn't matter what settings I use or which amp, this guitar is so clean and has that great smokey clean woody edge. Nice crunch factor at higher volumes. It's so hard to explain but if your familiar with the "335" sound., this one has it and than some. I love it! I have a friend with a vintage 70's Gibson 335 and I honestly have to say this one sounds and plays as nice. Too bad Gibson!

The action is just right, nice and low without buzzing on any spot. Frets were smooth and level, neck is perfect and straight. They've done an exceptionall job on this neck! I came out of the box ready to play, just tuned it and it was ready. Pickup height was even adjusted perfect and they are dead quiet! . The fit and finish is just perfect, no real flaws other than a very slightly imperfect f hole. Not a problem for me as it is indistinguishable unless you stare at it for a while. The Bridge is a very nice oversized model. Much better than any other cheap import I have seen. Larger than Washburn, Ibanez, Jay Tursers etc.. Real Real nice and stable. The pickups are just great. Better than the Turser, Ibanez and Oscar Schmidt semi hollows I've had. Better than a boatload of others I've heard. Tuners are fine. No problems. Stays in tune all day! Best part is the neck. It's a 25' scale so it seems to have a little more room to move and the neck isn't as narrow as most the other imports. It has more room for your fingers. NICE!

Have only had it about 2 months but so far so good It seems to be as strong as any 335 style. I really like the set neck joint. It just feels very strong and solid. Hardware is as expected for any guitar of this price with the exception of the higher quality bridge. I'll rate it based on the price. I've played it daily for a couple hours at a time and so far no problems.

Never dealt with them, Only have the warrany card to use in case of failure. Hopefully wont need it. Has lifetime limited.

I've been playing for over twenty years. I have owned a million guitars and kept very few but so far this one is a keeper. I've never seen a better quality, better sounding or better value set neck semi hollow for this price anywhere. I am more than happy I bought this guitar. Unlike way too many others. For me it's PERFECT!

Brand new 2004 335 clone, made in China. 22 fret nato (asian mahogany) neck, set into an agathis (SE asian pine) laminated hollow body with center block. 2 volume, 2 tone (they actually work thru the adjustment, not the old cheap on-or-off kind!) 3 way switch 2 chrome covered humbuckers (wax potted!) flawless vintage sunburst, MOP vase inlay on headstock, decent tunomatic/stopbar, I think its a 25 inch scale (unlike the Gibson), with medium frets, neck feels like my LP Classic Plus, only the workmanship and fretjob is much better on the ARBOR! Free cheapo cable, warranty of 1 yr.

IT SOUNDS INCREDIBLE! I bought this for a funky/blues/jazz gig at the local coffee house and jam sessions, but it's unbelievably good! I use it with a Fender Silverface Musicmaster bass amp (12W 6V6 tubes), and an old Ibanez effects board. It's better than my $2000 Guild was! It's better than my $2000 Les Paul was! It sounds just like Kenny Burrell or BB King, if you want it to! Bonus: It came perfect, right out of the box!

Like I said, I opened up the box (ebayed it from a dealer in OH), and it only needed a slight tuning! Not a flaw anywhere, no scuffs, no fret tool marks (hey Gibson-are you reading this!), and adjusted, intonated and set up perfectly right outta the box!

In my hands, I have no doubt this guitar will outdo any other 335 out there, period. And I've owned most of 'em, and tried even more. I will be using it for lessons, gigs, and other performances, without a backup per se.

The dealer I bought it from is great, but I have MidCo's phone # anyway. Arbor is about value, and I don't really know....but it doesn't matter at these prices.

I've been playing guitar for over 20 years, music in general for 30+, and have 2 Strats (Fender and Fernandes-guess which is better?!), Fender Tele, and Matchless, Fender, and other amps. This guitar is not the last one I'll ever get, hopefully (I want one of their Orange Gretsch-alikes), but i'd get another, if this one was stolen or broken. I love the fact it was so inexpensive, and blows all the overpriced big name brands out of the park! I hate that we can't do this value to quality ratio in the US anymore, at almost any price. It outshines my expectations for it, and they were reasonable. The quality of these Chinese guitar builders is now at a pro level...seriously. I tried to make the pickups squeal in front of a high gain Peavey amp, and they wouldn't! It has it all! Looks, tone, playablity, and affordability. I'd endorse Arbor, if given the opportunity. At this price, I don't know how they do it so well.