Hi everyone. I am comparing what might be the best inexpensive alternative to a 335 to my beloved made in Japan Tokai. I left some polls in the card so let the voting begin! Thanks for watching. Links in the description. 🎸
I wound up with a Cherry Tokai 335 by total accident for an absolute steal. Became my favourite guitar by a mile. Better than instruments I paid 5x more for.
In the mix I couldn't tell a difference. On their own I like the Tokai better. To my ears it seemed like the Tokai was a little brighter. But the Artist 335 sounds amazing. I would love to see the Tokai 335 and Les Paul on a future live stream.
@@TheCambella No they wouldn't....I have played live a long time, and honestly only the most discerning would maybe here clarity on the lower notes but going through a PA or miked up amp, most unlikely. Mostly psychological to be honest.
used mine yesterday in a posh studio here in melbourne ....teles , LPs , strats laying around ....my artist 335 did me proud.....AND may i say , the service was really great...very impressed with the "artist " company
Didn’t listen to this one through my headphones, but man I tell you, if the feel is the same, sounds like you can’t go wrong with the Artist. The Chinese factories are putting out some great instruments! 😎🤙🏻🎼
I am now 57 and started playing in 1972 at the age of 10. At that point, there were really good guitars you could buy for what seemed like a lot of money and then there was the starter non-pro guitars and most of them were total hit and miss. Mostly miss. Today with computer routers, we have it made.
As a mainly acoustic player with some super-premium guitars (Lowden, Boucher, Maton) I recently, as an experiment, purchased a Chinese (ShienMo) guitar with sinker redwood top and african blackwood back and sides. I have been so blown away by the quality of this guitar, it easily sits alongside the aforementioned guitars in both build quality and sound. Each has a different voice of course but the Chinese instrument is the equal of them all for a fraction of the price.
I am a bit shocked at the quality level of all Artist products. The Tweed amp is amazing as is the a couple other guitars they make. I can't see spending the money unless you have it to spend and you are a perfectionist. The level of inexpensive brands has shot through the roof. Cheers to them and us.
I preferred the Tokai , to my ears it has a more biting attack or maybe just more overall presence and dynamics. I understand there are also Chinese made Tokais and I wonder how one of those compares to the Artist . Great playing as usual mate 👍
Hi Shane. Based on your earlier review I bought an Artist Cherry 58 and it is great. Like you, I had to put some decent strings on it and fix the intonation and then it was sweet. I have an Epiphone Casino which I really like, but the finish on the Artist guitar is better and it has a better nut and tuning stability than the Epiphone. Fantastic value for money!
As a loyal Fender/Gibson snob I can say without a doubt that both these guitars are amazing!!! The Artist Cherry 58 is a great value and sounding guitar! I must have one!!!! Cheers!🤙🏾🎸🎸🎸
Listening through my headphones I could not tell any difference between the two guitars so why spend more money if the cheaper one sounds just as good as the more expensive model.
Wow! Both guitars sound amazing. So very close in tone to each other. As far as aesthetics, the bound f-holes are quite attractive on the Artist. And what a bargain! There are some great bargain guitars coming out of China these days. I own a Chinese made 335 clone, and absolutely love it. Excellent shoot out!
The Tokai definitely has more bite to the tone, the artist might be better for more general rock stuff but the Tokai is definitely better for blues to my ear
I have just bought the Artist 335 for (a factory second I cant see why it is )$290.Amazing sounding guitar for its price and it feels real good .Cant really fault at its price point -well done Artists guitars
Extremely CLOSE Shane, maybe a poofteenth difference! However, that Tokai neck pick up still SCREAMS like no other! I remember when you 1st got it, and I came up to you after you played and said how that neck pick up has so much treble response, and it screamed on your solos, and that normally a lot of those types of guitars had very WOOLY sounding neck pick ups! Remember that? Good comparison!
@DMSProducktions I was talking with one of the warehouse guys before mine was shipped and he said he liked the neck PUP, but ended up changing his to a seymour duncan somethingorother. Said it cleaned it up a bit more. Pearly gates comes to mind. I haven't had time to muck around with mine of late. I think artist is my new online guitar shop in Oz. I'm definitely doing less imports these days (other than some parts via ebay)
Hi! Just wanted to say I bought an Artist Es 335 copy on the strength of this review. I have to say, this guitar has a killer neck pick up sound. The case too is really good. Thanks for the informative and comprehensive comparison. Great!
I have been thinking of buying one of these for about 2 months now... I have just now just ordered mine, very excited and cant wait. Thanks for the review Shane!
Can't really fault the Artist for the money. Preferred the sound of the Tokai overall. Maybe if the Artist had pickups with a bit more oomph, but for what it costs you really can't go wrong.
Jeez - the availability and quality of budget guitars has improved enormously over the years. Having played a handful of different E335 clones recently, all made in China, I think that they are made in the same factory, with different branding. Ridiculous suggestion of course! A very helpful demonstration Shane. The profiling you use definitely helps uplift the dynamics of both guitars to show them at their best.
Beeen playing guitar for about 60 years. I put earplugs in for this comparison for more clarity. To be honest, on sound / tones, I can’t spilt em. On my little iPad screen, the finish on the Artist is better. Do either of them have locking tuners? PS. Nice review. Well done. 👍
Great video Shane! Both sound very good but I don't think the Tokai sounded $1500 better than the Artist. My question for you is what felt better? I also wonder how the Artist will hold up to gig playing.
Hi Shane, My first Gibson was a real dog of a guitar to play . . fret ends that'd cut your fingers, and file marks on the fingerboard between EVERY FRET!! The only redeeming trait was its awesome sound. I gave up on it and put it away and tried to forget all about it. Then I was handed a new one a few years later and it was perfect. Only problem for me was the too-thin neck. Next I got a Custom Shop Gibson ES-335 with a more substantial neck. But the neck timber was so soft that the truss rod ends began chewing their way into the neck under the fingerboard at both ends! The shop where I bought it just wiped me, rather than honour the warranty and get Gibson to replace it. So I wiped that shop and never set foot in it ever again. Eventually I ended up owning three ES-355s that were all awesome. With the artist endorsement the Gibson dealership secured for me, they were all reasonably affordable for me. As usual, your video was very well produced, with excellent playing and honest comparisons.
Really enjoyed this. I have an artist. And I agree. Amazing guitar for the price. I had a Gibson Les Paul back in the day. It was an iconic guitar. But she didn't like me nor I her. So we parted ways. Any way, I really enjoy this playing this 335. Thanks. Great video.
I've pre-ordered the Cherry58 DLX, really looking forward to receiving it in December. From what I've seen, Artist are producing amazing guitars for the money!
Changed my order, got a Black58DLX three days ago, and my only regret is not buying one years ago! Amazing guitar, I don't know how they do it for the money they're asking. I'm going to mod mine with a Big D Guitars Varitone switch, and then I'm getting rid of my other guitars. I really don't think I'll need any of them any more.
They both sound great, I find that with most of these comparison type videos, its down to playability and budget really, just shows how far these lower priced guitars have come on recently....
I have just purchased the Artist Cherry 58, I'm new to electric guitar, but have played acoustic for the last 25 years. I'm really keen to try this out with my Boss Katana 50 amp.
I bought an Epiphone ES-335 Pro a few months back for $350. I have four other guitars, two of which cost over $1k, and it's the 335 that's become my new go-to guitar. If I'm home it's never more than a couple feet from me.
i got the same surprise. i expected a mess of a guitar that i'd have the fun of tooling around with to make playable, but out of the box the intonation was near perfect, the action is exactly how i like it, and the playability is so surprisingly nice... no rough fret edges, no uneven fret heights, nothing but i nice guitar in a very inexpensive package. (gotta change the stock strings over to ernie balls for an arch top, though) still, total agreeance, artist makes a very playable guitar at an incredible price.
Nice Vid Shane. I thought they both sounded VERY CLOSE to each other. I also noticed the Pickguard on the Artist isn’t cut as cleanly as theTohi. I know it’s a different shape but the cut just isn’t as cleanly done! Please keep up the Good Work and Cheers from the US.
Great comparison video Shane. I preferred the bridge p/u on the Tokai on the solos. It is a bit fatter. But it really comes down to what you like in the end. As Joe Bonamasa said in an interview " They're just guitars". He went on to talk about a guy he knows that shows up at jam sessions with a Squier Strat and kills every time. I'm becoming less brand conscious daily.
Shane love your channel and that you review budget gear objectively. I bought an artist Cherry 58 (?) second hand for a steal ($200) but mine was honestly a bit of a dog ..pickups were ok playability and neck good but the guitar would not hold tune for more than a few minutes! constantly drifting out on various strings ,such a headache. When it did hold a bit of tune the intonation was poor on chords up the neck despite resetting the intonation, dead spots on certain frets etc too. I can hear the intonation problems in the Artist channel demos too. Just my experience ..I think you would have to factor in $150 for a decent setup on these getting closer to a cost of a budget Ibanez without the hassles! Just my 0.02
Great comparison. I am familiar with Tokai, Greco and Electrs. After seeing this video, I wanted to buy the Artist 58, however, they can no longer can export to USA because of copyright laws with Gibson. Seems like we have a new "Outlaw Guitar" today. Would you like to buy one and then ship it to me? LOL Now what should consider that is available is the USA ???
In the opening play thru ... I could hear more clairity & top end out of the tokai ... throughout the rest it was almost indestinguishable between the 2. In fact it wouldnt be hard to buy the artist & put another set of pickups in it weither they be cheap or expensive to get the sound you want anyways. Nice job as always Shane !! :)
Great comparison 👍 I don't know whether this has been mentioned on any of your video but the nut width of the Japanese Tokai ES series is narrower than most of the same styled guitar including Gibson. Its a deal breaker for some people but I absolutely love it! (I currently own two MIJ Tokai ES series). If played side by side with Gibson most experienced player would feel the difference straight away
Personally I would prefer if you had put the Artist up against the cheaper version of Tokai 335 style. I am a strong advocate for both Tokai and Artist guitars and have several of each infact as far as the upper range of Fender and Gibson in general I would not waste my money. Artist and Tokai for the coin to me are the best value guitars on the planet. When I purchased my Tokai 335 ( cheaper version around $600 ) I played it alongside its' more expensive sibling and went for the cheaper of the 2. Tokai and Artist absolutely rock but in general Shane a very honest and interesting review . Just so you know I also own and am a fan of fenders of which I have a Strat and a Tele custom from the 80s but Gibson .. NAH !!!! overpriced under quality... keep it up 🤘🤘👍👍🙏🙏
I usually have a pretty discerning ear, but it sounded like you were playing the same guitar. It seems like Artist is putting out some really quality tools for great value!
Great video Shane! Clean sounds different, nothing unusual for a 'budget' guitar BUT it had a nice tone. Through pedals I really could not hear a difference! For gigging it has to be a good option rather than taking out a expensive guitar to the pub!
I'm glad you can get some decent Gibson alternatives like Artist in Australia. They're not sold here in the states but good for you that you can get them. Cheers! Sounding great as always. The Tokai sound f*cking amazing!
Nice one mate, I bought one of the LP60 Gibsons the other day, I do have about 4 old USA LPs, but I'm going to take this new Beaut out for the gigs. I'll have a look to see what your dong in halfway through 2020,,,,,,,, gib
Excellent proof! I am undecided between this TOKAI ues78 (china)and the IBANEZ AS93. What do you think about it? I am looking for a guitar that is similar in sound to the 335 GIBSON. If I bought the TOKAI UES78 I thought of replacing the mechanics with Gotoh SD90-SL (self-locking) and replacing the pick ups with Tokai PAF Vintage MK2S which are those mounted on the TOKAI UES198 TB (high-end Japanese guitar for about 2500 euros) . What do you think of the upgrade? Thanks for the test and your answers.
Tokai make great guitars but how good is the Artist guitar for $329.00. I would be happy to play either guitar live. Thanks Shane for the excellent review.
Shane, Far as I can tell, one can't purchase an Artist Cherry 58 in the U.S. But how about Epiphone dot or Gretsch G2622 shootout? I can buy those two here. Or can you get your hands on a Wolf Semihollow guitar?
Too bad they appear to be hard to get in the US, or I would buy the Artist in a heartbeat. They don't even show up on the website. How about posting the backing track, or is it already up there and I missed it? Nice comparison. Thanks!
Lol , it was supposed to be 1955 , about 3 years before the 335 appeared . They didn't even bother with a dot neck as at least a nod to the 50's. Bell end film makers lol 😂
Wow..that was great to listen to..I wish I could play like that..such beautiful guitars.. I own an acoustic (Artist). It’s a nice guitar for the price, I have a fender but thinking I might buy an electric Artist guitar (again) for the price and value.
Is it normal that when I set the volume of the bridge pickup to zero, the volume of the neck pickup also disappears? the toggle switch is in the middle position
I sometimes just watch your riffs to get inspired and practice more Lovely playing Shane. I just bought a Vintage VSA500, an ES-335 copy and am enjoying how fine it feels for about ~USD500 Have you tried them? They use some great parts for the budget player Cheers
Can someone tell me if the bull bucker pick ups are voices differently in this guitar to one of their other models with bull buckers? I have an Artist LP guitar already but didn't want the same pick ups in a different model guitar of theirs.
Tokai all the way. Finally, a video where the cheap is worst than the expensive.I was starting to think that all the cheap are better. It's a trend on TH-cam that all the cheap one's are great. To my ears, the Tokai on the blues theme blew the Artist by far. A totally different quality of sound even in the feeling that gave to the player. When Tokai plays I hear blues, the artist just doesn't have that character. It may sound right but...and I'm not the best ear in the world neither I play expensive guitars but the right should be told. I didn't listen to the comparison after. The blues solo was already enough. Nice feeling on the Tokai mate.
Tokai had rounder, smoother clean tone definitely. Artist sounded slightly better dirty and had more pokier edge/ bark to the sound through the Marshall. Must have hotter wound pickups. If you roll off some of the Marshall amp bass setting for the Tokai and boost the mids/ highs, it would probably sound better than the Artist when dirty.
Put me in the group that couldn't tell the difference in sound. If I closely analysed it I'm sure any difference found would be slight enough that a bit of a tweak with the knobs on the amp or guitar would get you the sound you wanted anyway. Speaking of knobs, the layout off the volume and tone knobs is different. As it wasn't mentioned, I guess you didn't notice. Looking down while playing, which is the better configuration?
I have the Epiphone Dot and I'm not a big fan of the pickups. It's a fairly nice guitar otherwise (fat neck like the Artist), but at at least 50% more expensive than this or a Harley Benton, I wouldn't recommend it. I'm also pretty sure those Artist guitars are coming out of whatever factory Harley Benton were using until last year in China. They used to have that weird shaped pick guard.
Well I like them both but the clean tones on the Tokai sounded maybe a few cents out of tune? That made it harder to compare on tones since I felt a dissonant sourness tho. With dirt the tokai is a BEAST. Both good guitars.
Good question. Usually, the older some guitars get the more they will go up in price. The thing is though, some of the 70's guitars are pretty terrible (look up CBS era) so you might want to hold out for something else.
@@intheblues thank you for the answer! My guitar idol Plays 70 strats (Billy corgan) and some of them were terrible, like you said, and some of them were decent. I think I will buy one of the new squiers (classic vibe series). Thanks again! :D
@@void0094 Anything 50's and 60's is where the big bucks is. Some 70's Gibsons would also be worth a look. Fender's 70's guitars are pretty terrible. I don't think the Japanese made guitars go up drastically either. You can usually find them pretty easily. Sww what you can find out online I am not really a vintage guitar guy.
Ive Got a Hazre Oz company 335 type Gutar , same type of thingy same price Made In china different lay out with the Controls and output Jack , But after a Good Set up Yeah Does Me finish and quality seem fine
Another alternative Shane, is the Cort Source, made in Indonesia. I bought mine in Parramatta in 2015 for $650 AUD. I went there with my inheritance money to buy a $3000 Gibson, and walked out with the Cort! I just couldn’t see why I should shell out so much for the Gibson when the differences were negligible. A simple upgrade to Lollar Imperial pickups and a $400 case was all it needed.
The Tokai sounds better, but tbh, unless you play the Guitar as a Job or price is not an issue, if the cheap one is made and plays well enough then the differences can be narrowed by adjusting the amp sound or changing the pickups, if you are not playing live, only person who cares is you.
I think it’s a close race - to my ears there’s more clarity and separation notes from the Tokai than the Artist but that’s a matter of taste. As for looks I have Said it before the Pick guard looks like dogs bollocks but the f hole binding looks so pleasing.
![Comparing Gibson 335 Vs Artist Brownburst58 Guitars [Product Review]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/hPMAN1FDUyE/mqdefault.jpg)
![Comparing Gibson 335 Vs Artist Brownburst58 Guitars [Product Review]](/img/tr.png)
Hi everyone. I am comparing what might be the best inexpensive alternative to a 335 to my beloved made in Japan Tokai. I left some polls in the card so let the voting begin! Thanks for watching. Links in the description. 🎸
Quiksilver the ultimate test.
how about Ibanez? I hear good things with the 335 series
Which guitar resonated the best
I wound up with a Cherry Tokai 335 by total accident for an absolute steal. Became my favourite guitar by a mile. Better than instruments I paid 5x more for.
I don't know about the guitars, but damn Shane - you can play some blues, mate. Do us all a favor, and don't ever stop 🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻
Thank you MattyK :-)
Yes he can. :-)
In the mix I couldn't tell a difference. On their own I like the Tokai better. To my ears it seemed like the Tokai was a little brighter. But the Artist 335 sounds amazing. I would love to see the Tokai 335 and Les Paul on a future live stream.
I guarantee than not one member of a live audience could tell the difference between the sound of these 2 guitars.
Dunno 'bout that.
sound identical to me !
@@TheCambella Oh except you of course...lol
I totaly agree
@@TheCambella No they wouldn't....I have played live a long time, and honestly only the most discerning would maybe here clarity on the lower notes but going through a PA or miked up amp, most unlikely. Mostly psychological to be honest.
used mine yesterday in a posh studio here in melbourne ....teles , LPs , strats laying around ....my artist 335 did me proud.....AND may i say , the service was really great...very impressed with the "artist " company
Didn’t listen to this one through my headphones, but man I tell you, if the feel is the same, sounds like you can’t go wrong with the Artist. The Chinese factories are putting out some great instruments! 😎🤙🏻🎼
I am now 57 and started playing in 1972 at the age of 10. At that point, there were really good guitars you could buy for what seemed like a lot of money and then there was the starter non-pro guitars and most of them were total hit and miss. Mostly miss. Today with computer routers, we have it made.
Chinese manufacturing is the future!
As a mainly acoustic player with some super-premium guitars (Lowden, Boucher, Maton) I recently, as an experiment, purchased a Chinese (ShienMo) guitar with sinker redwood top and african blackwood back and sides. I have been so blown away by the quality of this guitar, it easily sits alongside the aforementioned guitars in both build quality and sound. Each has a different voice of course but the Chinese instrument is the equal of them all for a fraction of the price.
I am a bit shocked at the quality level of all Artist products. The Tweed amp is amazing as is the a couple other guitars they make. I can't see spending the money unless you have it to spend and you are a perfectionist. The level of inexpensive brands has shot through the roof. Cheers to them and us.
I think with artist, what makes their products cheaper is that they sell direct instead of going through retailers
@@ShockingPikachu How hard it is to get their products in the USA?
I preferred the Tokai , to my ears it has a more biting attack or maybe just more overall presence and dynamics. I understand there are also Chinese made Tokais and I wonder how one of those compares to the Artist . Great playing as usual mate 👍
Hi Shane. Based on your earlier review I bought an Artist Cherry 58 and it is great. Like you, I had to put some decent strings on it and fix the intonation and then it was sweet. I have an Epiphone Casino which I really like, but the finish on the Artist guitar is better and it has a better nut and tuning stability than the Epiphone. Fantastic value for money!
Excellent review!. The Artist Cherry 58 was my favourite, and the one I bought is great and I use live all the time.
As a loyal Fender/Gibson snob I can say without a doubt that both these guitars are amazing!!! The Artist Cherry 58 is a great value and sounding guitar! I must have one!!!! Cheers!🤙🏾🎸🎸🎸
Listening through my headphones I could not tell any difference between the two guitars so why spend more money if the cheaper one sounds just as good as the more expensive model.
Tokai pickups sound a bit bassier and clearer, the artist sounds a little shriller and harsher. But there is not a great deal in it...
Wow! Both guitars sound amazing. So very close in tone to each other. As far as aesthetics, the bound f-holes are quite attractive on the Artist. And what a bargain! There are some great bargain guitars coming out of China these days. I own a Chinese made 335 clone, and absolutely love it. Excellent shoot out!
The Tokai definitely has more bite to the tone, the artist might be better for more general rock stuff but the Tokai is definitely better for blues to my ear
I have just bought the Artist 335 for (a factory second I cant see why it is )$290.Amazing sounding guitar for its price and it feels real good .Cant really fault at its price point -well done Artists guitars
I was just thinking I haven't seen Shane lately ! Sounds great as always mate !
Thanks, Todd. I was going to try a live stream today but I still sound sick so I bumped this video forward a few days. 😀
@@intheblues I hope you feel better soon !
I can't really tell the difference in tone. They both sound good to me. After all, it all depends on how it is played! You are one hell of a player!
Extremely CLOSE Shane, maybe a poofteenth difference!
However, that Tokai neck pick up still SCREAMS like no other!
I remember when you 1st got it, and I came up to you after you played and said how that neck pick up has so much treble response, and it screamed on your solos, and that normally a lot of those types of guitars had very WOOLY sounding neck pick ups!
Remember that?
Good comparison!
@DMSProducktions I was talking with one of the warehouse guys before mine was shipped and he said he liked the neck PUP, but ended up changing his to a seymour duncan somethingorother. Said it cleaned it up a bit more. Pearly gates comes to mind. I haven't had time to muck around with mine of late.
I think artist is my new online guitar shop in Oz. I'm definitely doing less imports these days (other than some parts via ebay)
Ordered a Japanese Tokai Les Paul gold top with P90’s the other day. It should be awesome. Can’t understand why they aren’t more popular.
Hi! Just wanted to say I bought an Artist Es 335 copy on the strength of this review. I have to say, this guitar has a killer neck pick up sound.
The case too is really good. Thanks for the informative and comprehensive comparison. Great!
Man - nearly indistinguishable - that Artist Guitar is a steal.
I have been thinking of buying one of these for about 2 months now...
I have just now just ordered mine, very excited and cant wait. Thanks for the review Shane!
Can't really fault the Artist for the money. Preferred the sound of the Tokai overall. Maybe if the Artist had pickups with a bit more oomph, but for what it costs you really can't go wrong.
Thanks Shane. I don't need another guitar but thinking hard about pulling the trigger on the Artist guitar.
I am taking mine out for a jam night tonight and we'll see how it goes in a loud room. I really think they are pretty great.
Jeez - the availability and quality of budget guitars has improved enormously over the years. Having played a handful of different E335 clones recently, all made in China, I think that they are made in the same factory, with different branding. Ridiculous suggestion of course!
A very helpful demonstration Shane. The profiling you use definitely helps uplift the dynamics of both guitars to show them at their best.
Beeen playing guitar for about 60 years. I put earplugs in for this comparison for more clarity. To be honest, on sound / tones, I can’t spilt em. On my little iPad screen, the finish on the Artist is better. Do either of them have locking tuners? PS. Nice review. Well done. 👍
Great video Shane! Both sound very good but I don't think the Tokai sounded $1500 better than the Artist. My question for you is what felt better? I also wonder how the Artist will hold up to gig playing.
Hi Shane, My first Gibson was a real dog of a guitar to play . . fret ends that'd cut your fingers, and file marks on the fingerboard between EVERY FRET!! The only redeeming trait was its awesome sound. I gave up on it and put it away and tried to forget all about it. Then I was handed a new one a few years later and it was perfect. Only problem for me was the too-thin neck. Next I got a Custom Shop Gibson ES-335 with a more substantial neck. But the neck timber was so soft that the truss rod ends began chewing their way into the neck under the fingerboard at both ends! The shop where I bought it just wiped me, rather than honour the warranty and get Gibson to replace it. So I wiped that shop and never set foot in it ever again. Eventually I ended up owning three ES-355s that were all awesome. With the artist endorsement the Gibson dealership secured for me, they were all reasonably affordable for me.
As usual, your video was very well produced, with excellent playing and honest comparisons.
Well done Shane! Very nice tones and demonstration!
Had mine for years . Still amazing . Artist are great.👍
Really enjoyed this. I have an artist. And I agree. Amazing guitar for the price. I had a Gibson Les Paul back in the day. It was an iconic guitar. But she didn't like me nor I her. So we parted ways. Any way, I really enjoy this playing this 335. Thanks. Great video.
I think they sounded almost the same. Great value that Artist guitar.
thanks so much for your thoughtful and interesting reviews i appreciate them very much
You should invest in a digital scale. They're not very expensive.
I've pre-ordered the Cherry58 DLX, really looking forward to receiving it in December. From what I've seen, Artist are producing amazing guitars for the money!
Changed my order, got a Black58DLX three days ago, and my only regret is not buying one years ago! Amazing guitar, I don't know how they do it for the money they're asking. I'm going to mod mine with a Big D Guitars Varitone switch, and then I'm getting rid of my other guitars. I really don't think I'll need any of them any more.
Hi Shane awesome Playing and a great Demo thanks very much for your great Video's
both were great but that intro was sweet mate , awesome job !
They both sound great, I find that with most of these comparison type videos, its down to playability and budget really, just shows how far these lower priced guitars have come on recently....
I have just purchased the Artist Cherry 58, I'm new to electric guitar, but have played acoustic for the last 25 years. I'm really keen to try this out with my Boss Katana 50 amp.
I bought an Epiphone ES-335 Pro a few months back for $350. I have four other guitars, two of which cost over $1k, and it's the 335 that's become my new go-to guitar. If I'm home it's never more than a couple feet from me.
Your playing is so good Shane. Loved this review.T.
i got the same surprise. i expected a mess of a guitar that i'd have the fun of tooling around with to make playable, but out of the box the intonation was near perfect, the action is exactly how i like it, and the playability is so surprisingly nice... no rough fret edges, no uneven fret heights, nothing but i nice guitar in a very inexpensive package.
(gotta change the stock strings over to ernie balls for an arch top, though) still, total agreeance, artist makes a very playable guitar at an incredible price.
I preferred the Tokai by a fair margin, the artist is a mega bargain tho.
Oooh I hear some Dire Straits :^D
Artist make a good guitar, I have the Jazzmaster and am constantly amazed at the sounds I can get out of the bastard
Nice Vid Shane. I thought they both sounded VERY CLOSE to each other. I also noticed the Pickguard on the Artist isn’t cut as cleanly as theTohi. I know it’s a different shape but the cut just isn’t as cleanly done! Please keep up the Good Work and Cheers from the US.
I would take the artist slip in a pair of slider vintage 59’s and still have 500 bucks in my pocket
Great comparison video Shane. I preferred the bridge p/u on the Tokai on the solos. It is a bit fatter. But it really comes down to what you like in the end. As Joe Bonamasa said in an interview " They're just guitars". He went on to talk about a guy he knows that shows up at jam sessions with a Squier Strat and kills every time. I'm becoming less brand conscious daily.
Shane love your channel and that you review budget gear objectively.
I bought an artist Cherry 58 (?) second hand for a steal ($200) but mine was honestly a bit of a dog ..pickups were ok playability and neck good but the guitar would not hold tune for more than a few minutes! constantly drifting out on various strings ,such a headache. When it did hold a bit of tune the intonation was poor on chords up the neck despite resetting the intonation, dead spots on certain frets etc too.
I can hear the intonation problems in the Artist channel demos too. Just my experience ..I think you would have to factor in $150 for a decent setup on these getting closer to a cost of a budget Ibanez without the hassles! Just my 0.02
Impossible to tell what's under the paint. for that price you can't go wrong. But I would trust the Tokai more.
Tokia is mellow and more musical ...very close when on the gain channel ...cool
Great comparison. I am familiar with Tokai, Greco and Electrs. After seeing this video, I wanted to buy the Artist 58, however, they can no longer can export to USA because of copyright laws with Gibson. Seems like we have a new "Outlaw Guitar" today. Would you like to buy one and then ship it to me? LOL Now what should consider that is available is the USA ???
In the opening play thru ... I could hear more clairity & top end out of the tokai ... throughout the rest it was almost indestinguishable between the 2. In fact it wouldnt be hard to buy the artist & put another set of pickups in it weither they be cheap or expensive to get the sound you want anyways. Nice job as always Shane !! :)
Great comparison 👍 I don't know whether this has been mentioned on any of your video but the nut width of the Japanese Tokai ES series is narrower than most of the same styled guitar including Gibson. Its a deal breaker for some people but I absolutely love it! (I currently own two MIJ Tokai ES series). If played side by side with Gibson most experienced player would feel the difference straight away
Great video. Thank you.
Personally I would prefer if you had put the Artist up against the cheaper version of Tokai 335 style. I am a strong advocate for both Tokai and Artist guitars and have several of each infact as far as the upper range of Fender and Gibson in general I would not waste my money. Artist and Tokai for the coin to me are the best value guitars on the planet. When I purchased my Tokai 335 ( cheaper version around $600 ) I played it alongside its' more expensive sibling and went for the cheaper of the 2. Tokai and Artist absolutely rock but in general Shane a very honest and interesting review . Just so you know I also own and am a fan of fenders of which I have a Strat and a Tele custom from the 80s but Gibson .. NAH !!!! overpriced under quality... keep it up 🤘🤘👍👍🙏🙏
I usually have a pretty discerning ear, but it sounded like you were playing the same guitar. It seems like Artist is putting out some really quality tools for great value!
The Tokai has so much more clarity than the Artist, wouldn't have a problem playing either of them.
I own an Artist cherry Red, and I love it
Great video Shane! Clean sounds different, nothing unusual for a 'budget' guitar BUT it had a nice tone. Through pedals I really could not hear a difference! For gigging it has to be a good option rather than taking out a expensive guitar to the pub!
Killer copy . Impressive!
Damn dude, that's some tasty playing. Just got a cherry 58 after seeing your video. My only complaint is the weight
I'm glad you can get some decent Gibson alternatives like Artist in Australia. They're not sold here in the states but good for you that you can get them. Cheers! Sounding great as always. The Tokai sound f*cking amazing!
I also heard a little more top end from the Artist with the dirty tones, so it seems it carried over to the video.
Nice one mate, I bought one of the LP60 Gibsons the other day, I do have about 4 old USA LPs, but I'm going to take this new Beaut out for the gigs.
I'll have a look to see what your dong in halfway through 2020,,,,,,,, gib
Excellent proof!
I am undecided between this TOKAI ues78 (china)and the IBANEZ AS93.
What do you think about it?
I am looking for a guitar that is similar in sound to the 335 GIBSON.
If I bought the TOKAI UES78 I thought of replacing the mechanics with Gotoh SD90-SL (self-locking) and replacing the pick ups with Tokai PAF Vintage MK2S which are those mounted on the TOKAI UES198 TB (high-end Japanese guitar for about 2500 euros) .
What do you think of the upgrade?
Thanks for the test and your answers.
Tokai make great guitars but how good is the Artist guitar for $329.00. I would be happy to play either guitar live. Thanks Shane for the excellent review.
Both sound great, but you could make a broom stick strung with barb wire sound great. Being from the Lone Star State, love the tee shirt.
Shane, Far as I can tell, one can't purchase an Artist Cherry 58 in the U.S. But how about Epiphone dot or Gretsch G2622 shootout? I can buy those two here. Or can you get your hands on a Wolf Semihollow guitar?
Too bad they appear to be hard to get in the US, or I would buy the Artist in a heartbeat. They don't even show up on the website. How about posting the backing track, or is it already up there and I missed it? Nice comparison. Thanks!
Been watching your videos a long time. Your chops are always improving.....Respect! 😎
Thanks Dennis!
Man you look badass Marty MC fly with That guitar
Lol , it was supposed to be 1955 , about 3 years before the 335 appeared . They didn't even bother with a dot neck as at least a nod to the 50's. Bell end film makers lol 😂
Ive got the artist one in cherry red also i love it.
Wow..that was great to listen to..I wish I could play like that..such beautiful guitars.. I own an acoustic (Artist). It’s a nice guitar for the price, I have a fender but thinking I might buy an electric Artist guitar (again) for the price and value.
Holy cow! What tune are you playing in the opening comparison? Stunning sonic gold.
Is it normal that when I set the volume of the bridge pickup to zero, the volume of the neck pickup also disappears?
the toggle switch is in the middle position
can't really tell the differences. I guess it would come down to how noisy the pick ups on their own and how long it would last.
After thought, but I happen to think the tokai sounds more held together in the mix than the artist. They both do sounds great, that said.
Given the price disparity between the two, the artist doesn’t pull its punches
I sometimes just watch your riffs to get inspired and practice more
Lovely playing Shane.
I just bought a Vintage VSA500, an ES-335 copy and am enjoying how fine it feels for about ~USD500
Have you tried them? They use some great parts for the budget player
Cheers
Wow. They were very comparable clean, I do think the Tokai handled the distortion better. Very close, though.
Dammit cobber,there'not a lot of difference between em! Did you have to do any action tweaks? By the way,your playing is really getting awesome \m/
I need to hear the right handed versions. Great playing. The Artist isn't as warm, but has a great sound. Curious about the materials.
Can someone tell me if the bull bucker pick ups are voices differently in this guitar to one of their other models with bull buckers? I have an Artist LP guitar already but didn't want the same pick ups in a different model guitar of theirs.
You should review some Eastmans.
Tokai all the way. Finally, a video where the cheap is worst than the expensive.I was starting to think that all the cheap are better. It's a trend on TH-cam that all the cheap one's are great. To my ears, the Tokai on the blues theme blew the Artist by far. A totally different quality of sound even in the feeling that gave to the player. When Tokai plays I hear blues, the artist just doesn't have that character. It may sound right but...and I'm not the best ear in the world neither I play expensive guitars but the right should be told. I didn't listen to the comparison after. The blues solo was already enough. Nice feeling on the Tokai mate.
Hey Shane, do you adjust volume and tone between each guitar or run them on the exact same settings?
Tokai had rounder, smoother clean tone definitely. Artist sounded slightly better dirty and had more pokier edge/ bark to the sound through the Marshall. Must have hotter wound pickups. If you roll off some of the Marshall amp bass setting for the Tokai and boost the mids/ highs, it would probably sound better than the Artist when dirty.
Could you possibly compare a Wolf W200 (can find it on Reverb) to something such as a PRS SE?.
Put me in the group that couldn't tell the difference in sound. If I closely analysed it I'm sure any difference found would be slight enough that a bit of a tweak with the knobs on the amp or guitar would get you the sound you wanted anyway. Speaking of knobs, the layout off the volume and tone knobs is different. As it wasn't mentioned, I guess you didn't notice. Looking down while playing, which is the better configuration?
I have the Epiphone Dot and I'm not a big fan of the pickups. It's a fairly nice guitar otherwise (fat neck like the Artist), but at at least 50% more expensive than this or a Harley Benton, I wouldn't recommend it.
I'm also pretty sure those Artist guitars are coming out of whatever factory Harley Benton were using until last year in China. They used to have that weird shaped pick guard.
Well I like them both but the clean tones on the Tokai sounded maybe a few cents out of tune? That made it harder to compare on tones since I felt a dissonant sourness tho. With dirt the tokai is a BEAST. Both good guitars.
is it worth getting an early 80's 70's style Strat for 650 Euros here in Germany? Do you think they will get more expensive in 5 years?
Good question. Usually, the older some guitars get the more they will go up in price. The thing is though, some of the 70's guitars are pretty terrible (look up CBS era) so you might want to hold out for something else.
@@intheblues thank you for the answer! My guitar idol Plays 70 strats (Billy corgan) and some of them were terrible, like you said, and some of them were decent. I think I will buy one of the new squiers (classic vibe series). Thanks again! :D
@@intheblues what about the tokai silver stars? Do they have the same issues?
@@void0094 Anything 50's and 60's is where the big bucks is. Some 70's Gibsons would also be worth a look. Fender's 70's guitars are pretty terrible. I don't think the Japanese made guitars go up drastically either. You can usually find them pretty easily. Sww what you can find out online I am not really a vintage guitar guy.
depends the size of your pocket
Ive Got a Hazre Oz company 335 type Gutar , same type of thingy same price Made In china different lay out with the Controls and output Jack , But after a Good Set up Yeah Does Me finish and quality seem fine
Another alternative Shane, is the Cort Source, made in Indonesia.
I bought mine in Parramatta in 2015 for $650 AUD.
I went there with my inheritance money to buy a $3000 Gibson, and walked out with the Cort!
I just couldn’t see why I should shell out so much for the Gibson when the differences were negligible.
A simple upgrade to Lollar Imperial pickups and a $400 case was all it needed.
maybe a stupid question shane ...but do you use the same strings and gauge ?
I thought the Artist sounded better "dirty". Incredible value!!
Hey Shane What would you choose between Artist 335 and a Hagstom Viking??
I wanted to know the same thing bro !!
Shall I dare say I like the sounds from the Artist better?
The Tokai sounds better, but tbh, unless you play the Guitar as a Job or price is not an issue, if the cheap one is made and plays well enough then the differences can be narrowed by adjusting the amp sound or changing the pickups, if you are not playing live, only person who cares is you.
I think it’s a close race - to my ears there’s more clarity and separation notes from the Tokai than the Artist but that’s a matter of taste. As for looks I have Said it before the Pick guard looks like dogs bollocks but the f hole binding looks so pleasing.