Can a semi-hollow body guitar that only cost $160 really be any good? Let's find out as I unbox the Grote 335-style guitar, and have a friend take it through its paces.
I have the same guitar which I paid $225 second hand but had a super nice strap and gig bag. I like it. The biggest problem is the cheap electronics. The pickups don't sound bad but they don't sound great. The output jack is failing/sound drops out when the cord plug moves and switch is crappy, I plan on putting a new harness and pickups in and maybe a roller bridge.
I bought a 335 wine red Grote back around Thanksgiving..... Excellent guitar! I've been playing since 1981 and have a quite a variety of guitars and have to say it's stellar deal. They are worth more than the cost!! Have fun!
I have been nothing but impressed with this guitar since I have bought it. I am a very novice player, but even I thought that this Grote was punching WAY above its weight in both value and performance. Thanks for stopping by!
The finish on mine is beautiful I replace all the pots and added push-pull on the tones and added pro bucker humbuckers pickups that I can split. did not need to level any frets which was a plus I did polish them. Basically, I took this cheap guitar an elevated it to contend with an expensive Gibson at a fraction of the cost
I really believe that this Grote "335" clone is an exceptional value. It looks great, and as you say, with some modifications one can have a great-sounding and playing instrument at a fraction of the cost of the "name brands". I have 2 guitars hanging on my wall, and this beauty is one of them!
Sweet!!!... I've been shopping for another budget guitar for a bit..was down to this or Ibanez. A friend of mine (a GREAT friend of mine) saw it in my Amazon cart and purchased it for my Birthday. Thanks for the review. I'm super pumped to get it. Coming today!!! 😊
That's awesome! If you remember, check back in here and let me know what you think of it. I was just playing it some yesterday, actually. I still think it's a gem!
@@GenomePresents 👍 Getting it intonated tomorrow.. a bit of a buzz on low E.. thinking an adjustment will fix that. I'll let you know in a week or so once I played her a bit. 👍
In the market for a 335, I almost purchased a used Epiphone DOT for $500. Then, quite by chance, I found your video (and others) praising the Grote. So, I bought one (in blond) from Amazon for $179. Looking forward to it! Thanks.
I truly hope that you enjoy it! Mine is one of 2 guitars hanging on my wall. It's beautiful and plays very well. I think it was a steal at the $179 price that you nabbed it for! I appreciate your stopping by and leaving a comment! God bless!
She's a beaut all right! This really seems like a steal at that price point. Even the strings that came with it weren't bad. When I get better, perhaps I will do some vids highlighting what it can do! Thanks for stopping by!
Cool guitar you guys two cool guys need more people in the world like these two men I been playing and singing over 50 years I have ten guitars I have three hollow Bodie guitars all my guitars are made left handed I fix them also if they need it I'm a native new Yorker I live in west Florida
As far as specs, I would say that they are fairly similar. The Donner has always been quite a bit more. I haven't actually played the Donner or HB, so I couldn't give you a knowledgeable opinion there.
@@GenomePresents I have 3 Grote 335 left-handed models: a 2019, 2020 & a 2021. The 2019 does have it & is a far superior to the later models which do not have it. Despite being the same model they are all 3 very different guitars. Good but different.
@@johncox6204 Interesting. Might be worth it for people to seek out the older models then if they wanna go for the peak sound these guitars are capable of. How was the quality of the rest of the '19 model?
@Genome Presents I was extremely pleased with the build quality. That is why I bought the other two. I liked those two so much that I actually just ordered another Grote 335 guitar a week ago, and I'm awaiting on its arrival. I did strip to 2019 down and replaced everything on it. Not because it was a bad sounding guitar but because it was so good. I actually prefer it to my Epiphone Les Paul or my Mexican Stratocaster
@@johncox6204 I was so impressed with the quality of this Grote guitar that I bought another one; the Grote take on a Les Paul! There will be a video coming out about it in the near future. Spoiler alert; the guitar is GREAT!
There's no way anyone could listen to a song and tell whether it was a 200 or 2000 dollar guitar. Anyone says they can is full of shit. One of the greatest tones and guitars in history was a put together at home B body that cost 50 bucks. The frankenstrat.. Mr Eddie van Halen enough said.
Especially when said guitar is recorded in a studio with untold amounts of effects and post-production. Of course, I am not exactly an informed source, but sometimes people buy into info that is suspect regarding "sound quality" of guitars.
@@GenomePresents absolutely. He had at one time so many different things for effects I'm not sure if he would remember. I have heard him say in the beginning he couldn't afford any pedals or anything for effect and he had none which taught him how to do and make all the quirky noises he could get with his hands and pick.
kool. just got a grote es 335 it kicks butt. i had a gibson es 335 in mid 70s and a gibson es 345 in '80s, i'm not nuts but i'll put this grote against them anyday!!! may just swap the pups for tnt humbuckers/got about 30 gits and wow for the $$$ it is a bang as hard as ac dc rock!!! j bklyn ny
I have the same guitar which I paid $225 second hand but had a super nice strap and gig bag. I like it. The biggest problem is the cheap electronics. The pickups don't sound bad but they don't sound great. The output jack is failing/sound drops out when the cord plug moves and switch is crappy, I plan on putting a new harness and pickups in and maybe a roller bridge.
I bought a 335 wine red Grote back around Thanksgiving..... Excellent guitar! I've been playing since 1981 and have a quite a variety of guitars and have to say it's stellar deal. They are worth more than the cost!! Have fun!
I have been nothing but impressed with this guitar since I have bought it. I am a very novice player, but even I thought that this Grote was punching WAY above its weight in both value and performance.
Thanks for stopping by!
Just ordered mine...... Thanks guys for the info!
Great! Let us know how yours turns out. I really think it is an amazing bargain!
I have the 335 and the telecaster. They are quite amazing for the very low price.
The finish on mine is beautiful I replace all the pots and added push-pull on the tones and added pro bucker humbuckers pickups that I can split. did not need to level any frets which was a plus I did polish them. Basically, I took this cheap guitar an elevated it to contend with an expensive Gibson at a fraction of the cost
I really believe that this Grote "335" clone is an exceptional value. It looks great, and as you say, with some modifications one can have a great-sounding and playing instrument at a fraction of the cost of the "name brands". I have 2 guitars hanging on my wall, and this beauty is one of them!
Sweet!!!... I've been shopping for another budget guitar for a bit..was down to this or Ibanez. A friend of mine (a GREAT friend of mine) saw it in my Amazon cart and purchased it for my Birthday. Thanks for the review. I'm super pumped to get it. Coming today!!! 😊
That's awesome! If you remember, check back in here and let me know what you think of it. I was just playing it some yesterday, actually. I still think it's a gem!
@@GenomePresents 👍 Getting it intonated tomorrow.. a bit of a buzz on low E.. thinking an adjustment will fix that. I'll let you know in a week or so once I played her a bit. 👍
@@Sandrahsings Hope the intonation gets it spot-on!
Nice! You're building quite a collection of great instruments.
Now if I can only build up my ability to play them well ;-P
I just picked up a natural finished one new from their ebay dealer for 160! Stoked for it to arrive!
What a deal! I would wager that you are going to love it! They really are quite fetching guitars for the price!
You will be blown away by the 335 right out of the box. I put .008 gauge strings on my GROTE Telecaster and it is fun to play and sounds amazing.
i think he right about the price.i total agree with him.i have a aria 335 looks the same a the grote.and sounds excellant.
In the market for a 335, I almost purchased a used Epiphone DOT for $500. Then, quite by chance, I found your video (and others) praising the Grote. So, I bought one (in blond) from Amazon for $179. Looking forward to it! Thanks.
I truly hope that you enjoy it! Mine is one of 2 guitars hanging on my wall. It's beautiful and plays very well. I think it was a steal at the $179 price that you nabbed it for! I appreciate your stopping by and leaving a comment! God bless!
Looks and sounds good! At that price I think you hit a home run.
She's a beaut all right! This really seems like a steal at that price point. Even the strings that came with it weren't bad. When I get better, perhaps I will do some vids highlighting what it can do!
Thanks for stopping by!
Cool guitar you guys two cool guys need more people in the world like these two men I been playing and singing over 50 years I have ten guitars I have three hollow Bodie guitars all my guitars are made left handed I fix them also if they need it I'm a native new Yorker I live in west Florida
Thank you so much for the kind words! We wish you and your guitars the very best!!!
@@GenomePresents Your welcome my friends
Thanks y'all
Love it!
Many thanks!! Love this guitar!
How would you compare this to the donner djp-1000 or the harley benton
As far as specs, I would say that they are fairly similar. The Donner has always been quite a bit more. I haven't actually played the Donner or HB, so I couldn't give you a knowledgeable opinion there.
does it have kerfed linings?
Nope. Fraid it doesn't.
@@GenomePresents I have 3 Grote 335 left-handed models: a 2019, 2020 & a 2021. The 2019 does have it & is a far superior to the later models which do not have it. Despite being the same model they are all 3 very different guitars. Good but different.
@@johncox6204 Interesting. Might be worth it for people to seek out the older models then if they wanna go for the peak sound these guitars are capable of. How was the quality of the rest of the '19 model?
@Genome Presents I was extremely pleased with the build quality. That is why I bought the other two. I liked those two so much that I actually just ordered another Grote 335 guitar a week ago, and I'm awaiting on its arrival. I did strip to 2019 down and replaced everything on it. Not because it was a bad sounding guitar but because it was so good. I actually prefer it to my Epiphone Les Paul or my Mexican Stratocaster
@@johncox6204 I was so impressed with the quality of this Grote guitar that I bought another one; the Grote take on a Les Paul! There will be a video coming out about it in the near future. Spoiler alert; the guitar is GREAT!
There's no way anyone could listen to a song and tell whether it was a 200 or 2000 dollar guitar. Anyone says they can is full of shit. One of the greatest tones and guitars in history was a put together at home B body that cost 50 bucks. The frankenstrat.. Mr Eddie van Halen enough said.
Especially when said guitar is recorded in a studio with untold amounts of effects and post-production. Of course, I am not exactly an informed source, but sometimes people buy into info that is suspect regarding "sound quality" of guitars.
@@GenomePresents absolutely. He had at one time so many different things for effects I'm not sure if he would remember. I have heard him say in the beginning he couldn't afford any pedals or anything for effect and he had none which taught him how to do and make all the quirky noises he could get with his hands and pick.
I made my guitar out diarrhea mixed with super glue and sawdust. Sounds great
@@garyburginjr1366 Sounds great. Smells, well, not so great!
Mine is Ramen noodles pressed into a guitar cake..... sounds great, tastes good....
kool. just got a grote es 335 it kicks butt. i had a gibson es 335 in mid 70s and a gibson es 345 in '80s, i'm not nuts but i'll put this grote against them anyday!!! may just swap the pups for tnt humbuckers/got about 30 gits and wow for the $$$ it is a bang as hard as ac dc rock!!! j bklyn ny
It's a rockin' guitar and currently hangs on my wall! It's quite the showpiece!