Got a new ES-130

[FordFanJpn]

Thanks to the comments and info I picked up here, I took the plunge yesterday and bought a sunburst ES130 at Musicland Key here in Tokyo. When I get a chance, I'll upload some pics of it. I've had it less than a day at this point, so except for saying that I'll be changing out the neck pickup, I can't really say anything except that I love it! I'll try to do more of a review after I've had it a while.

As a side note, the guy in the store told me that the ES135, which replaced the ES130, is already being replaced by an ES145. The only difference is the price.

Bill

 

[sneakyjapan]

Tokyo eh...I been in Sendai for almost on 13 years now... and I`m goin` snakey I tell ya.
How long you been in country? Am toying with the idea of heading to the Big Onigiri for a day of guitar fun during Golden Week. We`ll see. A good thing about living in a smaller city like Sendai is...less competition for the old MIJs...then again, there are fewer to choose from. Put my tax return in the bank over a month ago ... and nothing to buy, how sick is that? Let me guess...you teach or research? 99% of gaijin I meet do one or the other but like I said...this ain`t Tokyo. Where you from? Found any bargains since being here? I`m more of a Fender Japan guy but have never refused a good guitar just because it has humbuckers.

 

[FordFanJpn]

Tokyo eh...I been in Sendai for almost on 13 years now... and I`m goin` snakey I tell ya.
How long you been in country? Am toying with the idea of heading to the Big Onigiri for a day of guitar fun during Golden Week. We`ll see. A good thing about living in a smaller city like Sendai is...less competition for the old MIJs...then again, there are fewer to choose from. Put my tax return in the bank over a month ago ... and nothing to buy, how sick is that? Let me guess...you teach or research? 99% of gaijin I meet do one or the other but like I said...this ain`t Tokyo. Where you from? Found any bargains since being here? I`m more of a Fender Japan guy but have never refused a good guitar just because it has humbuckers.

I've been in Tokyo almost 20 years. I'd love to get out of here, but I have a family to support (wife, cat, mother-in-law), so I guess I'm stuck here until I win the lottery. I'll be spending part of Golden Week down in Yokohama visiting a friend, who also just bought a Tokai ES130. I taught a bit when I first got here, but I've working for a patent law firm for 18 years now (I'm not a lawyer!). I'd have to say the only real bargains I've found have been Epi's and Tokai's, although I did get a pretty good deal on my R9 Les Paul. I have some Strats and Teles, but I'm mainly a humbucker guy.

Bill

 

[FordFanJpn]

I still haven't had time to really check the guitar out yet, but am hoping to do so today. I especially want to compare the tone to my 335 and 345. I'll post the results later. In the meantime, here are a couple of quick pics of the 130, and one of the 130 with a few of her sisters.

Bill

 

[chrisheyes]

The ES130 doesn't look out of place in that company of Semi's

The finish on the Tokai looks awesome.

How does the acoustic tone of the 130 compare with the others ?

 

[FordFanJpn]

The ES130 doesn't look out of place in that company of Semi's

The finish on the Tokai looks awesome.

How does the acoustic tone of the 130 compare with the others ?

The workmanship and finish on the 130 is very impressive. I still can't believe they can sell them as cheaply as they do (although the prices are going up). One of the things that struck me right away is the fact that the 130 sounds more resonant and lively when played unplugged than any of the other semi's. It seems to have more of an acoustic sound than the others, almost similar to the Casino, which being completely hollow sounds very nice unplugged.

Bill

 

[mlivingstone]

That's an absolutely stunning collection Bill - you're a very lucky man. Nice cat as well BTW.

 

[marcusnieman]

Marvelous....

Noticed that she has the shorter pickguard (instead of the longer 59ish style found on the earlier models) and block inlays instead of a dot neck.

Is that now typical on the current ES models?

 

[FordFanJpn]

That's an absolutely stunning collection Bill - you're a very lucky man. Nice cat as well BTW.

Thanks a lot. The cat's name is Lucy, and she's my little girl. She likes to pose whenever I try to take guitar pictures. There's a picture of her sitting on a friend's Dumble on my website. The Dumble is covered in blue suede, and when he got it back, it had white cat hair on it. He wasn't really pleased about that.

Bill

 

[FordFanJpn]

Marvelous....

Noticed that she has the shorter pickguard (instead of the longer 59ish style found on the earlier models) and block inlays instead of a dot neck.

Is that now typical on the current ES models?

No, they make the 59 style too. As a matter of fact, I also tried out an ES155 when I tried the 130, and it had the long pickguard and dot markers. I ended up liking the 130 better so that's the one I bought.

Bill

 

[FordFanJpn]

I replaced the pups in the 130 today with a set of Fralins that I had kicking around. They made a slight improvement, but it turns out that the stock pickups are not bad at all.

I spent some time today comparing the 130 with a '95 335 and a '59 345. With some slight tweaks to the amp, it was pretty easy to get them all sounding about the same. I had to lower the pickups in the 130 to get it to sound the way I wanted it. Considering the cost of the 130 compared to the other two guitars, I was really impressed with how good it sounds. And it plays just as well, if not better, than the other guitars.

Bill

Here's a pic of the guitar with the Fralins.

 

[thesonicblue]

I was strongly considering getting an ES 155, but I'm surprised you said that you liked the 130 (though I think that's actually a 135) more. I would think that the aluminum tailpiece, CTS pots, and Honduran mahogany neck would make for a noticeably better sound. I certainly prefer the looks of the 135, though, so I'd like to hear more about the differences between these two models.

 

[FordFanJpn]

I was strongly considering getting an ES 155, but I'm surprised you said that you liked the 130 (though I think that's actually a 135) more. I would think that the aluminum tailpiece, CTS pots, and Honduran mahogany neck would make for a noticeably better sound. I certainly prefer the looks of the 135, though, so I'd like to hear more about the differences between these two models.

It was a close call between this 130 and the 155, but there was something about the 130 that appealed to me. The pots and tailpiece I can replace myself. I wouldn't mind the Honduran mahogany neck though. But the feel and playability was very similar between the two guitars. Other than the differences you mentioned, I think they are pretty much the same. Keep in mind though that the 130 I have was replaced by the 135, which is now being replaced by the 145. And the only difference between those guitars is the price.

Bill

 

[mlivingstone]

Thanks a lot. The cat's name is Lucy, and she's my little girl. She likes to pose whenever I try to take guitar pictures. There's a picture of her sitting on a friend's Dumble on my website. The Dumble is covered in blue suede, and when he got it back, it had white cat hair on it. He wasn't really pleased about that.


Just as well she didn't use it as a scratching post as our three did with my old Sessionette