Has anyone got one of these; Yamaha SA-2200?
I'm looking to get an ES335 style double cut semi-hollow body. a Gibby 335 is out of the budget, and this seems the next best (or better than the real) thing. The Yamaha has an ebony fret board, I don't really like rosewood much.
The reviews on Harmony Central seem quite positive. 
Can't say that I have, DynaSaur. I've always heard good things about Yamaha electrics. I've always liked the looks of the AES1500B, save the open coil mini hums.
I know several people who, not wanting the drop a lot for a Gibson, have went the Heritage route. I'm not sure how much, if all, cheaper Heritage sells their 535 model.
No, but I have one of these and it's a very nice guitar.
Haven't played that one, but in general I've found Yamaha guitars to be well-made and of high quality, but somehow a little sterile. Possibly pickups, which can be swapped.
Note mostly that the SA-2200 has a 24" scale, while 335s (and most semis inspired by the the 335) are 24.75". That will make a difference in tone and feel.
If you're talking about saving money...the Epi Dot seems to be well-liked, as is the Agile 820. (Or maybe 280.)
The shape is different from the 335, but I have an ESP X-Tone Paramount semi that I really like.
I haven't played the Iby ArtCore semis, and I know they get mixed reviews. But I'm pleased with the all-hollow AFS75 for the money (other than pickups), and I'd try an ArtCore before deciding.
Same is true of lowly Jay Tursers. Their better guitars (which includes the semis are just a pickup swap away from really-pretty-good-guitar status.
But if you're thinking of the Yamaha, you're probably thinking middle price range, not low-end...
A couple other mid-priced 335 clones:
Epi Elitist Ibanez Artcore Custom Hagstrom Viking Deluxe
I don't know if any of the above might trip your trigger . . .
I had a young whippersnapper ask me if my 6122 was a 335 clone!!!
And just what did you say to edumacate said young whippersnapper, Ben?
I exhibited my usual respectful gentle demeanor as I politely kicked his butt.
I think it was the same kid that asked if my Mosrite bass was a Univox copy.
He apparently NEEDED his butt kicked! 
The late Tommy Tedesco used and endorsed Yamahas.
I also used to like Ibanez Artists, like Scofield played.
I would steer clear of Jay Turser, having had a JT Cleopatra model that was semi-hollow in the 335 way.
Structurally they have a lot of voids where I would rather they had wood. Especially near the neck joint.
always this
Thanks for all the advice.
I didn't notice that the scale length on the Yamaha SA-2200 was only 24". Proteus has sharp eyes!
Yamaha guitars are great if you don't care too much about brands. I have always noticed that Yamaha guitars are well built. I have the ubiquitous Pacifica which is now my 'travel guitar'.
AndyJ, I will look into those guitars that you mentioned. They look up to the job!
The JSM100 sure looks like one great guitar, but for $2200+ I could possibly find a mint second hand DC Falcon (not exactly 335-like but good enough for me) or for a few clams more, get another Falcon new. I'm sure the quality is comparable
BTW, Ibanez has a really great website actually. I really like how they lay out all the information about the guitars, particularly about the neck profile, thickness etc. I really wish Gretsch (and other) guitar manufactures would list information clearly like that. Certainly Gretsch could benefit from that type of format as there is a lot of confusion among non-Gretsch players about the product line. Heck, there's even confusion among us about it!
The Ibanez AS200 is a great guitar (Sco plays an '81 AS200). I have a '99 that plays and sounds really good. They're no longer in production, but as billydlight says you can get a JSM instead. Howerver, AS200s show up used for decent prices once in a while.
They're not a 335 exactly, but you can get similar tones (and more) from the Ibanez. Notable differences are the ebony fret board, three piece maple-mahogany-maple neck, the Super 58 pickups and of course the look. Lots of flames on those AS200s, which mostly come in various shades of sunburst. IMO the Super 58 are really good pickups. Kinda low output (mine measure ~ 7.4 k) but really clear and responsive.
Another model is the artcore custom AS103 which also should be a nice guitar at a good price. I think it needs a darker pick guard, but that's it.
According to the Yamaha website, the SA-2200 has a 24 3/4 (628mm) scale, not 24".
I've played Yamaha SA-2200's and found them very nice (and if they were shorter than 24.75" scale, I never noticed). I'd also highly recommend the Samick Artist Series. They are discontinued now, but still turn up used fairly often in the $350 - $500 price range. The SAN-450 is the basic "Dot" 335 style with chrome hardware, the SAT-650 is the top-of-the-line fancy gold-hardware version. I've had mine for several years, and like it better than any Gibson semi I've ever played --- every other guitarist who's tried mine has been really impressed with it too.
I had been thinking about the Epi Casino until the Yamaha came under my radar, now those Ibanez guitars (what's the plural of Ibanez?) have really confused me. The only sure way is to play them side by side.
The Ibanez AS73 seems like a great guitar project too (ok, I don't get out much) and for only $300! That is cheap enough to mod and still have change.
It's odd that Ibanez can sell a $300 guitar with binding on the headstock, neck and f-holes and yet Gibson can't do that on a $3000 guitar. 
And yes, after re-visiting thr site, the Yamaha SA-2200 does have a 24 3/4 (628mm) scale. Thanks for the clarification.
Sorry for the miscue on the Yamaha scale length...I did a doubletake on the page I read, and swore it said 24". Seemed odd, so I re-read...
Doctor my eyes.
DynaSaur said
I had been thinking about the Epi Casino until the Yamaha came under my radar
DS, don't be fooled by the similar shape. The Epi Casino is a whole other species than the SA-2200. The Casino is a fully hollow bodied guitar with single-coil pickups, while the SA-2200 is a semi-hollow design with a centerblock through the body and humbuckers. They occupy very different niches in the world of guitars and sound and play quite different from each other. The Epiphone most similar to the SA-2200 would be the Dot or Sheraton, not the venerable Casino.
(Plural of Ibanez = Ibanoise)
I don't think it was mentioned yet, but the link you posted said the guitar has a 133/4" fret board radius. In my experiences fretboards that have flatter radius tend to be on a little on the wide side, so you may want to try the guitar before buying.
