Hi Skipburz
My first post. I had the same question and ended up here.
I bought the ES-335 for the very reason you mentioned. My fingers just seemed to drift to the right spot. I was more than amazed to hear someone else with a similar experience. I thought I was hallucinating and tried out several in various shops in London and Dubai, and the experience was the same. I must add though when it came to buying one, confusion set in but I was lucky to have a salesman from Anderton's (Guildford, Surrey, England) who knew a lot about the history of the ES-335's neck profiles, which I have mostly forgotten :-(
Armed with that background, I was able to identify the profile that suited me and took it from there. I still do not know the science behind it; thinner profile? wider fret distances? higher frets? slightly longer neck? deeper set into body? - Or as the guys said, body depth. I haven't a clue but it works, Yet the initial magic from my first three demos is still my best experience, which has led me to explore the ES-175 (used of course) or the budget elusive L5.
Thanks for posing the question. In terms of an alternative and affordable jazz guitar; my Epiphone Sheraton (ES-335 tribute) has an awesome tone with flats albeit after 18 months of searching for and fixing manufacturing faults (who in the world chisels out a nut seat). It is a beast to play with its cheaper heavier woods and a large headstock - I tire easily. I pushed it last summer and ended up with serious back problems for 3 months. As a consequence, my wife approved the ES-335 budget PDQ - there must be easier ways!
Reading the posts here (thanks everyone) I think an ES-175 may be beyond my ability or physiology and for now I'll stick with the ES-335 or maybe even a second one from the used market.
Tony
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