Archtop/semi options advice please

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plasticscouse

New member
Right I'm relatively new here but you all seem friendly enough can I ask for your kind sound advice please. I'm turning 30 in March and my wife has said I can get a guitar. This is a once in a lifetime guitar for me, as it'll be "expensive" for us, buying on finance (x amount a month type of thing). and it has to be different to my others. (my others being an epi Les paul Std SD59s, a 50s classic series Fender strat a cheap SG knockoff and an Epi LP jr bolt on neck with p90 in it), I noodle in Bluesy type stuff, so a vintage orientated guitar would be the main choice

So it's an archtop/ semi solid the best we can afford we can stretch to £2500 MAX even with finance. 2nd hand can only be an option if its this, so no ebay. Also no saving up to get better etc, its March or never. I'm in the UK and cant drive so can't travel too far, especially with family in tow, so the internet chain stores are the most likely places to buy. This'll be a guitar I'm never allowed to meddle with no Pickup changes or anything like that (That's what the Westfield SG is for.)

I've been looking at 3, all Gibson an es335 Satin, or an es225 or wife says i'm allowed an ES Les paul.

I'm coming to you to see if there are other options/brands that's as good if not better. I've looked at PRS but are not keen on the hollow body they're too small and not "hollow" enough for me, similar with the es339, The es Les Paul is an oddity in my list then. I like the thought of the wider bodies if not thickness. I'm 6ft so it won't be too much of an issue.

I've also had my eye on Guild Starfires or the high end Epiphones es175 or Riviera they've released, but with these the Snobbery comes in I've got two Epis and love them both and sound amazing, they're never going to compete with their higher priced family, at least with the perception of "once in a lifetime dream guitar" thought that's

I wonder if you guys can think or help of anything I may have missed. And yes I will be visiting shops and playing as many as I can get my hands on, but again travel can be limited.

Thank you.
 
Re: Archtop/semi options advice please

Some ideas:

Epiphone 1965 Elitist Casino
Gibson ES-330
Gibson 1960 ES-335 block
Gretsch G6120 Chet Atkins
Grestch G6139CB (center-block Falcon)
Gretsch G6122 Country Gentleman
Gibson ES-195 Rockabilly
Rickenbacker 360
Rickenbacker 330
Kay Jazz II reissue
Hagstrom HJ-500 Jazz
Hagstrom Viking
D'Angelico EX-##
Epiphone Broadway
Reverand Pete Anderson PA-1
Schector Robin Zander Corsair
Music Man Axis Super Sport semi-hollow w/Piezo
Godin Montreal Premiere HG w/Bigsby
Hofner Verythin Custom
 
Re: Archtop/semi options advice please

I would heartily endorse a Gibson ES-335. These are so versatile, though not the guitar I would choose for metal. My current band does covers from about every genre imaginable, and the 335 can cover it all. Go all in though, and get the gloss version.

The ES-Paul is getting rave reviews from a lot of players on the Les Paul Forum. I have to say, the ones I've seen are beautiful.

I wouldn't discount the ES-339/359 either. Some guys really like the smaller body, and the tone circuit is very good.

If you must watch pennies, check out the Ibanez John Scofield model, formerly the Artstar AS-200. The Yamaha SA-2200, is another sweet guitar. You can also get other budget models from Ibanez, Eastwood, and D'Angelico but I think quality is not as good as the others.

There are some other semi-hollows I like, but most of these are hollowed out solid-bodies...a different animal in my book. Take a look at the G&L line, like the Comanche SH.

Good luck!

Bill
 
Re: Archtop/semi options advice please

I'll second the Ibanez suggestion... In that price range, you could get a Very Nice guitar...
 
Re: Archtop/semi options advice please

I played one of those "Lennon Casino" EPis and I didn't want to give it back to the guy! That thing was fantastic. Plus I'm pretty sure they don't make them anymore, so obviously you'd get a used one now (saving you some L) I had a regular Epi "Dot" and the Lennon one was miles away better.
I played one of these http://www.ibanez.co.jp/products/u_...4&cat_id=7&series_id=112&data_id=6&color=CL01
just the other day and it was also really, really nice. Plus I think you can get three of them new for what an ES-3XX sells for. The nicer Ibanez semi's are excellent players, if you want a guitar to play. Of course it won't say "Gibson" on it, but I thought they PLAYED just as well. You can always change out the electronics to make it sound just like a Gibbo...
http://www.gretschguitars.com/products/index.php?partno=2509100577
THese are also very nice, the "Electromatic" ones are made in China (as opposed to Japan for the other ones, if it matters to you where it's made) so they are affordable to normal people. I have a Chinese Gretsch (a Corvette) and it's easily the best put-together guitar I've ever had. The "Center Block" ones will be more ES-like, as opposed to the trestle/ladder braced ones that will be more Casino-like as this: http://www.gretschguitars.com/products/index.php?partno=2504811506
Whatever you choose, go by what you actually like playing, instead of going for the name. I mean, I'd love to have a "real" USA-made guitar, but honestly none of the $$$$$ ones I've played I liked better than what I already have to justify the increased cost. (A doctor I work with has some stunning looking PRS'es and LP's and brings them in for me to fool around with occasionally, but I would rather have 17 more Corvettes than one PRS...)
 
Re: Archtop/semi options advice please

check out the es137. its a sweet blend of the 335 and the 175.
175 profile, but thin like a 335. It has a small center block, so tonally its also a blend between the full hollow of the 175 and the tighter semi hollow design of the 335.
Great guitar.
 
Re: Archtop/semi options advice please

The Epiphone Elitist Casinos are very nice.

You should also look at Prestige Guitars. They make several arch-top guitars. Solid woods; Duncan pick-ups. The fit and finish are really excellent, and the prices are way below your limit.
 
Re: Archtop/semi options advice please

Yeah that's the only big British shop I know, I watch a lot of their YouTube videos. If you like the satin go for it. As far as the ibanez, epiphone, etc, there are a lit of nice ones, but if I were going for a once in a lifetime big money guitar I'd pass. That whole "Cool Gibson" "Nah its an Epiphone" "Oh..."
 
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Re: Archtop/semi options advice please

I had to delete my post on ES Les Pauls. Tried one out in real life and it was one of the worst made guitars I ever played. So disappointed.
My 335 in the mid '60's was great though, no feed back, could get an early Clapton sound w/out feedback. 335> FuzzFace> 50watt Bassman head> 2X120 JBL's. Beck, Page, even some non vibrato
Hendrix stuff. Great Semi hollow guitar. Miss it. It was very Red. Had to trade it to get a '66-68 Les Paul Custom.
SJ
 
Re: Archtop/semi options advice please

Boogie Bill said:
I would heartily endorse a Gibson ES-335. These are so versatile, though not the guitar I would choose for metal. My current band does covers from about every genre imaginable, and the 335 can cover it all. Go all in though, and get the gloss version.

The ES-Paul is getting rave reviews from a lot of players on the Les Paul Forum. I have to say, the ones I've seen are beautiful.

I wouldn't discount the ES-339/359 either. Some guys really like the smaller body, and the tone circuit is very good.

If you must watch pennies, check out the Ibanez John Scofield model, formerly the Artstar AS-200. The Yamaha SA-2200, is another sweet guitar. You can also get other budget models from Ibanez, Eastwood, and D'Angelico but I think quality is not as good as the others.

There are some other semi-hollows I like, but most of these are hollowed out solid-bodies...a different animal in my book. Take a look at the G&L line, like the Comanche SH.

Good luck!

Bill
Click to expand...

Gibson 335... Agreed. Great guitar extremely versatile and would probably look elsewhere if metal is your bag. I am a blues-blues-rock kind of guy. I have a Dot RI 335, a Gibson 359(which is a smaller version of the 355), and a Monty Blues Queen which is a solid maple "carved" 335. These are my 3 favorite guitars. If I had to pick one it would probably be the 335, but fortunately I don't have to pick Since I got my Monty I haven't really had the 335 out much. But believe me that guitar ain't going anywhere.
 
Re: Archtop/semi options advice please

Hi,
I agree with everything you said Boogie Bill, but the ES Les Paul I tried out must have been a fake then, as I say again, it was just horrible. I would love to see and play the ones the Les Paul Forum are playing. And yes, they do look beautiful, they look stunning even, but maybe mine was made by one crazed guy on midnight of a friday, I just could not believe it. The whole humbucker was up as far as the screws could get it to get close to the neck strings. Normal ring too. It sure looked good on the wall. 335-never go wrong with one of those!
SJB
 
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