Gibson semi hollow, small body

Diocletian

Diocletian

BrandNewGlossologist
I liked the guitar I saw Martin Barre of Jethro Tull playing live recently, but I have no idea what the heck it was. It was like an ES-335, Casino, Dot type thing (I don't know nothin' 'bout semi hollows) but it was about the size of a Les Paul. Looked really, really cool.

I've had a look on the Gibson site and stuff, but none of them really look like what he was playing. 339, 359, I dunno. They SAY they're Les Paul size, but the photos I'm seeing don't look it.
I took pics at the show, but none of them seem to show that guitar. It was a light sunburst colour, more yellow than red, Gibson on the headstock, like a 335 but with a way smaller body.
 
Re: Gibson semi hollow, small body

I suppose it coulda been one of these, but this still looks pretty big, and although this guy is probably really small, I don't think Martin Barre is very big either.
And I'm sure Martin's had red in the burst too.

Tim-Kaihatsu.jpg
 
Re: Gibson semi hollow, small body

There used to be a semi-hollow LP model from Gibson and Epiphone. The downsized 335 is the 336.
 
Re: Gibson semi hollow, small body

The 339 and 336 have the same size, which is pretty close to a Lester. The ES-339 is a great guitar, works well for practically anything, it has that semihollow-like tone (it's not an ES-335 though, it doesn't get that sound 100 % but it does a lot of things well and since it isn't so big, it works better with a lot of volume/distortion.
 
Re: Gibson semi hollow, small body

Diocletian said:
I suppose it coulda been one of these, but this still looks pretty big, and although this guy is probably really small, I don't think Martin Barre is very big either.
And I'm sure Martin's had red in the burst too.

Tim-Kaihatsu.jpg
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By the look of the binding, I'd say that that is an ES-336, it's a more expensive model and the body is carved IIRC.
 
Re: Gibson semi hollow, small body

I HATE 335s and big guitars like that in general. I'm a metal fan predominantly.
But whatever Martin was playing the other night, looked really, really cool.
His playing probably made it look ten times cooler than a normal man's guitar too, truth be told. :lol:

I'll never be able to afford a Gibson model, but if I found an Epiphone version, should they make such a thing, I'd hit it. Make a change from pointy guitars, strats and Les Pauls.
 
Re: Gibson semi hollow, small body

phil_104 said:
You are thinking of the 339, pictured here next to a Les Paul, and 335 sized guitar.

http://www.guitarsite.com/news/images/guitar/gibson_comparison.jpg

A buddy of mine has one, and they ****ing rock.
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No, see, I saw that picture already. That guitar still looks bigger than the Les Paul.
Maybe I was imagining it, but I was sure whatever he was playing was literally the same size as a Les Paul, in looks, from the front. (and from the front row too).
 
Re: Gibson semi hollow, small body

In the early Eighties, Ibanez made a semi-acoustic version of their Artist doublecut model. This was exactly the same size a LP only with symmetrical cutaways.
 
Re: Gibson semi hollow, small body

Martin did play Ibanez's for a while back in those days. But I'm sure this was a Gibson.

I dunno, something's not right. And it's probably my memory, or at least my perception of the size of the guitar.
 
Re: Gibson semi hollow, small body

I play a 336...been a LP player for decades. The 336 is just about the same size as my LP but is a LOT lighter, yet it still feels solid. The 336 is almost a hollowed out LP as it is a solid block of Mahogany, the sides and center block are from one piece, just the sections under the Fholes are cut out. Solid, not ply top and bottom. I love the tone of this guitar and it's a great player.
1263775104_dsc00539.jpg
 
Re: Gibson semi hollow, small body

Epi does make something similar. Look up the Kat series. I posted a thread of pics of my axes. You can see my black Alleykat in one of the pics. It's literally the same size as my LP, jus has a slightly tweaked shape and a MUCH livelier unplugged and clean tone.
 
Re: Gibson semi hollow, small body

Diocletian said:
I HATE 335s and big guitars like that in general.
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I used to hate 335's for years too, until I opened my mind & let the tone win me over. They're my favorite guitar now. I love taking 335's to gigs & jams, and not having a Fender like everyone else (and having the best-sounding guitar there).

An aside to Diocletian: usually when males hit puberty they get over that pointy guitar thing.
 
Re: Gibson semi hollow, small body

blueman335 said:
I used to hate 335's for years too, until I opened my mind & let the tone win me over. They're my favorite guitar now. I love taking 335's to gigs & jams, and not having a Fender like everyone else (and having the best-sounding guitar there).

An aside to Diocletian: usually when males hit puberty they get over that pointy guitar thing.
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Your post is full of contradictions. You "opened your mind" to liking 335s.
But you still take pot shots at pointy guitars and Fenders every chance you get. :smack:

So I see many males don't get over one-upmanship even long after puberty! :burnout:


I only have one pointy guitar left (if we're not counting headstock shapes), and it's too sexy to sell!
 
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Re: Gibson semi hollow, small body

Benjy_26 said:
Epi does make something similar. Look up the Kat series. I posted a thread of pics of my axes. You can see my black Alleykat in one of the pics. It's literally the same size as my LP, jus has a slightly tweaked shape and a MUCH livelier unplugged and clean tone.
Click to expand...

I'll have a wee look at those, thanks for the replies guys! :fing2:

EDIT: The "Kat" series are only single cutaway from what I can see.
 
Re: Gibson semi hollow, small body

I have played a 336 once. seemed like it would be a super flexible axe.

Can't sub for a real 335 though...
 
Re: Gibson semi hollow, small body

if it had 2 knobs it might have been a longhorn semi hollow. they are rare but they exist.
 
Re: Gibson semi hollow, small body

Wattage said:
if it had 2 knobs it might have been a longhorn semi hollow. they are rare but they exist.
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I did a search for "longhorn guitar images". Unless the semi hollow looks a lot different, you must be yankin ma chain.
 
Re: Gibson semi hollow, small body

Diocletian said:
I'll have a wee look at those, thanks for the replies guys! :fing2:

EDIT: The "Kat" series are only single cutaway from what I can see.
Click to expand...

Yep, only a single cut, but theyre as comfy as an old pair of jeans. Mine feels about half the weight of my Lester to boot.
 
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