Hollowbody question on thickness?

[jvegas]

Is it true..the thicker the hollowbody..the more air in between which in creates more of the feedback?


Now I use distortion..but not like Metallica amounts ..more like Aerosmith if you will..

and I love the sound on cleans of a hollowbody..but Im trying to play one that will suit some rock as well..


I have played my gf's Ibanez artcore on my fender deville with my pedal board and it rocks..but at times it feedsback..

my friend said if I try a epiphone dot or another thinner hollowbody it would feedback less due to the resonance between the back and front with the f holes..


any truth to this???

Now I know the hollobodys are gonna feed back a bit but I want somehting thats not gonna go bezerk on me haha


and for the price are the epi dots good?? Im trying to get a new hollowbody..something around 300 to 400 bucks which sounds awesome..
I have a bunch of seymour duncan pickups so if I have to Ill drop my duncan custom and my jazz neck in on the guitar

thanks!!

 

[Low_fidelity2100]

Re: Hollowbody question on thickness?

The epiphone dot, And all 335 style guitars aren't fully hollow. Thats why They feed back less. It has a Solid center block to help cut down on feedback. Doesn't really have that much to do with the body thickness.

An epi Casino (or gibson es-330) on the other hand has the same Body shape and thickness, But is Fully hollow and Has Just about as much feed back issues as a Thicker bodyed Fully hollow guitar (gretch, Gibson 175's, etc...). Its not the body thickness that determines how much microphonic feedback you'll get, But The fact that the body is fully hollow and vibrates more which transfers soundwaves in the air (from your amp) back into the body and Thus causeing vibration in the Pickups, createing microphonics. (at least this is How I understand it. So someone please correct me If I'm wrong.)

Now, even with a semi-hollow (dot, 335) your still gonna get some of that happening. Not as Much as with a fully hollow body, But still some. Even with some solidbody guitars your gonna get that if your close to your amp or use alotta distortion.

The thing is, as long as your playing, The feedback shouldn't be an issue. Its just when ya stop playing that it begains(obviously). So if you want a hollowbody, but hate the feedback. You could either, Not get a hollow body. Or, Just ride the volume control. So when your not playing, ya turn the Guitar volume to zero, so ya get no feedback (or use a volume pedal or whatever). With a hollow body and enough volume Your gonna get microphonics whether your useing distortion or not (much like a microphone). But as long as you mind the volume control when your not PLaying, Its not really much of an issue.

 

[GuitarStv]

Re: Hollowbody question on thickness?

You don't even have to worry so much about the volume control, just rest your hand over all of the strings when you're not playing and your guitar won't feedback. Changing where you stand (in reference to your amp) can help a lot too . . .

 

[Low_fidelity2100]

Re: Hollowbody question on thickness?

You don't even have to worry so much about the volume control, just rest your hand over all of the strings when you're not playing and your guitar won't feedback. Changing where you stand (in reference to your amp) can help a lot too . . .

Muting the strings doesn't stop body vibrations (microphonic feedback), Only the strings from vibrateing (normal/"good" feedback).

 

[jvegas]

Re: Hollowbody question on thickness?

thanks guys

you guys have any recommendations for awesome guitars priced from 200 to 400???

I played on the ibanez artcore and it sounds killer with my deville ..even on distortion but I want something a bit thinner and not as big

thanks!!

 

[Low_fidelity2100]

Re: Hollowbody question on thickness?

thanks guys

you guys have any recommendations for awesome guitars priced from 200 to 400???

I played on the ibanez artcore and it sounds killer with my deville ..even on distortion but I want something a bit thinner and not as big

thanks!!

For semi-hollow bodys (thinner body, less feedback etc...) I'de say check out The Epiphone Dot, or Dot studio both are good guitars In that price range. The Dot studio is Basically the same guitar as The standard dot, But its only got 1vol and 1tone control and a Three way selector (normal dot has 2v/2t), and the dot studio also Has no Fretboard inlays, and black hardware. The normal dot is basically the same deal as an es-335, but ya know, not a gibson. FWW theres a few people on the Forum that Prefer the dot studio over the standard dot (I'm not one of them though), and the studio is cheaper so Its worth a look.
If ya wanted to spend a Bit more ($600) The epiphone sheraton is basically a "fancier" version of the Dot, Block inlays, triple bound, gold hardware. Same basic guitar though, just "prettier".
Ibanez also makes a semi-hollow 335/dot style guitar in they're artcore line. Although I can't remember the model name. And I can't really Recommend them, as I've never really played one for more than a few minutes in a shoppe, and I didn't like em. (you might like em better though, who knows?)
Peavey also Makes a Semi-hollow 335/dot style guitar. Again I don't remember the model name. The few I've tried seemed pretty decent, although the necks seemed quite skinny. But if ya like a thin neck, you might like em.


For a fully hollow Thin bodyed guitar. I don't really know of Many thin bodyed Fully hollows. Really the only one I can think of thats currently in production is The Epiphone casino. Same basic body shape as the 335/dot, just fully hollow. Its got p-90's instead of humbuckers, and a Trapeze Bridge instead of a stop tail. Although those sell for around $600, so that might be outta your price range.
There might be other Thin bodyed fully hollows, But I'm drawing a blank right now. Hopefully someone else will chime in and Point out some of the guitars I missed.

 

[GuitarStv]

Re: Hollowbody question on thickness?

Muting the strings doesn't stop body vibrations (microphonic feedback), Only the strings from vibrateing (normal/"good" feedback).

Microphonic feedback isn't caused by a hollow body or semi hollow. It's caused by unpotted pickups. As long as your pickups are good this shouldn't be a problem at all (at least in my experience).

 

[Bludave]

Re: Hollowbody question on thickness?

If you really want the 335 shape but are concerned with feedback, try the B.B. King Epiphone. This does not have the F holes and it has an access panel on the back which will make working on the electronics much easier. A standard 335 or Epi dot in order to change pickups etc you have to work thru the F holes and the pickup holes. Working tru a back panel will be a lot easier.

http://www.epiphone.com/default.asp?ProductID=15&CollectionID=1

 

[Wattage]

Re: Hollowbody question on thickness?

Ibanez has a few thin Artcore hollowbodies that play and sound great. My singer has on I use occassionally and even with the stock pups it sounds really good and doesn't feedback unless I am right on top of the amp and I play loud. Think Ted Nugent Double Live Gonzo type sounds but a bit gainier.

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: Hollowbody question on thickness?

Guitarstv is dead on about controlling feedback from a hollow body. I play my semi hollow Sheraton, my fully hollow Joe Pass and my hollow Alleykat all the time through high gain and all it takes is changing where you stand and some careful muting.

I also tend to preffer unpotted humbuckers and have never had an issue with unwanted feedback, even through 100 watts worth of Mesa into 4 12" speakers.

BTW, if you're looking for a small hollow, look into any of the 3 Kat series guitars from Epi.

They're built differently from other hollows. Epi basically took a mahogany LP body and scooped everything out except for an island for th bridge and tailpiece. This leaves a mahogany back, sides, and neck and they top it off with an arched mflamed maple top and an ebony fingerboard.

The Alleykat (like mine) has a mini humbucker at the neck, PaF in the bridge, and a stop tailpiece.

The Wildkat has a Bigsby and dual P-90's.

The Flamekat has a hot rod flames finish, a Bigsby, and a pair of mini humbuckers.

 

[Low_fidelity2100]

Re: Hollowbody question on thickness?

Microphonic feedback isn't caused by a hollow body or semi hollow. It's caused by unpotted pickups. As long as your pickups are good this shouldn't be a problem at all (at least in my experience).

Unpotted Pickups aren't the Only source of Microphonics. Hollowbodys being prone Microphonics at high volume is The reason Solid bodied guitars were Invented in the first place. Whether your pickups are Potted well Or Not, You can/will still end up with Microphonic feedback If your playing a Fully (or even semi) hollow Guitar at a high enough volume, standing close enough to the amp, Or with enough distortion.

Muteing the strings alone won't stop Microphonic feedback. But like Benjy said, Changing your possition In relation to the amp can, and does most of the time. You'll still have to Mute the strings to get rid of Normal string (controllable) feedback, But That alone isn't gonna kill All feedback.

Don't believe me? Plug a microphone into a P.A., turn the volume way up, and then point it at The speakers the pa is connected too. Ya get feedback don't ya? Yet a Microphone has No strings (none of mine do anyways haha). Thats microphonic feedback.
Want a second experiment to prove my point? Go to a guitar shoppe. Pickup any Hollow, Or semi-hollow guitar. Plug it into an amp, dial it in for a high gain sound, turn the volume up past 5 (on the amp), Point the guitars front towards the amp, Mute the strings, An you'll still have feed back. That is microphonic feedback.

It has nothing to do with The strings. And With Hollow/semi-hollow guitars, It doesn't nessicarrily even have anything to do with whether the pickups are potted well enough or not.