plasticscouse
New member
Re: If you only had one semi-hollow
I only have one semi hollow, my Es 345. I'm very happy with it
I only have one semi hollow, my Es 345. I'm very happy with it
If you only had one semi-hollow
- Thread starter Jackylope
- Start date
Re: If you only had one semi-hollow
Electric guitar blues and rock and roll were basically created by some guys who play(ed) 335s, or slight variations on 335s. BB, Chuck, Freddie, Keef. I believe that you can play the blues on anything, but there is really only one best answer to your question as you posed it, and you now have it, from most, if not from all.
Electric guitar blues and rock and roll were basically created by some guys who play(ed) 335s, or slight variations on 335s. BB, Chuck, Freddie, Keef. I believe that you can play the blues on anything, but there is really only one best answer to your question as you posed it, and you now have it, from most, if not from all.
Boogie Bill
New member
Re: If you only had one semi-hollow
The 335 design is a monster. I have three figured-top Gibsons, an Ibanez Artstar AS-120TR and an old Hondo Revival copy (which is surprisingly good.)
I prefer the Artstar over the Artcore Series, and over imported Epi Dot, Sheraton, and Riviera. Vintage Epi Sheraton and Riviera models are awesome. Most of the Elite/Elitist Series are VERY good as well. The Hamer Echotone is good, but haven't tried one for a long time. Never bonded with the Hamer Newport.
I'm a big guy, so the full size body works better for me than the 339/359 Series. I have friends who have them and LOVE them.
Dusenbergs and D'Angelicos do nothing for me. I prefer my Gibsons over the Collings and PRS Hollowbody.
I do like the Yamaha SA 2000/2200. These and the Ibanez AS-200/Scofield would be my top choice, after a 335s.
A good 335 is really special...Just ask Larry Carlton.
Bill
The 335 design is a monster. I have three figured-top Gibsons, an Ibanez Artstar AS-120TR and an old Hondo Revival copy (which is surprisingly good.)
I prefer the Artstar over the Artcore Series, and over imported Epi Dot, Sheraton, and Riviera. Vintage Epi Sheraton and Riviera models are awesome. Most of the Elite/Elitist Series are VERY good as well. The Hamer Echotone is good, but haven't tried one for a long time. Never bonded with the Hamer Newport.
I'm a big guy, so the full size body works better for me than the 339/359 Series. I have friends who have them and LOVE them.
Dusenbergs and D'Angelicos do nothing for me. I prefer my Gibsons over the Collings and PRS Hollowbody.
I do like the Yamaha SA 2000/2200. These and the Ibanez AS-200/Scofield would be my top choice, after a 335s.
A good 335 is really special...Just ask Larry Carlton.
Bill
F
Funkfingers
Guest
Re: If you only had one semi-hollow
How hollow do you need to get?
http://www.prsguitars.com/p245semihollow/
http://www.prsguitars.com/hollowbody2/
How hollow do you need to get?
http://www.prsguitars.com/p245semihollow/
http://www.prsguitars.com/hollowbody2/
johnthomas
New member
Re: If you only had one semi-hollow
I think you should try a D'Angelico Ex-Dc. It is $1499 and I like it as well as the 1974 Es345 I once owned.
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I think you should try a D'Angelico Ex-Dc. It is $1499 and I like it as well as the 1974 Es345 I once owned.
Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk
Re: If you only had one semi-hollow
335!
Tele Thinlines, ES-LPs, and even 339s sound a lot more like a solidboady than a semi. You need a bigger body to get the semi tone. And you can get any sound with them. Really beautiful instruments, but might feed back with a ton of gain or higher output humbuckers.
335!
Tele Thinlines, ES-LPs, and even 339s sound a lot more like a solidboady than a semi. You need a bigger body to get the semi tone. And you can get any sound with them. Really beautiful instruments, but might feed back with a ton of gain or higher output humbuckers.
Rand-O-Monium
New member
Re: If you only had one semi-hollow
Teh D'Angelico looks pretty sweet!
Still,hate p/gs on "most" Archtops...
Speaking of hating p/gs,what about a Heritage?
Heard/read good things!
Teh D'Angelico looks pretty sweet!
Still,hate p/gs on "most" Archtops...
Speaking of hating p/gs,what about a Heritage?
Heard/read good things!
regan
New member
Re: If you only had one semi-hollow
I think it's because all the guitars you mention are actually routed from a solid body and in the LP & 339's case the tops are carved.
A 'real' 335's back sides & top are formed and shaped from a thin maple laminate the are essentially an acoustic with a solid centre block to reduce feedback and mount the hardware to.
I think it's because all the guitars you mention are actually routed from a solid body and in the LP & 339's case the tops are carved.
A 'real' 335's back sides & top are formed and shaped from a thin maple laminate the are essentially an acoustic with a solid centre block to reduce feedback and mount the hardware to.
stratguy23
New member
Re: If you only had one semi-hollow
Adding another vote for the 335. A good one just feels so good. 335 clones by other companies just don't feel the same. They often feel too "shiny" (poly finishes, etc.). I like the raw vibe that Gibsons often have. I also dig the Studio version of the 335, both the conventional 2 humbucker variant and the super-cool (to me) one humbucker variant that's fully enclosed a la Lucille.
That said, Ibanez makes extremely good semi hollowbodies for the money. The Artstar ones are technically better, but I dig how the Artcore ones often have rawer finishes (similar to Gibson).
Other high quality makes are Eastman, Godin, and D'Angelico. None I've played I've bonded with, though.
I love the vibration one feels from playing a good semi. You feel closer to the instrument.
Adding another vote for the 335. A good one just feels so good. 335 clones by other companies just don't feel the same. They often feel too "shiny" (poly finishes, etc.). I like the raw vibe that Gibsons often have. I also dig the Studio version of the 335, both the conventional 2 humbucker variant and the super-cool (to me) one humbucker variant that's fully enclosed a la Lucille.
That said, Ibanez makes extremely good semi hollowbodies for the money. The Artstar ones are technically better, but I dig how the Artcore ones often have rawer finishes (similar to Gibson).
Other high quality makes are Eastman, Godin, and D'Angelico. None I've played I've bonded with, though.
I love the vibration one feels from playing a good semi. You feel closer to the instrument.
YeRedHouseOverYonder
New member
Re: If you only had one semi-hollow
Late to the party, but my .02 cents agree that a 336/339 don't generally sound like 335s. They do their own thing. I have a new pickup/mag combo in the 336 which now makes it sound more like a LP with certain settings. It can still be dialed back to get some semi tones of a 335. I got my nephew a 335 for his first guitar. The first thing I noticed when compared it to my 336 was the difference in the low end and how open it was. My 336 can get some of the 335 flavor, but it's more focused. Nice guitars. Definitely my cup of tea.
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Late to the party, but my .02 cents agree that a 336/339 don't generally sound like 335s. They do their own thing. I have a new pickup/mag combo in the 336 which now makes it sound more like a LP with certain settings. It can still be dialed back to get some semi tones of a 335. I got my nephew a 335 for his first guitar. The first thing I noticed when compared it to my 336 was the difference in the low end and how open it was. My 336 can get some of the 335 flavor, but it's more focused. Nice guitars. Definitely my cup of tea.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
That90'sGuy
DyzaBoyzologist
Re: If you only had one semi-hollow
You can't really ever go wrong with a good ES-335. I had one that got compliments from every player that tried it (it was a regular model, not one of the pricey custom shop RIs). They're great guitars and the only reason I sold mine was that I got bit by the Gretsch bug and my replacement semi-hollowbody is a Tennessee Rose. I don't regret moving on one bit because I love my modded G6119, but I'd be lying if I said that the ES-335 I owned wasn't one of the best guitars I've gone through.
You can't really ever go wrong with a good ES-335. I had one that got compliments from every player that tried it (it was a regular model, not one of the pricey custom shop RIs). They're great guitars and the only reason I sold mine was that I got bit by the Gretsch bug and my replacement semi-hollowbody is a Tennessee Rose. I don't regret moving on one bit because I love my modded G6119, but I'd be lying if I said that the ES-335 I owned wasn't one of the best guitars I've gone through.
hydro
Prayin' to Cheeses
Re: If you only had one semi-hollow
+1. I almost bought a 339 but decided it was a tone I already had covered with other guitars; went 335 instead. That being said, the 339 was fantastic; it does play/sound/feel more akin to the solid body Gibsons to me. It does not give you the "honk" as much; instead it seemed to me to be kind of like a woolier Les Paul or SG.
+1. I almost bought a 339 but decided it was a tone I already had covered with other guitars; went 335 instead. That being said, the 339 was fantastic; it does play/sound/feel more akin to the solid body Gibsons to me. It does not give you the "honk" as much; instead it seemed to me to be kind of like a woolier Les Paul or SG.
YeRedHouseOverYonder
New member
If you only had one semi-hollow
^^ It ties into what Mincer said. In the end, the bigger bodies do fully provide that "classic" semi sound.
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^^ It ties into what Mincer said. In the end, the bigger bodies do fully provide that "classic" semi sound.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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LtKojak
New member
Re: If you only had one semi-hollow
http://sadowsky.com/sadowsky-instruments/archtops/semi-hollow/
That would be my #1 choice.
HTH,
http://sadowsky.com/sadowsky-instruments/archtops/semi-hollow/
That would be my #1 choice.
HTH,
chadd
New member
Re: If you only had one semi-hollow
Heritage makes fantastic guitars. At one point, they were even building for D'Angelico. I'm not sure if that's still the case.
As for the original post, I'd go with the 335 in a heartbeat. I had a 72 thinline reissue and as much as I loved the looks, it was just not a very good guitar. I do have a MIJ 69 style thinline that I love for thinner tones, but my 335 is much better, and more versatile, guitar.
Heritage makes fantastic guitars. At one point, they were even building for D'Angelico. I'm not sure if that's still the case.
As for the original post, I'd go with the 335 in a heartbeat. I had a 72 thinline reissue and as much as I loved the looks, it was just not a very good guitar. I do have a MIJ 69 style thinline that I love for thinner tones, but my 335 is much better, and more versatile, guitar.
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