semi-hollow body guitars

FuseG4

FuseG4

Our Neighbor Totoro
I was looking to experiment with semi-hollows, they seem like they have a much different range of sounds than what i work with now.
Im on a budget. I like the look is Gibson 355s and the like, but those are not cheap.
Any suggestions? I'd like to keep price down if possible
 
Re: semi-hollow body guitars

I've got-and love my Gibson Blueshawk. They just reissued them last year and they are still selling them new. It is not really a hollowbody, and not really a solid body. It's more akin to a thinline, in fact I was looking for a Tele Thinline and ended up buting this one. It blows away any of the MIM thinlines I've payed. They run about $799 from Musician's Friend. You can find out more than you ever wanted to know about them here. They are extremely under rated guitars.
 
Re: semi-hollow body guitars

The ES-135s and 333s are a lot cheap than the 335s, but they are still expensive, $1200 or so I think, cheaper used. Rickenbackers are about the same price range, but excellent guitars, IMO. Epiphones are a lot cheaper. I have an Epi Full-Hollow Body that is about 15 years old. It's a grear guitar, especially for what I paid. Of course there is always the Tele Thinlines. The RIs are very reasonable.

That's about all the Semi-Hollows I have any experience with.
 
Re: semi-hollow body guitars

if you can find a dearmond starfire on ebay it would be very good and cheap, about 400. i had one at one time and i sold it when i got my bluesbird. also i have heard good things about the artcores, but i don't know what they cost
 
Re: semi-hollow body guitars

artcores range from something like 3-450. The majority are right about 350-375. I have really liked each one i have played, and for that price you could easily get new electronics and tuners if you so desired, and still not come close to the price of a gibby, or ric. Im sure a few other forum bro's will vouch for them.
 
Re: semi-hollow body guitars

drew_half_empty said:
yeah but artcores are full hollow

check out samick royales

music123.com has them
Click to expand...
The Samick RL-3 (Royale) is a Fine instrument. I wouldn't waste my money
on there RL-1 or RL-2 tho. Sometimes a samick SAN-450 will popup on
ebay in $200 to $300 range. JUMP ON IT!! Stay away from the samick
LA-30 .That's total JUNK ! That's Samick in a nutshell... they make some
Turds,But they also have some Gems :D
 
Re: semi-hollow body guitars

Not all Artcores are full hollow. I have an AS73 that is like a 335. Picked up for 250. It is pretty nice. Put Seth in bridge and Antiquity in neck, it sings.
 
Re: semi-hollow body guitars

Aren't some of the Epiphones nice semi hollowbodies? I can't remember the models, but seems like the one based on the ES-335 is nice enough....especially if bought used. Would that be the Sheraton? I know some of the Epi's can be professional guitars if you put new pickups in them...cuz I've done that with several Epi Les Pauls now. The new Epi Les Paul Custom I worked on last year was a first rate Les Paul, IMO...but it needed new pickups and a minor fret level and polish first! What Epi semi hollowbody would be the equivalent quality wise of an Epi LP Custom?
 
Re: semi-hollow body guitars

big_black said:
Casino? I think the Sheraton is the full hollow body.
Click to expand...

I know vintage guitars and the original Epi Casino is a fully hollow 335 shaped guitar...John Lennon and George Harrison both had matching ones and John refinished his in natural. They feedback like crazy at rock n roll volumes. :smack: The Gibson ES-330 and Epiphone Casino were the same guitar when Gibson made them both in the original factory in Kalamazoo...tho the Epi version often had a narrower neck profile than the Gibson version - but not always.

The Sheraton, I believe, has a wood block running down the middle of the inside of the guitar like a 335. Don't they also make a BB King Lucille? That would probably be nice.

I've not tried any of these new Epis! I'm not recommending them based on experience.

I only have experience with the Epi Les Pauls.

Lew
 
Last edited:
Re: semi-hollow body guitars

IMHO the Heritage 535 blows away Gibson/Epiphone offerings in terms of quality/dollars. They're made by the older craftsmen who used to make Gibsons. I had major G.A.S. for a 335 until I toured the Gibson factory in Memphis - really unimpressed by the quality control approach and the workers attitude.

Jay Wolfe is a great source for buying them. My only suggestion would be to avoid the Schaller roller bridge unless you want a Bigsby bridge. If you do a search for threads with "Heritage" in the title, you'll find there are a lot of fans here. Scott F. convinced me to take a look, and I ended up with the guitar in my avatar. Still love it!

Chip
 
Re: semi-hollow body guitars

actually i played the rl-2 and loved it

the big difference is one's mahogany/nato and the other one's maple
 
Re: semi-hollow body guitars

I think you get what you pay for. If you want a decent semi hollow body instrument, it's going to cost a certain amount of money. I'll grant you that Gibsons are expensive, but there's got to be a reason for it. Having said that, Heritage makes some very nice 335 replicas. I've also played some really great sounding Jay Turser models. Something to consider.
 
Re: semi-hollow body guitars

Fresh_Start said:
IMHO the Heritage 535 blows away Gibson/Epiphone offerings in terms of quality/dollars. They're made by the older craftsmen who used to make Gibsons. I had major G.A.S. for a 335 until I toured the Gibson factory in Memphis - really unimpressed by the quality control approach and the workers attitude.

Jay Wolfe is a great source for buying them. My only suggestion would be to avoid the Schaller roller bridge unless you want a Bigsby bridge. If you do a search for threads with "Heritage" in the title, you'll find there are a lot of fans here. Scott F. convinced me to take a look, and I ended up with the guitar in my avatar. Still love it!

Chip
Click to expand...

+1... werd
 
Re: semi-hollow body guitars

Also, for the serious money saving, I played a BUNCH of Michael kelly imports at NAMM. Some were better than others, so if you buy (and you'll save a ton of money), make sure the sales guy picks you ought one that has good fret ends. have the sales guy run his fingers over it and if it's sharp, tell him to find you another. They were hit and miss, but the major differences in all of them was generally fretwork.

Same thing with the Godin LGsp90 I played at Namm, damn if the one they brought to NAMM had less than stellar fretwork. I was amazed. Generally NAMM guitars are the best they have to offer. They dealer that I'm buying my Godin from selected one for me that had outstanding fretwork. I made a point to ask him about it.

But, I was pretty impressed with 1/2 the Michael Kellys.
 
Re: semi-hollow body guitars

Epi Seraton II is a beautiful semi-hollow. Not bad out of the box, but eventually I changed all the electronics in the one I had (Gibson '57 Classics) & it went from jazz to country to rock with no problem.

I sold it when I wanted a nice acoustic (Guild D-55).....but it was a great guitar! Grab a good used one for $500.00 or under.....maybe already upgraded too. :13:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Artie
NGD: Ibby AK80 Hollow body.
2
Replies
27
Views
765
Securb
Securb
blakejcan
Pricing on Gibson husks
2
Replies
29
Views
880
Mincer
Mincer
C
Nut - the least friction
Replies
19
Views
220
Bill Dennis
B
80's_Metal
Need Help- recommend an acoustic guitar
2 3
Replies
46
Views
940
jeremy
jeremy
P
Does Seymour Duncan make something like the Monty Guitars Full Monty (GT500) pickups?
Replies
1
Views
222
freefrog
freefrog
Back
Top