Semi-hollow questions.

B

BennyD

New member
Hi guys,

I've been considering getting a semi-hollow for a while for blues and jazz stuff. Semi-hollow is obviously the best choice for me on this, but I'm a little stuck on brands. I'm hesitant to buy anything Gibson these days unless its a Historic model, but those are ridiculously expensive. I was looking at the Hamers but they seem to be hollow, not semi-hollow. Getting an older ES-335 would be AWESOME but I don't know what years are good. Any suggestions? I don't think I like Heritage either...
 
Re: Semi-hollow questions.

Washburn, the Washburn made Oscar Schmidt, Ibanez, and the Epiphone Dot are all great guitars for a cheap price. If you're anal about the name on the headstock, then you're SOL.
 
Re: Semi-hollow questions.

I love my Epi Sheraton. The price is good, but like any other import guitars, play a ton of them and buy the best one. The electronics and tuners have to go ASAP on the Epi's though. They're not as bad as some folks make them out to be, but they are pretty poopy.
 
Re: Semi-hollow questions.

beandip said:
Washburn, the Washburn made Oscar Schmidt, Ibanez, and the Epiphone Dot are all great guitars for a cheap price. If you're anal about the name on the headstock, then you're SOL.
Click to expand...

It's not the name on the headstock that I'm worried about. It's the construction of the guitar and how it sounds/plays obviously. I'm a Hamer guy myself so I am used to playing hand built guitars that have simply amazing tone. I'm not too turned on by the cookie cutter mass production models out of japan.

--edit--

I also take back what i said about heritage. I've been doing some reading and apparantly their quality is top notch...the price tags on those however is pretty steep. I think the most I'd pay is around 1800?
 
Re: Semi-hollow questions.

Curly said:
the Hamer Artist and Newports are worthy.
Click to expand...

pretty sure Newports are completely hollow...if they were semi-hollow I wouldn't hesitate to get a newport or a monaco.
 
Re: Semi-hollow questions.

what about a Tokai? Even the Korean models are fantastic build quality for not much money.

Slap in a set of Seths and you'll be in heaven :)
 
Re: Semi-hollow questions.

Having owned several of the brands mentioned above (including an ES-335) I would give the nod towards the Heritage. They are a great value in a production instrument and are a step above the import stuff. As with any guitar purchase be sure to try it out first.
thumbsup.gif
 
Re: Semi-hollow questions.

I think the Hamer Monaco and Artist models are semi-hollow if I'm not mistaken.

Ryan
 
Re: Semi-hollow questions.

I bought an ES135 about 2 years ago from Gibson. It needed new frets right away because I can't stand those small things, but for the most part, it's an excellent instrument.
 
Re: Semi-hollow questions.

I wouldnt be afraid of going gibson, just make sure you can inspect whatever you buy and make sure its all as good as it should be.

If you get a good one then it'll be awesome!
 
Re: Semi-hollow questions.

Personally, I'd look at Hamer Artists and Monoco Super Pros. US made. Just do a search on Ebay. Buy a used one. The Artist is "hollow" on the bass side (like an ES- 335) and solid on the treble side (like a Les Paul). Best of both worlds. The Artist and Monoco SP are made from a solid piece of mahogany that is hollowed out but left solid down the center for mounting the neck, pickups, bridge and tailpiece to and have a carved maple top attached over the mahogany one piece body...not a separate back, top and sides glued together around a solid center block like an ES -335. I've compared my Monoco SP to my buddy's old Gibson ES-355 and I've owned an original '58 and several early 60's ES-335, 345 and 355 guitars myself. The Monoco is a great, great guitar. I prefer them to the Heritage guitars. The Heritage guitars are not as gracefully designed and always seem a little stiff to me. Lew
 
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Re: Semi-hollow questions.

I cast votes for both Ibanez AND the Epiphones, very well built and sound quite nice (heck, I recorded all the guitar tracks on my last CD with an Ibanez ES-335 knockoff and man that thing sounded beautiful!) There's just nothing quite like the midrange "honk" you get from a hollow/semi-hollow axe.
 
Re: Semi-hollow questions.

God damn it Lew got in before me!!!:duh: :rolleyes:

I have a Hamer Artist Custom, Hamer Monaco SuperPro and also a '68 ES335 (check the link below for pics of my guitars). For best years it is usual for the mid 'to late '60s but you have to watch out for the condition.

They are all brilliant guitars and if I was to say which ones I would go for then it has to be the Hamers time and again. Whilst I got my 335 a couple of years ago and then had to pay for more work to bring it up to playing condition it does not compare to the Hamers in construction, quality and being able to just do it for me. But then you know about Hamer guitars already.

If I was you I would seriously check out and get an Artist guitar as I find that is one of the nicest guitars to play (nice and small bodied and light). Sweet_Lou and Curly have also got one (and possibly some others) and they will tell you how nice these guitars are.

If you are thinking about Heritage then their 535's are quite nice looking and reasonably priced.
 
Re: Semi-hollow questions.

Curly said:
the Hamer Artist and Newports are worthy.
Click to expand...


Curly's absolutely right! You should also check out a Heritage 535 as OneL said, they're excellent.

Jeff
 
Re: Semi-hollow questions.

Yeah. Not really looking for a Hamer. I already have a Monaco Elite, beautiful guitar, but it's so dang nice I'm afraid to play it. I need a guitar where if I ding it on accident, I'm not going to get suicidal over it.
 
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