semi-hollow recommendations with easy pup swaps.

M

moth_baller

New member
that great gretsch sound has me bent over a barrel!

Large part why I quit (10 years ago) was because I couldn't shred and play death metal/slayer type music which is my jam! Other part is my ex who couldn't stand me doing anything that wasn't centered around her.

My mom is getting a guitar and wants to learn some stuff. All my gear is broke and she's going to pay to fix it (amps etc not my current guitars look for a thread later) plus getting me a new axe for my birthday which is pretty incredible. She's pretty hell bent on me not putting my own money in which is cool but lame. So I'm obliging her.

Budget is $400 at the top end. Want to play blues, old country , rock a billy, mellow stuff. I never built a good foundation for myself music wise. I think that is why I never got very good.

Been digging on the gretsch because I've lusted for one for 15+ years. Prices suck obviuosly. The newer jet pro can be had for my price point. Looking for some other model by different brands that can accept the filter tron type pickups without having to route the body out. I have picked up a wildkat and epi 339, which I did like. But the kat doesn't use standard pup size. Adapters and stuff is alright but like I said, I don't want to have to route the body out.
 
Re: semi-hollow recommendations with easy pup swaps.

I have a Les Paul Florentine
Epiphone
With an access plate for the control cavity

But the Probucker pickups in the newer ones
Sound so good you may not want to swap em

Guitar Fetish has some semis in your price range
I played one of their LP semi hollow like mine
In a local store
It wasn't bad at $250 new
But it wasn't the same as the Epi
 
Re: semi-hollow recommendations with easy pup swaps.

I'll give a second vote for Ibanez Artcore series. I've been trying out a few different ones lately and considering buying one and changing the pups. Great quality and value for the price in my opinion.
 
Re: semi-hollow recommendations with easy pup swaps.

aautio said:
I'll give a second vote for Ibanez Artcore series. I've been trying out a few different ones lately and considering buying one and changing the pups. Great quality and value for the price in my opinion.
Click to expand...

I have also played a few of them and really liked the full hollowbody model. However, they are NOT very Gretschy. Most Gibsonish, I would say. If you really want the Gretsch sound and feel you may have to keep looking until you find one (OR convince your mom to go half/half on one with you? That way neither one of you is out a ton of dough).

But if you just want a hollow or semi-hollow guitar then the Ibanez artcores really can be sweet and the prices are low low low for the quality.
 
Re: semi-hollow recommendations with easy pup swaps.

The Epi Wildkat does actually use standard pickups. Almost every good pickup company does a good dog-ear p90.

Gretsches can be had all day long for your price.
 
Re: semi-hollow recommendations with easy pup swaps.

moth_baller said:
that great gretsch sound has me bent over a barrel!...........Prices suck obviuosly. The newer jet pro can be had for my price point. Looking for some other model by different brands that can accept the filter tron type pickups without having to route the body out. I have picked up a wildkat and epi 339, which I did like. But the kat doesn't use standard pup size. Adapters and stuff is alright but like I said, I don't want to have to route the body out.
Click to expand...

Johnny the Kid said:
The Epi Wildkat does actually use standard pickups. Almost every good pickup company does a good dog-ear p90.

Gretsches can be had all day long for your price.
Click to expand...
Look at the Gretsch Electromatic series. You may find a used one in your price range.
I have an Epi Wildkat that I put TV Jones pups in. They offer an adapter to fit them where P90's were. No routing necessary. Explained well on the TV Jones site.
If you are referring to the Epi Alleykat, it's neck pickup is mini-humbucker size.
 
Re: semi-hollow recommendations with easy pup swaps.

IM4Tone said:
Look at the Gretsch Electromatic series. You may find a used one in your price range.
I have an Epi Wildkat that I put TV Jones pups in. They offer an adapter to fit them where P90's were. No routing necessary. Explained well on the TV Jones site.
If you are referring to the Epi Alleykat, it's neck pickup is mini-humbucker size.
Click to expand...

The OP said that the Epi Wildkat uses non standard pups.
 
Re: semi-hollow recommendations with easy pup swaps.

Ok. I had looked and saw some threads that said the wildkat was tricky. Good to know it's not. I'll go look at the art core some more. I love ibanez bit the couple that appealed to me didn't feel right in my hands. I forget the model numbers. I'll have to go play some more. The music stores suck down here in mobile alabama. The pawn shops are even worse. Guitar center is the only place that even has a selection. Might take a cruise over to Biloxi and check out mississippi music.

I straight up can't find any used gretsch locally that aren't asking retail for them and dead firm on the price.
 
Re: semi-hollow recommendations with easy pup swaps.

shoot
swing over to Pensacola
thats where I get mine

Greg Tringas ordered my Florentine for me
its the size of a Wlidcat with regular humbuckers
 
Re: semi-hollow recommendations with easy pup swaps.

ehdwuld said:
shoot
swing over to Pensacola
thats where I get mine

Greg Tringas ordered my Florentine for me
its the size of a Wlidcat with regular humbuckers
Click to expand...

I haven't heard of Tringas before. Never occurred to me to look in Pensacola. Thanks.
 
Re: semi-hollow recommendations with easy pup swaps.

Tringas music and Leitz music
Are about a quarter mile apart on Creighton Rd
Then Blues Angels music out on Pace
 
Re: semi-hollow recommendations with easy pup swaps.

moth_baller said:
Ok. I had looked and saw some threads that said the wildkat was tricky.
Click to expand...

Changing pickups in a semi-hollow is tricky; not because the pickups don't fit, but because you have to work through either the f-hole or bridge pickup route. This post details an easier way to swap pickups in a semi, but overall it's a giant PITA.
 
Re: semi-hollow recommendations with easy pup swaps.

moth_baller said:
that great gretsch sound has me bent over a barrel!

Large part why I quit (10 years ago) was because I couldn't shred and play death metal/slayer type music which is my jam! Other part is my ex who couldn't stand me doing anything that wasn't centered around her.

My mom is getting a guitar and wants to learn some stuff. All my gear is broke and she's going to pay to fix it (amps etc not my current guitars look for a thread later) plus getting me a new axe for my birthday which is pretty incredible. She's pretty hell bent on me not putting my own money in which is cool but lame. So I'm obliging her.

Budget is $400 at the top end. Want to play blues, old country , rock a billy, mellow stuff. I never built a good foundation for myself music wise. I think that is why I never got very good.

Been digging on the gretsch because I've lusted for one for 15+ years. Prices suck obviuosly. The newer jet pro can be had for my price point. Looking for some other model by different brands that can accept the filter tron type pickups without having to route the body out. I have picked up a wildkat and epi 339, which I did like. But the kat doesn't use standard pup size. Adapters and stuff is alright but like I said, I don't want to have to route the body out.
Click to expand...

Check out old 70s-80s Japanese stuff.


Faaaaar higher level than anything new you'll ever see hanging within customer's reach in a guitar store these days.
 
Re: semi-hollow recommendations with easy pup swaps.

Adieu said:
Check out old 70s-80s Japanese stuff.


Faaaaar higher level than anything new you'll ever see hanging within customer's reach in a guitar store these days.
Click to expand...



I actually have been browsing that stuff. Haven't come across much in a semi hollow that is worth what they are asking. Moms is getting an aria probably later this week unless guy changes his mind about selling it. He has it in a shop getting some work done on it.
 
Re: semi-hollow recommendations with easy pup swaps.

moth_baller said:
I actually have been browsing that stuff. Haven't come across much in a semi hollow that is worth what they are asking. Moms is getting an aria probably later this week unless guy changes his mind about selling it. He has it in a shop getting some work done on it.
Click to expand...

Which one & how much?

Most of the Matsumoku stuff is rock-solid craftsmanship, but some models use low-end body wood, and the base models sometimes have crap hardware. Look for Gotoh Japan tuners, those generally mean it's a well-equipped model with most of the options.

If you see trapeze tuners, expect random non-instrument-grade plywood (yes i know PROPER semihollows often use laminated thin gazillion-ply materials, thats not what Im referring to here though)
 
Last edited:
Re: semi-hollow recommendations with easy pup swaps.

Adieu said:
Which one & how much?

Most of the Matsumoku stuff is rock-solid craftsmanship, but some models use low-end body wood, and the base models sometimes have crap hardware. Look for Gotoh Japan tuners, those generally mean it's a well-equipped model with most of the options.

If you see trapeze tuners, expect random non-instrument-grade plywood (yes i know PROPER semihollows often use laminated thin gazillion-ply materials, thats not what Im referring to here though)
Click to expand...

I Don't know off-hand the model. She paid 375 including shipping. From the pics, it's in nice shape cosmetic wise. Gold hardware. Tuners aren't original. Pretty sure it's had grover tuners put on it. She did talk to the Luthier working on it out in Cali. The pots were in sort of bad shape, so they've been changed, had a fret job, and a couple other things. I'll put a thread up on it. Supposed to be delivered Friday. We're all on the Gulf Coast so the storm moving through may delay it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top