Re: Smaller hollowbody or semihollow?
But what is really the tonal differance between a full hollow and a semi hollow anyway?
Semi's are more like a solid body with the low end & depth, plus a little bit of acoustic harmonics. They tend to be warm-sounding, even when made out of maple. I'd call the tone "like a solid body, but more complex." Feedback isn't an issue because of the center block. So many rock & blues players have used them.
Full hollowbodies are very different with many more acoustic overtones. They need tailpieces as metal strings can't be anchored into the top. The sound is more mellow, with not as much bite. The trade-off in the richer tones is that both the vibrating top & tailpiece reduce sustain a little. You have to watch where you stand in relation to your amp, and keep your hand over the strings when you're not playing, as they'll feedback easily at moderate volumes, especially with overdrive. They're fine in small bar gigs.
I was a solid body-only player all my life. Out of curiosity, 5 years ago I got a 335 (Sheraton) and fell in love. It quickly became my favorite & I've gotten a few other 335's since then. At first I thought the 16" lower bout was too large (I was used to LP's and SG's), but within a few months I decided that I wouldn't want it any smaller. Why cut out an inch or two? Surprisingly comfortable; they just feel good standing or sitting (no sharp edges). You can do hard rock, Chicago blues, and jazz with the same guitar. Excluding metal, 335's are just about the perfect guitar.
I like them loaded with a pair of '59's, a C5/JazzN, a pair of Carvin Classics, or a '59B/Phat CatN. I put in push-pulls for coil cuts, even the Jimmy Page system.
For a semi, my recommendations would be a black Sheraton or a red flame maple Dot Deluxe. Also: they're out of production now, but Hamer made an amber flame maple Echotone about 10 years ago (they show up on eBay once in a while). Three of the best-looking guitars you'll ever see.
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