Tell me about Hollowbody Guitars.

penguinmessiah

penguinmessiah

New member
I went to Guitar Centre today, just looking around, you know. Played on an SG and a strat. Decided to try a hollowbody Ibanez out just for kicks and man that thing was nice. Now I've never played on a hollowbody before, and I was just playing it acoustically but that thing sounded so sweet that it's got me thinking that one of those might be my next guitar purchase.

The one I think I played was this one or something very similar :

http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Ibanez-Artcore-AG75-Electric-Guitar?sku=519451

I currently own a les paul and I'm more into that thick humbucker-y kind of sound so I'm probably looking for one with buckers in it, somewhere in or near that $500 range to get me started. So any suggestions about what to get? Anything to look out for when buying one?

Thanks in advance.
 
Re: Tell me about Hollowbody Guitars.

They Rock:

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chuckberry.jpg
 
Re: Tell me about Hollowbody Guitars.

penguinmessiah said:
I went to Guitar Centre today, just looking around, you know. Played on an SG and a strat. Decided to try a hollowbody Ibanez out just for kicks and man that thing was nice. Now I've never played on a hollowbody before, and I was just playing it acoustically but that thing sounded so sweet that it's got me thinking that one of those might be my next guitar purchase.

The one I think I played was this one or something very similar :

http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Ibanez-Artcore-AG75-Electric-Guitar?sku=519451

I currently own a les paul and I'm more into that thick humbucker-y kind of sound so I'm probably looking for one with buckers in it, somewhere in or near that $500 range to get me started. So any suggestions about what to get? Anything to look out for when buying one?

Thanks in advance.
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Well, do you like playing something with a thicker body like an ES-175, or something closer to a LP like an ES-335? Try out each of those acoustically just for feel, then go from there. I suspect you'll lean more towards the latter, especially if you want to use it for rock rather than jazz, but music has no rules.

- Keith
 
Re: Tell me about Hollowbody Guitars.

Yeah, I guess I'll have to go back and try a few more out.

I'm really not 100% sure what I'm looking for. I don't think I'm going for rock but not jazz either, haha. I didn't really think about what I needed it for other than 'My God I want this thing.'
 
Re: Tell me about Hollowbody Guitars.

I have an Ibanez 335 semi hollow copy, it can hang fairly well in both the Jazz, and Rock camps actually.
I wouldn't bring it out for hard rock or metal gigs, but I can certainly get fairly nasty with it.
I mean Ted was able to rock hard with his...
 
Re: Tell me about Hollowbody Guitars.

The next thing to deal with is Feedback!

Plug it in, see how it responds at volume. Does it feedback, and at what gain levels/distortion values?

I don't know your music types, but I play all sorts, and something hollow is most definatley on MY list.

Happy hunting!
 
Re: Tell me about Hollowbody Guitars.

i've got a dot, and it sounds wonderful for hard rock/metal type tones, it adds a certain organic warmth to my distortion unlike most metal tones. i just make sure i keep the holes taped up and don't face my amp when the gain is turned up:laughing:
 
Re: Tell me about Hollowbody Guitars.

A 335 is pretty good for a lot of things; I wouldn't say metal or straight bop, but it will cover most stuff in between pretty well. Full hollowbodies require a little more care and discretion in their application...not great at high volumes, not good with high gain.
 
Re: Tell me about Hollowbody Guitars.

I own a full hollow that only about 2.75" in thickness and it's an awesome axe. LP style shape, 24.75" scale, GFS Dream 90 bridge and a humbucker in the neck. I love taking it to open mics and it's been put on a lot of recordings I've made and sounds great clean or dirty.

I've played a few different Ibanez Artcore guitars, and they all sounded good unplugged and plugged in. Some had more desirable necks than others in terms of shape, but that's totally subjective.
 
Re: Tell me about Hollowbody Guitars.

I own a Framus "Solid Body" vintage guitar, that is infact Hollow!
... All Hollywood ones are, I think.
Yet they call my guitar a "Solid Body" guitar.

I love my guitar though.
 
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Re: Tell me about Hollowbody Guitars.

penguinmessiah said:
Yeah, I guess I'll have to go back and try a few more out.

I'm really not 100% sure what I'm looking for. I don't think I'm going for rock but not jazz either, haha. I didn't really think about what I needed it for other than 'My God I want this thing.'
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That's the best possible scenario!

I also applaud you on not misusing the word hollowbody. So many folks use semi-hollowbody and hollowbody interchangeably, and they are totally different.

Get it!
 
Re: Tell me about Hollowbody Guitars.

^^ Good point, Hunter.

I personally have no use for a full hollowbody at this time, but I rock the living hell out my semi-hollowbody at all volumes and gain levels!

The physical interaction that exists with a hollow or semi-hollow guitar plugged into a cranked-up tube amp is unlike anything else. It cannot be approached by a solidbody instrument.

The way your every movement and touch makes something happen; the way the air pressure breathes in and out of the f-holes against your arm; it's like you're interacting with a living thing. It hearkens back that first time you introduced yourself to guitar + amplifier into one of those "ye gods, what strange sorcery is this?!" moments.
 
Re: Tell me about Hollowbody Guitars.

i own both a full hollowbody and a semi-hollow guitar. the full hollowbody has really nice, warm, fat, full vintage cleans. add a bit of distortion and it can feedback when not playing, you can use that to your advantage and have like an "e-bow" effect. not so good playing a song with a lot of stops and starts. you'll probably want to get a gate or volume pedal

the semi-hollow is way more versitile, cleans aren't quite as fat and warm, but still nice and full, it can handle distortion a lot better then the full hollowbody. the natural tone is kinda between a hollowbody and a solid body and you get best of both worlds IMO
 
Re: Tell me about Hollowbody Guitars.

Wow.

This is an old thread.

Well, to wrap up the story, I ended up with a semi-hollow Ibanez AS73. It's freaking awesome. It retails for $399, I had me a coupon and a couple of old pedals for trade in and I walked away from guitar center having paid about $350, tax included, for the guitar, stand, strings and a few other bits and pieces. That was a couple of months ago and I'm STILL in love.

She's beautiful :

gtr.jpg


Doesn't sound half bad either.
 
Re: Tell me about Hollowbody Guitars.

jake_xms3_punk said:
i own both a full hollowbody and a semi-hollow guitar. the full hollowbody has really nice, warm, fat, full vintage cleans. add a bit of distortion and it can feedback when not playing, you can use that to your advantage and have like an "e-bow" effect. not so good playing a song with a lot of stops and starts. you'll probably want to get a gate or volume pedal

the semi-hollow is way more versitile, cleans aren't quite as fat and warm, but still nice and full, it can handle distortion a lot better then the full hollowbody. the natural tone is kinda between a hollowbody and a solid body and you get best of both worlds IMO
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+1. Solids & semi's can be used anywhere for anything, but hollows aren't as adaptable. However, for lower volume situations and gigs, hollowbodies give you complex overtones you can't get from any other electric. Great sound, feel, and vibe. Lots to chose from as far as body thickness, cutaways, and PU's.

Just like many of us have an acoustic guitar, I recommend adding a hollow body electric to your arsenal. Nice to play at home unplugged, and for a few softer songs at a gig. Variety baby.
 
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Re: Tell me about Hollowbody Guitars.

blueman335 said:
+1. Solids & semi's can be used anywhee for anything, but hollows aren't as adaptable. However, for lower volume situations and gigs, hollowbodies give you complex overtones you can't get from any other electric. Great sound, feel, and vibe. Lots to chose from as far as body thickness, cutaways, and PU's.
Ohhhhhh how true! My hollowbody...and I'm pretty sure my epi Casino is a true hollowbody...gives warm fat tone, super, stunning sounding and surprisingly controllable feedback, even with my non master fifty watt Marshall. Well, as far as the feedback, that's since I replaced the JB with a Brobucker. However, the JB sounded sweet in that guitar as well and I sure didn't think it would back in 92 when the guitar tech suggested it.
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Re: Tell me about Hollowbody Guitars.

75lespaul said:
Ohhhhhh how true! My hollowbody...and I'm pretty sure my epi Casino is a true hollowbody...gives warm fat tone, super, stunning sounding and surprisingly controllable feedback, even with my non master fifty watt Marshall. Well, as far as the feedback, that's since I replaced the JB with a Brobucker.
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I have a Casino too, upgraded the PU's to Duncan P-90's, sounds great. Many hollowbodies these days have wood posts under the bridge, to reduce top movement & the resultant feedback. Ibanez's don't; they have a strong bracing system underneath the top. Two easy habits help to reduce most feedback: be aware of where you're standing relative to your amp, and cover your strings or turn down the volume when you're not playing. If Ted Nugent could play Byrdlands at concert volume, the rest of us can manage a hollowbody at a local bar.

There's a surprising number of mid-priced full hollowbody models available from Epiphone, Ibanez, Hamer, Washburn, Samick, Gretsch, Dean, Jay Turser, etc. Something for everybody.
 
Re: Tell me about Hollowbody Guitars.

My Revolution Casino is wonderful but if you play it overdriven you'll get feedback. But the semi-hollow body like a 335, 345 or Dot is a good alternative for aggressive blues.
 
Re: Tell me about Hollowbody Guitars.

sosomething said:
The way your every movement and touch makes something happen; the way the air pressure breathes in and out of the f-holes against your arm; it's like you're interacting with a living thing. It hearkens back that first time you introduced yourself to guitar + amplifier into one of those "ye gods, what strange sorcery is this?!" moments.
Click to expand...

Man, I have never been there. I hope that I get that feeling one day.

I just realized that for a Strat / Tele guy, I ballpark'd my recording session and gig guitar usage over the last 24 months, and I used my Epiphone 335 for just about every gig, and I used my PRS SE Soapbar (Singlecut) for just about every recording.

I have used my 335 live at approx 50 gigs, and never felt the feeling you described. Hm.
 
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