Thinline hollowbodies - What is out there?

[ItsaBass]

Hi,

I am thinking about picking up a decent thinline fully-hollow guitar to back up my 330. But I don't want a complete clone; I also want something that is a bit different than the 330. Nothing high end – preferably $800 or less. Single coils and a Bigsby would be preferable, but not a requirement. Something like an ES-125 Florentine or a Guild Starfire II or III would be killer.

There are lots of semi-hollows out there, but what is out there that's good, and a good value, in the world of fully-hollow, thinline, mid-level guitars? The Ibanez AG75 (not a thinline) and AGR70 catch my eye, but I am sure there are some other similar options out there too that I have not seen yet.

Thanks.

ES-125TDC ("Florentine"):

 

[saladin]

Re: Thinline hollowbodies - What is out there?

 

[ratherdashing]

Re: Thinline hollowbodies - What is out there?

http://www.gretschguitars.com/en-CA/products/index.php?series=Electromatic+Collection&section=all

 

[Chris of Arabia]

Re: Thinline hollowbodies - What is out there?

View attachment 35529

That was my first thought too...

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: Thinline hollowbodies - What is out there?

225....shhh....:cool2:

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: Thinline hollowbodies - What is out there?

Thanks.

330's and Casinos are exactly what I already have; I'd like something more like the pix I posted.

A 225, 125, or similar old Gibsons would be grand, but out of my price range. But that is the general style of guitar I'm after.

Have Epi done a copy of the 125 or 225 in recent years?

How are the DeArmond Starfire III's? I've never come across one locally. I absolutely love the Guilds, though.

The 5420 Gretsch is pretty cool. Aspen Green is a neat color.

 

[Bludave]

Re: Thinline hollowbodies - What is out there?

Gibson 135..... I prefer Semi hollows. The 135 is a lower "budget"model compared to a 335. Really nice guitars.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Thinline hollowbodies - What is out there?

I also want something that is a bit different than the 330. Nothing high end – preferably $800 or less. Single coils and a Bigsby would be preferable, but not a requirement. Something like an ES-125 Florentine or a Guild Starfire II or III would be killer.

There are lots of semi-hollows out there, but what is out there that's good, and a good value, in the world of fully-hollow, thinline, mid-level guitars? The Ibanez AG75 (not a thinline) and AGR70 catch my eye, but I am sure there are some other similar options out there too that I have not seen yet.

At various times I've had each of these:

Epi Sorrento - thinline hollow with a florentine and P-90's. Out of production, used ones still out there, but also may be reintroduced. Comes in various colors.

Ibanez AF75 - thinline hollow with a venetion and HB's, some have Bigsbys. Comes in various colors.

Washburn J9 - ebony thinline hollow with a venetion and HB's.

Dot-On-Shaft 'Dark Vowel' - ebony thinline hollow with a florentine and HB's.

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: Thinline hollowbodies - What is out there?

At various times I've had each of these:

Epi Sorrento - thinline hollow with a florentine and P-90's. Out of production, used ones still out there, but also may be reintroduced. Comes in various colors.

Ibanez AF75 - thinline hollow with a venetion and HB's, some have Bigsbys. Comes in various colors.

Washburn J9 - ebony thinline hollow with a venetion and HB's.

Dot-On-Shaft 'Dark Vowel' - ebony thinline hollow with a florentine and HB's.

I'm very interested in the new Sorrentos. Same deal as the Anniversary Casino: comes with a hard case and Gibson U.S.A. electronics. Probably $700 to $800 once they arrive, by my best guess.



Re: the Ibanez, I have been offered one of those AF75's by my ex in exchange for some repairs. But it's in kind of ragged shape, and it's a bit too thick for what I'm looking for. I was gonna just clean it up and sell it to raise funds for this guitar I'm talking about.

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: Thinline hollowbodies - What is out there?

epiphone wildkat. bigsby. small block inside. p90s. cool axes.

 

[idsnowdog]

Re: Thinline hollowbodies - What is out there?

View attachment 35553

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: Thinline hollowbodies - What is out there?

Those Wildkats are pretty cool. I used to have one of the very first ones ever made. Hard case and all. I was dumb for selling it.

Not really what I want at the moment, though. Even though they look like a hollow body, they pretty much feel and sound like a solid body.

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: Thinline hollowbodies - What is out there?

I came thiiiis close to buying a '61 Guild T50 today. They (Sam Ash) offered me a decent deal. But in the end I passed because I really want a cutaway and a bridge pickup, and the Guild had a few finish issues. Really nice guitar, though. The neck was straight as an arrow at age 51, even with most of the finish gone from the back side. Not bad. IME, old Guilds were easily equal to Gibsons, Martins, Gretches, etc., but they get very little cred.

 

[BiGHoRN]

Re: Thinline hollowbodies - What is out there?

I've got an American Thinline Telecaster.. apart from the body, just an American Series Tele, but, what a stunning guitar it is!!!

 

[Liam1963]

Re: Thinline hollowbodies - What is out there?

+1 on the Thinline Tele, got one in Sea Foam Green, great sounding guitar!

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: Thinline hollowbodies - What is out there?

This thread has absolutely no reference to Thinline Telecasters. Those are hollowed-out solid bodies made into semihollows, and Thinline is the actual model name. I am talking about fully hollow, thin-bodied archtops, for which "thinline" is simply a descriptive term, not a specific model name.

 

[jeremy]

Re: Thinline hollowbodies - What is out there?

find a guild ce100. there is a two pickup '59 in good shape (binding could use some love) for $1000 at the albany gc right now. great guitars for not a lot of coin.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Thinline hollowbodies - What is out there?

We are talking fully hollow. Nothing more solid than a soundpost between the top and back of the instrument.

A friend of mine has a vintage ES-125TD. The neck position P90 sound is as good as I have ever heard. OTOH, this is not the same sound, dynamic or playing experience as a 330.

 

[tonello]

Re: Thinline hollowbodies - What is out there?

Thinline Tele Deluxe.

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: Thinline hollowbodies - What is out there?

Oh, come on with the Tele stuff! Read the flippin' thread...

Trying to talk an out of state GC out of their somewhat trashed Guild T100D. I doubt they'll come down on price, though. They're asking $900 for it. Finish is trashed, frets are low, pickguard is missing, pots are scratchy, case is gone, and A string tuner is not original. Meh. I'd rock it with pride, but not for that price.