Semi / hollow body guitars

[littlebobby]

I’ve got about £450 stashed away to splurge on a semi hollow. Been a very long time since I bought an electric guitar. I’ll be buying used. Looking for recommendations- the folk on here are discerning so I thought I’d ask. Not after a jazz box - something with a bit more grunt, mainly for me to sing over unaccompanied/ no band. Might be able to stretch to a bit more cash if I wait a little while. Had my eye on a peavey which seems to have been made in the same factory as the Korean Gretsch but it sold and the neck seemed very narrow.
Thoughts or experience would be appreciated.

[mrstrellisofnwales]

For me it would defo be a 335 style. I’ve had 3 over the years, 2 epiphones and a Tokai. The Tokai was the best. The guy I sold that to upgraded the humbuckers and it made it as good as a Gibson. 
Mrs T

[littlebobby]

Dec 30, 2023 20:53:28 GMT mrstrellisofnwales said:

For me it would defo be a 335 style. I’ve had 3 over the years, 2 epiphones and a Tokai. The Tokai was the best. The guy I sold that to upgraded the humbuckers and it made it as good as a Gibson. 
Mrs T

I had a Japanese tokai tele from the late 70’s when I was a kid but I didn’t appreciate it at the time. Great guitar.
I’m not so keen on the double cutaway on a 335 but those epiphone inspired by Gibson models seem as good as their acoustics.

[mitchfit]

littlebobby,

maybe you were trying to keep from removing too many options beforehand, but description is vague.

if it is amplified very much mrstrellisofnwales' 335 clone is a good choice for unwanted feedback elimination due to semi-hollow solid center.

you also say "Not after a jazz box". this would also bar an Epiphone Casino [hollow body] 335 variant.

please define "Not after a jazz box" in more detail for better option submissions.

mitchfit

[littlebobby]

Jan 2, 2024 1:27:00 GMT mitchfit said:

littlebobby,

maybe you were trying to keep from removing too many options beforehand, but description is vague.

if it is amplified very much mrstrellisofnwales' 335 clone is a good choice for unwanted feedback elimination due to semi-hollow solid center.

you also say "Not after a jazz box". this would also bar an Epiphone Casino [hollow body] 335 variant.

please define "Not after a jazz box" in more detail for better option submissions.

mitchfit

Good point. I’m after something that has more flexibility than a jazz oriented guitar, so something with feistier pick ups rather than just warm tones. I’m kind of set on a single cutaway but I might be tempted to try a 335 clone.

[mitchfit]

YMMV-

the acoustic "wings" above and below a 335 slab insides are only slightly different sounding than a solid body when the sound reaches the speaker(s). just my opinion.

a full hollow body DOES make a distinct sonic difference, but can scream like a banshee. [uncontrollably] even that can sound good with very little pause between notes. could even say they sound Thorogood. a Gibson ES-125 is in the collector zone today, and i'd bet that George went wore out many, many volume pots for live use.



in the realm of us mere mortals buying an affordable full hollow guit:

Ibanez artcore AG 75--sold as a "jazz box" but mild PUPs are a blessing with enough/too much amp. are also easy to swap-out should you desire, have a couple of "Hi-A" (pre-Bartolini brand PUPs) for it but every time i get inspired to do so i play it and change my mind. is one of the circa 2002 first run models manufactured with non-earth friendly woods. the current variations have hotter PUPS, stock. love mine.

reverb.com/marketplace?query=ibanez%20AG75%20artcore%20

Epiphone Hollowbody 5102T series was only made in the early 1970s. despite humbucker appearance those are actually hot single coil PUPs. gotta stand to the side of speakers to keep it from squealing. like the sound of these better than the AG75 personally, YMMV. have disabled the wannabe Bigsby on mine as it it for slide only, but hard tails were made also:

reverb.com/marketplace?query=1970%20Epiphone%20Hollowbody%205102T%20

but if you can find one i really like my PRS "soap bar" (one). a pre Gibson lawsuit guit. in the begining they were Korean made bargain basement offerings from PRS. mine is loud enough with a new set of D'addario EXL 110w electric strings and a heavy brass slide for my wife to hear well even across the living room, unplugged. is also controllable with 50 watt tube amps due to solid body construction. same color as mine:

www.vintageandrare.com/product/Paul-Reed-Smith-PRS-SE-Soapbar-Winered-41283

so many decisions and so little time.

hope this helps some,
mitchfit

[littlebobby]

Jan 3, 2024 1:52:50 GMT mitchfit said:

YMMV-

the acoustic "wings" above and below a 335 slab insides are only slightly different sounding than a solid body when the sound reaches the speaker(s). just my opinion.

a full hollow body DOES make a distinct sonic difference, but can scream like a banshee. [uncontrollably] even that can sound good with very little pause between notes. could even say they sound Thorogood. a Gibson ES-125 is in the collector zone today, and i'd bet that George went wore out many, many volume pots for live use.



in the realm of us mere mortals buying an affordable full hollow guit:

Ibanez artcore AG 75--sold as a "jazz box" but mild PUPs are a blessing with enough/too much amp. are also easy to swap-out should you desire, have a couple of "Hi-A" (pre-Bartolini brand PUPs) for it but every time i get inspired to do so i play it and change my mind. is one of the circa 2002 first run models manufactured with non-earth friendly woods. the current variations have hotter PUPS, stock. love mine.

reverb.com/marketplace?query=ibanez%20AG75%20artcore%20

Epiphone Hollowbody 5102T series was only made in the early 1970s. despite humbucker appearance those are actually hot single coil PUPs. gotta stand to the side of speakers to keep it from squealing. like the sound of these better than the AG75 personally, YMMV. have disabled the wannabe Bigsby on mine as it it for slide only, but hard tails were made also:

reverb.com/marketplace?query=1970%20Epiphone%20Hollowbody%205102T%20

but if you can find one i really like my PRS "soap bar" (one). a pre Gibson lawsuit guit. in the begining they were Korean made bargain basement offerings from PRS. mine is loud enough with a new set of D'addario EXL 110w electric strings and a heavy brass slide for my wife to hear well even across the living room, unplugged. is also controllable with 50 watt tube amps due to solid body construction. same color as mine:

www.vintageandrare.com/product/Paul-Reed-Smith-PRS-SE-Soapbar-Winered-41283

so many decisions and so little time.

hope this helps some,
mitchfit

That helps a lot. Thank you. I have my eye on an Ibanez AF 55 and an AG85 at the minute. The latter is brand new clearance at a shop nearby so I can put my hands on it and try it out 😎

[twang1]

I love hollow body guitars!
I haven't been playing a solid body guitar for many, many years. Instead with a group (even a loud group) I use a full hollow guitar with 2 P90 and a single volume and tone (and a Bigsby). I used to play a strat, and then a sort of 335, but to me there is nothing like a full hollow guitar. At low volume I still have a full sound and I can go very high with the volume without feedback. Actually, I like a bit of feedback at the end of a full note. But I keep the volume high on the amp and low on the guitar, and changing the volume accordingly.
I also never got along with 2 volumes/2 tones guitars: too much stuff to navigate for me and I let my right hand to take care of the EQ.
I'm sure you'll find something suitable for you. Decent guitars don't cost much these days if you don't look at the brand.
Frank

[littlebobby]

So while I’m not the biggest fan of buying guitars online without laying hands on them I found a Gretsch at Peach music with £200 and a bit off the usual price. So £330 down from around £550. Due to arrive tomorrow. No bigsby but got my eye on one on eBay due to close this afternoon.
Mustn’t grumble.

[mitchfit]

tenor.com/view/scott-pilgrim-scot-pilgrim-vs-the-world-beat-em-up-sprite-animation-bass-player-gif-16665931

mitchfit

[littlebobby]

Jan 9, 2024 1:34:10 GMT mitchfit said:

tenor.com/view/scott-pilgrim-scot-pilgrim-vs-the-world-beat-em-up-sprite-animation-bass-player-gif-16665931

mitchfit

I bought the first prints of all of those books in black and white before they were reprinted in colour. Gave them to my daughter. Probably could have bought two if these with the proceeds if I kept them. Don’t get me started on spider man 300 and the three fantastic 4 I sold to pay for my ADHD assessment. I could buy a 1930’s National for what they are worth now.