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Just taking a general consensus, which semi-hollow guitar do you prefer and why?
I have my own ideas but want to hear if there are other considerations I may have missed along the way.
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12-11-2014 02:13 PM
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My Semi-Hollow needs are completely met by my Hofner Verythin. It's a wonderful guitar, light, great neck, the mini-humbuckers are capable of both snappy cleans and more traditional darker jazz tones, and it's long scale (25.5")
I really think the 25.5" scale semi-hollow needs to be explored more by makers...
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My Heritage Prospect has been my go to guitar for everything for the last 9 years. The combination of the smaller body, floating center block and electronics makes it work for everything I do.
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Like Jeff, I play the Hofner Verythin Classic and find it to be a comfortable, attractive, toneful, and versatile instrument.
Originally Posted by mr. beaumont
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It is not technically a semi hollow (close enough though) but I am very happy with my Soloway Gosling. I would also suggest looking into Carvins for optimized value and quality that can be had directly through the company ( I have a through neck T-style semihollow from them).
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If you've never had the joy of playing on if these, I feel sorry for you :-)
As my friend ses, it looks awful but is just superior to any Gibson 335, in playability and tone. Probably the best 335 type i've ever played by some way. Although I'm sure a Stowell Hofner would be an excellent choice too.
Luckily for me, I think it looks absolutely stunning.
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I play a Carvin HH2 semi hollow. It is a tiny headless guitar with one of the best necks I've ever played. When you play this guitar with a strap it becomes part of you because the balance is really good. The amplified tone of this guitar through either my Cube 60 or my recently acquired Carvin Vintage 16 is not your classic jazz tone, but it can get nice and dark. With the tube amp, I get more of a blues/rock tone, and that is an important voice when I go out to jam with friends that might not be as into jazz as I am. It is also my best travel guitar because its so small and the fact that it has a very quiet acoustic voice so I can play it in a hotel room. The HH2 is also my best couch potato guitar because of the way this guitar balances. Probably not for everybody, but man I really like this guitar as a companion to my more traditional choices for jazz.
Bill
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My Hofner John Stowell guitar is my fav semi, it's more flexible than most 335 semi types.
This is a good pic of a similar violin finish like mine, but in better condition, I changed the bridge on mine.
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Socalbill,
Nice as the Carvin may be it's just not to my taste. Perhaps down the road.
ArchtopHeaven,
I cannot make out the manuf. Which model is that and what makes it superior to a Gibson 335?Last edited by Al Br.; 12-11-2014 at 05:11 PM.
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I love my Eastman T386. Most semi hollow guitars are versatile but what I like about the T386 is that it seems to have a more lively, resonant body than some other laminate top semi hollow body guitars I've played. This liveliness contributes to a good jazz tone, much more so than I was able to achieve on an Ibanez AM93 I previously had (and was significantly less resonant). But it also can kick a$$ in rock, blues and funk situations. I'm able to use it in completely different situations, which for me is jazz, rock and some stuff that falls in between.
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I played a 335 style for a while but I just didn't find it sounded very hollow. It more or less was an uncomfortably large guitar that sounded like a solid body. To each their own I suppose.
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I mostly play a Carvin SH550, though I'm giving a lot more time to an Epi Dot with Lindy Fralin P-92s. I prefer everything about the Carvin except the pickups, which I am very happy with, but prefer the P-92s.
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It's an Epiphone Elitist Chet Atkins Country Gent made in Japan Terada (no longer made I believe). Originally Posted by Al Br.
Well I have to be careful because its all subjective but..
Its like driving a BMW or playing a PRS with a Gibson body (although with better fit and finish imo).
It has an amazing treble response. No matter how high up the neck you go on the high E, it never gets sharp or brittle. I can't describe the string tension and the way it responds but its so positive and firm, responsive and balanced and the sustain oh my.
Again its like driving a BMW I don't know what else to say. The tone is wonderful, the top is exceptionally thin with a nice mahogany block (I believe) that gives the strings a really nice drive and presence yet you get the open sound from the thin top.
One of if not my fav guitar of all time. Just stunning in every way.
The only example I could gibe is in the is picture of the end of the fretboard. Now tell me looking at that, it doesn't make you want to play it and yes it sounds and plays even better than it looks (imo).
Anyway in regards to the 335 comment, those were my friends words but I do second his appraisal.
I will do a sound clip and put my money where my mouth is.
Last edited by Archie; 12-11-2014 at 07:03 PM.
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1973 Guild Starfire IV, 2009 ES-345 and the real sleeper here is my 2013 Guild Starfire VI, 13 of 18 built. I am not sure which one I would grab if there was a fire but I think I could carry all 3. But then there is my two L-4's I guess I would bust out then window and try to push all 12 outside.
Thanks john
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I had a reissue ES-345 for about 6 years - it was great for Classic Rock and Blues, okay for jazz. After buying a used Collings I-35 Deluxe I've been happy ever since as I can cover all electric styles I play. I also have a '59 reissue ES-330L that's very nice.
The Eastmans seem to be great deals for the $.
b_goat
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Another eastman t386 player here, changed out pups with dimarzio 36th anniversary. Really amazing guitar that can stand up to any of the big names.
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CP Thornton Professional
- mahogany/maple body
- mahogany neck
- Macassar ebony fingerboard
- 25" scale, 1-3/4" nut
- Lollar Imperial Low Wind PUs
- 5-Position Switch (Position 2 = Neck Split coil, Position 4 = Neck + Bridge Split coil)
incredibly versatile guitar...
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My favorite semi-hollow: Gibson 335 (1964) next to my second favorite, Seventy Seven Albatross Jazz. (Just ignore the two guitars on either side.)
Both guitars are versatile and could do any kind of gig. But I like the 335 for the loud stuff because it interacts really well with the amp at a certain volume. I play the Seventy Seven more at home because it's so small and convenient and has a great tone. I've been recording with it a lot.Last edited by Gilpy; 12-11-2014 at 08:40 PM.
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Danny W.
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I've always had a Gibson 335 around. Sometimes I can't put one down for weeks on end because I feel so at home with a 335 in hand. Originally Posted by Al Br.
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I've owned two Godin Montreal Premier's that I really like.
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That's got to be one of the nicest semi hollows I've seen. I think it's beautiful. Originally Posted by ArchtopHeaven
If you've never had the joy of playing on if these, I feel sorry for you :-)
As my friend ses, it looks awful but is just superior to any Gibson 335, in playability and tone. Probably the best 335 type i've ever played by some way. Although I'm sure a Stowell Hofner would be an excellent choice too.
Luckily for me, I think it looks absolutely stunning.
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I use an Epi Dot for studio and funk gigs =)
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Although I'm gassing for a full body archtop I found that my 335 style guitars make for a fine jazz guitar.
I have four of them and I'm still in the process of finding the perfect set of strings for jazz.
Yesterday I restrung my Epiphone Riviera (MIK) with a set of Pyramid .011 - .050 round wound pure nickels with a wound G and so far I really like 'em.
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Does anyone have any recommendations for semi-hollows? I like my Epi Dot, but the comments from other musicians get tiring... No use in having a 'cheaper' guitar in the oil capital of the 2nd richest country in the world.
edit: Not for Jazz.
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