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Hello all, this is my first time posting on this forum so here goes nothin:
I'm a full time NYC-based musician and I have been mainly playing a 2001 Gibson L4. I love the acoustic, organic, woody sound it can achieve. However I play many different genres and while this guitar is perfect for jazz, folk, samba, bossa, etc, I'm looking for a guitar that is a bit more versatile, and smaller/easier to travel with. I need something that can handle some loud distortion/overdrive, while keeping the integrity of the wooden sound of the guitar. I'm not one for crazy sustain and an "ampy" sound. I never like semi-hollows because they seem to lose this for me. So I've been thinking that a thinline, yet fully hollow body guitar might be the answer.
So far I've been researching Gibson ES 330's, Guild Starfire's, Epiphone Sorrento's and a few others and I'm wondering what you guys have to offer? The other thing is that my budget isn't too high at the moment. So I'm not really looking to go any higher then $1200-1500 if possible.
Thanks and I look forward to seeing what you all think!
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07-26-2019 03:02 PM
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I’ve been eye-balling the Stanford Thinline 30 (around $1000) :
And the Eastman T64 (without the Bigsby) but that is around $1500 or even more:
I find the Stanford really interesting because it stays very close to the ES-330 specs (mahogany neck, nitro finish) but for the neck joint that is at the 19th fret rather than the 16th fret (so it’s more an ES-330L).
I like hollow thinlines, they offer comfort and more feedback resistance while still having that hollowness (duh!). Especially with P90s.
My low budget thinline hollow solution was a vintage Framus Sorento (I paid $200) with a $40 mahogany neck off ebay:
I absolutely adore that Framus! (There are usually several for sale on ebay, like this one: Framus Caravelle 5/117 Bj. 1972 sunburst gebraucht | eBay)
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What about an Epiphone Casino? It is a great guitar and right up your budget if you go with an Elitist or much cheaper if you just get one of the recent productions.
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On behalf of the peanut gallery, welcome here!
Originally Posted by tonyd4545
Originally Posted by tonyd4545
There you go. GuitarCenter.com shows nine used Casinos (Casini?), all under $500. Originally Posted by ChrisK
This is the moment to defer perfection and indulge in experimentation! Find one you like enough, play it for a bit. At that point decide whether you want to invest in a pickup quest or upgrade altogether. (My two cents is that the standard metal-covered cheapo Epi P90 sounds perfectly fine, and rather nice for jazz. The difference in 'jangle' is well within the reach of amp-knobs and speaker selection.)
Since you're pointing in a more electric direction you might want to check out the Casino Coupe. It's full-hollow but smaller body size. GC is hanging three for $350 and less.
I had a reissue Sorrento for a bit. Not my taste, but it started me down several years of ES-225s.
Happy hunting and report back please!
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If you go the Guitar Center route you have a 45 day return policy (assuming the guitar is not "vintage"..per GC 25 yrs old = vintage). Lowers the risk factor some.
In the OP's price range I'd be surprised to find a Gibson 330. I'd try a Casino, maybe look for a MIK Peerless.
I have a ES 330 from around 2013. It is very light and has that hollow body vibe going for it.
Good luck
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I think you will be well pleased with a thinline hollowbody guitar. They really are nice jazz guitars.
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Last time I was at Rudy's guitar shop in SoHo they had a Guild Starfire III which I really loved.
You might want to see if you can drop by and check one out.
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When I was in high school jazz band, I played an old Guild Starfire III. I thought it was a terrific guitar. No matter what we played, it worked well. Amp (IIRC) was a small Ampeg Jet.
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Give any of the Seventy Seven Exrubato models a look. I have the spruce-topped Jazz variation. Extremely well made, great pickups, should be able to find used below $1500.
Last edited by wzpgsr; 07-27-2019 at 07:57 PM.
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Hi TonyD and welcome to very enlightened forum, seriously!
I play gigs around NYC too and I know very well what you are talking about. I also love the acoustic sound of a good jazz box, always have, and I've owned a few.
Currently my L5CES stays eat home. Valuable and too heavy to commute with. To substitute, I found a used Epi Casino '61 Reissue. They are the best: Gibson P90's, and American electronics, but that's not the magic! It's top is a thin laminated maple ply which is VERY alive due to its thinness. Trapese tailpiece helps it have a lighter tension, and the feel + response is just wonderful.
I love rehearsing on it acoustically at home, as much as my L5. Amplified, I never seem to find a bad tone with my Fender amps. It came with a soundpost inside so I never have problems with feedback, unless I'm not careful when using gain, or too much bass.
Next to this guitar, my other favorite after many years and many guitars, is a 1961 Starfire III. Again, a very thin top and single coil DeArmonds - this guitar crackles with tone, and it feels great. The neck is probably the best I've played.
So, I'd say you are on a very savory trail. The newer Guilds maybe - maybe not - compare to the older ones ?? I haven't played many since I got mine 18 years ago. But the Epiphone Casino '61 RI will only be found used now. I have seen them on Reverb and Ebay, in your price range.
Knowing all this, I am anxious to try out the Casino Coupe. I've heard good things.
Best of luck - let us know how the search unfolds while it is unfolding. We would like to hear about your experiences and what you find.
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I had a great deal of luck with an Ibanez AF75T. It came with a trem tailpiece, which I immediately replaced with a trapeze. I gigged with it extensively (paired with an early Peavey Classic 50) and found it more than equal to any gigging situation. Light, sturdy, tonally versatile, feedback resistant - what's not to like? My youngest Granddaughter (a gifted percussionist) fell in love with it so I gave it to her. It has a good home!
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I think you can’t go wrong with a Casino! I didn’t mention it because of the given budget of 1000-1500. I haven’t played the current production Chinese Casinos but I hear good things about them. There’s lots of budget left to throw in some nice Seymour Duncan Antiquities or Lollar underwound P90s..... (but only after trying out the stock pu’s of course, maybe those do the job just fine). Only thing I would definitely change is the white pickguard but am so unfortunate to care for looks..... Originally Posted by ChrisK
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Peerless has a few nice looking models: Renaissance (full hollow 335) Songbird (330, casino), sunset (350), Bird of Prey...
The Ibanez asr70 has been discontinued, but I've seen them for pretty cheap.
How about a Harmony Rocket?!
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I'd be looking for a Westerly RI made Guild Starfire II, much like as ES175 thinline. The quality vs price equation makes the older Guilds the best bargain on the market IMHO. Starfire III has the bigsby so it's heavier. Enjoy the hunt!
There are several available in your price range (no connection to any):
Guild Starfire II 1997 Blonde (Natural) | CB's Gear | Reverb
Guild Starfire II - Hollow Body - 1999- Natural | Reverb
This one is a rare finish, and lighter weight due to the Mahogany body. I love the color! If I could justify a 2nd Starfire I would have already grabbed this one.
Guild Starfire II 1974 | Music Go Round Roseville Minnesota | ReverbLast edited by AlohaJoe; 07-28-2019 at 03:53 PM.
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Here is an "out of the box" suggestion. Not a guitar usually thought of for jazz, but the Gibson ES120T is also a very light, fully hollow thinline with one single-coil pickup and is well within your budget. I had that same pup in a solid body and it sounded a lot like the P90 in my ES125... very versatile. Jazz is definitely within reach.
Vintage Gibson 1966 ES120T Hollow Body Electric Guitar Sunburst | Guitar Center
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FWIW, a 16" thin hollow is not really going to be much smaller/easier to travel with, as most cases will still be almost as big as what's used for your L4 or an ES175. Originally Posted by tonyd4545
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Here are some possibilities, with smaller bodies: Originally Posted by tonyd4545
Epiphone Johnny A (or Gibson, but the Gibson costs 5x or 6x what the Epiphone costs)
Ibanez GB10SE
Ibanez AG95
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True..... but a gigbag could be a good easier travelling option for a lower budget thinline (as long as you don’t need to fly with it or throw it in the band van with the PA-equipment on top....) Originally Posted by cosmic gumbo
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Go West, young man, and keep going because you will soon find yourself in the Far East. Archtop Tribute 102 Jr.
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Jabs, that’s an ordinairy full size archtop......?!?
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It is Les Paul size... Originally Posted by Little Jay
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Those Westerly RI made Guild Starfire II's look really nice and the prices I see make them apparently a lot of guitar for the money.
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Welcome! Good to have younger-generation pros on the Forum!
I've had a Yamaha SA 2200 and regret selling it. Used, one should fit your budget. On the other hand, my current main axe for testing TOOB cabs (BTW, some 15 already in use by NY pro jazz guitarists and bassists) is the EPI 339 Pro, which does the same tricks (i.e. has coil split). Well made, versatile, as well as smaller and lighter than many 335-size thinbodies. The quality and tonal gap between premium and budget guitars has narrowed from both sides, it seems.
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Westerly Guild II's are great guitars, one of the best sounding, and super versatile. I loved mine, I'd keep it for sure, but I can't bond with wide necks, and that was a problem. But if it's not an issue, I don't know any better in that price range.
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For even less weight, easier transportation and the hollow/P90 sound, the Casino Coupe seems an even better choice than the ES-339! Originally Posted by Gitterbug
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