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Hello Everybody !
I'm new on this forum and I apologize for my not very good English...
I would like to buy a semi-hollow guitar, between 800 € and 1000-1100 €. I mostly play jazz (mainly classic jazz but also fusion). I like for instance the sound of Grant Green but i'm not focused on one particular sound. I have already made some researches on a few models, which I'll try soon, but I would like to get your advices if those could be helpful for my choice.
I mainly consider the two following models:
- Ibanez AS153
- Eastman T386
And eventually this two following ones:
- Guild Starfire IV
- D'Angelico EX-DC.
Thank's in advance to those who will take time to answer !
Erwan
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11-26-2020 09:50 AM
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Originally Posted by Robitok
For a Grant greenish vibe an Epiphone Casino is a good choice. I like my Gibson ES-3XXs, but they may be over budget. Ibanez makes several nice models in your range; I like their full-hollows, but wouldn't mind a semi or three.
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Starfire IV, because it is cool.
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If you can find a used one with those pickups with the raised blister pickup covers, they have an unusually vocal sound to them. I love them. Originally Posted by Litterick
Any good decent middle grade guitar will be good these days, but do get the nicest one you can and try them out for the necks to make sure your hands feel really good with them. I say get the best you can with the neck you like because the necks on different Ibanez guitar models differ because they're made in different factories and Ephiphone (especially Casinos) can have a narrower neck that some people love and some find cramped.
I've found that a good Ibanez or Eastman will be a very good guitar for someone in your position and when you're ready to upgrade, instead of getting a "better" model, upgrade the pickups to something like Duncan or other high end after market pickups. You'll already have a guitar that you've bonded with and you'll be shocked by the difference this one upgrade will give you.
There are treasures to be found if you look at the used market too. For instance when I worked at Ibanez we had a model that came in only for a few years, it was an artstar AS180 with the larger deco headstock (like the joe pass) and was made in Korea. This guitar had a neck that was the same neck as the AS200 on the Scofield guitar. The body was Peerless and it was as nice as their top end semi hollow. They only made them for a couple of years before they changed the guitar (kept the model name designation so be aware if you're looking). All of this is to say there are excellent options and future upgrades can be done in ways that give you a great bang for the buck.
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I have a D'Angelico EX-DC. I'm very happy with it. It works well for jazz, fusion, blues, pretty much anything. But that's true of semis in general. If at all possible, the best thing to do is to try as many as you can, and pick the one you like most among the ones you've tried. Originally Posted by Robitok
The differences among the sounds of all the ones you've named are pretty subtle, and it really comes down to what feels best in your hands. I'd also recommend adding an Epiphone Sheraton to your list.
JohnLast edited by John A.; 11-27-2020 at 09:28 PM.
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If possible try before buying . If not possible make sure to think about what specs you are looking for in an instrument. And also what you expect from the guitar as well.
The fun is in the search, like anything in life. But remember theses are just tools to explore the sounds in our heads ultimately. So you can achieve a lot with any type of instrument. The tone is mainly in your hands and abilities as a player.
So generally Thinlines like an ES-335 have a centerblock and tend to have more mids in their tonal range
Hollow bodies have more highs and lows and less pronounced midrange. It pickups and body depth as well as trapeze bridge vs stop tail peice have an effect as well.
Maybe for the price, the new PRS SE Hollow body guitar might be the answer. It combines the beat of all of these attributes and gets rave reviews.
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Hello Erwan,
For Grant Green sound you can chose thé Eastman T64 with 2 p90. One of my friend, a professional guitarist plays with it and he is very happy.
Of course new is out of your budget but as a second hand, if it is not an emergency you can find it for 1000€ ( my friend did).
Good hunting
Julien
Envoyé de mon iPhone en utilisant Tapatalk
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I'm not quite sure it's Grant Green territory, but the AS153 has always been a bang for the buck guitar in my eyes.
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Another suggestion is the import PRS SE Hollowbody II. It plays and sounds like a much more expensive instrument than it is, and is quite versatile for the styles of music you play. I bought a tri-burst model and am very happy with it. Originally Posted by Robitok
SE Hollowbody II - 2020
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I think that's a great option the above suggestion!
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I think the Ibanez semi-hollows are very good value. I had a JSM10 for a while – very good guitar and I kind of regret selling it. Very versatile too. My organ player once said the tone reminds him of George Benson (who was inspired by Grant Green) but the guitar also had a nice tone with an overdriven amp.
Can't say it is better than the AS153 you mentioned because I never played one of these but you sure could get a used JSM10 within your budget.
These are semi hollows so you can play loud and they will sound good with distortion.
Grant Green – early years? That was a hollowbody thinline – same size but no "sustain" block inside the guitar: The Gibson ES 330. Less sustain and a more "woody" tone. Overdrive doesn't work that well with these kind of guitars. John Lennon would disagree and played the solo of "Get Back" on the similar Epiphone Casino.
Ibanez made a model that is inspired by the Gibson ES 330: the ASR70. They only made it for a year or so. You could look for a used one.
An Epiphone Casino is also a nice budget choice if you want that kind of hollowbody thinline.
http://www.meinldistribution.eu/file...014%20high.pdf
Strings make a lot of difference IMHO. I think Grant Green used flatwounds. Darker tone and less sustain. For a more versatile and modern tone and piano like bass roundwounds work better.
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That PRS looks nice. So many former Les Paulers have gone PRS...Carlos Santana, John McLaughlin...
A couple more thoughts if they’re available in your area:
Peerless Sunset—full hollow thinline
Gibson ES-135–balsa center block with a trapeze, so combines the airiness of a full hollow with the lack of feedback and sustain of a semi.
Godin Montreal Premiere—arched center block. Similar to the 135 IMO.
Anyway, good luck—the fun is in the hunt. (As with women, he muses nostalgically...)
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If you can find an Eastman T64 for around 1200 I'd jump on that if I were you. Check the reviews on this guitar. The workmanship is so good (and the components are top notch) that it compares to G-brand custom shop level.
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Hello everyone,
Thank you very much for your answers.
Definitvely, I'll go for an Eastman T386 (Or even probably a T486), or maybe an Ibanez AS153 or JSM10. I'll try these ones this week-ends but every suggestions are still welcomed.
Have a nice week !
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I recently bought a Guild Aristocrat RI. True hollow body but no F holes. Same size as a Les Paul but half the weight. They can be found used for $700.
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During lockdown I aquirred a Guild Starfire 1 which the previous owner had already upgraded the bridge and pick-ups. It makes a very successful jazz guitar for not a lot of money. He'd also had a master volume pot installed in the upper bout.
The other bargain I've found recently was an Epiphone Casino Coupe bought new from my LGS. Beautifully set-up with P90 pick-ups and a very playable neck. The turquoise colour scheme you either love or hate...
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My comment may or may not be relevant for the OP, depending on his location. The Starfire IV was relaunched for a brief period around 2000 under the resurrected DeArmond brand. These Korean-made guitars were extremely well-made and solid for the price, and sounded good. I do regret not buying one while available. Used ones appear on the market every once in a while. Originally Posted by SteveJ
I lately developed an affair with a turquoise Epi Casino Coupe 70 years younger than I. The slight intonation and staying in tune issues will be forgiven and addressed once the original strings are past their best before date. (Perhaps they are.) But speaking on Epiphones, their ES 339 Pro is a real Swiss Army Knife of a guitar, and a good one at that. It's my main TOOB test guitar. I'm sure that a pack of flatwounds would make it even jazzier.
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