Randy1281734003 Posted February 8, 2008 Share Posted February 8, 2008 I think I need a semi-hollow body to make my life complete, I don't have a lot of guitars but I like to think what I lack in quantity I make up for in quality. My favorite is an Elitist LP std + top, but I also love my PRS McCarty and my MIM 60th ann. Strat. I went to GC (I hate those zit farmers but it's a good place to try out gear), I played an AS73 Ibanez, a Dot, and a Sheraton and none of them tripped my trigger. Maybe it was the Line 6 Bogner amp he plugged me into but nothing sounded good to me so I left empty handed.I just got a call from my guy at the mom & pop store I deal with he told me he just got a new shipment of Dots Casinos, Sheratons & Lucilles in, I think Ill take my amp in and try them all out. Any of you ever play a Korean made PRS SE semi-hollow? If so what did you think of it, it looks interesting on websites but I would prefer to buy local from a real person not a faceless company. I play Blues and Christian Rock, any other make or model I might be interested in? Thanks in advance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garyelcrrt1281733995 Posted February 8, 2008 Share Posted February 8, 2008 The upper end Ibanez Artcore (model numbers in the hundreds and higher) are far, far better than the low end. If you see an AF105, AF105F or AF125 give it a whirl - and if you can, run it through any of the fender reissue amps - even the Hot Rod series is pretty darn good. And, something that most don't think of anymore, modern manufacturing techniques pretty much mean they all sound really close to themselves within the model. I didn't say that right. What I mean is that all Hot Rod Deluxe amps sound the same, and all Hot Rod amps sound similar to all other Hot Rod amps. Less variation that was the case when amps where all hand-wired - and maybe today had a bit of hangover, and huge tube variation was normal from batch to batch, so if you compare all the guitars on one of those, you'll have fewer mental "adjustments" to make about what you're hearing. Doesn't matter though, I should think that one or another of the Epi models you mentioned will fill the bill, but if you play all of them you have a better chance of finding a true soulmate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leps Posted February 8, 2008 Share Posted February 8, 2008 what makes a semi-hollow or hollow body guitar sound good? Whats the differences between the woods as in body and neck? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lerxst1281733995 Posted February 8, 2008 Share Posted February 8, 2008 what makes a semi-hollow or hollow body guitar sound good? Whats the differences between the woods as in body and neck? The difference as opposed to what? Solid bodies? Most hollow/semi-hollow bodies are made of a maple laminate... Which consists of several thin layers of wood glued together, like plywood... In the case of the MIK Casino, it's 3 plys of maple... The Elitist Casino has 5 plys of maple... Vintage (U.S. made) Casinos and re-issues (1965/Revolution) have 5 plys of maple and birch... This is just to give you an idea... Woods and construction can vary from one manufacturer/model to the next.. Semi-Hollow guitars have a "center block" of wood (mahogany, usually) running through the middle of the guitar between the top and back... This gives the guitar more sustain than a full hollow, but reduces its resonance.. Necks are usually made of either maple or mahogany.. What makes them sound good? A combination of factors... Wood quality, construction, design, pickups, etc... But the main factor that contributes to the sound of a semi/full hollow is that they are more resonant... Similar to an acoustic, the sound resonates within the hollow chamber(s), giving it a distinctly different sound from that of a solid-body guitar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suho Posted February 8, 2008 Share Posted February 8, 2008 Just to add to that, I think the wooden block center was originally added to reduce the feedback levels associated with fully hollow bodied instruments. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bug music Posted February 8, 2008 Share Posted February 8, 2008 IMHO center block material makes a big difference in the tone. My Washburn 335 style has a maple center block and it is so bright acoustically, that sometimes I use it on bridge pickup to slice lunchmeat. Then I've played some other 335 style guitars with what looked like mahogany center blocks, that weren't nearly so bright (acoustically). Then again tone can also vary between identical models too depending on what wood happened to be in the bin that day. As always, if you can, try before you buy. It's funny how a million variables in materials and construction can make 2 guitars from the same factory on the same day turn out so differently, even with modern manufacturing techniques. This seems to be the case more with acoustic, hollow and semi-hollow guitars than solid bodies IMHO. Of course there is my other theory that the factories hire pixies for the assembly line to sprinkle magic "mojo dust" on certain guitars... but I digress... - Jay Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alfsboy Posted February 9, 2008 Share Posted February 9, 2008 the main difference I found between a Gibson 335 and a Dot I played was the acoustic tone unplugged.The Gibson was smooth and tight ,whereas the Dot was a bit more tinny and rattley .Plugged in they were at fairly similar at low amp settings but I was mainly playing clean Jazz stuff.I'm no expert on any hollowbody .just a Dot owner so far . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tulsaslim Posted February 9, 2008 Share Posted February 9, 2008 To me, the semi-hollow is the epitome of guitar design. They truly found the 'sweet spot' between a feedback-crazy hollow and a solid. The best design anybody's ever come up with. It's funny, though, that of all the semi-hollows out there (and most of them are very good), I seem to hear 'the perfect sound' only from the 335-type models. The others all have their 'own' sounds but the 'holy grail' of semi-hollow tone seems to come only from the 335-types. IMHO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oldscool0943 Posted February 9, 2008 Share Posted February 9, 2008 Hey all, I love my Sheraton. I also have played a few Ibanez Semi Hollows that played very well. I own a Ibanez S470dxqm solid body thats plays as well or better than a few high end models out there. I again am partial to My Sheri and will be buying a new Casino soon if the old lady lets me! I would not be affraid of a Ibanez Semi if one suits you tho. Oldschool Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prospero Posted February 9, 2008 Share Posted February 9, 2008 To me' date=' the semi-hollow is the epitome of guitar design. They truly found the 'sweet spot' between a feedback-crazy hollow and a solid. The best design anybody's ever come up with. It's funny, though, that of all the semi-hollows out there (and most of them are very good), I seem to hear 'the perfect sound' only from the 335-type models. The others all have their 'own' sounds but the 'holy grail' of semi-hollow tone seems to come only from the 335-types. IMHO.[/quote'] I wonder how Gibson's new 339 will stack up. And if Epiphone will come out with their own version of the 339. Given the number of people who put it on their list over in the "top 5 guitars if you had the cash" thread, I imagine the demand for an Epi version is there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vic Flick Posted February 9, 2008 Share Posted February 9, 2008 I think I need a semi-hollow body to make my life complete' date=' I don't have a lot of guitars but I like to think what I lack in quantity I make up for in quality. My favorite is an Elitist LP std + top, but I also love my PRS McCarty and my MIM 60th ann. Strat. I went to GC (I hate those zit farmers but it's a good place to try out gear), I played an AS73 Ibanez, a Dot, and a Sheraton and none of them tripped my trigger. Maybe it was the Line 6 Bogner amp he plugged me into but nothing sounded good to me so I left empty handed.I just got a call from my guy at the mom & pop store I deal with he told me he just got a new shipment of Dots Casinos, Sheratons & Lucilles in, I think Ill take my amp in and try them all out. Any of you ever play a Korean made PRS SE semi-hollow? If so what did you think of it, it looks interesting on websites but I would prefer to buy local from a real person not a faceless company. I play Blues and Christian Rock, any other make or model I might be interested in? Thanks in advance.[/quote'] I personally love the 335 style guitars, but if they don't do it for you, have you considered something Gretschy??? A 6120 or a Country Gent??? The Korean equivalents (5120 & 5122) are in the same price range as a Sherry or a Casino. The older 512x series are still around but more expensive. They have DeArmond pickups instead of the Gretsch humbuckers found on the current ones. I would still look at the Sheraton & the Casino, trying them through your amp is a good idea. I can't help you with the PRS, never had one. The wide neck scares me!!! Good luck, and don't forget to show us pictures when you get your new axe!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rafaelh Posted February 9, 2008 Share Posted February 9, 2008 ' date=' any other make or model I might be interested in? [/quote'] Joe Pass or as jerrymac sugest a Gretsch 5120. I did a side by side with both and man what a couple of great guitars for around 600 bucks. I ended up with the Gretsch as a gift, but I would have been happy with either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randy1281734003 Posted February 9, 2008 Author Share Posted February 9, 2008 Hey Jerry, I just got done playing on my LP and my McCarty and really that little bit of extra neck width does'nt bother me, I switch between guitar and mandolin all the time so I guess I really don't think about it all that much. I called the local PRS dealer todayand he told me they didn't have any SE semi-hollow bodies in stock, and that he was told they might get some in sometime in March. He said the quality of the SE is great but they seem to have problems getting products to market. I asked him what they compare to for sound, he said it sounds pretty much like the solid body but a little more airy. I think I might just keep looking at 335 styles, but I gotta tell ya it's hard to be patient when you're having a GAS attack. Oh by the way, I really don't hear that much difference between my McCarty and my elitist LP, I like the PRS for the coil tap, my LP is what I pick up most often. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scotteads Posted February 11, 2008 Share Posted February 11, 2008 It really depends on how much money you want to put down. I love my Epi Alleykat, but I have upgraded quiet a bit. I have a great vintage semi-hollow sound now. I also have a Gretsch 5120 (upgraded with TV's) another GREAT guitar. They are not semi-hollow, but rather hollow body. They cost more but I believe the fit and finish on Gretsch's are better than Epi's (I'm not talking about Elitist). I would recommend the Alleykat, but plan on upgrading. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PJ Posted February 11, 2008 Share Posted February 11, 2008 I've played all the Gretsch stuff, Washburns and Ibanez, and the Natural Dot does it for me. What a nice guitar. Just has the right amount of 335 vibe to it. And the most recent production really has the nicest wood selections I've seen on the Dot in a long, long time. The fret work also seems the best I've seen. My GC has one that's nicely ambered, that needs to be in my collection. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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