Finding the right Epi Guitar

[Shourin]

Hi Everyone,

 

Hope you guys can help me out. I'm shopping around for a new guitar. Something with an acoustic sound, but not a thick body.

First I was looking at Acoustic Electric thin body guitars but I really don't like the sound they produce. A hollow / semi-hollow guitar seems the better option.

 

So I narrowed it down to a:

- Epiphone 339 p90 ltd.Ed PE

- Les Paul Florentine Pro Ltd.Ed TB

 

But perhaps the Casino Coupe or Wildcat Royal are also an option?

 

The problem is, I can't compare them anywhere so I have to buy on what I hear on youtube and what I read in reviews.

So I'm looking for someone who knows these guitars (or atleast heard them / compared them to one another).

 

To sum it up: it needs to be a small thin body, slim neck, acoustic sound plugged (as much as possible) and I will be using it in my homestudio recordings, singing / songwriting and to accompany myself on stage.

 

Hope anyone can help me with this. Will keep an eye out on the forum and for now have a nice weekend!

 

Greets,

Shourin

[fromnabulax]

Hi Shourin,

 

I have the Les Paul Florentine PRO and love it dearly. That being said it is a full size Les Paul and not a thinline.

 

It also sounds like an electric guitar and not like an acoustic.

 

In my experience it is a lot easier to get an acoustic to sound like an electric, than an electric to sound like an acoustic.

 

Epi made a couple of Ultra model 339s with an acoustic pickup at the neck along with two humbuckers which was supposed to approximate the sound of an acoustic. You can hear clips of it on YouTube.

 

In fact there are several cjlips on YouTube for each of the guitars you mention as well as almost every other guitar currently manufactured to get at least some idea of what these guitars sound like. Check them out.

 

I have a few acoustic/ electrics. Both steel and nylon string. The nylons overall come closer to a true acoustic sound when plugged in, but I personally have never been satisfied with thinline or solid body acoustics.

 

For an acoustic sound, consider an acoustic.

 

Good luck!

[Cougar]

In my experience it is a lot easier to get an acoustic to sound like an electric, than an electric to sound like an acoustic.... For an acoustic sound, consider an acoustic.

 

I agree. I'm no pro, but I expect the best way to get an acoustic sound on your recordings is to play an acoustic into a decent instrument mic. I only have a little experience with under-saddle pickups on acoustics, but I'm not real enamored with them. My Epi Performer has a magnetic pickup at the end of the fretboard that I like for its acoustic reproduction. The EF500 Masterbilts are a bit smaller than the dreadnought DR's and AJ's, but still produce great sounds. Good luck in your quest, Shourin! Doing the research is half the fun!

[Shourin]

Thanks for your advice guys. I understand, but for now I'll have to keep my focus on a hollow body electric. Reason is that I already own a normal acoustic, nylon string, but I'm always struggling with it's size (10cm body depth and a wide neck). Starts to really hurt after a little while of playing. I'm not big I suppose hehe. But I agree, the sound of that guitar is sweet, warm and very lovely and probaly the reason why I hate the thin body acoustic sound.

 

Will try to find and contact a few stores this week, after Easter, and bug them if they have a few Epi's I can try. Doesn't hurt to ask. I reckon thats the best solution since I want to hear / feel different models. Will look at a 339 Ultra too, it sounds like a good option with the shadow nanomag.

 

Anwayz, thanks again for taking the time to respond to my question. Hope I'll find what I'm looking for, but indeed, researching is half the fun!

 

Hugs,

Shourin