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Electric for singer songwriter


Desolationrow

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Hello, i am a singer songwriter acoustic player, single coil guy, zero licks ,clean sound, strumming only with fingers(no pick).

My only electric guitar is a Rickenbacker 330 6 string. i prefer a hollow body guitar because i think its better a short sustain, but im open to a solid body.

in your opnion, what electric could work? A Gibson 125 full body with p90 neck? telecaster? gibson es330?

thanks

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I'm not sure how anyone could answer such a question for you. Surely it is what you feel most comfortable with? Why not just go along to a well stocked guitar shop and try out loads of different guitars of differing types. You needn't buy but the visit will inform you.

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I concur with Pin.

 

It could be almost anything. If you like the sound, the way it plays, the handling etc. The world is your oyster.

Even humbuckers can sound mellow. Check out Gibson arch-tops to see what I mean.

 

Do you need another guitar?

Or do you want one with something else in mind. Performance perhaps? or just to aid songwriting.

 

If you just fancy having another guitar around, perhaps to help inspire you, then enjoy a visit to a music shop a couple of times a month for a few months and see what takes your fancy. Sometimes the sound of a different sort of guitar can transform the sound of a song. Think perhaps of the nylon strung 'classical' guitar that Leonard Cohen used to accompany his early songs.

 

From the little you give us it sounds as if you want a clean pure tone, and that you strum using fingers. So it would be odd to choose a model with active high gain pups (though that can still work depending on the amp / EQ). Also a guitar designed for soloing with a compound radius neck and 24 frets would be an odd choice also. That can narrow your choice for a start; but theres plenty left to consider.

 

Good luck

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this largely depends on the size of your budget.

 

for the "affordable" end:

http://dangelicoguitars.com/guitars/standard-series/exl-1/

 

somewhere in the middle:

http://www.gibson.com/Products/Electric-Guitars/2015/Custom/Solid-Formed-17-Hollowbody-Venetian.aspx

 

 

got more money then you know what to do with:

http://www.gibson.com/Products/Electric-Guitars/Archtop/Gibson-Custom/Citation.aspx

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I echo what everyone has said, but I will add my own conversion process as a singer songwriter. I used to degrade the electric guitar and those who played them, which is extremely arrogant and shallow of me, but then I played a hand me down 225TD (which is now my favorite guitar). It can be played clean, and also howl whenever I want it to. If you are looking for a single coil sound in a Gibson, check out a 330, or save a few bucks and play an Epi casino. Both have beautiful, acoustic-ish single coil sounds, but also so much more that can be tapped later and grown into. Those two would probably be my first grabs for someone transitioning like I did. One other thing I would add, and you probably already know, is the importance of a decent amp to go with it. That is also, like a guitar, a very subjective experience, but significantly impacts the sound you are searching for. Good luck and have fun.

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  • 2 months later...

Like the others said. Subjective.

 

IMO The ES330's are great Guitars. But if you're thinking P90's why not an Epi Casino. Elitistits, IBJL's, 50th Anniv. 1961's are all excellent Guitars with USA Pups & components for less than half the cost of an ES330.

 

What about an ES335? Probably the best all around Guitar. Period!

 

Best,

 

Larsongs

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It depends what effect you're looking for. Jeff Buckley's Sin-E sessions were just Jeff and a Tele - sounds great, but he's clearly not posting it as a substitute for an acoustic. In that context it really doesn't matter what model guitar you play - you just need the creativity to make it work as a solo instrument.

 

If you're looking for something that is in between an electro-acoustic and a traditional electric, I'd probably go with an ES125 type guitar with a single P90. P90s are great for acoustic like dynamic range and, like a good acoustic, they can be bright or sweet depending on attack. Godin make a model in the 5th Avenue series that is pretty much the same guitar if you don't want to go vintage. If your technique is based on playing acoustic I'd suggest going with a heavy string set and wound third shop that it responds more like an acoustic.

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Interesting post.... [thumbup]

 

There are no doubt many singer/guitarists in the same boat...looking for certain sounds

 

Personal journey has included all guitars mentioned (I think).... :blink:

 

They all work in their own way.... [thumbup]

 

Personal favourites would be the ES225 and Godin 5th Avenue...great for the acoustic searcher

 

And that great guitar James Bay plays....Epiphone Century....surely worthy of a re-issue....

 

V

 

:-({|=

 

PS....almost forgot to mention the almost unbelievably good Taylor T5...IMO a truly innovative blend of acoustic and electric sounds....and top quality to boot.... [thumbup]

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If you're going to use it, just for "writing" songs on, your Ric is (already) awesome!

I'd only go another (tonal) direction, if you "need" to. IF/When that's the case, go

out and try as many different models, and brands as you can, and eventually one will

strike you as "THE One!"

 

As to "Gibson" or related models. The ES-330, or Epi "Casino" are excellent,

as they are both hollow bodied, and have a good sound, even unplugged. They're

light weight, compared to the semi-hollow bodies, and/or solid body guitars. And,

unless you're playing a lot of "lead" and need the upper fret access, they'd be

excellent choices, for writing and/or rhythm playing. Even some "lead," that doesn't

require the upper registers.

 

Good Luck, take your time, and enjoy the search! [thumbup]

 

CB

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