bigneil Posted October 19, 2010 Share Posted October 19, 2010 Ok, I have been thinking on buying a new acoustic for a wee while now, but i just don't see any epi ones that tick all the boxes. So What about a hollow body electric? how do they compare acoustically? some are proper hollow and some are semi hollow like the 335, but which are which? I apologize if this should have been in the acoustic forum but i figured that a lot of you guys hanging out in the electric forum own or have owned these type of guitars. So, tell me all about your hollow and semi hollow body electrics? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swoop Posted October 19, 2010 Share Posted October 19, 2010 While some hollow/semi hollow electrics do sound quite good unplugged, there realy is no comparison between them and an acoustic guitar. They have nowhere near the volume and projection of an acoustic guitar. Even fully hollow ones like the Casino. They're just not designed with that in mind. If you want an acoustic guitar, get an acoustic guitar. If you're going to use it primarily as an electric guitar, and play unplugged on occasion, like late at night when you can't play amplified, then I guess I can see some sense. But buying a hollow or semi hollow electric solely to play acoustic? Not really. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jsa11 Posted October 19, 2010 Share Posted October 19, 2010 What exactly are you looking for in an acoustic guitar? Maybe we can point you in the right direction? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tweed1 Posted October 19, 2010 Share Posted October 19, 2010 I decided to downsize my guitar count, so I sold a Gibson Melody Maker and my acoustic to buy a Casino. The Casino is kind of a compromise between the other two, but in no way does it replace either. And that's OK. I'm very happy with my decision. I've pretty much had it with stop tailpieces and the trapeze tailpiece was a deciding factor, along with true hollow body, on getting one. I can play the Casino unplugged and get about half the volume, maybe a little less, that my acoustic could. But it has most of the P90 zotz that the MM had. As long as you understand what you're getting into, it's not a bad way to go. I ended up putting hybrid 11s with the wound G on the Casino and it seemed to get even a little louder still. What about some of the jazz archtops? I've seen a few posted here recently that might head you in a similar direction, but with a little more volume. Samick JZ-4 or the Epi Regency? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swoop Posted October 19, 2010 Share Posted October 19, 2010 Ironically, playing my Casino acoustically is exactly what I'm going to be doing for a while now, because I've just sold my amp! :( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dennis G Posted October 19, 2010 Share Posted October 19, 2010 While some hollow/semi hollow electrics do sound quite good unplugged, there realy is no comparison between them and an acoustic guitar. They have nowhere near the volume and projection of an acoustic guitar. Even fully hollow ones like the Casino. They're just not designed with that in mind. If you want an acoustic guitar, get an acoustic guitar. If you're going to use it primarily as an electric guitar, and play unplugged on occasion, like late at night when you can't play amplified, then I guess I can see some sense. But buying a hollow or semi hollow electric solely to play acoustic? Not really. What he said! And Swoop, so sorry to hear you had to sell the amp. Bummer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie brown Posted October 19, 2010 Share Posted October 19, 2010 Casino's are known for their unplugged "acoustic" resonance. I have one, that I love, that way, as well as plugged in. Just recently got one of these, though...and, it seems to be an amazing guitar, so far, anyway. Flawless finish, great tone, (balance, too), and nice action, as well. Might be, one of the better purchases, that I've made, recently. "Inspired by 'Texan'" complete with Shadow/Nanoflex pickup system. Controls hidden inside upper edge of sound hole. Sounds Great, Acoustically, and "Plugged in!" CB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supersonic Posted October 20, 2010 Share Posted October 20, 2010 Casino's are known for their unplugged "acoustic" resonance. I have one, that I love, that way, as well as plugged in. Just recently got one of these, though...and, it seems to be an amazing guitar, so far, anyway. Flawless finish, great tone, (balance, too), and nice action, as well. Might be, one of the better purchases, that I've made, recently. "Inspired by 'Texan'" complete with Shadow/Nanoflex pickup system. Controls hidden inside upper edge of sound hole. Sounds Great, Acoustically, and "Plugged in!" CB What? No Red Wings sticker?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swoop Posted October 20, 2010 Share Posted October 20, 2010 What he said! And Swoop, so sorry to hear you had to sell the amp. Bummer. Thanks for the condolences, mate. But perhaps this will better explain! :D http://forum.gibson....no-im-amp-less/ Sorry, don't mean to hijack the thread. As you were, gentlemen. CB, that's a great looking acoustic. The grain on the back of it is fantastic. A genuinely beautiful guitar, that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie brown Posted October 20, 2010 Share Posted October 20, 2010 Thanks for the condolences, mate. But perhaps this will better explain! :D http://forum.gibson....no-im-amp-less/ Sorry, don't mean to hijack the thread. As you were, gentlemen. CB, that's a great looking acoustic. The grain on the back of it is fantastic. A genuinely beautiful guitar, that. Thanks, Swoop...I'm lovin' it! CB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie brown Posted October 20, 2010 Share Posted October 20, 2010 What? No Red Wings sticker?? LOL...Nope! Couldn't swing the $6,000+/- bucks, for that version! ;>) CB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
L5Larry Posted October 20, 2010 Share Posted October 20, 2010 There is a MAJOR distinction between two types of hollow bodies that has completely been overlooked in this discussion. THINLINE or FULL BODIED. All thinline guitars were designed to be electrics, and hence the original designation ES (Electric/Spanish). They had pickups mounted in cutouts on the soundboard, and the amplified sound was intended to be something like a full bodied archtop without the feedback problems. The "semi" hollow thinlines took this concept one step further, to be a cross between an archtop and a solid body, with increased sustain and even further feedback resistance. Full bodied archtop f-hole guitars (I'll just call them "archtops" from here on out), contrary to what has been stated above (I'm sure the author intended his comment towards thinlines), were design and built to be louder and project further than flattop guitars. They were designed for orchestra use and their popularity took off during the big band explosion of the 30's and 40's. It took a guitar of this type to be heard beside 12 horn players, and until Charlie Christian figured out how to mount a "microphone" to a guitar and have it run through an amplifier, all big band guitarists played without amplification. When amplified guitars became the "norm", guitar makers started cutting holes in the soundboard to mount the pickup versus hanging a pickup off the finger-rest (pickguard) or tailpiece. When you start cutting holes in the top of a guitar and mounting heavy pieces of metal, magnets and wire coils, you ruin the "acoustic" properties of the instrument, but it was seen as necessary for guitarist to be heard. During the early years of electric archtop guitars there were two types, those with "floating" pickups, and those with pickups mounted to the soundboard. These two types still exist today, and technology has greatly improved their sound and versatility, although the full acoustic types will still have the sweetest unadulterated acoustic voice, loud and clear and full of beautiful wood tones. A model with a "floating" pickup will have the best of both worlds, a nearly unaltered acoustic voice, and the option to "plug in". There are two types of floating pickups, those mounted to the end of the fingerboard, and those mounted to the finger-rest. Either type is suspended off the guitar so as not to effect to movement of the soundboard. An amplified archtop with a floating pickup sounds very different than one with a humbucker cut into the top, both amplified and unamplified. From the Epi line the Emperor Regent is an archtop model with a floating pickup. http://www.epiphone.com/default.asp?ProductID=10&CollectionID=1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigneil Posted October 20, 2010 Author Share Posted October 20, 2010 Thank you all for your replies and thank you for shedding some light on a subject i know very little about. I was looking for an acoustic in the epi line that has a full size body, 24.75" or 25" scale, preferably with a cutaway that can plug in. my google search eventually led me to a Taylor that had a price tag that was way way way beyond my means. which is when i started wondering if the Epi' hollow body electrics sounded good unplugged. I will go and do a little research on the full bodied hollow such as the Emperor regent that was mentioned. thanks again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jerrymac Posted October 20, 2010 Share Posted October 20, 2010 Thank you all for your replies and thank you for shedding some light on a subject i know very little about. I was looking for an acoustic in the epi line that has a full size body, 24.75" or 25" scale, preferably with a cutaway that can plug in. my google search eventually led me to a Taylor that had a price tag that was way way way beyond my means. which is when i started wondering if the Epi' hollow body electrics sounded good unplugged. I will go and do a little research on the full bodied hollow such as the Emperor regent that was mentioned. thanks again. Have you ever checked out a Wechter Pathmaker??? Thinline acoustic electric, really nice neck, full access to the upper frets... Plays like an electric. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigneil Posted October 20, 2010 Author Share Posted October 20, 2010 Have you ever checked out a Wechter Pathmaker??? Thinline acoustic electric, really nice neck, full access to the upper frets... Plays like an electric. OooooH thats nice! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mud guy Posted October 21, 2010 Share Posted October 21, 2010 Not an Epi, but a friend just bought one of these...definitely acoustic unplugged, but with bluesy P-90 growl when amped. Canadian made. Godin Kingpin II Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Buffalo Posted October 22, 2010 Share Posted October 22, 2010 EJ160-E. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cyclone83 Posted October 22, 2010 Share Posted October 22, 2010 What about the ES-175 ? Seems to be the one you're searching for ^^ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Buffalo Posted October 22, 2010 Share Posted October 22, 2010 What about the ES-175 ? Seems to be the one you're searching for ^^ Fair acoustic volume & tone - for practicing at home, you won't need an amp, but for playing unplugged with others, you may be disapointed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bloozeguy Posted October 22, 2010 Share Posted October 22, 2010 Not an Epi, but a friend just bought one of these...definitely acoustic unplugged, but with bluesy P-90 growl when amped. Canadian made. Godin Kingpin II Oh, my, but these are bee-yoo-tee-ful! Played one--does just what you want (still a bit weak strictly acoustic, though). They do run $1,000. That's a bit less than double what you'd spend on a 175 or Joe Pass or most of the Epi jazz boxes short of an Elitist. In my case, that has been a consideration. Next idea: Joe Pass with P90s (I know some here have modded their JPs thusly). Or try to dig up a used Zephyr Blues Deluxe or ES 295. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red 333 Posted October 22, 2010 Share Posted October 22, 2010 I was looking for an acoustic in the epi line that has a: [*] Full size body, [*] 24.75" or 25" scale [*] Cutaway (preferred) [*] Plug in my google search eventually led me to a Taylor that had a price tag that was way way way beyond my means. which is when i started wondering if the Epi' hollow body electrics sounded good unplugged. I will go and do a little research on the full bodied hollow such as the Emperor regent that was mentioned. thanks again. This one seems to meet your criteria, though it's 25.5" scale. Epi doesn't make any acoustic guitar in short scale except for the EL 00. Masterbilt DRM500MCE Take note that you may not be 100% happy with any of the Epiphone full-size, hollow body electric archtops' unamplified tone, if an acoustic guitar is your frame of reference. They're all fine gitars, but they're all designed for electric performance first, so they have laminated tops (some which are fairly thick) to resist feedback. That modifies thier acoustic performance in a lot of meaningful ways. If you're an acoustic guitarist, they're OK when unplugged for practicing, but they'll tend to lack the warmth, bass response, complex harmonics, and especially projection of an acoustic guitar. So, if you're looking for an acoustic guitar, these probably would not be the first choice for most, though some peole might indeed like the unique tone. Red 333 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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