Semi-hollow electrics

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C1-ocaster

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I've always wanted an ES335 or guitar of that type.
Played a few Epiphone Dot's and Sheraton II, and really liked the Sheraton II, DOT not so much.
I find the Gibson ES335's to be very limited in color and finish choices, and the price is a bit high for what I'm willing to spend.
So, I shopped for a used ES335. No luck. Seems these guitars hold their value pretty well, and not many recent vintage 335's go up for sale.
I find a lot of older ones and people want good money for them, most too close to the price of a new one.

So give me your experiences, likes and dislikes of other brands semi-hollow's, like Ibanez, Yamaha, Hamer, Gretsch, Carvin, etc...
I'm hoping to find something nice preferably up to $1500 new or used.

I've played the Ibanez AS153 and really like the tone and look, plus great features like ebony fretboards and real bone nut.
Problem was that GC ordered 3 new ones for me and each one had issues.
All of them had fret buzz even with standard adjustments, and the worst one had fret buzz and choked notes starting around the 10th fret up to around the 14th fret and then it was fine. Seems the 3 GC ordered all had poorly adjusted frets.
But I'm thinking that for $1000 it's a beauty of guitar so maybe spend a couple of hundred and have luthier dress and set it properly.

Your thoughts and suggestions are welcomed. :)
 
I just bought a AS153 (factory 2nd, not sure what the issue is/was). Awesome guitar, MIC. There is some fret buzz on mine but seems to only happen or be noticeable unplugged. Very beautiful and pleasure to play. In fact, I use it more now than my Epi Elitist LP. The tri-tone neck pup switch is very cool.

I say you keep trying one of these until you find one you like. Action on mine is about perfect for me and all bends around the neck don't fret out, etc. No real issue to report as intonation is fine as well. Not sure of the brand of the tuners, but they seem to be of decent quality. Abalone inlays are awesome. I got mine for around $650 on eBay, good deal.
 
forgot to mention that you can play literally any style of music with the AS153: country, jazz, blues, rock, hard rock, metal. I was jamming along with Dream Theater Images & Words last nite, very cool.
 
As far as 335 style electrics go, I really like the 359's and the Midtowns. The midtowns can be easily found for under 1500, and I just like the 359's cause they are smaller than a 335. A PRS Hollowbody would be really nice too, and if you're willing to put in a little bit of a wait you could find one around 1500.
 
All my GMP's are semi hollow.. I love the sound. every once in awhile you can score a used one in your price range.
 
i have a prs hollow body II that i'm pretty happy with. it can still do the br00talz too if need be.
 
rokket2005":q97nqdw4 said:
. A PRS Hollowbody would be really nice too, and if you're willing to put in a little bit of a wait you could find one around 1500.
Click to expand...

i've never seen one sell that low. even the earlier versions without the piezo sell for like 1700 typically. i guess on the boards you might find a deal like that, but i haven't seen one in the last few years.
 
I like the es339 it's body is Les Paul size. The cheaper ibanez semi hollow bodies seem to get a lot of great reviews and are around $500
 
JimAnsell":1m6oudio said:
rokket2005":1m6oudio said:
. A PRS Hollowbody would be really nice too, and if you're willing to put in a little bit of a wait you could find one around 1500.
Click to expand...

i've never seen one sell that low. even the earlier versions without the piezo sell for like 1700 typically. i guess on the boards you might find a deal like that, but i haven't seen one in the last few years.
Click to expand...
There was a hollowbody spruce on tgp for 1300 a few months ago. Took all I had to not buy it :(
 
rokket2005":ajkz11ak said:
As far as 335 style electrics go, I really like the 359's and the Midtowns. The midtowns can be easily found for under 1500, and I just like the 359's cause they are smaller than a 335. A PRS Hollowbody would be really nice too, and if you're willing to put in a little bit of a wait you could find one around 1500.
Click to expand...

The 339 body size is nice. Ibanez makes one as well, their AM series. GC also ordered in an AM153 and it's gorgeous.
Body, back, and sides are bubinga in a brownburst like finish.
The bubinga grain is a cross between quilted and flame, really cool.
Bound mahogany and maple neck with ebony fretboard. Really nice cosmetics details like the abalone block neck inlays.
Never got a chance to play it to hear what tone that wood gave.

I have played the 339 and it's sweet. But there is a bit of difference in overall tone compared to it's larger brother the 335.
I also like that big look and feel of the 335 size, it sounds a bit fuller even if just by a little.

I have a PRS semi hollow copy made by Tradition guitars. It's Korean made.
Pretty nice small body semi, but it's tone is not as full as a 335.
And yes, semi hollows sound awesome running with anything from light distortion to full on saturated metal.
It's a very growling beefy tone. It adds a unique quality when chugging along.

I'll have to try the 335 sized guitars more. But in my head I hear that sweet tone of the larger 335 size semi's.
It's really hard to find a great deal on real Gibson ES335. Even people that don't play who may have an older one that a family member left behind can easily look up the value on the web. Darn interwebs! :)

Great feedback and info guys. Thanks. :thumbsup:
 
Docster":16quwpc5 said:
If I was to get a a semi-hollow, this would be right up there for performance/value:
https://www.musiciansfriend.com/gui...0@ADL4MF-adType^PLA-device^c-adid^30437382507


If you are really diggin' the AS153, go over to Sweetwater. They do a pretty good job of checking out their guitars before they ship them.
Click to expand...


That is a sweet looking guitar.
I don't want a trem though. Hard tail is what I'm after.

Sweetwater has a Memphis ES335 in satin cherry for $2500.
With a 15% discount that's $2125. I played one of these at a local GC and compared it to an Epi Sheraton II.
The Epi was actually really nice, played well and sounded good.
But when I plugged in the satin ES335 there was a distinct tonal difference for the better, and it played sweetly.
Price difference was $600 vs $2500. Really ridiculous. Even though the Gibson did sound better and had a better feel, I'll bet a really great set of pup's and a complete luthier setup w/fret job on the Epi would have it sound and play just as nice if not better and still be half the cost.

I may just splurge though. Sweetwater has a 2yr 0% payment going, which lessens the impact of the cost of a Gibson.
I should make a trip over to Sweetwater and try all they have. It's only a 2hr drive from me. I went there last winter, great place for a Rig-talker to get carried away. :)

This one is really purrrdy!
https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/ ... 1S14020277
 
I also had a Hollowbody II. Purple, 10-Top.

Pretty nice guitar which I got for a steal.
They can do heavy, but the natural resonance of the guitar does tend to make the strings vibrate involuntarily if you're playing high-ish gain settings. It's quite a full-bodied sound.
I would only use that type of guitar for clean & blues personally.

That said, the guitarist from P.O.D. used the PRS hollowbody live from time to time.
 
Rezamatix":36wekq3s said:
I just bought an ebony one of these...

http://www.zzounds.com/item--GIBDSDCCT?siid=127801
Click to expand...

That is a sweet looker.

What's your take on the difference between that smaller size and the ES335?
Tell me about the richlite fret board. Does it have a good feel? Any of the color rub off onto your finger?
Does it feel as smooth and hard as ebony?

There is a blem vintage burst for only $950! I looked really close at all the picts but couldn't find the blems.
The discount is amazing. Maybe it was simply a return.
Video demo didn't sound like a 339, and not like a semi either. Sounds more like a more resonate LP.
LOVE the custom neck.
Cost saver are the acrylic blocks, not pearl. But the diamond in the headstock is pearl.
It is unique and different kind of "semi hollow", more like a "partial hollow".
The price is obviously great for an actual US made Gibson.

Did your's need any fret work? Are the frets nicely dressed, especially on the ends?
I don't need razor thin action, but if a guitar can be set that low and still ring notes correctly, then it'll be even sweeter when the action is set higher.

That was the biggest let down on the Ibanez AS153's I tried, couldn't even get a modest action without buzz and fret choke. Ibanez claims they do a special job on the frets on the 153 AM and AS. They are nicely dressed with nicely smoothed ends. But they needed to spend more time getting the frets level.

How much does a fret leveling and adjusting typically cost?
 
I've owned a Hamer Artist Korina semihollow for about 12 years or so. 2 P-90's, all Korina neck and body. It is, bar none, my favorite guitar to play live. In a blues/roots rock setting, it slays. Plugged into my Bassman RI with a lil' bit of OD, it sounded like the world's largest Telecaster. Into a clean amp on the neck pickup, it was a jazz box. Outstanding guitar.

It took some work to get there, though. Hamer used way-too-hot Duncan P-90's that were pretty shrill out of the box. A set of Fralins fixed that. The guitar also had a pretty severe neck dive, so the stock tuners were replaced with lighter Schallers and some still-lighter rosewood tuner buttons. No neck dive, amazing sound.

If I were "semihollow curious", I'd look for a PRS SE Semihollow, either one of the current ones with bucker or an older one with P-90's. I've played a bunch of these and all of them have been pretty outstanding guitars. I also got to play one of the new PRS S2 Semihollows (the singlecut), and it was an amazing instrument.
 
C1-ocaster":og5d9s58 said:
Rezamatix":og5d9s58 said:
I just bought an ebony one of these...

http://www.zzounds.com/item--GIBDSDCCT?siid=127801
Click to expand...

That is a sweet looker.

What's your take on the difference between that smaller size and the ES335?
Tell me about the richlite fret board. Does it have a good feel? Any of the color rub off onto your finger?
Does it feel as smooth and hard as ebony?

There is a blem vintage burst for only $950! I looked really close at all the picts but couldn't find the blems.
The discount is amazing. Maybe it was simply a return.
Video demo didn't sound like a 339, and not like a semi either. Sounds more like a more resonate LP.
LOVE the custom neck.
Cost saver are the acrylic blocks, not pearl. But the diamond in the headstock is pearl.
It is unique and different kind of "semi hollow", more like a "partial hollow".
The price is obviously great for an actual US made Gibson.

Did your's need any fret work? Are the frets nicely dressed, especially on the ends?
I don't need razor thin action, but if a guitar can be set that low and still ring notes correctly, then it'll be even sweeter when the action is set higher.

That was the biggest let down on the Ibanez AS153's I tried, couldn't even get a modest action without buzz and fret choke. Ibanez claims they do a special job on the frets on the 153 AM and AS. They are nicely dressed with nicely smoothed ends. But they needed to spend more time getting the frets level.

How much does a fret leveling and adjusting typically cost?
Click to expand...

My AS153 is fine, i've been playing it everyday for a couple weeks now. No issues. If you purchase one and don't like it return it to Sweetwater for a refund or replacement.
 
I bought an Epiphone Tom Delonge and i'm very happy.
It's cheap but has a great construction, mono pickup and you can easily work on the electronic.

Best bang for the buck in the ES335 world IMO.

27633.jpg
 
I was in the same boat after playing my friend's Ephiphone Sheraton II (early Samick made one). That guitar with gibson '57 classic pickups is just great.

Here is what I was considering, and I did look at about everything else listed on this thread so far to narrow it down:
Eastman T186MX
Schecter Corsair
Epiphone Sheraton II
Gibson ES-339

I ended up with an ES-339 I found used over at TGP and I love this guitar. It has quickly moved to my #2 spot behind my strat. I have been struggling with shoulder issues and the ES-339 is my lightest electric, its so nice. Love the tones too, more airy and open than the les paul. I will say for hard rock, I still prefer the punch of my les pauls, but they are 10lb beasts.

Anyway, of the ones I listed. I was close to buying the schecter corsair or an early Ephiphone sheraton II. In the end I just didn't want to deal with the planky body, I already have a Ric 360 and Gretsch Brian Setzer hot rod, which kind of have the bulky body on them.

Also considered the Gibson midtown custom, but in the clips it sounded more like a les paul than it did a 335, and I wanted to get closer to the 335 sound.
 
If you can find a hamer newport birdseye it's the best hollow I've played that isn't a straight up jazz box. It's like the normal spruce topped newports but with maple top, back, and sides instead of spruce top and mahogany back and sides. Killer guitar.
 
blackba":1c5ur6qn said:
I ended up with an ES-339 I found used over at TGP and I love this guitar. It has quickly moved to my #2 spot behind my strat. I have been struggling with shoulder issues and the ES-339 is my lightest electric, its so nice. Love the tones too, more airy and open than the les paul. I will say for hard rock, I still prefer the punch of my les pauls, but they are 10lb beasts.

Also considered the Gibson midtown custom, but in the clips it sounded more like a les paul than it did a 335, and I wanted to get closer to the 335 sound.
Click to expand...

Great choice! :)
In your view, how similar or different is it in tone compared to an ES335 or Sheraton II?

The Midtown, that's what I'm hearing on all the clips I've seen of the Midtown.
It's more electric solid body sounding, kind of like if a 335 and SG had a baby. :)
It's nice, but not the tone I'm looking for.
 
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