Semi-hollow electrics

[C1-ocaster]

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.

I read up on the Newport, but can't find it for sale.
How much are they new and used?

Went to Carvin's site and built a couple of semi's, SH645.
Carvin doesn't do laminated body's. The body is cut from a single solid piece of mahogany.
Some say a laminated body is what gives an ES335 it's tone. I don't know.
Lots of nice features including an ebony fret board, flame maple head, dark orangeburst finish, oiled neck, ablaone diamond inlays, jumbo frets, and hard shell case.
Price is $1924.
Pretty sweet looking guitar. Plus I can get jumbo frets, which I really like.
14" radius fret board should make for great bluesy shredder.

Went to GC today and played a new Gibson ES335 in satin cherry, man what a NICE guitar.
Great feel, tone, and I love that stain finish and satin neck too, which makes it feel super smooth.
I really think the satin finish gives it a bit fuller tone.
$2500. Sales guy says he can do 15% off, but if I come this Sunday for an after hours sale he should be able to do a bit better. I might be able to get it for about $2065.

 

[blackba]

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.

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.

I think the 339 gets about 80% of the semi hollow vibe/sound compared to a 335. The 339 is not as full sounding as a 335, but far from thin. The 339 is different enough to be a stark contrast from my les pauls. I still find my les pauls more comfortable and a bit easier to play, but I think that is due to me being used to them. The few knocks I see on 339's are upper fret acess due to the horns of the body being closer and that they don't sound 100% like a 335. I find the upper fret access pretty good and I am fine with getting about 80% of the semi hollow sound as a 335.

If you can swing the 335 you played at GC, I would go that way. I am glad I payed up for the 339, as I love it. My last guitar on my list is a proper telecaster. I am in the same boat here, as sure I can go cheap, but I want to make sure I am totally happy with the guitar I get, after all it has to compete with much more expensive guitars. I try to avoid going cheap, then GASing and buying the more expensive guitar in the end.

 

[C1-ocaster]

Ibanez makes a really sweet looking and spec'd JSM100 Scofield semi.
I was looking online and found that there is a new JSM10 Scofield at a much lower cost only $1100.
It's supposed to be out around late September.

Spec's look really good, much like an AS153, except the JSM10 has jumbo frets, which I prefer.
The only part that has me wondering if it will be a long time player is that it lists the neck as made from
"solid sapele neck". Sapele is a good wood, but I'm wondering if a solid neck would be more prone to warping compared to the 3 piece necks that Ibanez makes.

Is a solid wood neck as stable as a multi-piece neck?