The semi-hollow that gets closest to the big-box sound?

Loobs · #1 07-10-2011, 05:14 AM

Maybe I'm asking too much, but I'd rather go for a semi-hollow that gets a great jazz tone than a dedicated single-pickup jazz box. Eastman El Rey?

TruthHertz · #2 07-10-2011, 05:33 AM

How about a hollow double cutaway? Gibson es-330 or Epiphone Casino. Looks like a semi- plays high like a semi- sounds like a hollow because it is hollow.
If you do go semi-hollow, the choice of pickups can also effect the response you get and feel. I think my guitars' acoustic qualities came out more when I went with a Duncan jazz. My opinion only.
David

marcwhy · #3 07-10-2011, 09:01 AM

Check out Rob Engel's guitars, and search Bob DeVos on youtube for some excellent videos playing an Engel.

Marc

Tom Karol · #4 07-10-2011, 09:53 AM

Sadowsky Semi-Hollow - my dream guitar (and way out of my price range)!

clem_gael · #5 07-10-2011, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Loobs

Maybe I'm asking too much, but I'd rather go for a semi-hollow that gets a great jazz tone than a dedicated single-pickup jazz box. Eastman El Rey?

Yes...Eastman El Rey!!!!
Love mine.

jzucker · #6 07-10-2011, 10:05 AM

eastman 185/186 are fully hollow, don't feedback and sound like archtop guitars IMO

mr. beaumont · #7 07-10-2011, 10:10 AM

Yeah, I think you want something fully hollow but thinner depth to get that unmistakable hollowbody sound, kind of a "thunk" to the notes--and I mean that in a positive way...semi hollows have this built in sustain that's pretty hard to get around...

kambor · #8 07-10-2011, 03:55 PM

+1 to beaumont. I would seek something alng the lines of ibanez gb10 or pm120

mambosun · #9 07-10-2011, 05:54 PM

I recently compared an Epi Casino and side by side to my regular guitar, an Ibanez ES335 Clone and found the Epi to have a deeper low mid/ bass response, a bit closer to a big archtop; in the Casino, the absence of wood block surely plays a major role since the top vibrates more freely. But I was not really found of the playability of neck which is particulary thick on the Epi.

Dr. Howard · #10 07-10-2011, 07:11 PM

1999 Heritage Golden Eagle! L5 Sweetness + So gorgeous!!!

kambor · #11 07-10-2011, 08:05 PM

Semihollow my friend...

Norman931 · #12 07-10-2011, 08:29 PM

Fully hollow, thinner depth, 2 pickups, Bigsby = Ibanez AFS75. Can do jazz, blues, rock, country, gospel, @ $399. Love mine. The deal for me is sealed by the fact that it is very lightweight and easy on the shoulders.

NSJ · #13 07-10-2011, 10:17 PM

There is a lot to be said for a semi with a center block that is fully configured as a jazz box AND takes advantage of the sustain the center block gives you that a trad jazz box does not.

My ES 339 has a Lollar CC in the neck and the notes sing beautifully clear, crisp and true, with each string ringing out with crystal clarity and without the HBing "muddiness" --with greater sustain qualities. I don't know if anyone put a CC on a semi,'but I have absolutely no regrets. The guitar is perfect, given the smaller size vis-a-vis a regular sized 335.

helios · #14 07-10-2011, 10:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by marcwhy

Check out Rob Engel's guitars, and search Bob DeVos on youtube for some excellent videos playing an Engel.

Marc

I checked out the Bob Devos website. He's playing a Engel guitar on the background music, and he does get great tone, and the Engle does sound big box to me!B
ohttp://www.bobdevosjazzguitar.com/http://www.bobdevosjazzguitar.com/b DeVos endorses Rob Engel guitarsBob DeVos endorses Rob Engel guitars

customxke · #15 07-11-2011, 01:59 PM

Anyone ever try a rosewood saddle on a thinline semi?

jzucker · #16 07-11-2011, 02:31 PM

Bob's a great guy. He and I spoke many times about the Engel. I was actually on the list to get one but Engel does not offer a money back return policy which is a sticky point for me on an instrument I have never personally played so I ended up passing on it. They appear to be really nice though.

kambor · #17 07-11-2011, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by customxke

Anyone ever try a rosewood saddle on a thinline semi?

Would be hard, as generally thinline guitars have a shallower neck angle, so the saddle should be quite small to be adjustable...

carlescountry · #18 07-11-2011, 02:39 PM

A few days ago I received this semihollow Eastman El Rey3 Custom from J. Hale Music. I've played the guitar very little yet, but has a great jazz tone.

marcwhy · #19 07-11-2011, 07:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by helios

I checked out the Bob Devos website. He's playing a Engel guitar on the background music, and he does get great tone, and the Engel does sound big box to me!B
ohttp://www.bobdevosjazzguitar.com/http://www.bobdevosjazzguitar.com/b DeVos endorses Rob Engel guitarsBob DeVos endorses Rob Engel guitars

Yeah, his CDs are all excellent, too. Great feel, great lines.

Brydmanguitar · #20 11-14-2011, 10:03 AM

Hi Everyone,
I own and play a Rob Engel guitar - 16' Hollowbody. I think it's a fanstastic intrument. I am able to get many different timbres from the various pick-up options available through combining humbucking, parallel, and single-coil wiring on the p/up's. The instrument has a wonderful acoustic tone as well, which I have miced and combined with the electric output on recordings. It is also jaw-droppingly beautiful to see:

jzucker · #21 11-14-2011, 10:08 AM

i almost bought an engel but he doesn't give an approval period and it was a lot of money. Also, currently he makes only a 25.5" scale.

cjm · #22 11-14-2011, 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Loobs

...I'd rather go for a semi-hollow that gets a great jazz tone than a dedicated single-pickup jazz box...

In my opinion, you don't get the response and tone of a jazz guitar from semi-hollows and slabs without setting them up as jazz guitars.

Once you've done that, the semi-hollow (or slab) becomes a "dedicated jazz guitar" anyway, and you miss out on some of the additional benefits of the "dedicated single pickup jazz box."

There are good and valid reasons behind some people's preference for semi-hollow and solid body guitars for jazz...but I do not agree that the versatility versus one trick pony argument is one of them.

marcwhy · #23 11-14-2011, 01:24 PM

Byrdman,
Beautiful Engel! Thanks for posting!

Marc

jorgemg1984 · #24 11-14-2011, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cjm

In my opinion, you don't get the response and tone of a jazz guitar from semi-hollows and slabs without setting them up as jazz guitars.

Once you've done that, the semi-hollow (or slab) becomes a "dedicated jazz guitar" anyway, and you miss out on some of the additional benefits of the "dedicated single pickup jazz box."

There are good and valid reasons behind some people's preference for semi-hollow and solid body guitars for jazz...but I do not agree that the versatility versus one trick pony argument is one of them.

I agree! My 335 is setup for jazz with heavy rounds which doesn't allow me to bend on rock gigs (which I rarely have anyway) but I miss my archtop when I use it... Even if the sound is similar the feeling is not.

oldskoolchop · #25 11-14-2011, 06:44 PM

i have an ibanez as73, attempt at a 335, semi hollow, and i like it. i got heavy rounds on it, am planning to put new pups in it prob some 59's, but i got the semi, because i felt i had a little more versatility with a semi instead of a hollow, i use this one for jazz and blues, i have plenty of others for rock, but i just felt a semi could be used for more, than just committing to a full hollow at the time

i do still want and will still get a full hollow archtoop at some point but i do think if you do not have the cash to set up an instrument as a for one thing only, than a semi is more versatile and can give you some great jazz tones, and i like the sustain from the semi i considered that a plus

AlohaJoe · #26 11-15-2011, 03:33 AM

Lately I've been playing a thin-bodied hollow 1964 Guild Starfire II with the original vintage mini-buckers. With the bridge pup only and the treble rolled off just a bit I get a nice jazz sound that to my ears sounds surprisingly modern... a little P90ish, very round and full but crisp and not too dark. I've since replaced the Bigsby with a traditional harp tailpiece and that further enriched the tone some by altering the break angle. The sound is different from my fully hollow, but very nice.

There are a lot of excellent vintage guitars out there at good prices these days that compare very favorably with similarly priced new instruments.

jorgemg1984 · #27 11-15-2011, 03:37 AM

I replaced those mini buckers for humbuckers in my Guild. My luthier had to open a bigger hole for the humbuckers - sort of a risky job on such a precious instrument but it was worth it... I love my BK Stromy Monday much more than those mini buckers.

AlohaJoe · #28 11-15-2011, 02:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jorgemg1984

I replaced those mini buckers for humbuckers in my Guild. My luthier had to open a bigger hole for the humbuckers - sort of a risky job on such a precious instrument but it was worth it... I love my BK Stromy Monday much more than those mini buckers.

Yes, the BKs have a great reputation. In your situation I would have been tempted to find a Starfire re-issue from the '90s. They have a full-size humbucker route and sell for quite a bit less money. That way you wouldn't have to pay a luthier to devalue your vintage instrument. My newer Guild came with a humbucker (decent sound) that I replaced with a Biltoft blade and I love that too, but the neck is a touch wider.

jorgemg1984 · #29 11-15-2011, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlohaJoe

Yes, the BKs have a great reputation. In your situation I would have been tempted to find a Starfire re-issue from the '90s. They have a full-size humbucker route and sell for quite a bit less money. That way you wouldn't have to pay a luthier to devalue your vintage instrument. My newer Guild came with a humbucker (decent sound) that I replaced with a Biltoft blade and I love that too, but the neck is a touch wider.

Actually I was afraid any damage could be done to the guitar - although he is a brilliant luthier and everything went great of course. The acoustic sound also remained identical to my ears.

Oh and I couldn't care less about changing my vintage instrument... I live in Lisbon - a 1965 archtop is something you get the chance to buy once in your life. Back then I had the money and just fell in love with the guitar... since I am a regular player I have changed the guitar a lot to suit my needs and now it's absolutely perfect. I don't regret any of the mods I have done to it, specially putting regular humbuckers! And here almost no one collects guitars - if God forbid I would ever sell that guitar I would seller much quicker the way it is now (everyone just loves that guitar) that the way it was stock.

I feel the same about amps. A guy here was selling a blackface Pro Reverb and I told him I wanted it - turns out he was one the few collectors here in Lisbon and he refused to sell me the amp because I wanted to change the tone stack to better suit my needs... But hey that's a guy that collects amps in a basement not a player for sure.

AlohaJoe · #30 11-15-2011, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jorgemg1984

A guy here was selling a blackface Pro Reverb and I told him I wanted it - turns out he was one the few collectors here in Lisbon and he refused to sell me the amp because I wanted to change the tone stack to better suit my needs... But hey that's a guy that collects amps in a basement not a player for sure.

I hear you... I took the Princeton to a repairman who refused to replace the old 2-prong plug for the same reason... I like vintage stuff but that's ridiculous! Anyway, I'm glad you love your Guild; those old Starfires have the dream neck for my hands and the body & scale length is perfect for me.