Thin Hollowbodies

=DK= · #1 11-30-2011, 07:56 PM

Today I had the pleasure of playing a '62 Gibson ES 140T, a thin hollowbody, single cutaway, single pickup, great neck, great acoustic sound. I just wish it wasn't vintage, because the P90's pole pieces are rusted over, and the sound is muddy. Because it's a vintage piece, and a rare one at that, I'd never replace the stock pickup.

I'd wan't something like it, but brand new. Problem is, Gibson discontinued it in '70. I'm really picky in certain areas, such as:

-It has to be hollow, not semihollow. Period.
-No Bigsby style vibrato, just a floating tailpiece.

Anybody know of guitars fitting the bill?

Jim Soloway · #2 11-30-2011, 08:08 PM

Are you looking for something that size? If so, that may present a problem. It's very small with a short scale length.

=DK= · #3 11-30-2011, 08:27 PM

Good question! Scale length is one thing I'm not picky about.

But as for small, well, it's 16.4 inches at the lower bout, which felt comfortable to me.

Jazzman301 · #4 11-30-2011, 09:36 PM

Guild T100CE or a T50(like and X50 but thinner)

Drifter · #5 11-30-2011, 09:42 PM

Gibson L5 CT, or a Custom Heritage H525 with the rim thickness you like...

AlohaJoe · #6 12-01-2011, 02:57 AM

There's the Sadowsky SS15, but it's about 4k

=DK= · #7 12-01-2011, 05:13 AM

Now see, that Sadowsky is right on the money. Single pickup, laminate maple, ebony board. Ah, but speaking of "the money"...

cjm · #8 12-01-2011, 07:00 AM

Of course, if you like the ES-140T, and the price is right...you can buy it and fix it.

If the pole pieces are rusted over, and if the pickup cannot be refurbished -- replace it along with the pots.

It doesn't matter that it's "vintage." Old guitars are worth more in restored playable condition than they are as original, yet broken down, junk.

Needed repairs and maintenance don't destroy value and shouldn't be confused with modifications. Repairs help restore value...the former owner's neglect and/or abuse is what devalued the instrument.

goshawk · #9 12-01-2011, 07:48 AM

Eastman makes a few thinlines. Check out the El Reys and the T146 (there used to be a T145, which you might be able to find discontinued). The D'Angelico EX-SS is a thinline. And the Benedetto Bambino is a thinline, though it's also about $4k.

My mistake - the EX-SS is considered a semi-hollow; there's a T-shaped sound block under the bridge.

Steve Z · #10 12-01-2011, 10:22 AM

All great suggestions above. Here's another if you liked the compact size of the Gibson ES-140... (but want a nut width that is not wee).

Benedetto Andy. Discontinued, but still out there once in a while.

http://benedettoguitars.com/guitars/...andy%E2%84%A2/

Benedetto Andy > Guitars : Archtop Electric & Acoustic - Guitar Exchange | Gbase.com

Below picture from Jane Miller - The Jane Miller Group - PHOTOS ... a fabulous guitarist.

=DK= · #11 12-01-2011, 10:08 PM

When I say thin, I mean taking the Sadowsky picture as a maximum thickness, see? When I say thin, I mean thin. Keep the suggestions coming, though. I've played an El Rey, and it wasn't very comfortable for me. I play seated a lot, and it didn't fit me. It had some great tone though.

I'd like to buy new, so anything discontinued won't work for me. I prefer single pickup guitars, where the pickup is mounted to the body. I like laminate tops and ebony fingerboards. I don't like pickguards, fingerrests, or vibratos.

FatJeff · #12 12-02-2011, 05:21 PM

I thought that Sadowsky was a semi-hollow.

Steve Z · #13 12-02-2011, 05:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FatJeff

I thought that Sadowsky was a semi-hollow.

The SS-15 is hollow...

Sadowsky Guitars | SS-15

Quote:

The SS-15 is the newest member of the Sadowsky Archtop family.

The all acoustic brother of the Semi-Hollow, the SS-15 features the same body as the Semi, but is all acoustic with traditional jazz guitar appointments and styling.

AlohaJoe · #14 12-02-2011, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by =DK=

When I say thin, I mean taking the Sadowsky picture as a maximum thickness, see? When I say thin, I mean thin.

The SS-15 is only 1 3/4" thick. The only thing I can think of that's thinner is a solidbody, but that might be worth considering (with the right pickup) if super-thin is a crucial requirement. There's also this: http://www.ariausa.com/guitars/dq-cre.html

cosmic gumbo · #15 12-02-2011, 06:17 PM

An Epiphone Casino would do the completely hollow thin thing for me.

Pierrot · #16 12-03-2011, 02:54 AM

Jaen Jamaica

Guitarras Jaén - Luthier de Guitarras Archtop

No relation with the maker, just a happy customer;-)

Hammertone · #17 12-03-2011, 03:01 PM

Also in the "discontinued but sometimes available" pile is the
Hofner Thin President

This model went through a few changes, but the version shown below is indeed hollow
- 15 7/8" wide
- 2 1/2" deep
- 25 1/2" scale
- neck meets body at 16th fret
- carved top

goshawk · #18 12-03-2011, 10:34 PM

The new Eastman AR150 meets most of your specs... except it's solid wood rather than a laminate. I think it's based on the El Rey, however, so if the El Rey wasn't comfortable, this one might not be either:

Eddie Lang · #19 12-03-2011, 11:43 PM

I'd go with the ES-140 and find another P-90 if the one on it cannot be refurbished.

Something else, not expensive (1K-2K), that may fit the bill could be a late 1950's-early 1960's Guild M-65. They came in full size and 3/4 size as well. They do come up on a semi-regular basis on eBay.

I'd like to have a 3/4 M-65 or an ES-140 one day...

Hammertone · #20 12-04-2011, 12:25 AM

Then of course there's this blast from the past, the Hofner Club 50, reissued by Hofner. Current production from Hans in Hagenau. Here's mine:

- 25 1/4" scale,
- all-laminated (spruce top/maple rims & back),
- completely hollow,
- little like a Les Paul,
- and it comes with the cutest case ever.
Sort of like the old Guild Bluesbird or ES-140T, but with a long-scale neck.

limjaz · #21 12-04-2011, 03:47 AM

you might want to check out Mark Campellone's thinline archtops

zizala · #22 12-04-2011, 07:08 AM

If you care for small thinbody, I'm a big proponent of the Guild M-65.....its a 13.5" slim hollowbody.
Quite undervalued guitars as many old Guilds are....

The Franz single coil sounds wonderful to my ears and they're light as a feather and big fun to play.
A drawback for some might be that an 1 5/8" nut width is pretty common for Guilds of the late 50's.
But I like Guild necks...the profile is comfy and they never seem to be out of whack. When its good I'm adaptable.

As the Eddie Lang above mentioned....(not the one out in the ether)...
.....they do come in 3/4 (23.5") scale and full (24.75") scale.

I've got these three full scale versions....two from 1958 and one from '59.
Probably one or two too many but some of you may understand!

The 16" thin body Guild T-100 and T-50 are also very nice jazz guitars at reasonable prices these days.

z

=DK= · #23 12-04-2011, 08:14 PM

Those are beautiful guitars, Z. Congratulations.

Pierrot, I'll look into that builder.

The ES-140 is really beat up, scratches and gashes all over the body, and at $1,400. I don't mind the idea of updating the electronics. Heck, I'd revel in the idea of installing a Bare Knuckle Half Note P-90, along with fresh pots and a new jack. That way the only needed soldering is removing the ground, and I could keep the old electronics in one piece for if I decide to sell it. The only thing is, should I?