A week with my first electric hollow body guitar

[Django Johnson]

I had been hankering for an archtop hollow body guitar but had not found locally to my liking until a Samick HJ-650 recently appeared for sale at the local used musical equipment consignment shop. One day I went down and gave it a try and was really impressed. So impressed I bought it. It came with the original hard case.



Early 1990's made in Korea. It's like a clone of a Gibson L5CE in size and shape. Pickups while ceramic don't sound bad. The neck is thin but fits my hand well. I think I may try some heavier flat wound strings on it when the existing round wound jazz strings go dead.

[Mick-7]

I had been hankering for an archtop hollow body guitar but had not found locally to my liking until a Samick HJ-650 recently appeared for sale at the local used musical equipment consignment shop. One day I went down and gave it a try and was really impressed. So impressed I bought it. It came with the original hard case.

Early 1990's made in Korea. It's like a clone of a Gibson L5CE in size and shape. Pickups while ceramic don't sound bad. The neck is thin but fits my hand well. I think I may try some heavier flat wound strings on it when the existing round wound jazz strings go dead.

Good time period for the Samick guitars, is there a serial number on it? It may ID the factory where it was manufactured.

"I had been hankering...."

I have given that up, it was getting too expensive.

[Django Johnson]

Good time period for the Samick guitars, is there a serial number on it? It may ID the factory where it was manufactured.

"I had been hankering...."

I have given that up, it was getting too expensive.

The serial number printed on the back of the headstock is: S93062179 which I believe according to the Samick serial number wiki indicates it was made in Korea at the Samick factory in June of 1993. Being a 32 year old guitar some of the gold on the pickup covers is worn but that's understandable. I hear you about the "too expensive" comment but this guitar was selling at the consignment shop for just $350 USD. It was too good a deal to pass up for an entry into big hollow body electric guitars. I traded in a mint 25 year old Epiphone Les Paul Standard I didn't need plus $50 cash for it. I keep the Samick out on it's stand and practice with it every day. It definitely has a different tone from my solid body guitars. I also like the fact that using the nickel round wound strings on it make it feel like I'm playing an acoustic guitar. I replaced the speed knobs with witch hat style ones to give it a custom look.

[sgosnell]

I don't think Mick-7 meant that your guitar was too expensive, rather that having hankerings is too expensive. He's not wrong about that.

[Django Johnson]

I don't think Mick-7 meant that your guitar was too expensive, rather that having hankerings is too expensive. He's not wrong about that.

Oh yes I get that! He's certainly not wrong. G.A.S. can get pricey if you let it get out of hand. I am really liking the Samick to the point that I may just sell off my other 2 solid body guitars since I really don't need them taking up space in the closet. I don't gig anymore and the Samick pretty much works for my at home jazz guitar noodling and practice/learning sessions. Now that I am used to it's larger size I find it quite comfortable to play while sitting.

[va3ux]

I have the exact same guitar. Mine was built in 1992. Bought it 25 years ago. Sounds great amplified and acoustically (for a laminate archtop).

[Mick-7]

I don't think Mick-7 meant that your guitar was too expensive, rather that having hankerings is too expensive. He's not wrong about that.

If all my hankerings could be appeased for around $350, it would not be an issue, but their price tags usually have a '0' or so added.

[Django Johnson]

I have the exact same guitar. Mine was built in 1992. Bought it 25 years ago. Sounds great amplified and acoustically (for a laminate archtop).

Oh cool that you have the same guitar. I agree that while it's obviously a heavily built all laminate it does work ok for late night acoustic noodling. Amplified I just play mine through a little old (1980's) Roland 10 watt amp with an 8"speaker. With a little fiddling of the controls on the amp I can get a good sound from it. I am curious, what strings do you like to use on yours?