Recommandations for Hollowbodies for $600 and under?

[Wrogsprit]

I would prefer if it has 19 or 20 frets. I have a Gretsch Rat Rod. I don't like the way it sounds unplugged, and I think it's too bright even with the tone rolled off. It's also around 7 or 7.5 pounds. I would prefer something lighter. I am considering trading or selling it to get something around the same price.

I am considering an Epiphone Joe Pass, but they're discontinued now. I like the sunburst ones, but they seem to be the hardest ones to find at a reasonable price. I can find a lot of natural ones for around $600. I was also considering a Cort Yorktown, but I can't seem to find any reasonably priced listings.

I don't want to take a risk on cheap hollowbodies like Johnson or Glen Burton. I tried out a bunch at a local store and most had neck angle issues.

[DanielleOM]

I would prefer if it has 19 or 20 frets. I have a Gretsch Rat Rod. I don't like the way it sounds unplugged, and I think it's too bright even with the tone rolled off. It's also around 7 or 7.5 pounds. I would prefer something lighter. I am considering trading or selling it to get something around the same price.

I am considering an Epiphone Joe Pass, but they're discontinued now. I like the sunburst ones, but they seem to be the hardest ones to find at a reasonable price. I can find a lot of natural ones for around $600. I was also considering a Cort Yorktown, but I can't seem to find any reasonably priced listings.

I don't want to take a risk on cheap hollowbodies like Johnson or Glen Burton. I tried out a bunch at a local store and most had neck angle issues.

I see Godin 5th Ave guitars listed on Reverb right now in your price range. There's new ones on Sweetwater where they list the weight. I see one at 5.5 lbs. I have two of the newer TL (thinline) models and I very happy with those guitars.

When I see how much other archtops have gone up in price in recent years, including a popular brand from China, these Canadian made, 5th Ave guitars, seem to be very competitive from a price point of view.

[Wrogsprit]

I see Godin 5th Ave guitars listed on Reverb right now in your price range. There's new ones on Sweetwater where they list the weight. I see one at 5.5 lbs. I have two of the newer TL (thinline) models and I very happy with those guitars.

Did you get the p90 or humbucker models? I have considered them. They were deeply discounted on sweetwater maybe a year or two ago. The only thing I'm not 100% set on is their choice of nut and bridge material. I emailed graphtech before, and they confirmed they use PTFEs in their resomax bridges and some TUSQ nuts, but they can be swapped out.

[DanielleOM]

Did you get the p90 or humbucker models? I have considered them. They were deeply discounted on sweetwater maybe a year or two ago. The only thing I'm not 100% set on is their choice of nut and bridge material. I emailed graphtech before, and they confirmed they use PTFEs in their resomax bridges and some TUSQ nuts, but they can be swapped out.

I have the thinline models. Unlike the larger depth models, the thinline models come with a tune o matic style chrome color bridge. Not sure what the nut is made of. It's black in color on one and white on the other. I have one with the (2) P90s and the other one has the (2) Lollar Gold Foil pickups.

I really like using the P90 guitar with the DV Mark LJ amp. Those just seem to work well together and incredibly easy to dial at home and when I am out. I am thinking Grant Green fans would like that combination.

The Gold Foils seem to be very balanced. At this time I seem to prefer using Gold Foil equipped guitar with my Henriksen Bud 6.

I would suggest checking Reverb. If you see any models you like you could just mark them as favorites for now and wait to see if any offers come your way.

[DanielleOM]

Sweetwater has quite a few in stock right now where you can see the weights. It looks like going with humbuckers adds about 5 oz to guitar compared to the P90s. I myself would choose the P90s over the humbuckers.

[John A.]

I would prefer if it has 19 or 20 frets. I have a Gretsch Rat Rod. I don't like the way it sounds unplugged, and I think it's too bright even with the tone rolled off. It's also around 7 or 7.5 pounds. I would prefer something lighter. I am considering trading or selling it to get something around the same price.

I am considering an Epiphone Joe Pass, but they're discontinued now. I like the sunburst ones, but they seem to be the hardest ones to find at a reasonable price. I can find a lot of natural ones for around $600. I was also considering a Cort Yorktown, but I can't seem to find any reasonably priced listings.

I don't want to take a risk on cheap hollowbodies like Johnson or Glen Burton. I tried out a bunch at a local store and most had neck angle issues.

+ 1 on the Godin 5th Ave Kingpin recommendation. I had the full-depth single P90 version. It has a good/loud unplugged sound for an electric guitar (borderline usable as an acoustic guitar), and you can easily find used ones for less than $600. There are also a bunch of different Ibanez archtops in the artcore lines that can be had for well under $600, and they're all pretty good (differences among them are mainly cosmetic based on price). A while back I tried either the akjv90d akjv95d (they're the same except for some minor details, and I don't remember which one I tried). It had a pretty decent unplugged sound, excellent electric sound, and the typical good Ibanez build quality.

[DanielleOM]

Here's a good example live performance video of the Godin 5th Ave guitar with P90s.

[Jthompson48]

Cort Triggs or Beck

[MiniMerckx.22]

Ibanez af85. Out of production but readily available online. IMHO better than the same tier models that followed it.

[Little Jay]

Can’t go wrong with Ibanez

This is my AF55 with some mods:

[SierraTango]

Cort Triggs or Beck

Cort had a Larry Coryell model also.

[Wrogsprit]

Can’t go wrong with Ibanez

This is my AF55 with some mods:

What pickups did you put in? How were the stock ceramic ones? I have a cheap Ibanez with infinity pickups. They do not sound bad.

[Bob_Ross]

Ibanez af85.

Can’t go wrong with Ibanez
This is my AF55 with some mods:

Yeah, I was gonna suggest one of the Ibanez Artcore models ...though tbh I have no idea whether any of them are still current models.

I've had an Ibanez AF-75 for >20 years, and while I'm underwhelmed by the pickups, the comfort and playability of the guitar are stellar, punching well above its weight class. I would bet in a blind -- and deaf -- test I wouldn't be able to distinguish my AF-75 from any Gibson or Guild archtop I've ever played. Or at least, I wouldn't be able to recognize it as a <$600 instrument compared to >$6,000 instruments.

Of course, as soon as I opened my ears it'd be obvious...