Affordable PRS-style hollow body w/shorter scale?

**gailstorm9** · 10-20-2010, 04:05 PM

This is my first post so hi to everyone and thanks for a great site.

I also tried the $600 version of the PRS hollow. I loved the light weight but it was kind of bright sounding. Preferences are

easy to fret
fully hollow
light weight
24" scale (24.75 max)
14" lower bout
2" max depth
less than $1,000

Does anyone make a guitar close to this? It doesn't have to look like a traditional jazz guitar but if it did, that would be great.

I have small weak hands. My 24" scale Squier Jagmaster is easy to play but lacks tone. All the archtops I've tried were too hard to play.

Thanks for your help.

Sue

**JohnW400** · 10-20-2010, 04:29 PM

That's a tough one. Gibson has some thinline guitars in the 15" range but are priced out of you're range. Eastman may have something like an EL Rey. Check out Guitars n Jazz to get an idea of what's out there. He has quite an offering.

Guitars N Jazz Featuring Palen Archtops

Here's an Eastman that may work for you

http://www.gbase.com/powered/geardet...6&item=1864677

I think it *may be* around where you're looking

Peerless is another maker to check out

Good Luck

**BigDaddyLoveHandles** · 10-20-2010, 04:41 PM

I think Eastman's standard scale length is 25". Is that a deal breaker?

I wish Soloway made more trad looking guitars in a 27".

**gailstorm9** · 10-20-2010, 05:10 PM

yes, that Eastman looks nice but it's 25" scale. Thanks for the info on Peerless, I didn't know about them.

Thanks,
Sue

**Jim Soloway** · 10-20-2010, 09:43 PM

Originally Posted by BigDaddyLoveHandles

I think Eastman's standard scale length is 25". Is that a deal breaker?

I wish Soloway made more trad looking guitars in a 27".

I don't know if you consider the new Single 15" (the guitar in my avatar) to be more "trad looking", but if so, we're working on the first 27" versions of that right now.

**BigDaddyLoveHandles** · 10-20-2010, 10:33 PM

Wow! Now if only Santa were a member here, too!

Archie · 10-21-2010, 01:07 AM

Sue, if you find a guitar that feels right for you but doesn't have the sound you want, you can change the pickups to get the sound you're looking for. I've done it many times. If you don't feel comfortable doing it yourself, someone here can most likely help you find someone in your area to do it.

**gailstorm9** · 10-21-2010, 02:03 AM

Hi Archie, thanks for the suggestion.

It's not just the pickups, everything needs to be upgraded (we're talking $280 Chinese guitar). I figured I might as well get something that I like better overall. Something light, at least semi-hollow, no tremolo, nicer neck, different color, tuners that don't go out.

Another option might be the Ibanez AGS83B. Or for a nicer solid body there's the new Fender Blacktop Jaguar with 24" scale. Or maybe the PRS SE Custom semi-hollow if I could get used to the 25" scale and figure out if new pickups would warm it up. It's light as a feather and pretty too in the natural.

Maybe someday I'll hit the lottery and get a Byrdland . . .

**goshawk** · 10-21-2010, 09:59 AM

Doesn't fall in your price range, at least new, but the Benedetto Andy has a 23" scale. They list it as a travel or youth guitar, but if it meets your needs...

Seriously, though, please try to demo the Eastman El Rey. I also have small hands, but I find mine very easy to fret -- maybe because it comes with roundwound 11s rather than heavier strings. Other than scale, it meets all your criteria... although you'll probably have to pick one up on eBay in order to meet your budget.

**mangotango** · 10-21-2010, 10:26 AM

Not so sure about the quality and finishing here, but if you want value:

luna guitars - electric

$400 with free shipping from Amazon.com.

Amazon.com: Luna Athena Semi Hollowbody Electric Guitar - White: Musical Instruments: Reviews, Prices & more

I have one of these, and it's a nice, cheap-and-cheerful, fun guitar that sounds much more resonant than my solid-bodies. Basically it's like a semi-hollow Les Paul Deluxe.

I have mine strung with TI Bebop11's, and it's a nice sound - not as refined as my New Yorker, granted, but...

**derek** · 10-21-2010, 10:50 AM

Originally Posted by BigDaddyLoveHandles

I think Eastman's standard scale length is 25". Is that a deal breaker?

I wish Soloway made more trad looking guitars in a 27".

I have owned 4 PRS guitars over the years, including their Archtop, and the Soloway is a much better guitar imo. I absolutely love my 25.5" scaled Gosling.

**Jazzophobe** · 10-21-2010, 11:08 AM

I have a Parkwood PWH2 Hybrid that I bought on clearance from Guitar Center. The piezo works well on it, but the real surprise was the nice jazz tone I get from the neck pickup. It's a VERY easy guitar to play and I'm still pinching myself for paying only $300.00 for it.

**BigDaddyLoveHandles** · 10-21-2010, 11:45 AM

Originally Posted by gailstorm9

I have small weak hands. My 24" scale Squier Jagmaster is easy to play but lacks tone. All the archtops I've tried were too hard to play.

Have you thought about just capo-ing a guitar that you like at the first fret? That would turn a 25.5" scale into a 24" scale, I think. You could detune a semitone first, so that the capo-ed result would be back to EADGBE. Some other things to look at would be neck contour and string gauge. And don't ignore good hand positioning!

I figure lots of children play classical guitar, with its 2in nut and 650 mm scale (=25.9"), but nylon is easier on the fingers.

**gailstorm9** · 10-21-2010, 04:29 PM

Great idea, thanks all!

That Benedetto Andy sure is nice, wish I could afford it.

The Parkwood Hybrid also looks very nice, especially the PWH4, but appears to be out of production. I really like the hybrid idea and the scale is 24.75.

I've tried the capo trick but I find it kind of weird since the fret markers no longer line up. I'll try it again since it does open up a lot more options.

I'm working on my hand position. Since my hands are small, I always have to have my thumb way down on the neck to reach anything.

**gailstorm9** · 10-21-2010, 04:35 PM

Mangotango, I forgot about the Luna guitars. When I first checked them out, the reviews were really mixed on quality control.

How's the unamplified sound?

What's the size of the lower bout? Rim depth?

No local dealers so I'd have to get one off the internet but might be worth checking out.

**JohnW400** · 10-21-2010, 04:41 PM

Have you looked at Godin?

Might be a bit much . I think these are around $1800, but I'm not positive.

**gailstorm9** · 10-21-2010, 05:01 PM

The 5th Ave Kingpin II looks interesting and it's around $1K.

Archie · 10-22-2010, 03:29 AM

I've tried several Godins. They all had very big, fat necks.

Archie · 10-22-2010, 03:34 AM

Sue, have a look for a Gretsch 6120 Jr. They are similar to the full-size Gretsch, but they have smaller bodies:

I have a regular 6120, and it has a very slim neck. The Jrs are no longer in production, but you may be able to find a used one for $1000.

**brad4d8** · 10-22-2010, 10:01 AM

Might be over your budget, but an Epiphone Elitist Byrdland would probably be perfect. It's out of production, so you'd need to find a used one.
Brad

**gailstorm9** · 10-22-2010, 12:10 PM

Archie, Brad, thanks for the info. I'll check those out.

Archie · 10-22-2010, 01:47 PM

If you could find a Yamaha AES620HB...

it would be worth trying out. I have an AES 620 solid body and it's a very good guitar, very comfortable to play. This looks very similar. I changed the pickups in mine to Gibson 57 Classics. It sounded pretty good before, but to me the 57 Classics have a jazzier sound.

The price of one of these new would be well under $1000.

**gailstorm9** · 10-28-2010, 03:33 PM

I never bought an instrument without playing it first but none of the reputable online dealers had one so I decided to take a chance. Plus I get to support my local dealer.

Should be here in about a week. Can't wait!

Thanks for eveyone's help.

Sue