More acoustic Semi-hollow body guitar?

**fusionman** · 04-02-2013, 10:29 AM

Hello,
I was looking for laminate hollow-body guitar, but recently i have realized that thinline, small body guitars fits me better. I viewed all movies with Moffa's and Schottmüller's on youtube, and this kind of sound which i need.

These guitars are pricey so i am looking something in this style but for maybe 2000 bucks. Similar specs have Comins GCS-1es and Eastman El- rey. (I suspect spruce top as main factor of being "more acoustic semi").
Maybe there are some others guitars, which are jazzier semis? Please also tell me something about comins and eastman and maybe someone could be compare them?

**goshawk** · 04-02-2013, 10:41 AM

Some other guitars you might want to look at are the Benedetto Bambino, the Aria D'Aquisto Centura Electric (I think it's been discontinued but you can still find them) or maybe even the Sadowsky SS-15 or Semi-Hollow. All of those, as far as I remember, have list prices in the $4000 range.

Eastman also makes some other thinlines, both laminate and carved, beside the El Rey series.

As far as the El Reys: I have the ER-1 and like it very much. It's the model with the single pickup, mahogany back and sides and spruce top. The ER-2 has two pickups, and I believe the entire body is maple.

One thing you should know about the El Rey, which you may already know, is that the design is neck heavy, so it can be uncomfortable to play standing with a strap.

**disco~juice** · 04-02-2013, 11:01 AM

You should invest in a schottmuller semi. In your range though is the comins semi. I heard pretty good things about that guitar.

**kris** · 04-02-2013, 11:24 AM

**disco~juice** · 04-02-2013, 12:03 PM

Oh Kris!
I totally want one 77 albatross!

**IbanezAS100** · 04-02-2013, 02:40 PM

+1 for Kris's recommendation and also check out the 77 Stork Jazz II-in your price range, small body, thinline, spruce top, great overall spec.

Modern Jazz Guitar Seventy Seven Stork Jazz II Model Handmade in Japan | eBay

The only downside is this guy doesn't ship outside the US. Don't know where you're based but but check out

Japan Vintage Guitars - SeventySeven Stork Jazz II

they ship worldwide.

If you want to try before you buy, a Godin Montreal Premiere is also worth checking out.

**Gabe** · 04-02-2013, 03:10 PM

Just out of interest does anyone know how much a Schottmüller costs?

**kris** · 04-02-2013, 03:13 PM

Ther is a contact to 77 guitars in US:
Eiichi Yamamoto
[email protected]

**IbanezAS100** · 04-02-2013, 03:18 PM

Originally Posted by Gabe

Just out of interest does anyone know how much a Schottmüller costs?

Around 3-3.5 K Euros but this might be out of date. Best contact Stefan directly as he's changed his design from bolt-on to set neck recently so there might be changes in the pricing.

**fusionman** · 04-02-2013, 03:59 PM

3,5 euro + tax...

**IbanezAS100** · 04-02-2013, 04:49 PM

This might be of interest too...Mr Muthspiel enjoyed his for quite a few years:

Heritage Millennium Year 2000 very rare Maple with Spruce top high end build | eBay

**LtKojak** · 04-04-2013, 02:05 PM

Oh, man!

I didn't even know the existence of Seventy Seven guitars until a couple of days ago and I'm already gassing hard for one.

The Exrubato series is just everything I could've ever asked for in a semi-hollow and then some.

I hate you!!!!!!!!!

**Juan Pablo** · 05-29-2013, 07:55 PM

The seventy seven albatross is a really good guitar, very rich sounding.
The neck is very very diferent than my other guitar (ibanez as 50), the albatross neck is fatter, but really confortable.
Other thing is, the string gauge feels much lighter (which may or may not be what you look for).
Here is a video of me playing that guitar
(sorry if it looks like shameless self promotion)

**Hammertone** · 05-29-2013, 09:56 PM

I'd recommend a new or used Hofner Verythin Classic (2 pickups) or Verythin John Stowell (1 pickup).
Spruce block, spruce laminated top, ebony fingerboard, maple neck, anigree ("African maple") rims/back
Schaller hardware, handmade in Germany between 2000 and @2010.
Very versatile, with a great jazz sound using the neck pickup.
25 1/4" scale, wonderful necks.
Under $2,000 used - they come up on ebay every now and again.

or, in a more popular vein:

**Woody Sound** · 05-31-2013, 11:45 AM

You have had a lot of good suggestions here, but most seem to be guitars with a solid block inside. I took from your op that you are looking for a thinner/smaller fully hollow guitar. Yes, no?

**cosmic gumbo** · 05-31-2013, 10:04 PM

That's what I thought too.

**docbop** · 05-31-2013, 10:24 PM

Most semi-hollows have block of some sort for bridge, or various length. All I can think of is like a ES330 or ES137 should be able to find one in OP price range. Guild way back some hollow Les Paul like guitars BluesBird. The OP mentioned an El Rey that might be his closest match in that price range. Sadowsky makes a really nice fully hollow version of their simi, but twice the price.

**Hammertone** · 05-31-2013, 11:16 PM

I thought the OP was looking at thin guitars with laminated spruce tops and blocks as an alternative to laminated hollow-body guitars - he mentions the Comins GCS-1es, which has a laminated spruce top, a block cut from one piece of wood, an ebony board, the flexibility to get a humbucking sound as well as a single-coil sound, just like the Verythi....

**cosmic gumbo** · 05-31-2013, 11:29 PM

hello...fusionman...are you out there.....?

**vejesse** · 06-01-2013, 04:08 PM

Anyone tried an ESP made "Edwards" brand 335 copy? I guess the top and back and maybe the sides are made from solid maple. Every once in a while you can find one one Ebay in the U.S. for about $900. I've always wanted to try one of those Yamaha 335 copies with the spruce top as well.

**fusionman** · 06-01-2013, 05:15 PM

i am not 100% sure but need guitar with block

**jzucker** · 01-26-2014, 07:33 PM

i have owned the ESP made edwards and it's a nice axe. A little more hollow sounding than the regular 335.

The eastman 186 also is solid wood and smaller block so it sounds a little more archtop like. The el rey, 184 and 185 are neck heavy unfortunately, otherwise I'd highly recommend them.

To me, the eastman is the best "jazzy" semihollow in the lower end of the price range but the neck-heavy aspect is a deal killer for me on the smaller body guitars they make.

I loved my hofner verythin but it's even more neck heavy than the eastmans. It was impossible for me to play standing up.

I ended up with a gibson 339 which is well balanced, reasonably light and with the tone control down, has a nice thunk to it ala Adam Rogers' tone.

**Hammertone** · 01-27-2014, 03:36 AM

Originally Posted by jzucker

...I loved my hofner verythin but it's even more neck heavy than the eastmans. It was impossible for me to play standing up….

Some of the Verythin Classic and Verythin JS guitars have the strap pin located too far down the body on the back plate. All you need to do is add a strap button on the tip of the bass horn and it then balances fine. Those wacky Germans!

**kris** · 01-27-2014, 04:05 AM

Originally Posted by Hammertone

Some of the Verythin Classic and Verythin JS guitars have the strap pin located too far down the body on the back plate. All you need to do is add a strap button on the tip of the bass horn and it then balances fine. Those wacky Germans!

any pic of this mod?

**jzucker** · 01-27-2014, 07:49 AM

Originally Posted by Hammertone

Some of the Verythin Classic and Verythin JS guitars have the strap pin located too far down the body on the back plate. All you need to do is add a strap button on the tip of the bass horn and it then balances fine. Those wacky Germans!

i moved mine there, didn't make much difference. The maple neck (heavy) and the spruce top and modest center block along with the extremely high neck body joint make for a bad combination for balance. Most cats I see playing them are sitting. If you are slender it just doesn't balance right.