Poor man's Sadowsky Semi-Hollow?

[ooglybong]

With all due respect, Tom, I just don't think you're thinking clearly about this matter. That's not how GAS works. First you need to acquire the new axe, then think about how you're gonna pay for it, dabble with the notion of selling something to fund the already-completed acquisition, realize this is not the best time for a sale given the economy, and them limp along sheepishly avoiding your spouse until the next pang of an attack overcomes you and you begin the cycle again. It's really not that hard to understand how it all works if you just make a modicum of effort in that direction.

And THAT, my friends, is how I ended up with so many guitars.........

[mylesgtr]

I tried the Comins a while back looking for a guitar that would work well for louder jazz gigs or gigs that begin jazz and end loud r&b/blues.

I never wound up gigging with it...played with it at home for a few days...could tell I wasn't going to bond with it, and then returned it. Chatted with Bill Comins on Facebook a bit and he was really great to deal with, and I like what he's trying to do, but it just wasn't for me. My friend Yotam Silberstein plays one and sounds great with it, so it's just a matter of opinion. I personally just couldn't get used to the neck profile. It weighed a bit more than I expected given it's smaller than a 335 size, but that wasn't a deal breaker. The pickups seemed really nice and it was very nicely made. It was a hard decision not to keep it, but I knew it was going to end up on ebay within a year or two if I had kept it. I'd like to check out the Sadowsky, but I don't have that kind of money. Anyway, it's certainly a nice guitar, but I just couldn't get used to the neck...I was hoping for something that I would be able to switch to from my ES175 without feeling a huge difference happening in my left hand, but it didn't feel like a 175 and it didn't feel like a 335. It was kind of chunky which I'm usually a fan of, but there was just something weird about the chunkiness to me that I can't explain. Anyway, not knocking the guitar...just wasn't for me.

A guitar that I wound up selling despite liking a lot was the PRS SE Semihollow...they are ridiculously great for the money in my opinion (tons to be had for cheap in barely used condition). Loved the neck...sounded really nice with stock pickups, though better ones are probably available, super lightweight. The only reason I wound up selling it was that it seemed just a little bit more like a solid body to me than a 335. Tonally, just a tad bit brighter than a 335, and the body just felt a little too small too me compared to my 175. An incredibly great value used for somebody who doesn't mind something that feels a little bit more like a solidbody than a semi hollow though.

Then there was the 1982 ES-335 that I had to sell to make rent once which was the best semi I've ever had...in hindsight, I probably should've found a nice park bench to sleep on instead...it was springtime and the weather was nice.

[Tom Karol]

With all due respect, Tom, I just don't think you're thinking clearly about this matter. That's not how GAS works. First you need to acquire the new axe, then think about how you're gonna pay for it, dabble with the notion of selling something to fund the already-completed acquisition, realize this is not the best time for a sale given the economy, and them limp along sheepishly avoiding your spouse until the next pang of an attack overcomes you and you begin the cycle again. It's really not that hard to understand how it all works if you just make a modicum of effort in that direction.

You're right of course - I guess I'd better start shopping for a Sadowsky or Collings then!

[Cobra]

I was seriously considering the Comins as well, but the neck profile was a deal-breaker for me. I really liked the guitar, the price, the sound, but I need a much larger neck to be comfortable.
From what I understand, the Sadowsky neck is pretty small too. I've tried a few Collings electrics, & while I think they're on the smallish side as well, not too small...
Unfortunately, I just can't swing the jing on a Collings now.
Not that I don't think they're worth what they charge.
For now, I just have to be happy with what I have. I have a killer Lentz T, & a killer Soloway Swan, which both have big necks, but neither of these guitars is ideal for jazz. They work in a pinch, & jazz isn't all I play.

[RyanM]

If I were you I'd seriously try to find a Godin Montreal Premiere to check out.

[Woody Sound]

A guitar that I wound up selling despite liking a lot was the PRS SE Semihollow...they are ridiculously great for the money in my opinion (tons to be had for cheap in barely used condition). Loved the neck...sounded really nice with stock pickups, though better ones are probably available, super lightweight. The only reason I wound up selling it was that it seemed just a little bit more like a solid body to me than a 335. Tonally, just a tad bit brighter than a 335, and the body just felt a little too small too me compared to my 175. An incredibly great value used for somebody who doesn't mind something that feels a little bit more like a solidbody than a semi hollow though.

Well here ya go, to replace yours!

PRS SE Custom Semi Hollow Body Guitar in Vintage Natural w Gig Bag RRP$1069 | eBay

[mylesgtr]

Well here ya go, to replace yours!

PRS SE Custom Semi Hollow Body Guitar in Vintage Natural w Gig Bag RRP$1069 | eBay

Oh, no. I wouldn't want to replace it. For me, the body was too small and felt too much like a solid body. Was just a tad bright for my tastes and not quite "airy" enough, but not sure if that was due to the pickups or body style. But, for somebody who wants a great guitar for cheap, and doesn't mind it feeling a bit more like a solid body than a semi, I think it would be hard to beat.

PS...just looked at the auction...they can be had *much* cheaper than that.

[Tom Karol]

So, yeah, I mentioned that I was lookling for a, 'poor man's Sadowsky Semi-Hollow' to use for everything but Jazz. (I have my Eastman AR403ce for just Jazz.) Then I wasn't. Last night I bought one anyway!

Based on my own personal set of ergonomic criteria, the only choices I was considering were the Comins GCS-1 and the Godin Montreal Premier. I sort of stumbled upon a local source for the Godin, tried it and bought it without ever trying the highly regarded, more feature laden, and fancier looking Comins. Here's why:

1. It had my preferred control layout: single pair of tone and volume controls and selector switch on the bass side upper bout.
2. It was quite light - just over 6 pounds - and well balanced; very comfortable.
3. It sounded leaner and brighter than the typical 335-type guitar, but still in the semi-hollow sonic camp.
4. Nice medium C-shape neck and excellent fretwork.
5. High general quality of build and finish, including a surprisingly good factory setup.
6. I got it brand new and unblemished for $1250.

Annoyingly, it comes with a gig bag and not a HSC - I'll have to get one.

I haven't had a chance to put it through its paces yet. My first impression is that it's a very friendly guitar to hold and play and easy to control - not amazing but very nice. I don't have to keep it - I have 14 days to change my mind - but I'm already sure I will keep it. I'll report more (pics, sound sample if possible) when there is more to report.

[Jabberwocky]

Get a Godin hard shell case for it.

[Tom Karol]

Get a Godin hard shell case for it.

Yes - I'm planning to do so. I hate gig bags.

Oh, and I forgot to add #7 up above: the strap button is where I like it (not on the back near the heel).

Anyway, I played it more tonight: It sounds sort of like a cross between a Tele and a 335, which may not be what everyone is looking for in a semi-hollow but is exactly what I wanted.

More, as it develops ...

[Jazzpunk]

Congrats. Godin guitars seem like a nice value.

What's the neck carve like? I prefer a fat c profile but usually hard to find.

[Tom Karol]

Congrats. Godin guitars seem like a nice value.
What's the neck carve like? I prefer a fat c profile but usually hard to find.

It's got a 1 11/16" nut. Given that spec, it feels slim but deep - maybe more like a 'D' than a C, but not a 'U'.

A few other observations:

1) Finishing on fingerboard and fretts is really good.
2) It sounds reminiscent of a PRS SE Semi-Hollow I tried in a store a few years back, but a bit fuller. I think I read somewhere that the pickups are sourced from the same Korean supplier as the PRS.
3) It has unbranded Kluson-style tuners that I believe are manufactured by Gotoh. Back in the day, I would have replaced those immediately with Schallers or Grovers. But they work fine, and they're very light, and the guitar is balanced perfectly. With its 15" body width and its 6-pound weight, it's an absolute pleasure to play standing up with a strap.
4) I didn't encounter any feedback issues when briefly trying it at higher volume.
5) The full-length center block is interesting. You can see it through the F-holes. It's configured like an viaduct with 3 big arches cut out of the side that abuts the back of the guitar. Apparently, it's made of spruce.
6) I think if you're looking for a smaller thinner alternative to a full hollowbody jazz box, it may not fit the bill. But for an all purpose rock/pop guitar that can still dabble in jazz, it's a highly viable choice.
7) It came with 10's; I'm putting 11's on it and doing some tweaking this weekend.
8) I got it in Sunburst; he had a red one, too, but I don't do red guitars.

[Hammertone]

The relatively new Hofner Verythin Special, Verythin Single-cut and Verythin Custom are all good alternatives if you can find one. Only a few have made it to North America. Current MAP is $1,550 and there are a few advertised on ebay.com.

Here's one at an excellent price ($1,250) in Alexandria VA:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Hofner-Veryt...item2ec6ecc34d

Chicago Music Exchange has one in Chicago.
Truetone Music has one in Santa Monica.
There are a couple of them in the Toronto area as well.

- light-weight, spruce block, maple laminated body, maple neck
- 16" wide, 1 1/4" deep thinline
- scale length 24.7" / 628 mm, ebony board, clay dots
- Schaller nickel-plated hardware, Schall-built mini-humbuckers

These are really nice guitars, actually - bodies made and painted in China, then shipped to Germany where German hardware is installed, the guitars are wired, the frets dressed, and the guitars set up.

Hofner Verythin Special, in redburst or sunburst:


Hofner Verythin Single-cut w/Bigsby, in light blue or transparent red:

[boatheelmusic]

Ibanez GB-10 or AG95.

Fully hollow, but.....

[Doctor Jeff]

Tom I second your observations exactly. The fit and finish on the Godins is just superb. IIRC it has a satin finish neck and back and sides, and glossy top. The neck is for me the absolute most comfortable one out there.

And the tone is sweet. IMO Godin really makes an extra effort to match hardware components with wood and construction, rather than just taking a box and throwing in a pickup that's supposed to be good for jazz. I had no problem getting a mellow but not overly dark jazz tone, ala Larry Carlton or even Kenny Burrell. But it is still versatile enough for a variety of styles, even Santana-style rock.

I had a similar positive reaction to my Godin Kingpin, a versatile guitar in its own right but quite a bit different from the Premiere.

The older I get and the farther along in my playing the more I appreciate ergonomics (AKA ease of use) more than reputation and tradition. If you can get a variety of great tones out of a guitar that's well-balanced and fits your body playing or standing up, especially if it's well-made and not overly expensive, why not go for it?

[Tom Karol]

Update: It loves roundwound 11's!

[jzucker]

Ibanez GB-10 or AG95.

Fully hollow, but.....

pickups on the gb-10 are dealbreakers for me though I've owned 12 of them....

[jasaco]

You've owned 12 GB10s??

[jzucker]

Never more than one at a time! I have a love/hate relationship with them. The one I should have kept had humbuckers mounted in the top. That one was the best sounding of all of them. Sold it for $700

[jasaco]

Isn't that kind of like marrying the same woman a dozen times?

[jzucker]

Isn't that kind of like marrying the same woman a dozen times?

Kind of.

I love the way the guitar feels and plays. One issue is that they switched to ceramic magnets at some point in the last 10-15 years and they are brighter than the originals. They are also a lot hotter.

[jads57]

Played the Comins at a local dealer a couple o times. First time wasn't impressed, but second time I plugged it in and definitely was! I think if you're looking for the Sadowsky clone, that is the closest to it!

[jzucker]

someone on another forum mentioned that samick is making the comins and that it's basically the Samick Royale with a slightly different body shape

[jads57]

Might be so, but knowing Bill Comin's work and with his name on it, I'll bet he's very particular about letting any questionable guitars released to market.