Is there a ´crisp´ semi hollow or hollow body guitar out there?

[Daddydey]

I'll put in a plug for the Comins GCS-1. Sounds like it would exactly fit your bill. See the review I just posted for details.

Comins GCS-1 Report

[Jimmy Mack]

But have you seen the prices of ES 225's on Ebay lately?? Buy a Guild. An old one or a new one.

[lpdeluxe]

I suffered from the same lack in my 335: great mellow sounds, crisp not so much. I recently bought this Carvin SH550 off craigslist for about half what it would cost new, currently. It has Seymour Duncan Jazzmaster Antiquity II pickups, wound in humbucker-size cases. I took part in an evaluation of the SH550 three years ago, with the Carvin pickups; a good friend and playing partner bought that from Randyc (who organized the review) so I can directly compare the two.

Twenty-five" scale, 14.1 lower bout (about halfway between a Les Paul and a 335), and it is constructed in a similar manner to a Tele Thinline. The body is routed mahogany, with a set-in mahogany neck, with a figured maple or cedar (as with mine) arched top.

Carvins tend to go for really reasonable prices used, and in this particular case I found the exact combination of features I would have ordered from Carvin, with the additional -- and critical -- single-coil pickups. Perhaps you can find one and install the pickups on it.




Here is a shot I took of the review sample. You can better see the construction of the top and body.

[powerwagonjohn]

A Gibson ES-225 sold on E-bay in Oct. for less than 1000.00, granted it needed a pick guard but there available. I would get one with the orig. bridge/tailpiece AKA the Les Paul tailpiece, it's what makes 225 so unique. Or just go Guild, ya can't go wrong there.
Thanks John

[Anika]

I suffered from the same lack in my 335: great mellow sounds, crisp not so much. I recently bought this Carvin SH550 off craigslist for about half what it would cost new, currently.

A Carvin might be a good idea. I´ll have to check them out...thanks!

[Daniel Kuryliak]

Most semi hollow oder full hollow guitars are a bit too mellow sounding for my taste. I ´m thinking of a blend of a Epiphone Casino / Gibson Es-330 and maybe a Telecaster soundwise. A Thinline Telecaster did not do it for me. The ´60 Casino and Es-330 have a bit of what i´m looking for, but it´s just a tat and they are also a bit too expensive.

Ideas anybody?

Thanks!

You could take a Telecaster neck and graft it onto a Casino body. Next add a tone block in the middle, ditch the P-90s and put on a set of EMG James Hetfield percussive attack pickups...and it will be as crisp as a two day old pickle.
Now, you will need either a Blackface Lux , the holy grail of blues players, or an amp of your
choice that has the same tonal characteristics.

Just turn it up to about "7" for a nice crisp/gritty sound , that cleans up when you back off on the guitars volume just a weebit and voila..a clean setting that is CRISP as a toaster waffle, and a bit more drive will mellow out the high end.


Call 1-800-How am I doing?

[Daniel Kuryliak]

I suffered from the same lack in my 335: great mellow sounds, crisp not so much. I recently bought this Carvin SH550 off craigslist for about half what it would cost new, currently. It has Seymour Duncan Jazzmaster Antiquity II pickups, wound in humbucker-size cases. I took part in an evaluation of the SH550 three years ago, with the Carvin pickups; a good friend and playing partner bought that from Randyc (who organized the review) so I can directly compare the two.

It's hard to be crisp on a ES330/Casino. That is why Gibson came out with the tone block in the ES-335.

Twenty-five" scale, 14.1 lower bout (about halfway between a Les Paul and a 335), and it is constructed in a similar manner to a Tele Thinline. The body is routed mahogany, with a set-in mahogany neck, with a figured maple or cedar (as with mine) arched top.

Carvins tend to go for really reasonable prices used, and in this particular case I found the exact combination of features I would have ordered from Carvin, with the additional -- and critical -- single-coil pickups. Perhaps you can find one and install the pickups on it.

Very nice figured quilted maple! Is that a true hollow or semi-hollow?

[Sean65]

Most semi hollow oder full hollow guitars are a bit too mellow sounding for my taste. I ´m thinking of a blend of a Epiphone Casino / Gibson Es-330 and maybe a Telecaster soundwise. A Thinline Telecaster did not do it for me. The ´60 Casino and Es-330 have a bit of what i´m looking for, but it´s just a tat and they are also a bit too expensive.

Ideas anybody?

Thanks!

A Fender Starcaster may just be the right guitar. Maple neck, wide range pickups (get them upgraded to Lollar Regal or Creamery), 25.5 inch scale length and drop dead gorgeous looks. The problem is that if you find a new one in your local shop it will have silly little skinny strings on (.09's) which won't show the guitars real character.

The maple neck and the longer scale length account for some added brightness. I'm not sure how familiar you are with wide range humbuckers but they're truly impressive pickups. Very articulate with great string definition.

These guitars are made in China and are very well made.

Just another idea.

[zigzag]

I love my SH550 with stock S22 pickups.

[Anika]

I'm not sure how familiar you are with wide range humbuckers but they're truly impressive pickups.

Of course, but only the old 70s ones imho ...

[Sean65]

Of course, but only the old 70s ones imho ...

Agreed!

[JBGM]

Anika, I posted a few minutes ago a sound comparison between three guitars, including a ES-335, Epiphone Joe Pass, and Dean Palomino Solo. For what you describe, you might want to check the Palomino:

https://www.jazzguitar.be/forum/guita...tml#post377276

[lpdeluxe]

Very nice figured quilted maple! Is that a true hollow or semi-hollow?

The Carvin is made in a way similar to a Tele Thinline, but with a set neck. The body is a slab of mahogany that has been contoured (rather like a Strat, but not as extreme) and routed out under the f-holes. The top is another slab of maple (flame or quilt) or, in the case of mine, cedar; it is then carved into a arch and the edges are finished to mimic binding. There is a video of an SH550 being carved on CNC routers. I'm not sure if it's posted on the Carvin web site, but it might be up on Youtube (I have a DVD I got from Carvin).


Anyway, here's another shot at a different angle of the quilt-top guitar, and perhaps you can better see its construction.

[jih68]

Have not read the whole thread - but Gibson 339 is a bright guitar with plenty of snap.
I'm trying to go in the opposite direction with this - darker, airier and woodier.
the smaller body with 57's seem to make it more focused than the full sized semi's.
i guess an Epiphone 339 would be similar.

[coreybox]

* a CRISP and bright sound comes from the bridge pickup, alone or in conjunction with the neck
* what kind of amp are you using? how are you EQing it? - you might not want to use a typical 'jazz' amp
* what guitar are you currently using?
* what strings? - should be using steel roundwounds

All sorts of guitars (175 and 335 included) have been used in all sorts of bright, crisp, jangly applications ( beatles, rock, etc)..... there is nothing inherent about these guitars that will preclude you from a bright and crisp sound.

[GoergeBenson]

Yeh I would sec on the Hofner very thin, they do sound crips.

Also Carvin

The Yamaha SA 2200 is also a good one.

I would say that any 335 type with a sold maple top and maple back and sides, will sound very crisp and glassy.
A lot of people find the Yamaha SA2200 too bright and crisp. The hofner very thin has a more airy sound but is very articulate and is a guitar I would very much like to have.

Probably the best choice though, would be a solid topped Heritage Es-335 (if you can get past the headstock shape :-))

I don't like the Gibson standard 335's because the tops are too laminate and the tone is muddy and dull (IMO) In fact thats why I don't like many es335's. Although an old mini pupped Epiphone is a great axe.

[GoergeBenson]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Hofner-HCT...item461c43d0ff

Wow hand made, Spruce top (not sure if solid) maple sides and back, ebony fretboard. I am very tempted, but when the price gets a bit lower. Might offer the seller £500

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Hofner-Ver...item3cddd0b63e

[DRS]

If you can swing the coin ($3800), a Johnny A is the ticket. It's full hollow but with a flat maple back and carved maple top and maple sides. It is a bit smaller in body than a ES335 but has a 25.5 inch scale. It can go from a warm jazz tone on the neck to a snappier Tele like sound on the bridge and everything in between.

[Hammertone]

If you can swing the coin ($3800), a Johnny A is the ticket. It's full hollow but with a flat maple back and carved maple top and maple sides. It is a bit smaller in body than a ES335 but has a 25.5 inch scale. It can go from a warm jazz tone on the neck to a snappier Tele like sound on the bridge and everything in between.

The Johnny A is indeed fully hollow but does have a small block connecting the top to the back, under the bridge.

[Hammertone]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Hofner-HCT...item461c43d0ff

HCT VERYTHIN:
Laminated maple top/rims/back
Spruce block
maple neck, rosewood board
scale 24.7"
made in China, w/Chinese and Korean parts

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Hofner-Ver...item3cddd0b63e
Wow hand made, Spruce top (not sure if solid) maple sides and back, ebony fretboard. I am very tempted, but when the price gets a bit lower. Might offer the seller £500

VERYTHIN SPECIAL
Laminated spruce top, laminated maple rims/back
Spruce block
maple neck, ebony board, clay dots, bone nut
scale 24.7"
made in China, w/German-supplied pickups, tuners, straplocks & tailpiece wired up/installed/set up in Germany

VERYTHIN CLASSIC/VERYTHIN JS
Laminated spruce top, laminated anigree rims/back
Spruce block
maple neck, ebony board, mother-of-pearl block markers, bone nut
scale 25.25"
made in Germany, w/German-supplied pickup, tuners, straplocks, bridge & tailpiece

All very nice guitars, but each at different price points

[jzucker]

i think the eastman el rey or T386 are fantastic. Here're a couple clips I did of the el rey an an henriksen to give you an idea.

I see them used about $800

[zigzag]

I just picked up a used Epi Dot, and I'm having Lindy Fralin wind some P-92s at 8000 @42 in the neck and 8250 in the bridge for it. I'm hoping these'll be "crisper" with better definition than, say, '57 classics. Total cost under $600.