Semi-Hollow Guitars Under $1000?

[legsilver]

What's a good semi-hollow guitar (I'm willing to buy used) under $1,000?

[mongrel]

If I had a little under a grand in my Buy Another Guitar dedicated account, I would go searching for a Gibson ES-135. They came with the stacked humbucker P-90 look-alike P-100's and regular sized humbuckers. You still see them on Ebay for under a thousand bucks. Then again, I'm a sucker for a Florentine cutaway and trapeze tailpiece. And if you buy one for a reasonable price and then later on decide you'd rather have something else, the instrument should retain enough value that you could come out at least whole.

[bmw2002]

Having just removed two feet of snow from my Connecticut driveway, I appreciate the sentiment. In addition to the Gibson mentioned, you might also look for a used Comins GCS-1. There was one for sale here on the Forum not long ago for $1,000, but I believe it sold pretty quickly. Great guitar, very versatile and well made. Worth researching. I know Rudy's in NYC carries them.

[mr quick]

....Get a hollowbody =) You say you haven't got the chops, but looking back to when I bought my first, neither did I. It's a whole different kind of guitar. I for one, appreciate the delicate craftsmanship.

[Al Br.]

Just below 1k,

Prestige Pro Double cutaway 914 Amazon
Peerless Hardtail 995 Guitars n' Jazz.

The Prestige is a real nice looking piece and has good reviews. Peerless is also good quality and has a nice video at the GnJ site.

Ibanez AM153 or AS153 offer nice tonal variety and seem to be decent quality 700+/-

Several Epiphones to choose from depending on taste, 400 to 700

Washburn HB35, 400 -600 Cheapest but some decent reviews on the net.

For something a bit different look at the Reverend Manta Rey or Peerless Retromatic (hard to find much on the latter).

There may be more but this covers most of what's out there for under 1k that appears to be of decent to good value.

my 2 pennies worth. (also looking)

[monkmiles]

The Eastman T386 is well under $1000 new and a great guitar.

[Silentwiz]

Please consider the Schecter Corsair -- it's seriously cheap and made in the outstanding Korea factory that makes a lot of the nicer Ibanez/ESP/Schecter/Epiphone guitars.

It has some decent Duncan Designed pickups and looks the part (well... except for the headstock, which'll be covered by your clip on tuner anyway)

Just my .02!

[Doctor Jeff]

I am a fan of the Peerless models. I have a Sunset--fully hollow thinline, but not much feedback problem. I imagine the semi would be of similar quality.

I will also throw out the Godin Premiere--IMO one of the best quality guitars out there for the money. Innovative arched block design as well.

They retail over $1250 but can be bought used for about a grand. One thing to think about when buying is availability. There always seem to be a lot of Godins around for a decent price.

[Doctor Jeff]

I had a Kingpin and recently got an acoustic 5th Avenue and installed a floating pickup. Lovely guitars with a nice acoustic sound, not too loud though. It is one of the lightest, most comfortable guitars for me to play. The P90 pickup is perfectly suited to that guitar as well.

With the P90 it has a versatile amplified sound that can sound like an amplified acoustic, warm slightly overdriven jazz sound, or even growly--very responsive to playing style. The quality control on the Godins is superb also. I have often said the various Godin jazz models provide the most bang for the buck.

The only downsides are no bridge pickup, so not really suitable for hard rock, and though it's a laminate given its light weight it will feedback a bit under some circumstances. Oh, and the P90 can be a bit noisy if you are around old wiring (cured with the EFX HumDebugger in my case).

[Frethack]

Chops shmops. You would be surprised what that tone will inspire in you. You might end up practicing more and building those chops. Semi-hollow? You can play almost anything on those. I'm happy with mine, but would still like a nice hollow body.

[StanG]

If you are not sure what you like and what you want an Epiphone Es-335 Pro is a good bet for about $350-400 new and out the door. Very decent guitars, and you won't be out a lot of money if it doesnt work out for you.

[John A.]

New vs used: I've done both, and never had a lemon or been ripped off. So I say either is safe, but if you're buying online do as much due diligence on the seller and the deal as you can.

Semi vs full hollow: it's not a "chops" question. It's a matter of which you prefer and which is better suited to the music you play. If all you play is jazz and you want an archtop, get an archtop. If you play other kinds of music, semis are more versatile. Also, some people find one shape or the other more comfortable (e.g., full-depth guitars bug some people's shoulders).

Here are some semi ideas I don't think anyone has thrown out yet on this thread:

D'Angelico EX-DC -- I got mine used for $810 plus shipping (in as new condition, complete with shrink wrap and inspection sticker on the pickguard). I couldn't be happier. There are usually a few on ebay for under a grand.

PRS SE Semi-hollow goes for around $600 new. I tried one in a store for a while and almost pulled the trigger. Not exactly a 335-like-object, but quite nice, and well made.

Hamer Echotone -- I friend of mine has one -- one of the better 335-like-objects I've played, and super cheap. I don't think they make 'em anymore, but you can find 'em used for under $400.

Gibson ES 333 -- these show up on ebay a lot. From what I've seen, they sell for around a grand +/- a bit.

Samick Greg Bennett Royale -- a guy I know has one. I haven't played it, but he gets a nice tone out of it. I think they go for around $500.

Gibson ES 335 or 339 studio -- New they're around $1400, they've only been on the market a short while and there might not be any used ones around. But if you wait a bit there should be, and I'd guess they'll be around a grand. I haven't played one, so I can't recommend one way or the other, but throwing the idea out there anyway.

Guild Starfire IV -- the current "reissue" is on a bunch of sites for $1079. I've heard good things about them. I've played plenty of old ones, but haven't tried one of these. There may be some used ones around, which should be a well under a grand.

John

[OldGuitarPlayer]

I just picked up my first real good full hollow body archtop jazz guitar last week. A 2005 Korean Peerless factory made Epiphone Emperor Regent with a single floating neck pickup. It sounds pretty good unplugged but plugged in it's got a real nice woody electric tone. It's the sound I've been looking for. It's a big 17" body 3" deep with gold hardware, full body & neck binding, fancy fretboard inlays (bling!) and I love it. I paid only $400 w/case so good deals are out there if you are patient.

The Godin is also an excellent choice and really nails that ES-125 vibe and sound at a fraction of the price. A friend of mine has had one for years and except for the occasional regular maintenance it's been a great sounding & playing worry free guitar.

[legsilver]

Yes I had a Kingpin and recently got an acoustic 5th Avenue and installed a floating pickup. Lovely guitars with a nice acoustic sound, not too loud though. It is one of the lightest, most comfortable guitars for me to play. The P90 pickup is perfectly suited to that guitar as well.

With the P90 it has a versatile amplified sound that can sound like an amplified acoustic, warm slightly overdriven jazz sound, or even growly--very responsive to playing style. The quality control on the Godins is superb also. I have often said the various Godin jazz models provide the most bang for the buck.

The only downsides are no bridge pickup, so not really suitable for hard rock, and though it's a laminate given its light weight it will feedback a bit under some circumstances. Oh, and the P90 can be a bit noisy if you are around old wiring (cured with the EFX HumDebugger in my case).

Thanks. If I swap the P 90 for a humbucker, will that make it less noisey?

[jazzbow]

Check out Hagstrom guitars


HL550. £500/$750 new


HL800. 25" scale spruce top £680/$1020 new(there are lower spec models).


Viking. £500/$750 new

My son has a Viking. It's really well put together and very versatile. The fingerboards are composite ebony type and the necks are on the thin side but fast. Doesn't do death metal tho'

[Doctor Jeff]

Thanks. If I swap the P 90 for a humbucker, will that make it less noisey?

Well, yes, of course, but IMO that particular pickup is ideally paired with that guitar. I noticed a LOT of noise when I first got mine due to horrible wiring in my house, but I got a HumDebugger which instantly solved the problem with no discernible effect (to my half-century-old ears).

[spiral]

In that price range there are so many lovely options. I previously owned a Yamaha AES1500 and highly recommend tracking one down. They are made in Japan and are as pro as they come. It comes in a metallic white (subtle, not sparkly) and orange—hopefully that isn't an issue. 25.5" scale which is unique for a semi. Soapboar humbucking pickups clear no-noise sound. I've seen photos of black and maple topped ones but never for sale.




+1 on the ES135. It's affordable if Gibson is your flavor.
+1 on the Eastman T386.

I've tried the Coronado. They sound good but are pretty heavy. They play great and the scale is 25.5" which I like. The Fidelitrons are a little darker / hotter than Filtertrons but do the job and give you lots of clarity.

I know you have just started your search but there are so many factors that would be helpful to nail down: budget (done!), scale, pickup type, sounds you like, and typical use.

[edit]
How could I forget the Hofner Verythin!? Much like the Yamaha, very under the radar, absolutely great sounding and built by true craftspeople.

[legsilver]

Thanks guys, hope everyone is doing well. Turns out I may very well be coming upon a whole lot of money (around a grand, USD), in the very near future. So, my budget for a new guitar will be less than or equal to $800...I'd like something I could play rock and blues gigs with too, like at a bar on Long Island. I'm thinking of used, American tele...

[Longways to Go]

drooble all you want on the web, then go find something really cool that your hands like LOCAL.
doesn't much matter if it's a tele, 335 or an archtop

[Silentwiz]

Find a Comins GCS-1 used... be so happy

[drbhrb]

drooble all you want on the web, then go find something really cool that your hands like LOCAL.
doesn't much matter if it's a tele, 335 or an archtop

Most online dealers have generous return policies. I wouldn't rule them out.

OP - Ibanez makes the best semi hollows under 1k in my opinion

[Jabberwocky]

Let me put in my perennial plug for a Seventy-Seven Exrubato Standard or Edwards E-SA-125LTS.

[Longways to Go]

I got a great deal on an Ibanez AFJ85 a couple of years ago from Sweetwater -- great company IMO.

[mr quick]

I recently tried a Gibson ES-139, which is a semi-hollow without F-holes. Fantastic guitar, and I like the understated looks. Cost 1200 bucks, which is just a tad bit too much.




Anyway, as some may remember, I bought a Fender Starcaster just 2 months ago, as a semi-hollow fusion/funk/studio/anything guitar. Unfortunately, due to production error, this has been sent back to Fender under warranty. It came back unfixed, and I'm now considering just getting cash back from the dealer.

I'm in the market for a semi-hollow now. It's gotta be versatile, and have either traditional F-holes or no soundholes, and it's got to cost less than a grand.

Any ideas?

[OldGuitarPlayer]

Epiphone ES-335 or ES-339 Pro. They both sell for about $400 - $500 new. Used for much less.