Sadowsky, Heritage, Gibson, or Suhr

**trauma15** · 10-31-2009, 12:19 PM

Hi, Looking for a nice semihollow jazz guitar. I play straight ahead, and some contemporary jazz. also do a bit of contemporary rock/lead guitar.

anyways i think these :

Sadowsky Semihollow model
Heritage H535, H555, or Millenium ultra STD
Gibson ES 335 block inlay slim neck
Suhr Archtop guitar

all fit my needs or some of my needs.
Was wondering if anyone had any recommendations. certain things im looking at are, is heritage better than gibson? Ive heard to take sadowsky over any gibson any day...is this true over heritage? And the suhr, i mean its thinner than all the other guitars but hey

thanks
-trauma

**Pequod** · 10-31-2009, 12:26 PM

Hi Trauma15 - I can only tell you I've tried the Heritage H555 and that's why I have a Gibson ES335 - far and away the most versatile semi hollow ever in my opinion - I play smooth and classic chord melody solo jazzm and like to dabble in Chicago blues and clasic rock too - Be Good, Pequod.

**lpdeluxe** · 10-31-2009, 12:33 PM

Opinions are worth exactly what you pay for them. I own a 335, and I'm very happy with it. I've had other semi-hollow electrics that just didn't do it for me, although they were nice enough guitars. So I tend to go with "get the one that feels right" philosophy.

Otherwise you'll be caught in the middle of the endless debates about a lot of peripheral and phantasmagorical issues (whether Chinese made guitars really are as good as American, whether Gibson quality is declining, and the ever-popular "it's what I play, so it's the best").

Try as many as you can find, and buy the one that fits. You will find examples of each that you don't like, and probably examples of each that will make you happy. RandyC said something here the other day that carries a lot of truth (I paraphrase -- if I got it wrong, my apologies, Randy): for something that you spend as much intimate time with, you should budget the time to pick out the one and only.

**randyc** · 10-31-2009, 01:34 PM

LPD, you just said it a lot better than I recall saying it !

Thanks,
Randy

**lpdeluxe** · 10-31-2009, 01:50 PM

Originally Posted by randyc

LPD, you just said it a lot better than I recall saying it !

Thanks,
Randy

You've got to stop -- people will start mistaking you for a nice guy and go back to asking your advice on which designer cables to buy.

**trauma15** · 10-31-2009, 03:30 PM

Originally Posted by lpdeluxe

Opinions are worth exactly what you pay for them. I own a 335, and I'm very happy with it. I've had other semi-hollow electrics that just didn't do it for me, although they were nice enough guitars. So I tend to go with "get the one that feels right" philosophy.

Otherwise you'll be caught in the middle of the endless debates about a lot of peripheral and phantasmagorical issues (whether Chinese made guitars really are as good as American, whether Gibson quality is declining, and the ever-popular "it's what I play, so it's the best").

Try as many as you can find, and buy the one that fits. You will find examples of each that you don't like, and probably examples of each that will make you happy. RandyC said something here the other day that carries a lot of truth (I paraphrase -- if I got it wrong, my apologies, Randy): for something that you spend as much intimate time with, you should budget the time to pick out the one and only.

The ONLY guitar out of these that I have tried is the Gibson Es 335. I will say it never felt 'right' but im assuming that some time, and a good set up might help that. Actually, the only reason why i am investigating other guitars is because the gibson didnt feel right at the store. Unfortunately i cant play any of those other guitars unless I order one. Really stinks but i'm torn.

-trauma

**lpdeluxe** · 10-31-2009, 04:11 PM

Originally Posted by trauma15

The ONLY guitar out of these that I have tried is the Gibson Es 335. I will say it never felt 'right' but im assuming that some time, and a good set up might help that. Actually, the only reason why i am investigating other guitars is because the gibson didnt feel right at the store. Unfortunately i cant play any of those other guitars unless I order one. Really stinks but i'm torn.

-trauma

I don't know where you are, but I'm in a town of 30000 with one music store that sells Fender and Peavey, basically. I bought my 335 off Craigslist, but more usually I deal with friends or the local store for basses (I'm a dedicated Precision player).

So I travel. I drove a little over 300 miles to check out the Gibson. I go to Austin and Houston and Dallas from time to time and, if there's a particular model I'm interested in (which is getting to be less and less frequent now that I've got my soul mates) I'll check 'em out. I'm prepared to buy, if it's what I really want.

The alternative is to end up with something I don't really want, and, since I have an even dozen of instruments at the moment, I don't feel any need to get something unless it speaks to me.

As an aside, the difference between one that's "pretty good" vs one that's "right on" is slight but highly significant. I spend a lot more time with my 335 than I did with some rather nice guitars in the past, just because it feels and sounds so good. In fact, I am greatly anticipating the arrival of two things today: a new 15" speaker cab and a long-term playing partner, and I can't wait to plug the 335 into the new rig.

Excitement is good. It's why I spend some time thinking about what I'm doing, because, as I get older, it's harder to get me excited.

**Ed Davis** · 11-17-2010, 02:03 PM

Try an Eastman 165

**docbop** · 11-17-2010, 02:35 PM

I love my 335 I got it back in 1976 and have done just about every type of work on it. Joe Diorio borrowed it to play in a class once and said if you ever sell that guitar let me know first. These days I tend to play my archtop more since I've playing more straight ahead Jazz, but the 335 still gets it share of playing. The narrower neck of the 335 is actually easier for my small hands to do one finger double-stop's for chording.

So if I was still doing all styles of music I would go 335 type guitar. Being I mainly play Jazz now the new Sadowsky hollow version of his semi-hollow would be my choice it would be pretty flexible, but still have some good acoustic properties.

**Soco** · 11-17-2010, 02:41 PM

The Suhr archtop is great but it is very different then the other guitars you mention.
I would seriously take a look at either a Collings I 35 or Soco deluxe-the best semi-hollows I have tried(I have tried the Sadowsky semi hollow, several Artingers and vintage Gibson as well as Gibson Custom Shop).
I own a Collings Soco and it is my favorite guitar of all times.
I also own a PRS hollowbody spruce very nice guitar, but ver different from a 335-style guitar.

**Harleyboy** · 11-17-2010, 05:33 PM

I have had Gibson 335, Heritage 535 and I currently have a Sadowsky semi-hollow. For me the Sadowsky is the prefered instrument, but the others were better suited for electric blues & rock.

**Soco** · 11-17-2010, 08:41 PM

The Collings Soco will give you a great jazz sound as well as blues and rock.

**Scotto** · 11-18-2010, 03:49 AM

Go for the Gibson... you might also want to take a look at the 330 which is totally hollow.

**Soco** · 11-18-2010, 10:53 AM

Originally Posted by Scotto

Go for the Gibson... you might also want to take a look at the 330 which is totally hollow.

not if he wants to do rock-leads as well. The 330's are nice but because of feedback issues it isn't suitable for rock imo.

**Cooperro** · 11-19-2010, 06:12 AM

Check out this video on YouTube. It certainly makes me think about "do I really need all these guitars?"

**Flat** · 11-19-2010, 12:02 PM

I heard it and thought "well, heck yeah"

**Scotto** · 11-19-2010, 02:07 PM

Originally Posted by Soco

not if he wants to do rock-leads as well. The 330's are nice but because of feedback issues it isn't suitable for rock imo.

Precisely the reason... I have a 67 Epiphone Casino which is basically the same guitar that I use just for rock and I love that I can control the feedback on leads... of course I'm playing it through a Marshall combo.

**msr13** · 11-19-2010, 02:12 PM

Originally Posted by Cooperro

Check out this video on YouTube. It certainly makes me think about "do I really need all these guitars?"

Originally Posted by Flat

I heard it and thought "well, heck yeah"

Although, I must admit, the tele in that video is long gone, and the PRS is for sale... so...

**Soco** · 11-19-2010, 03:09 PM

Originally Posted by Scotto

Precisely the reason... I have a 67 Epiphone Casino which is basically the same guitar that I use just for rock and I love that I can control the feedback on leads... of course I'm playing it through a Marshall combo.

That's great as long as you can control the feedback-that is not always easy.

Here is a collings soco deluxe with a clean sound:

and a more rockish clip:

**msr13** · 11-19-2010, 04:12 PM

I love your stuff, Jostein. Does the trio have any CDs out and available?

**Soco** · 11-19-2010, 04:18 PM

Thanks!
The trio made a recording last year, I am hoping to put it out soon-it has been delayed a bit.
Still enjoying your I35?

**docbop** · 11-19-2010, 04:21 PM

Originally Posted by Soco

not if he wants to do rock-leads as well. The 330's are nice but because of feedback issues it isn't suitable for rock imo.

My 335 will feedback if too loud or too close to my amp. 330's have a pretty thick top so true will feedback quicker than a 335 but not that much. Some will get or make f-hole covers to help control feedback or just take another step away from your amp. You can keep the amp to your right so your body is between amp and guitar. Just part of learning to use an instrument.

**RonD** · 11-19-2010, 04:43 PM

Hey Jostein, thanks for posting the videos. The JMJ theme kicks! That guitar sound awesome!
What was the pedal you were fidddlin' with?

Cheers, Ron

**msr13** · 11-19-2010, 07:32 PM

Originally Posted by Soco

Thanks!
The trio made a recording last year, I am hoping to put it out soon-it has been delayed a bit.
Still enjoying your I35?

I love it. Thanks for asking. Hey, do you give lessons, as well? I am only a couple hours from the city.

**Soco** · 11-19-2010, 10:52 PM

Originally Posted by RonD

Hey Jostein, thanks for posting the videos. The JMJ theme kicks! That guitar sound awesome!
What was the pedal you were fidddlin' with?

Cheers, Ron

Thank you Ron, I think I am trying to turn up the volume a bit on my Fulltone fulldrive. The other pedals I have are a couple of T.C electronics and an Eventide timefactor.