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Hi everyone. First of all, I hope everyone is doing well and staying safe during these times.
At the moment I have a Yamaha SA2200 as my semi-hollow for a few months. It is a really great quality guitar. A great clean sound too. The only thing I am not really "feeling", is the wide fretboard. It feels like much space between the strings.
My main guitar is a '77 Ibanez es175 lawsuit, which has the most wonderful (slim) neck I ever played. So I am looking for something like that on a semi-hollow too. I consider selling the Yamaha and getting one of these:
- (used) Heritage H535/530
- D'Angelico EX-SS
- Eastman T59/64
These seem like great semi-hollows and with great pickups too. I would like to hear what you guys recommend from your experience. And which one has a nice slim (Ibanez-like) neck? I like articulate clean sounds, especially Grants sound.
I cant find all these guitars so near, that's why I ask.
Thanks and I would like to hear your thoughts.
Greetings from Holland.
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04-24-2020 02:28 AM
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If you like the Ibanez 2355, why look further than an early Ibanez AS200 (1980-82) with super 58 pickups, plus the tri-sound switch on the neck pickup? I picked up mine for around 1.600€ a couple of years back and it's wonderful. Super 58s are very close to PAFs, but just a little hotter. Very jazz clean until you push them over 7 on the volume control, after which is great for playing the occasional blues.
Last edited by Ray175; 04-24-2020 at 04:33 AM.
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Eastman's, in my experience, have fat, uncomfortable necks.
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Hello,
I 've no experience with these guitars, but neck width of Eastman guitars is 1,75". So if your Yamaha looks too wide to you, Eastmans will not fit !
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Thanks for the replies. Yes, I shall look into the as200's as well.
Heritage experts anyone?
Here's my guitars:
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The Heritage 535 is a great guitar. Neck is probably a little fatter than the AS200, but not by a lot. There's a 2001 model on sale at Archtop.com at the moment.....
2001 Heritage H-535
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The only thing you have to watch out for is the occaisional binding rot that some Ibanez models from the 80's show - I see an increasing number of 80's George Benson models where not only the pickguard has crumbled but also the heelcap + the neck- and body-binding and it leaves an ugly discoloring in the finish surrounding these spots. There is no cure except a total renewal of the complete binding and that will cost more than the guitar as it is ....
Never seen that happen on Heritage, Yamaha or Gibson guitars (except the pickguard rot on higher end Gibbys that have the tortoise-shell guards).
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Here are my thoughts, and they are Kalamazoo based for the most part.
Gibson tends to have predictable necks. Even back in the 1940s they used neck carve steel gauges or guides for the workmen to use while rolling necks. I have seen some of these. They were labeled like 1952 L5, 1959 LP, etc. While the necks may not have been identical, the goal was to be close. More modern Gibsons are pretty much spot on, according to the model.
Heritage is different. There used to be a lot more variability in necks. Recently this is much more consistent. Some have been critical of the variability. In Heritage's defense commonly the guitars were ordered by either the dealer or the customer to have certain neck carves. On a given day there may be several very different necks made. But if there were no specific directions given, there could be differences because the carves were done according to feel and who was doing necks that day.
The most expensive part of a guitar build, at least at Heritage, is the neck on the majority of the guitars. The components of the joint, the truss rod, the fretboard with inlays, the fret slots, the frets, and the headstock veneer take a lot of time. So does the neck rolling, which is relegated to someone who is skilled in this task. Doing a crappy carve costs the company a lot of money.
Almost all of the Heritage necks are good, but you may not like the feel of a given instrument. I have Vince Lewis's old H-555. This was carved to his liking. The neck is pretty thin and very comfortable to me. I have a H-530 hollowbody, which is the same basic shape. The neck is fatter, like a Gibson Lucille. My three Golden Eagles all have different neck dimensions, ranging from medium-thin to medium-fat.
The point I'm getting at is that Heritage's neck variability can be significant because of several factors, a major one is how the guitar was ordered, not quality control. It's hard to generalize, and each instrument should be played before purchase or at least very well described, if you are finicky. This is different from Heritages of the last two years and from Gibson, Fender, and other high volume producers.
The final point I'd make is a personal one. I've seen in others and in myself that most people adapt pretty well to the guitar they have after they've played it for a few months. In my earlier days I had no idea about neck carves. It never crossed my mind for more than a second. I had played a slim taper 1960s ES-345 for years. I then added a 1920s L-5 with the neck like a baseball bat. I had more trouble adjusting to the large body size than the neck, for sure. I had to sit completely differently. But the neck became easily playable. I was not unique. None of my friends objected to the fat neck. As I sit here today I recall that the only ones who made a thing about neck carves were the old timers.
I'd like to imagine a world in which Charlie Christian was so happy to electrify and to solo that he didn't sweat the details about the rest. Those must have been some of the most exciting days. There are those who would say that the nuances we sweat today are first world problems. I am guilty of this. But I can hearken back to when it was all about playing and not the instrument, when it was all about adapting to the instrument and not making it adapt to me. It dawns on me now as a write this that I was happier back then.
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Though you may understandably want something more along the quality level of your Yamaha the mass produced Dots, Sheratons, and Corts are worthy of consideration esp with their thinner necks.
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Thanks for the information and great insights.
I will keep my eye out for a goodlooking used Heritage. It may cost a little more than the other guitars, but I feel that I would play it for many years.
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I have an Eastman T184MX, which has the same neck shape as the T59. I actually love everything about the way that the guitar feels and sounds. I probably like the neck more than the 60s slim taper on my 2019 60s LP (which IMO is a great shaped neck as well).
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I really like my Heritage 535, but I wouldn't call the neck skinny. It's a little bit on the wide and chunky side, I would say, but that is to my liking.
Great guitars, though. Hope you find one that is just right for you!
Tip: If you keep the headstock in the dark, you won't have to endure silly comments about its non-Gibson shape. lol.
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if you like grants tone..why not look into an epi casino..a tru hollow body thinline with p-90's...like grants iconic gibby 330
if the standard model doesn't impress, then look into a used inspired by lennon model...with real gibson p90's and vintage appointments..great guitars
cheers
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I'd definitely recommend checking out a new Heritage H535 if you are in the market. If you do not have the opportunity to play one before buying, make a call to a reputable dealer for an in-hand demo.
Another quality builder that you already have some experience with, is Ibanez. Check out their line of semi-hollow guitars. They have a wide variety of high quality guitars at many price points. I have a JSM100 that I absolutely love. It is on the high end price-wise, but it has features that meet my needs. The JSM10 is another alternative.
Finally, don't rely solely on guitar forums for advice. You will receive far too many recommendations and opinions. Good hunting!
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I have both the T64 and the D'A EX SS. I like them both. I didn't buy the T64 for jazz, but of course it's very well suited for that. My T64 was better sounding and playing than the two Gibson 330s that I audited. It's very light and remarkably resonant. Also, it doesn't have a fat neck at all. I found the Heritage 575 that I played a lot fatter on the neck department.
The D'A EX SS is also a very nice guitar. Lot's of sustain, yet with a bit of air. If you live in Holland, get one at Max Guitar in Den Haag. You can get one for less than 1000 euros and that's a bargain for a guitar like that.
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All of these guitars are pretty much quality instruments. It comes down to personal taste and preference in feel. And for me this is why I pay the extra and play Gibson Historic 1958 ES-335 and a CS ES-339 FAT NECK.
For the the $ Eastman is the best deal going. Hand built at a great price, and cheap used. But as stated 1&3/4" width can be a deal breaker for many.
Heritage are fine instruments but Iv never owned or played one that had a neck shape that spoke to me. Again personal preference and it could be different for you.
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Thanks everyone for your points of view. Its very intersting to read that. All different experiences and preferences of course.
@Joeontheguitar That's great you have tried both. And amazing you prefer the t64 over the 330's you tried. I look forward to trying one of those. I really dig the lollar p90 sounds I hear on the web. Looks like Max Guitar has them both
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Don't forget to try the D'A there as well. At Max they have them with over 40% discount because they have cosmetic imperfections. For jazz I prefer my EX SS over the T64. It's just very smooth and remarkably airy. Not too heavy either. It just looks a bit silly with all the gold for my personal taste.
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The EX-SS is an overlooked model. Maybe because it has the D'A name? it's a single cut? Few (if any) single cut semi-hollow were ever widely accepted by players. It seems as if single cut is relegated to fully hollow and semi hollow WILL be double cuts by gum!
Gads such player myopia :-)
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Hi all. Just a little update here. In the past weeks I tried several of the guitars I was considering. Here are my experiences below. I tried each guitar quite extensively and side by side almost.
D'Angelico EX-SS: wonderful guitar, very light and with a good sound. I dont like all the golden hardware and bling that much, but a very comfortable guitar.
Eastman T59: great sound and quality built guitar, but the chunky neck is not for me.
Gibson ES335 2019 Satin Natural: very good guitar great full sound of new MHS pickups. Also well priced around 2000 now. Seems like Gibson wants to offer more affordable models now.
Heritage H535 2017: out of all guitars I tried, the Heritage felt qualitatively the best and sounded wonderful with Seth lover pickups. Much fuller and present sound compared with my SA2200. Also the neck is more comfortable for me. Now, this guitar was also the most expensive. Above my budget.
After some time going around on Reverb and other sites I found a 2008 Heritage H535 23rd Anniversary (new) for a good price and decided to go for that. Now waiting for it to come. I saw it it also has the Seth lover pickups and assume it is built not much differently from the 2017 model I tried. Would be great to hear from 535 owners here.
Hope it will be good Thanks
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Heritage is a good choice. Their H535's differ from other brands since they have 'solid' rims and not the typical 'laminate' rims. The back and sides are laminate just like the others you considered.
The 23rd Anniversary models were a special run by Heritage to mark their return/re-opening of their factory after a fire forced them to shut down temporarily. There were also 10th, 20th, 25th and 30th Anniversary limited run models.
Here's a video of a 23rd Anniversary H535. Enjoy that great Heritage!
Heritage Custom Shop H-535 23 th Anniversary Limited Edition Part 3 clean and Overdrive - YouTube
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Ah, that is interesting to know. Yes, that video of Greg playing is the only thing I could find. Seems like a edition great instrument! Thanks
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OK, I'll bite: What's the secret to buying a new twelve-year-old guitar?
Originally Posted by Marton
Hope it inspires you for a long time!
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Well, I guess everyone has their own idea of what constitutes a good neck - and that's entirely reasonable - but I have an Eastman AR403ce (1.75" nut and 25" scale) and a Godin Montreal Premiere (1 11/16" nut and 24.75" scale), and I can't decide which one is the most comfortable neck I've ever known! (I have relatively small hands by the way.)
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I own two Eastman's both ElRey 4 models and both with 1 3/4" nut width and I don't find them "chunky" at all. Moderate to slim C width in my hands. If the 1 3/4" nut width scares you off look at the Eastman Romeo it has a 1 11/16" nut width
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