Recommendations for Semi-Hollow for Shorter Person?

[SoCal]

I'm in the market for a semi-hollow. I'm 5' 4" and when I've tried ES-335 style guitars, they are great, but they feel too bulky for me. At one point, I had a PRS SE hollow body, which I liked a lot, but the neck was a 25" scale and generally felt too wide for my hands. So, I'm looking for something that might fit my body size and hands a bit more comfortably. In particular, I'd like something with a lower bout that's not too big, no floating bridge (I prefer when they are fixed in place), less than 8 pounds and in the range of $900 USD - $2,600 USD. A tremolo arm would be cool, but it's not a deal breaker for me. Also, if the guitar could make me play like Joe Pass or Peter Bernstein, but without the need to practice, that would be great, too.

P.S., I see some hollow bodies that also have great specs, but everyone says they are prone to feedback, which is why I am asking about semi-hollows. That said, the PRS SE gave me no issues with feedback, but it's a unique shape. If you have recommendations for hollow-body guitars in this size/price range that do not have feed back issues, I'd be interested in those as well.

P.P.S. Where I live, the music stores have very limited selection, so these recommendations help a great deal.

P.P.P.S. I have a Martin 000-15SM and a Fender Mustang I am selling for this purchase, so if anyone is interested in those for a trade, let me know.

Thanks in advance.

[bloos66]

I quite like B&G guitars - Electric – B&G Guitars
Bob Margolin uses them for Blues, you can check it out on his Truefire courses or YT. I am sure that these will work well for Jazz or any other style...

[Jazzjourney4Eva]

You would love my crimson CS-356, but the budget needs to double and then a bit more. If interested keep me posted.

[rlrhett]

Obviously the Epiphone ES-339 would fit your requirements. Eastman T484 is similar in size, and should be available used in your price range. For your top end budget you could look for a used Gibson 339.

[osloutah]

A Seventy Seven Albatross if you can find one.

[SoCal]

I quite like B&G guitars - Electric – B&G Guitars
Bob Margolin uses them for Blues, you can check it out on his Truefire courses or YT. I am sure that these will work well for Jazz or any other style...

thanks for this. Great recommendation. I’ve never heard of this brand.

[SoCal]

You would love my crimson CS-356, but the budget needs to double and then a bit more. If interested keep me posted.

I would love it. Maybe someday.

[SoCal]

Obviously the Epiphone ES-339 would fit your requirements. Eastman T484 is similar in size, and should be available used in your price range. For your top end budget you could look for a used Gibson 339.

I've only been able to try one Epiphone 339 and it was pretty beat up. It did not seem to have any neck dive. Yet I've read that the Gibson 339s have neck dive. Do you know whether that is the case?

[SoCal]

A Seventy Seven Albatross if you can find one.

Nice one. Thanks.

[frabarmus]

Check out also Ibanez AR520HFM or one of the Ibanez AM Series: hollow, yet small/thin body, they have a wide price range, from low cost to high end (AM2000H).
And specs info on each model, on Ibanez website is usually very precise (things like neck thickness, neck width etc.).
P.S. I am short and have small hands and, for me, the Ibanez GB10 has worked out very well. For small hands the shorter "Byrdland" scale length of 23.5" is best, so I've had a luthier build me a hollow body archtop with a GB10 sized body, a slim neck and a 23.5" scale lenght. At some point I've also had a Squier ("Jagmaster" it was called, if I remember...) and a Fender Mustang, solid bodies with a 24" scale lenght.

[Greywolf]

I have an ES 339 and CS 356 , both are delightful , NO neck dive issues. The 339 is a bit better suited for Jazz as it has an inherently warmer tone.

[Jim Soloway]

I really like the idea of the Eastman Romeo series. It's 14.75" at the lower bout and unlike most Eastman's it has a 24.75" radius.
Romeo California - Eastman

[John A.]

Guild M75 Aristocrat (fully hollow, no f-holes, P90 pickups) or Bluesbird (chambered solid body, which is similar to a semi, humbuckers). They share the same body size and shape, which is around the same size as a Les Paul. Both are well within your budget.

There’s also a late 90s version of the Bluesbird, which is more upscale and US made. The shape is more like a LP, but a little bigger (though still a lot smaller than a 335). They go for 1500-2500.

For hollow bodies, check out the Ibanez GB10, especially the less expensive SE version, or GB40THII (same guitar as the GB10SE with slightly different cosmetics). These are relatively feedback proof. Lots of people who play fully hollow guitars don’t have feedback problems, fwiw. If you like archtop sounds, feedback is usually avoidable.

[Dennis D]

Guild M75 Aristocrat (fully hollow, , no f-holes, P90 pickups) or Blues (chambered solid body, which is similar to a semi, humbuckers). They share the same body size and shape, which is around the same size as a Les Paul. Both are well within your budget.

There’s also a late 90s version of the Bluesbird, which is more upscale and US made. The shape is more like a LP, but a little bigger (though still a lot smaller than a 335). They go for 1500-2500.

For hollow bodies, check out the Ibanez GB10, especially the less expensive SE version, or GB40THII (same guitar as the GB10SE with slightly different cosmetics). These are relatively feedback proof. Lots of people who play fully hollow guitars don’t have feedback problems, fwiw. If you like archtop sounds, feedback is usually avoidable.

I couldn't agree more ! If I were the OP, I'd start my search looking to at least try one of these.

Just MHO, of course.

[RobbieAG]

For your budget, you should be able to get a used Gibson ES-339. If you stretched a little, you'd even be able to get a new one.

[DawgBone]

Guild M75 Aristocrat (fully hollow, , no f-holes, P90 pickups) or Blues (chambered solid body, which is similar to a semi, humbuckers). They share the same body size and shape, which is around the same size as a Les Paul. Both are well within your budget.

There’s also a late 90s version of the Bluesbird, which is more upscale and US made. The shape is more like a LP, but a little bigger (though still a lot smaller than a 335). They go for 1500-2500.

For hollow bodies, check out the Ibanez GB10, especially the less expensive SE version, or GB40THII (same guitar as the GB10SE with slightly different cosmetics). These are relatively feedback proof. Lots of people who play fully hollow guitars don’t have feedback problems, fwiw. If you like archtop sounds, feedback is usually avoidable.

Outstanding suggestions on some killer guitars. Much better than an Epi 339 which is mostly junk out the box IMO. Epiphone=good base instrument needing complete electronics replacement and possibly other things like something besides a plastic nut. Others may feel different but I have owned many many Epiphones so those who feel different are wrong. Thanks for listening.

I think that feedback issues with semi and thinline-esque full hollow guitars are mostly overstated. I play my 355 style guitar through a Twin on 10 very frequently and it's never an issue. I have a hollow Guild X-170 which also isn't a problem though it has a post front to back underneath the bridge. All I'm saying is I wouldn't make it an overriding concern.

[SoCal]

I have an ES 339 and CS 356 , both are delightful , NO neck dive issues. The 339 is a bit better suited for Jazz as it has an inherently warmer tone.

Thanks. This helps in my search.

[SoCal]

Outstanding suggestions on some killer guitars. Much better than an Epi 339 which is mostly junk out the box IMO. Epiphone=good base instrument needing complete electronics replacement and possibly other things like something besides a plastic nut. Others may feel different but I have owned many many Epiphones so those who feel different are wrong. Thanks for listening.

I think that feedback issues with semi and thinline-esque full hollow guitars are mostly overstated. I play my 355 style guitar through a Twin on 10 very frequently and it's never an issue. I have a hollow Guild X-170 which also isn't a problem though it has a post front to back underneath the bridge. All I'm saying is I wouldn't make it an overriding concern.

Thanks for this. It really opens up the possibilities for me.

[Jazzjourney4Eva]

I have an ES 339 and CS 356 , both are delightful , NO neck dive issues. The 339 is a bit better suited for Jazz as it has an inherently warmer tone.

That's kind of subjective isn't it? (not that I think of the 356 as a "jazz guitar" so much, but).

In other words, some people think that a Tele is a great jazz guitar.

For me, these guitars have too much sustain, relative to a fine carved top guitar. Great for fusion though.

[dconeill]

Here are a few:
Comins GCS-1 or GCS-1ES, about US$1800.
PRS SE Hollowbody Standard, about US$1000
PRS SE Hollowbody Standard Piezo, about US$1500
PRS SE Hollowbody II, about US$1100
PRS SE Hollowbody II Piezo, about US$1600
Ibanez AMH90, about US$800
Ibanez AM series, some with trapeze tailpieces, some with stopbar tailpieces, prices vary

All prices from memory

[jim777]

Seventy Seven Albatross. Les Paul sized semi, mine weighed 6 pounds 2 ounces.

[st.bede]

I myself am also short with small hands. I have a Eastman Romeo LA and the neck is fat. It is a bit harder to play. I do not mind fighting a guitar a little, but it is a fight.

[John A.]

Seventy Seven Albatross. Les Paul sized semi, mine weighed 6 pounds 2 ounces.

How was the neck on that? My Seventy Seven archtop's is fairly chunky, and my impression is that all of their guitars are like that. [I actually like the neck profile a lot, but it might be an issue for the OP.]

[frabarmus]

I myself am also short with small hands. I have a Eastman Romeo LA and the neck is fat. It is a bit harder to play. I do not mind fighting a guitar a little, but it is a fight.

I wasn't aware of the Eastman Romeo... looks nice! Quite an original design.
Why is it harder to play? Perhaps the nut width (44 mm)? Is the neck chunky? Or is it just the way it's set up (high action, heavy strings, etc.)? My guess is the wide neck/fretboard...

[frabarmus]

I myself am also short with small hands. I have a Eastman Romeo LA and the neck is fat. It is a bit harder to play. I do not mind fighting a guitar a little, but it is a fight.

I get it: "the neck is FAT". Sorry, I misread: "The neck is fast" ...couldn't make sense of that (I thought: "why is it a fight if the neck is fast!?")