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Semi Hollow vs Solid Body


GuitarHitman

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Call me crazy, but i swear to god my semi-hollow gives my tone a kind of natral reverb effect to whatever i'm playing, it sounds alot more airy. Kind of like comparing Direct line recording to Mic'd recording is how i would describe it. But hey thats just me i am probably wrong

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In my experience (and yes, I have 3 semis) not a ton of difference between a semi and a solid. In fact I'd suggest they were way closer sonically to a solid than most of the uninitiated realize. They do resinate quite well and their sustain under high volume is one of the best kept secrets in rock'n roll. but really not that different than a solid.

 

If you slap some flats on them they can do a pretty good imitation of a jazzbox but an actual full hollow jazzbox is a whole 'nother beast altogether.

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Call me crazy, but i swear to god my semi-hollow gives my tone a kind of natral reverb effect to whatever i'm playing, it sounds alot more airy. Kind of like comparing Direct line recording to Mic'd recording is how i would describe it. But hey thats just me i am probably wrong

 

Your are definitely dead right!

Tha's why a lot of people that buy one are converts for life.

They sound like a hollow body with the sustain of a Les Paul.

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Ummm, yes and no. Me, I love Semi-Hollowbodies and Hollowbodies. It depends upon what you want them for. In my experience (and I've been playing semis for over 20 years), I like them for that resonant, bassy sound they can get. Solid bodies can get bassy too, but the note's attack is a bit sharper than it is in a Semi. The overtones in a semi are similar, but not quite the same as say a Les Paul. I don't know - they seem to be less midrangey sounding (I don't like tons of midrange). In general, it's like the overtones of the notes, cover more of the sound spectrum. The notes played on Semis (and even moreso full-on hollowbodies) seem to have more high frequency shimmer behind them than your typical solidbody (and I'm not talking about the piercing treble some solidbodies have either). If you like playing with feedback (as long as you can control it), you'll love semi-hollowbodies. They are not necessarily lighter than solidbody guitars. My Ibanez Artstar AS-120, weighs about as much as a Les Paul, and the Gibson Howard Roberts Fusion I used to have, weighed even more than a Les Paul!

 

With all of that said, I do like some solidbodies too. I like both kinds of guitars for their sound characteristics. When I want a more percussive punch, I prefer solidbodies. When I want full throated roar, I use a semi-hollowbody.

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Although I'm always open to try any guitar that crosses my path, I always like the semihollows and hollows best.

:thu:

What most of the guys have said is true. Semis have a different feel and sound to them, it's like there's more wood in the tone and they're more versatile too.

 

Kind of a bitch to work on though... :mad:

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I just need to explain it to my other half
:confused:

 

The explanation should be the easy part! :)

 

Deciding on which one should prove difficult at best. There are a whole bunch of options for hollows and semis now and in all price brackets.

 

Before you start your new "Which one" thread, I'll go ahead and give you my vote right now; Epiphone Sheraton. Here's a picture of mine. All semihollow and P90 sweetness!

 

sherrypx2.jpg

 

Have fun!!!

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The explanation should be the easy part!
:)

Deciding on which one should prove difficult at best. There are a whole bunch of options for hollows and semis now and in all price brackets.


Before you start your new "Which one" thread, I'll go ahead and give you my vote right now; Epiphone Sheraton. Here's a picture of mine. All semihollow and P90 sweetness!


sherrypx2.jpg

Have fun!!!

 

I was thinking the PRS SE Soapbar Semi-Hollow :o

 

I'm just seriously GAS'sing and I can get the guitar on a 10 month interest free loan so I'm getting one :mad: My only problem is finding somewhere I can try it out. And without the other half working it out :cry:

 

You haven't met my other half. Finding the guitar is the easy part :o I'm going to get hours of "Which one are you selling?" :cry:

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In my experience (and yes, I have 3 semis) not a ton of difference between a semi and a solid. In fact I'd suggest they were way closer sonically to a solid than most of the uninitiated realize. They do resinate quite well and their sustain under high volume is one of the best kept secrets in rock'n roll. but really not that different than a solid.


If you slap some flats on them they can do a pretty good imitation of a jazzbox but an actual full hollow jazzbox is a whole 'nother beast altogether.

 

+1 :thu:

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I was thinking the PRS SE Soapbar Semi-Hollow
:o

I'm just seriously GAS'sing and I can get the guitar on a 10 month interest free loan so I'm getting one
:mad:
My only problem is finding somewhere I can try it out. And without the other half working it out
:cry:

You haven't met my other half. Finding the guitar is the easy part
:o
I'm going to get hours of "Which one are you selling?"
:cry:

 

I thought the regular SE Soapbar I tried sounded good (the semi-hollow version wasn't available yet at that time). IMO, the semi-hollow version will probably sound even better. :thu:

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The explanation should be the easy part!
:)

Deciding on which one should prove difficult at best. There are a whole bunch of options for hollows and semis now and in all price brackets.


Before you start your new "Which one" thread, I'll go ahead and give you my vote right now; Epiphone Sheraton. Here's a picture of mine. All semihollow and P90 sweetness!


Have fun!!!

 

That's Sheraton of yours is positively delicious !

Pure Porn !

Which P90's is it loaded with ?

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I thought the regular SE Soapbar I tried sounded good (the semi-holow version wasn't available yet at that time). IMO, the semi-hollow version will probably sound even better.
:thu:

 

You've made me want it even more now :love:

 

 

I've got a little guy on my left shoulder telling me I shouldn't and that I can't afford it.... while I've got Jimi sat on my right shoulder trashing a Strat over my ear to go and buy it right now :mad:

 

Jimi knows best :o

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In my experience (and yes, I have 3 semis) not a ton of difference between a semi and a solid. In fact I'd suggest they were way closer sonically to a solid than most of the uninitiated realize. They do resinate quite well and their sustain under high volume is one of the best kept secrets in rock'n roll. but really not that different than a solid.


If you slap some flats on them they can do a pretty good imitation of a jazzbox but an actual full hollow jazzbox is a whole 'nother beast altogether.

 

 

+1:thu:

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