A Hollowbody Guitar- What should I buy?

[jimoff2]

Hello everyone! So I've been playing guitar for a good while, and just recently started playing songs from Yes. I LOVE Prog rock, and now that I'm learning all of these new songs, I kind of want a hollow body in my collection. It's not anything I'm going to go out and buy tomorrow by any means, but I would like to have a few recommendations before I buy one.

I own a Strat, Les Paul, SG, and an 84 Squier Bullet, and am very happy with my collection. But since I have these, I have a wide range of tones to choose from. For instance, every song on the fourth Yes album, Fragile, is great for my Strat, even though Steve Howe used an Es-5 switchmaster, and vice versa.

So, I did some looking around for hollowbodies, and played a few as well. I really love the tone of the Gibson's and epiphones, but I would be willing to look at some great Ibanez hollowbody guitars. But when I went to Sam ash, I really fell for three guitars: A Gibson Es-175, an Epiphone Es-175 and an Epiphone Riviera P93. I couldn't figure out which one I liked more, so I came here.

Any suggestions for me that wouldnt break my bank or break my fingers? Thanks guys!

[thatsbunk]

Of the three I'd go with the Rivera. It's a semi vs. a full hollow, has a bigsby & P90's (don't know if your LP or SG has them but if they don't it'll give you more tonal options).

 

FWIW I have an Ibanez Artcore AF-75 & it's basically a wall hanger as it feeds back too much for me to play in a band setting.

 

Also looks to be the least expensive of the three...

[Ratae Corieltauvorum]

Look at the Gibson ES-139, and also look out for Epi Broadway, basically an L5 clone, Epiphone Emperor, and of course the Epi Casinos. The Riviera, is OK, but three P90s is a combination that is rarely utilised.

 

EDIT: If you're in the US, Sweetwater have some great deals on the Epi Joe Pass:

 

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/ETEPWRGH

 

Course ya also got your evergreen Gretsch G5420, G5120s and all those same variants

[kbeaumont]

The Godin 5th Avenue Kingpin is an excellent hollow body. Those P90's sing in that guitar! http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/5AvCWK2CNB

[Mr Temporary]

All good recommendations listed, albeit some are semi-hollow and not hollowbodies.

 

I'd just add that Eastman's are worth looking at. If you can stretch your budget to great extents, then there are some really fine archtop luthiers that build incredible guitars.

[Emory]

I love my Ibanez AF95, however about ten years old so can't speak for recent models. Put a pair of StewMac golden age humbuckers (about $100 with shipping) and it is unbeatable. Stock pickups are so-so, but the rest creamy imo.

[t_e_l_e]

you can have a look at eastwood guitars

http://www.eastwoodguitars.com/

 

i have an airline tuxedo which is nice, but heavy, they have also other hollow body models

 

gretsch just extended their budget model line, so you can have a look there aswell.

 

does it really need to by a full hollow body, or can it also be a semi hollow? semi hollows have the advantage to be less prone to feedback, still they feedback more than a strat or a lp.

 

i never played a l5 or an es175 myself, so i cannot suggest anything what is similar from my experience

but there is a big market (at least for right handed people) beside gibson which is worth having a look at

 

[Pine Apple Slim]

I'm diggin my Broadway, but the Joe Pass might be more appropriate for the volume levels in a Prog band.

 

Don't overlook Gretch!!! 6120, 5420 or 5422, or my fav Anniversary w Filters (I will have one someday)

[Midlife Rocker]

I started with an Epiphone Sheraton II. That's a semi-hollow body. I use it mostly for blues stuff. Next, I found on CL(see pic) this gem for $200. Epiphone Casino from the Peerless Factory. I had to replace the nut, but it was in excellent condition. Last hollow body I found was a Rickenbacker 330.

 

The casino has a great sound, fast neck, lightweight. The only issue is feedback when playing live. But, if it's good enough for Paul, John and George, it's good enough for me.

 

Pick the one that sounds best and feels best to you...After all, you're playing it :-)

 

 

 

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[onelife]

I recommend the Yamaha AES1500.

[Mikeo]

I own quite a few semi Hollowbodies and only 2 hollowbodies

 

One of the hollowbodies I own is a Godin 5th Ave, with the single pick up. It has a nice neck, but can be a bit of a pain in the butt to control feedback at higher volumes.

 

I also have a ES 335, that in my opinion is probably the nicest guitar Gibson makes the 57 Classic sing. If you are use to small body guitars it will take a day of so to get used to the larger body. Then when you go back to LP's SG's Tele's and Strats they feel like toys.

 

The ES 339 should have a similar vibe, but with a smaller body. Gibson used to make a CS-336 too.I believe the CS-336 is geared more towards the LP sound and player.

 

A long time ago I picked up a ES 135. The ES 135 came with different pup configurations including the 57 classic, which mine has and as P100's. Memphis made too. They have kind of a 50's style chubby neck.

 

This year I think I'm gonna grab a Epiphone Casino Elitist.

 

Now also in my collection of stuff is a couple of Gretsches. The Tenny Rose is a hollow body and is amazing, the G6120. As nice as there Hi Filtertron pups are ,the TV Jones pus are even better. The TV Jones pups are in my Power Jet.

 

My Rickenbackers are semi hollowbodies, but are way different than anything else I mentioned.One will either love the Ricky feel and sound or you don't. I will tell you this, there's no other company that does Rickenbacker like Rickenbacker. I'm sure you are not looking at Ricks, but I always mention them.

 

Just about every year I choose one guitar, buy it and never sell it. I try to choose wisely and make it something special.

 

Also there Heritage guitars, they make a very nice hollowbody and semi hollowbody.

 

Guild use to make the Starfire III and they still do, but I have not played the new ones.

 

There's plenty of low cost Epiphones including the Wildkat. A Pick up swap and some detail work and you have an amazing player. Gretsch MIK stuff ain't bad either, but it's a different breed than the Gibson or Epiphone stuff.

 

For the coin you can't go wrong with the Ibanez hollow bodies. Pat Metheny, Joe Pass, and George Benson all have Epiphone models they have played for decades. Not inexpensive either, but they have lower priced models too. Look at the Artcores and see how they feel.

 

 

They key to selecting any guitar is to get it in your paws, and see how it feels to you. So if you buy it off the net, make sure you can return it with no questions asked. I like to hit shops and line up a fleet of what I think I like and give em a test drive, working my way up the line and weeding out what I like and don't like.

 

Figure out the style of music you are playing, the amp you will be using, and how much you are willing to part with. Number one rule is. Don't be in a hurry to buy anything and be willing to walk away from it all to digest it all. Believe me they have made ES 175's a long time and I very sure they will continue to make them.

 

Last but certainly not least, PRS and Collings make very fine hollowbodies. Open your wallet and dig deep.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[GAS Man]

Already a lot written here, but I'd say, if you want hollow body, get a hollow body. I have a a few semi-hollows at home and 2 hollow bodied guitars, and they really are quite a bit different in tone.

 

For hollow bodied guitars, I have an Epiphone Elitist Casino and a Gretsch G6120SSLVO. I prefer the Gretsch for its overall tone, but the Casino is an interesting guitar. It especially is a bit to handle since you get to play with controlled feedback which contributes more to the tone. There's a bit less of that with the Gretsch which might be partly due to the heavier dampening mass of the Bigsby bridge.

 

I'd also suggest you look at the Gibson ES-125. George Thorogood makes them work wonders for his style, and the vintage models aren't nearly as pricey as other vintage Gibsons. I believe they are a bit more of a shallow build HB.

 

If you're interested in a Riviera P93, I have one I'm not using. I've just got other choices in the semi-hollow department like a 335, 339, Midtown and Yamaha SA503 TVL which is similar to the P93, but I like it a bit better. Although the P93 is maybe purdier. ;^)

 

But ulitmately, also think about whether or not you'll be comfortable with the bulkiness of either the semi-hollows or hollow-bodieds. I like the 339 for that reason, in that I do the vast majority of my pickin sitting down at home rather than stand up performance playing, so it's easier to get comfy with the smaller bodies.

 

I'd also be curious to look into the Godin recommendation above. I have two Godins and I especially like my "Session". It's a great value guitar with very good tone, like a Strat but more depth of tone. I also have a Richmond Dorchester which is also a pretty good guitar, but I haven't bonded with it like I did with the Session. Point just being, Godins are indeed worth checking out for value and tone.

[jtr654]

Gibson 335 would do or other Semi . I've heard great things about Eastman guitars. Remember that hallow guitars are prone to feedback.

[onelife]

. . .

I'd also suggest you look at the Gibson ES-125. George Thorogood makes them work wonders for his style, and the vintage models aren't nearly as pricey as other vintage Gibsons. I believe they are a bit more of a shallow build HB...

 

You are correct. The 125 is a thinline hollowbody.

 

The first time I heard Paul Pigat play he was using an ES-125 with a Bigsby through two Boss delay pedals into a Fender Blues Deville 4X10. It was a rocakbilly trio and the guitar sound was amazing.

 

Paul endorses Gretsch and the last time he was here he was playing a Black Falcon that he let me have my way with during soundcheck. Wow, what a great guitar that is.

 

[video=youtube;wcdhsN5lppw]

[Grant Harding]

If you can afford a Gibson that's what I'd try out first. Then expand your search to Eastman, Yamaha, Ibanez with those sounds and playability as your reference.

[badpenguin]

Ok, first thing is to decide on whether a hollow or a semi hollow. Hollow wise, I have a Samick LaSalle JZ4 that can hang with the big boys due to the addition of some Parson street humbuckers from StewMac. Alsop have a Ibanez AF75TD, that does the Gretsch vibe super well. Also an Ibanez 2390 from 1975, that NAILS the ES tone, but didn't break the bank.

Semi wise, my Ibanez As75 is as close to a gibby with some serious upgrades.

 

I think you also may need to consider, after deciding on hollow or semi, is trem or not. I personally feel that the trem, while useful for 30 seconds out of a set, is a pain in the neither regions otherwise. Restringing is an exercise in patience, tuning, and I find the arm is ALWAYS in the way of the switch. but, admittedly, it looks so damn cool!

 

good luck in your search.

[guitarcapo]

If you aren't into modding I'd say to get a Gretsch.

 

If you like swap out pickups...I'd say go Ibanez Artcore. I likes me an AK85.

[DeepEnd]

If you aren't into modding I'd say to get a Gretsch.

 

If you like swap out pickups...I'd say go Ibanez Artcore. I likes me an AK85.

Yeah, that's something I don't get personally. If you don't like the guitar, why buy it unless you're getting a killer deal? I mean, I get cosmetic stuff. My Fernandes had the most butt ugly pickguard I'd seen in years but it was also cheap and my first electric. But if I didn't like the way the guitar sounded it would have to be really cheap before I'd buy it.

[onelife]

Is the Ibanez 2390 the blatant copy of the ES-175?

 

I remember a friend had a Ibanez "175" that even had the Gibson headstock with the crown inlay.

[onelife]

I had to take the Bigsby off of my ES-295 (which is essentially a 175 with P100 pickups and a gold finish) because with it, the floating bridge would slide around on the top of the guitar and the tuning went south.

 

I replaced it with a trapeze tailpiece from a 335.

[badpenguin]

No One, the 2390 was the 335 styled guitar. Walnut finish, gibby headstock with crown inlay, parallelogram inlays.

[Phil O'Keefe]

I also have a Peerless-built Casino - I can't praise that guitar highly enough - it's a terrific instrument! However, there's a lot to be said for a good ES-175 too...

 

Sorry OP, but I can't really give you a recommendation except to say I'd go with the one that plays and sounds the best to you.

[guitarcapo]

Swapping pickups out can often make a $200 guitar sound like a $2000 guitar....There's a huge market in aftermarket pickups out there...and it's not because the originals are wearing out.

[DeepEnd]

To each his own. Personally, I'd rather buy a guitar I liked. Ultimately, mods won't save a bad guitar. Might as well put a spoiler on a Yugo.