Hollowbody/jazz guitars

[NickCormier]

I've been thinking recently about Hollowbody guitars, and that whole like tone it gets.. Im mainly thinking about the Alex Skolnick Trio tone, I love it to death.

 

Anyways, I was wondering, Are hollowbody's able to play like when your not plugged in, and decently well? I mean obviously it wont be as loud as an acoustic, but could it be good enough for like if you were just like say in your backyard playing or something? Not talking performing or recording or anything, just like sitting down for fun... Are they normally quite acoustical?

 

Also, After that, Anyone know of any good hollowbody jazz guitars that can be had for a good price, like under $400ish? That will sound good and get me a nice jazzy tone like Alex Skolnick?

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1rejApl5Q3o

[VengefulTikiGod]

The ones I've played I would really not count on for backyard jamming... though I haven't played many. Some are bigger than others, therefore louder.

 

I think the main thing is that they've got electric guitar strings, which have different properties than acoustic strings and therefore don't get nearly as loud, even if they're the same gauge. Ever put electric strings on an acoustic? That's what I mean. They just can't drive the soundboard very well. You could put acoustic strings on it, but then it'd be too strong a signal through the amp (maybe too weak even, because there's more bronze and less steel).

 

I'd say they're not very acoustical, but that's only based on the few jazz boxes I've played. Come to think of it, my old teach would play his unplugged during my lessons, which was moderately loud, actually... it really depends on the instrument. At least have 12 gauge strings.

[VengefulTikiGod]

Oh, look into the Ibanez Artcore series. Cheap, decent quality jazz boxes

[Terry Allan Hall]

There are arch-tops that were designed to sound good acoustically, and these will have "floating" P/Us, which are either attached to the end of the finger board or attached directly to the pickguard, so as to not inhibit the top's vibrations, but these are VERY expensive...figure a starting price of at least $2K for a heavily used one, much more new!

In a more modest price range would be the Epiphone "Joe Pass Emperor"...not too bad sounding unplugged, but it'll really sound great through a Fender Twin Reverb!

[AndrewGG]

If you're looking for pure acoustic tone in an archtop be prepared for a steep learning curve; in order to get the top vibrating and a decent volume you'll need heavier strings than you are used to.
I used to have an Ibanez AF105NT archtop made in China. The build quality was flawless and it had quite a nice amplified tone but, in order to get authentic, 'round' jazz tones it needed heavy flatwound strings.
Acoustically it was pretty feeble but ok for late night practise without disturbing people.

[mikeSF]

There are arch-tops that were designed to sound good acoustically, and these will have "floating" P/Us, which are either attached to the end of the finger board or attached directly to the pickguard,...

 

 

i agree with Terry 100% and would add that there are solid(carved)top guitars, which typically have much acoustic voice, and then there are laminate(plywood) tops, which may have moderate to little acoustic voice. Listening to that Skolnick clip (i had never heard him before - loved Highway Star!), looks like he has a Heritage 575(or similar). The sound he gets could be attained with a laminate top guitar with built in neck humbucker. You would not need the bridge pickup for that sound.

 

Usually carved tops do not approach the volume of a big flattop, however, I do own an Eastman 17" carved top and strung with bronze strings, it is louder than any flattop i ever played, easy. Archtops have a different tone, not really for strumming as you might do on a dread, however.

 

go play some and compare what you like and dislike about 'em.

[Queequeg]

i agree with Terry 100% and would add that there are solid(carved)top guitars, which typically have much acoustic voice, and then there are laminate(plywood) tops, which may have moderate to little acoustic voice. Listening to that Skolnick clip (i had never heard him before - loved Highway Star!), looks like he has a Heritage 575(or similar). The sound he gets could be attained with a laminate top guitar with built in neck humbucker. You would not need the bridge pickup for that sound. Usually carved tops do not approach the volume of a big flattop, however, I do own an Eastman 17" carved top and strung with bronze strings, it is louder than any flattop i ever played, easy. Archtops have a different tone, not really for strumming as you might do on a dread, however. go play some and compare what you like and dislike about 'em.

 

+1 to the +1.

Yes, Terry is right on.

I would add, you might look for an old Harmony archtop. But look carefully, as some necks are in dire need of a reset. eBay usually has a bunch of these. For $400 you should be able to get a good one in very playable condition that will be serviceably loud.

And, like MikeSF, I also have an Eastman 17" (AR810-CE) archtop. I think it strums quite well, but in a jazzy style; not for folk/rock. Mine is not as loud as my Larrivee SD60.

[Terry Allan Hall]

i agree with Terry 100% and would add that there are solid(carved)top guitars, which typically have much acoustic voice, and then there are laminate(plywood) tops, which may have moderate to little acoustic voice. Listening to that Skolnick clip (i had never heard him before - loved Highway Star!), looks like he has a Heritage 575(or similar). The sound he gets could be attained with a laminate top guitar with built in neck humbucker. You would not need the bridge pickup for that sound. Usually carved tops do not approach the volume of a big flattop, however, I do own an Eastman 17" carved top and strung with bronze strings, it is louder than any flattop i ever played, easy. Archtops have a different tone, not really for strumming as you might do on a dread, however. go play some and compare what you like and dislike about 'em.

Mike, you got some nice 7-strings!

[Tony Burns]

another idea that you may of though of already is to just get an acoustic cutaway and have the action set low and try lighter strings - youll get a louder sound , the cutaway will let you get lower on the fret board ----. I play Sudo light Jazz form and I like a wider fingerboard like 1 3/4 , i found what i wanted in a Larrivee OMv-60 custom - i had the action lowered , had the tonation setting at the bridge changed slighltly - Im still playing with the Medium cleartone strings ( lowered it down a half a pitch - to set a baseline for sound ) and its going to be changed in the very near future to Ex-light PB strings ------ another thought is to play Jazz on a decent classical ( thats really cool as well ) just have it set low like on a flamenco guitar - Earl Klugh uses one very successfully for jazz --- Ibanez Artcore , as well as Epiphone have models that are affordable - which is a historically way jazz is played- but their really is no rules now a days as to what guitar can play this or that kind of music , being different also gives you your own unique sound-- Just a thought --

[Verne Andru]

I use this fully hollow archtop

 

 

It has a combination of a floating humbucker at the neck plus piezo's mounted under the soundboard. I get a wide range of tones plugged in and a descent sound unplugged. It's not going to compete with a full-bodies dreadnought, but I find it's perfect for noodling and working on chops unplugged. It's loud enough but not too loud - face it, nobody wants to hear someone doing scales and stuff for hours on end.

 

When I first got it I strung it with DR Zebras. They are alternate nickel/bronze wound that give the volume and zing of bronze acoustic strings, but have the metal content to drive the humbucker. I would probably still be using them if they were not a special order item. It would be ideal if DR did a half-round version so they would have more of a flat tone but with the bronze zing.

 

Both the Ibanez Artcore and Aria FA series are great, well priced archtops for under $1,000. There are a bunch of really nice ones in the $1-2,000 range and then they start getting pretty ridiculous in price.