Great Rhythm Guitars?

[ColinLynch]

As some of you may know I'm currently in a band. I'm the vocalist/rhythm guitarist, but my SG is falling apart and its time for a new guitar. Although the SG was decent enough to play the part, I'm wondering if theres something better for my kind of music. My music is sort of an alternative/indie rock sound, so I'd like to have a clean guitar that can get some grit when I need it. I was looking at the Epiphone dot, an affordable guitar that ive played with before. it sounded pretty nice and many of my favorite artists use it.

 

Any other suggestions? (sorry for all the suggestion threads, this guitar decision is important and I'd to know where to look when i start trying guitars)

 

if you guys want a better description of what im going for as far as rhythm guitar, ive got a myspace in my sig

 

thanks

[BryanMichael]

Rhythm is in the player...not the guitar.

[Alecto]

Rhythm is in the player...not the guitar.

 

Yarp.

 

However, I would look at a Telecaster (either single coils or humbuckers) or something with a P-90. You want a lower-output pickup that'll give you some clarity.

[scuzzo]

any guitar cept for perhaps those 80's one HB jobs...

[Orange Jackson]

Something with a rounder neck radius anyway, like in the 7.5 to 9.5 ballpark.

 

Flatter boards are better for lead work and less so for rhythm.

[ColinLynch]

has anyone else played with the epi dot? whats the sound difference between it and the casino, archtop dot, or sheraton?

[mediocreplayer]

(any) Tele >> Epi Dot for rhythm playing, at least for me. If you want mostly clean that drives well at moderate levels, then there is no reason to play a humbucker guitar.

[Yogi_Sizzle]

 

has anyone else played with the epi dot? whats the sound difference between it and the casino, archtop dot, or sheraton?

 

 

The Epi Dot (Archtop dot is the same thing, just a different name) is constructed like the ES-335, with a center block, the Sheraton is made the same way. The Sheraton and Dot have different types of necks. The sheratons is usually a bit thinner and faster with binding, while the dots mostly have fat necks with no binding. The Casino is a fully hollow guitar with no center blocks, making it different from the Dots,Sheratons, Lucilles, and 335s. It is more prone to feedback and has a jangly character.

[jelloman]

I tend to pick a guitar for rhythm that contrasts the lead players stuff...if he's playing a HB into a marshal I'll go more for P90 or strat types...or hollow body if he's playing s trat etc etc etc...

[67mike]

I suggest a P90 equipped Guitar.

 

I would suggest looking at a used The Heritage H150.

 

They are AWESOME!

[WoodenDuckMaker]

the tele cuts through the mix, and has that simplicity and ruggedness that is ideal when your just doing rhythm work and pounding out some power chords.

[WRGKMC]

I have a Dot. The stock pups sound pretty bland. They can be alot better if you add some Filteron type pups in there to get some jangle like I did. I tried maybe 5 different sets of pups till I could find a good match.

 

As a better suggestion, See if you can get your hands on an Epiphine Rivera. They were actually a step up from the Casino and Dot. The Casion was only popular because the Beatles got some for free and used them. The riveria was a much better instrument. They have the mini humbuckers in them and can give both the P90 or the HB tones and sound really good for just about anything. Much slimmer neck too especially for playing chords.

 

Another possibility is getting an Ibanez Semi hollowbody. My buddy bought one of these http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Ibanez-Artcore-Series-AF75TDG-Hollowbody-Electric-Guitar?sku=515742 and I was thoroughly impressed with the sound. Of course they make a whole line.

 

http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/navigation/ibanez-guitars-pedals-gear-semi-hollow-body-electric-guitars?N=100001+201105+306242&src=3WWRWXGB&ZYXSEM=0&gclid=CPiOz8f-7aECFYd-5Qod4y1gLQ

 

I think you'll get a much better bang for the buck going from first hand experience with them.

[imbuedblue]

 

I tend to pick a guitar for rhythm that contrasts the lead players stuff...if he's playing a HB into a marshal I'll go more for P90 or strat types...or hollow body if he's playing s trat etc etc etc...

 

 

Wise words. There's nothing worse than having two guitarists on stage playing with the same basic tone.

[Wyatt]

I'm far more curious as to why your SG is "falling apart?"

 

A little TLC and it should last a century.

 

Or are you just lying to yourself justify a new guitar?

[paul44]

You need a Les Paul.It actually has a rhythm setting built into the guitar.

[rog951]

Get a tele or a solid body Rickenbacker for rhythm. I say this because that's all I've ever seen Robin Zander play and it has always sounded great and complimented Rick Neilson's tone well.

 

Note: the above advice may not work as well if Rick Neilson is not in your band.

[Wyatt]

 

You need a Les Paul.It actually has a rhythm setting built into the guitar.

 

 

Yeah..uh...so does a SG.

[sk8centilli]

 

the tele cuts through the mix, and has that simplicity and ruggedness that is ideal when your just doing rhythm work and pounding out some power chords.

 

 

However, as a rhythm player, you are the mix.

 

My first thought was a semi-hollow - then I kept reading and you nailed it with the Dot.

[WRGKMC]

If its an actual Gibson all the parts are replacable, fretwork can be done, even a change of pups can put iy back in shape.

 

I suspect it may be a clone with a bolt on neck though or low end version. In that case, you can only go so far and then realize, to get better tone you need something better.

[Der_Kartoffel]

i've got an ibanez ac500 with duncans in it for my rhythm guitar. it sounds great.

[Into Nation]

I listened to your stuff, I like it! Sounds kind of like a raunchier Counting Crows. It wants to be gritty and you already are comfortable with an SG. I'd look at an SG Classic. You can can a real variety with the volume and tone knobs.

[Spudro]

I prefer guitars with single coil pickups. Why? Because single coil pickups are better rhythm guitars to me. In general, they are more transparent than humbuckers . They don't leave a huge sonic footprint that smothers everything else in their sonic range... vocals, harp, sax, keys.

 

In my hands, single coils play well with others. Most songs are rhythm guitar for 85% of the song. Rhythm guitar tone is a high priority to me.

 

Of course, that is my opinion of what works for me, playing what I play with who I play with. My perfection pizza sauce might not be exactly the right thing to put on your ice cream sundae. What is right for me may not be right for you. I posted my preference and gave the reason that it works for me. Hopefully, my post was helpful.

[paul44]

 

Yeah..uh...so does a SG.

 

 

Nevermind.

[WRGKMC]

 

I prefer guitars with single coil pickups. Why? Because single coil pickups are better rhythm guitars to me. In general, they are more transparent than humbuckers . They don't leave a huge sonic footprint that smothers everything else in their sonic range... vocals, harp, sax, keys. In my hands, single coils play well with others. Most songs are rhythm guitar for 85% of the song. Rhythm guitar tone is a high priority to me. Of course, that is my opinion of what works for me, playing what I play with who I play with. My perfection pizza sauce might not be exactly the right thing to put on your ice cream sundae. What is right for me may not be right for you. I posted my preference and gave the reason that it works for me. Hopefully, my post was helpful.

 

 

True, but when you're working with another player in a band, and you already have a tone happening, or say the other guitarist is using the single coil thing already, you may need to keep some fuller tone to balance out the sound. Amps and pedals used need to be considered too.

 

I do have a Casino with P90s. Its great for some stuff and a bit sterile for others. I also have some combo guitars I built so I can switch tones. With the onset of HB sized single coils available now, it can be an afterthough for modding. having a p90 route leaves you only 2 choices modding. Mini HB's or P100s which are also great pups. very procy, but I have a set in my Paul and they are another good choice for variety. Having something that plays well and is comfortable should still trump a players choice though. So long as it has good wood tone when played unamplified, you can usually bring that out with different pickup choices.

[ColinLynch]

I'm far more curious as to why your SG is "falling apart?" A little TLC and it should last a century. Or are you just lying to yourself justify a new guitar?

 

during practice i fell over my combo amp and straight into the ground. the amp's a tank (DRRI), but the SG input is on the face of the guitar and not the side; so the input was basically jammed into the guitar. It can still play, but the condition get worse and worse everytime i pick it up and play. i figure its only a matter of time