SarahC Posted November 28, 2011 Share Posted November 28, 2011 Hey guys, Currently I have 2 main guitars. A Dean performer series acoustic-electric and a 1980's Japan Fender Stratocaster. I'm starting to get the itch to buy a new guitar (I have been playing those two for the better part of 6 years now), and was hoping to get some opinions on semi-hollowbody guitars. I've always kind of wanted one after I saw Sondre Lerche way back in 2004. I really like the tone of them, and think the sound would lend itself to the sort of music I make. My budget is really no more than $700 What are some good brands/styles? Do any of you guys play them? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jams Posted November 29, 2011 Share Posted November 29, 2011 I have a Heritage 535 with Semour Duncan 59 pickups, which I LOVE! It's a very versatile guitar! You can get probably get a nice Epiphone in that price range. You should try to play some, if you're able to! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ghost of Electricity Posted November 29, 2011 Share Posted November 29, 2011 The Gretsch electromatic series has some good affordable hollowbodies. Stock pickups are decent enough but if you upgrade them you could really get a delicious sounding instrument. But whatever you do try to get to a shop/a bunch of shops and just play as many of them as you can. You might be surprised at the guitar you bond with. Shop with your ears first, fingers second and eyes third. Good luck and keep us updated. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jff Posted November 29, 2011 Share Posted November 29, 2011 I have been impressed with Epiphones (the Dot and Sheraton models), and the Ibanez Artcore series. All of these are within your price range. I agree that you should search as far and wide as possible. If you get lucky you might find something really amazing. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
lamradio Posted November 29, 2011 Share Posted November 29, 2011 You won't find a bigger Epi fan than me. If you find one in your range, sounds good, don't think twice just buy it... They are great guitars, and don't believe anyone that say's they are just crappy versions of Gibson's. IMO they are better than most Gibson's. As mentioned above, you definitely can't go wrong with the Sheraton. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jff Posted November 30, 2011 Share Posted November 30, 2011 I see used Sheratons pretty often. You could probably find one in the $400 range. I've been considering trading in my strat for one if I get the opportunity. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DrNo Posted November 30, 2011 Share Posted November 30, 2011 I had an Epiphone Casino for a while but I could never get it to stay in tune. I wouldn't get another one with the trapeze tailpiece. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jff Posted December 1, 2011 Share Posted December 1, 2011 I had an Epiphone Casino for a while but I could never get it to stay in tune. I wouldn't get another one with the trapeze tailpiece. I had one of those a few years ago for about a year. Fun guitar. Wish I still had it. The tuning on mine seemed pretty stable, but I never gigged with it or even took it out of the house. Worth noting...Casinos are not semi-hollow. They are full hollowbody guitars, and as such, might not be the right thing for Sarah. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
SarahC Posted December 1, 2011 Author Share Posted December 1, 2011 Well, I had an interesting couple of days. I took my strat into the local music store to be setup and tweaked. I was having issues keeping it in tune, because it has been outfitted with a floyd rose. It also has been sounding wanky for the last couple months. The low E string always had a weird buzz. It sounded bad. I found out that some parts of the floyd rose system were bent. The owner of the guitar shop asked me about it, and then basically told me that my guitar is a "parts guitar" and wasn't an original 1980's Japan strat like I had been told by a previous store. I told him that I was thinking about a hollow body guitar, and actually did a flat out trade for a Dot Studio. So far I think it was a good trade. I love the sound the Dot gets. My only complaint with it is the weight of the thing. Maybe it's because I've gotten so used to my acoustic, but Jiminey Cricket, the Dot is heavy! I played it for an hour last night, and I can still feel it in my shoulder. I don't wear the guitar super low or anything, if anything, it might be a little high. I'm hoping that issue will fix itself when I can get a wider and padded strap. Right now I'm just playing with a sort of skinny Levy leather strap. Can you guys recommend a good strap? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jff Posted December 1, 2011 Share Posted December 1, 2011 My only complaint with it is the weight of the thing. Maybe it's because I've gotten so used to my acoustic, but Jiminey Cricket, the Dot is heavy! I played it for an hour last night, and I can still feel it in my shoulder. I don't wear the guitar super low or anything, if anything, it might be a little high. I'm hoping that issue will fix itself when I can get a wider and padded strap. Right now I'm just playing with a sort of skinny Levy leather strap. Can you guys recommend a good strap? The thing that makes a semi-hollow semi-hollow is a big solid block of wood than runs underneath the strings and pickups from the neck joint to the tail end of the body, and connects the top and back of the guitar. That's where all the weight is coming from. On the plus side, that wood block will keep your guitar from feeding back like a full hollowbody would. Congrats on your new guitar. I don't know much about straps, but I bet a thicker one would help distribute the weight more comfortably. Sounds like you're developing a case of what some refer to as Les Paul Shoulder. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
SarahC Posted December 1, 2011 Author Share Posted December 1, 2011 The thing that makes a semi-hollow semi-hollow is a big solid block of wood than runs underneath the strings and pickups from the neck joint to the tail end of the body, and connects the top and back of the guitar. That's where all the weight is coming from. On the plus side, that wood block will keep your guitar from feeding back like a full hollowbody would. Congrats on your new guitar. I don't know much about straps, but I bet a thicker one would help distribute the weight more comfortably. Sounds like you're developing a case of what some refer to as Les Paul Shoulder. Thanks! Yeah, it plays great! I'm looking into a thicker and padded strap. I think that's the answer to fixing the shoulder. Weight is one of the main reasons I didn't get a Les Paul the last time I bought a guitar. Some of those top out at like 11lbs. too much for me. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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