semi hollow suggestions?

[etaeniura]

I was playing an epi "dot" at GC the other day and it sounded fantastic. I know there aren't alot of Epi fans in here, but has anyone played any other 335-style guitars that are relatively inexpensive, but well built? I see that Peavey makes one, and Ibanez is making them too. Anyone have experience with these-good or bad? I just think they look like alot of fun to play with, so if I decide to get one, I don't want to pay a whole lot, ya know?

[AlexL]

Re: semi hollow suggestions?

I played an older Yamaha a friend of mine had, and it was an awesome axe. I even did some studio work with it. It was very well made. Unfortunately, I don't know the model number offhand. I can get it if you want.

Visually, I don't care for semi-hollowbodies, but they sure do sound nice.

- E.

[jgcable]

Re: semi hollow suggestions?

Here is a short list of fantastic Epi's. Keep in mind that they were good enough for the Beatles!!

Casino (John Lennon played a natural finished one)
Sheraton (George Harrison and John both played them)
Joe Pass
Wildkat
Flamekat
Dot
Lucille
Emperor

[The Eristic]

Re: semi hollow suggestions?

[ QUOTE ]
Here is a short list of fantastic Epi's. Keep in mind that they were good enough for the Beatles!!

[/ QUOTE ]

Keep in mind they played American-made guitars that were built on the same lines as Gibson's ES series. [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img] Epi was held in VERY high regard until CMI bought them (Gibson's parent co.), who then marketed the majority of Epiphones as somewhat more affordable and/or quirky Gibsons, more or less. In '69, Norlin took control of Gibson, and soon moved all Epi production overseas. (There were a few MIA models made every now and then.) They've never really recovered their original rep, though the new MIJ Elitists are pretty AMAZING. They may be just the thing Epi needs to revitalize the mark, IF they can get people to play them.

[etaeniura]

Re: semi hollow suggestions?

THose Elitist ones are still quite pricey. THe Tak Matsumoto (sp?) LP is sweet looking. I really don't have access to local music stores with decent selections, so If I decide to buy one, It will be an all day excursion and I want to check out as many as possible. I am at least one hour from the nearest GC, and 1.5 hours from a GOOD GC! Thanks for the help!

[jgcable]

Re: semi hollow suggestions?

Good point but Epi still makes a nice semi-hollow regardless of wear it is manufactured.

[No Use]

Re: semi hollow suggestions?

man, i was all ready to jump in with PRS, withall the PRS talk goin' on.
Anyways, i digress, i'm with some of the folks here, Epi's capable of some nice stuff. i hear the Artcore guitars (Ibanez) aren;t bad at all. I'd check those out too. and they make a little under a billion models in that series...

[j2379]

Re: semi hollow suggestions?

used heritage, theres one at local GC $600. so figure $400-500, for a guitar that far better than anything epi has done in a decade or more.

[GiantBaba]

Re: semi hollow suggestions?

I've played a couple of real nice Ibanez semi-hollows. Seriously.

Heritage is a good suggestion, too.

[Boxcar Willie 84]

Re: semi hollow suggestions?

I think the Ibanez are a great value, as are the Epiphones. For more high-end stuff, I've always had a soft spot for Gretsch.

[markD]

Re: semi hollow suggestions?

even the gretsch electromatics are nice. my buddy's shop carries them and they are nice. cool sparkle finishes, bigsby-type trems...the only thing is that i don't find them to be woody enough. they're kinda like plastic coated guitars.

i had an epiphone dot and thought it was great. i changed the pickups to duncan seth lovers (the epi has a little plug in wiring harness attached to the pick up...it makes replacing pickups easy!!), and it killed. i even got it from MF, and it was still nice!!

heritage are great guitars, but it seems the secret is out. i haven't found too many 'cheap' ones lately.

[pro-fusion]

Re: semi hollow suggestions?

Here's another vote for the recent Korean Epi Sheratons. Every one I've played seemed like a really decent low-cost alternative to a Gibson 335. Since I'm more likely to play jazz than blues on a semihollow, I'd be more inclined to seek out one of the Epi Joe Pass models--that's a really cool jazz box, in part because it is a bit smaller and thinner than your typical ES175 or such.

[jgcable]

Re: semi hollow suggestions?

The Joe Pass is really nice looking, playing and sounding in person. I really think the Sheraton and the Casino are too. You just have to pick out a good one. It is usually pretty easy because the local store usually has several to choose from.

[etaeniura]

Re: semi hollow suggestions?

DOes Hamer still make import semi-hollows? If so, anybody play one?

[442w30]

Re: semi hollow suggestions?

I have a Korean Washburn J-6, It's really well finished IMHO, but it is real thick cross-section (Like Gibson L-5) compared to an ES-335. You can find them as low as $450 used up to $8-900 new.