Semi-Hollow Compromise

[llamalor2112]

Hey, my fasha and I were planing on doubling in on a single guitar that we would both enjoy playing. The problem: My dad likes Les Pauls but dislikes the weight, I love the tone and must have the warm, full tone of a Lester.

The problem is that dad is convinced on getting whatever is available at our local GC and not heading anywhere else. He is very set in his ways and will not be swayed otherwise. For this reason I can cancel out the possibility of an Ultra or a Studio as my GC caries neither. It does on the other hand carry a wide array of Epi Semi-hollow and hollowbodies.

Does anybody know which if any of these Epi semi-hollows can sound remotely like a Les Paul (Doesn't have to be perfect but very similar)?

We were going for the List tomarrow and I was interested in what to look for before I head in there with him.

Thanks.
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EDIT: I don't mean to be too sacreligious posting this in the EPI forums but the name on the guitar isn't really what matters so.... In comparison w/ all of the wonderful Epi Semi-hollows I reallized that mayby we'd be better of in just getting a Faded Gibson Studio. They're supposed to be lighter weight than the standard Les Pauls right?

(NOTE: I do not mean to say that they are anywhere near as light weight as the Semi-hollows but it may be enough of a weight drop to convince my dad into getting it.)

Any input, anyone?!

[overdriver]

The Dot or Sheraton II, are going to be able to get the closest. Of the Epi semis that is ,and are the only Epi semis. They are different of course from the LPs. Also a semi like the Dot or Sheraton II will not be that much , if at all lighter in weight than a Epi Les Paul. Epi LP weight is all over if he whats a LP search around while checking out the semis . You should be able to find a light weight one I had one that was lighter than my Sheraton II. Dot and Sheraton II work and sound the same . same basic constructon and same electronics.

[Jason]

May I suggest something like this?



XV-700 Lightweight THINLINE Carved SOLID Maple Cap!

[ZoSo0789]

Sheratons are bitchin! I would love to own one of those

[gibbbbbbbaaaay!!!]

llamalor2112, dude your avatar is funny as hell! Sorry, just had to say that.

[llamalor2112]

Originally Posted by gibbbbbbbaaaay!!!

llamalor2112, dude your avatar is funny as hell! Sorry, just had to say that.

Thanks man, I would say the same for yours but that wouldn't be quite as fitting eh?

Speaking of avatars, (TO: JASON) is that the guy from those old nintendo power magazines from the 80s-90s?! I think I remember him being in them and he was in a comick called like Howerd and Nester or something. Good memories.

Anyways, on the real subject... I know now to browse what they have in the way of Sheratons tomarrow, I just hope that they do have some.

If they don't I may just have to go w/ that darn Gibson (Oh I am real disappointed in having to own one) I checked 'em out some more and they are just a hair lighter than telecaster standards which is just about the right weight that my dad likes.

It's nice being able to chip-in and purchase something w/ a little more value with my dad but there are always these little nit-pickings to deal with. I play bass primarily so I could care less how much it weighs but my dad has always preferred acoustics and likes his solid bodies nice and feathery.

Anyhow, thanks for the help. Much appreciated.

[The_Sentry]

The newer Epi's aren't that heavy.

This one weighs 7 lbs....



And the archtops (I own 2) are just as heavy....if not a bit more in terms of weight.

The tones are similar....very similar...but TBH there's some tones on the archtops I actually like more vs. the Les Pauls...

[Jason]

Originally Posted by llamalor2112

Thanks man, I would say the same for yours but that wouldn't be quite as fitting eh?

Speaking of avatars, (TO: JASON) is that the guy from those old nintendo power magazines from the 80s-90s?! I think I remember him being in them and he was in a comick called like Howerd and Nester or something. Good memories.

Anyways, on the real subject... I know now to browse what they have in the way of Sheratons tomarrow, I just hope that they do have some.

If they don't I may just have to go w/ that darn Gibson (Oh I am real disappointed in having to own one) I checked 'em out some more and they are just a hair lighter than telecaster standards which is just about the right weight that my dad likes.

It's nice being able to chip-in and purchase something w/ a little more value with my dad but there are always these little nit-pickings to deal with. I play bass primarily so I could care less how much it weighs but my dad has always preferred acoustics and likes his solid bodies nice and feathery.

Anyhow, thanks for the help. Much appreciated.

Yep. Good old Nintendo Power... even though the comics always sucked and were never funny:

[llamalor2112]

Oh man. I actually used to have the fun club membership. I even one a tshirt from won of the monthly sweepstakes things. It's great to find somebody else who knows about this stuff. (And yet...It's also a little strange.) Awesome man.

[LEFTY LES]

The DOT is the way to go. Or the Sheraton II if you want a prettier guitar. Like Dice said there pretty much the same in tone and playability except the Sheraton is about $200 bucks more because of all the bling. IMO the DOT and Sherry's are more versatile than a LP. You can get most of the LP sound from one plus a whole bunch more that you cant get from a Lester. The Dot is next on my list and when I get it I'm probably gonna sell my LP. I know once I get one, I wont be picking up my LP much any more. I barely play it now so when I have that, there's no shot.

[The_Sentry]

Originally Posted by LEFTY LES

The DOT is the way to go. Or the Sheraton II if you want a prettier guitar. Like Dice said there pretty much the same in tone and playability except the Sheraton is about $200 bucks more because of all the bling. IMO the DOT and Sherry's are more versatile than a LP. You can get most of the LP sound from one plus a whole bunch more that you cant get from a Lester. The Dot is next on my list and when I get it I'm probably gonna sell my LP. I know once I get one, I wont be picking up my LP much any more. I barely play it now so when I have that, there's no shot.

Man....I really, really have to disagree with Dice on this.

[LEFTY LES]

You say the DOT and Sherry sound and feel different hu Sen? I havent had my hands on them enough to really know the answer to that.

[The_Sentry]

Originally Posted by LEFTY LES

You say the DOT and Sherry sound and feel different hu Sen? I havent had my hands on them enough to really know the answer to that.

Very much so. They're not even balanced quite the same, the neck profile is different on each. The neck is thinner on a Sheraton. The Dot has a deeper tone...the Sheraton II is brighter. The Sheraton is also a lighter guitar (the body isn't as wide)...

I dunno..maybe Dice knows somethin' I don't.....

(but don't take my word for it.....anyone who wants to really know outta just...well, take the trip to "you know where" )

[LEFTY LES]

Originally Posted by The_Sentry

(but don't take my word for it.....anyone who wants to really know outta just...well, take the trip to "you know where" )

Never again man.

But if what you say is true than a Dot is what I want. I like a thicker neck. I like a heavier guitar and I like a deeper tone. I got all the brightness one can handle from my Les Paul. So you mean to tell me that the guitar that I will work for me is for a change cheaper (by over $200 bucks) then other models of the same thing. Wow, score. It usually works the other way around.

[llamalor2112]

Sorry for bringing up this topic to begin with, cause I actually went into GC and found a Custom Silverburst for $650. It played and sounded great and was as light as an E335! I started to talk turkey w/ my regular salesman, Joel and we made a compromise for a staight-up trade for my PRS SE single cut semi-hollow. (Which has terrible tuners and I would usually only be able to get $225 for a trade-in anyway.) I feel I hit the jackpot, but thank you all very much for your feedback. I was just a little aprehensive about the weight) (I wasn't aware that some of the regular Les Pauls had a bit of variance in weight.)

[overdriver]

Originally Posted by The_Sentry

Very much so. They're not even balanced quite the same, the neck profile is different on each. The neck is thinner on a Sheraton. The Dot has a deeper tone...the Sheraton II is brighter. The Sheraton is also a lighter guitar (the body isn't as wide)...

I dunno..maybe Dice knows somethin' I don't.....

(but don't take my word for it.....anyone who wants to really know outta just...well, take the trip to "you know where" )

What Sheraton II are ya talking the newer ones !, for the past while say 05 have the same neck profile as the Dots. The older ones like mine have a slimmer neck. The pups from 99 and up are the same on the two guitars. They sound pretty much the same feel pretty much the same , current production.

Lighter guitar, different sound IMO , more of a this VS that and Vice a versa thing . I am sure if you looked hard enouth ya could fing a Dot that weighs more than a Sheraton II and a Sheraton II that weighs more than a Dot. WTF man!

[Akahito]

Originally Posted by llamalor2112

Sorry for bringing up this topic to begin with, cause I actually went into GC and found a Custom Silverburst for $650. It played and sounded great and was as light as an E335! I started to talk turkey w/ my regular salesman, Joel and we made a compromise for a staight-up trade for my PRS SE single cut semi-hollow. (Which has terrible tuners and I would usually only be able to get $225 for a trade-in anyway.) I feel I hit the jackpot, but thank you all very much for your feedback. I was just a little aprehensive about the weight) (I wasn't aware that some of the regular Les Pauls had a bit of variance in weight.)

Great to hear you found one both of you liked. Customs are indeed generally lighter than Standards, don't know the exact reason why though.

[LEFTY LES]

Originally Posted by llamalor2112

Sorry for bringing up this topic to begin with, cause I actually went into GC and found a Custom Silverburst for $650. It played and sounded great and was as light as an E335! I started to talk turkey w/ my regular salesman, Joel and we made a compromise for a staight-up trade for my PRS SE single cut semi-hollow. (Which has terrible tuners and I would usually only be able to get $225 for a trade-in anyway.) I feel I hit the jackpot, but thank you all very much for your feedback. I was just a little aprehensive about the weight) (I wasn't aware that some of the regular Les Pauls had a bit of variance in weight.)

Your telling us that you got a straight across trade at GC for a brand new Epi LP custom for your PRS. If that's what I'm getting out of your post, you hit the mega jackpot there my friend. That's the best deal I've ever heard of. GC + trade ins usually = customer getting hosed. Good for you bro, congrats.

Don't be sorry for bringing up this topic, its started a great discussion on the Dot vs. Sheraton.

[llamalor2112]

I guess we all won in the end there didn't we!
I certainly know that I couldn't be any happier!
The thing is, my dad has bought about 12 guitars from the same salesman at the same GC for 12 years and has developed a pretty good inside source for finding all of the deals that the consumers aren't ecer supposed to see. Funny, when we were leaving w/ the silverburst, he said, "You know, why don't you just buy the whole Guitar Center?" LOL.
Buy the way, just for fun I did a direct comparison between the Epi Custom Silverburst and a Gibson Standard Silverburst in the store and like the Epi better in all respects. I am really impressed and am a very proud Les Paul owner!

[Jason]

Originally Posted by llamalor2112

Oh man. I actually used to have the fun club membership. I even one a tshirt from won of the monthly sweepstakes things. It's great to find somebody else who knows about this stuff. (And yet...It's also a little strange.) Awesome man.

Do you remember when they gave away the car from Robocop??? Man, I wanted that SOOOOO bad.

[The_Sentry]

Originally Posted by overdriver

What Sheraton II are ya talking the newer ones !, for the past while say 05 have the same neck profile as the Dots. The older ones like mine have a slimmer neck. The pups from 99 and up are the same on the two guitars. They sound pretty much the same feel pretty much the same , current production.

Lighter guitar, different sound IMO , more of a this VS that and Vice a versa thing . I am sure if you looked hard enouth ya could fing a Dot that weighs more than a Sheraton II and a Sheraton II that weighs more than a Dot. WTF man!

The neck on my Sheraton is much thinner...the body isn't as wide...it doesn't even sound anything like the Dot when they're both unplugged. IMHO this (at least in my opinion) is sort of like saying "Well, gosh...an SG sounds just like a Les Paul...so WTF...get whatever..."

Say it ain't so!!

[llamalor2112]

QUOTE=Jason;919551]

Do you remember when they gave away the car from Robocop??? Man, I wanted that SOOOOO bad.[/QUOTE]

Holy crap! I do remember that. Wow. I seem to remember one time that I wanted to win this totally rediculous thing were you could become a comic book character in a Valiant Comic Book series. I actually was intrigued enough to dig through my old, old stuff and found the first 50 or so issues! Great stuff.

I guess we could try to start a Nintendo Power appreciation thread. Oh man, what the heck. Did I just say that?!

[overdriver]

Originally Posted by The_Sentry

The neck on my Sheraton is much thinner...the body isn't as wide...it doesn't even sound anything like the Dot when they're both unplugged. IMHO this (at least in my opinion) is sort of like saying "Well, gosh...an SG sounds just like a Les Paul...so WTF...get whatever..."

Say it ain't so!!

Man you are pretty silly. An SG compared to a LP hey , at least a Dot and Sheraton II are constructed pretty much the same . Funny know nothing dude you are , what year is your Sheraton II ?
Sure your Sheraton II may not sound the same as X Dot ,just as X model whatever guitar doesn't sound the same as Y same model guitar.. If you don't know what it is your speaking of, why not stay quiet?

Back to you being on my ignore list, IMOits not worth reading your posts.

[The_Sentry]

Originally Posted by overdriver

Man you are pretty silly. An SG compared to a LP hey , at least a Dot and Sheraton II are constructed pretty much the same . Funny know nothing dude you are , what year is your Sheraton II ?
Sure your Sheraton II may not sound the same as X Dot ,just as X model whatever guitar doesn't sound the same as Y same model guitar.. If you don't know what it is your speaking of, why not stay quiet?

Back to you being on my ignore list, IMOits not worth reading your posts.

*shrugs*

Whatever floats your boat, dude.

They're not the same guitars. And on that note...don't see a point in answering your questions or explaining myself since I'm on your ignore list anyway.