Hollow/semi hollow bodies

[Bellows1]

I'm looking to get my son a hollow body, however I know nothing about them.

What is the difference between hollow and semi hollow bodies?

Who makes a decent affordable hollow body?

I've looked at the Agiles and the Guitarfetish models. They are priced well, but does anyone have any experience with them? I've also looked at the Epiphones, they seem nice as well.

Thank you, Bill

[Iceman0124]

semi hollow are usually thinner, and have a solid wooden block from the neck into the body where the pickups are mounted, basically hollow wings and a solid center. Hollow bodies are fully hollow,, through some have "soundposts" pridginf the top and back to reduce feedback and add structural support.

I have an epiphone sorrento semi hollow, and 2 gretsch electromatic (import versions) full hollow. The gretsch are great guitars and my faves right now, though a bit more costly. The 5120's go for a round $700 new now, though you can find some good ebay deals.

Epi sorrento



Gretsch 5120



Grestch 5129



The only solidbody guitar in my collection I have now that I really play is my tele....the Gretsches get most of my attention. Hollowbodies just have a lot more "pressence" for lack of better term....and the feeling you get when the amps cranked and the whole guitar starts vibrating on the verge of being violent....its just cool. If you do a lot of really high gain playing a semi hollow is probably a better fit.

[Marto]

Here's a good one: PRS SE semi-hollow. I've got one, and I like it. About 600 bucks, I think. Maybe a bit more. Could probably find a nice used one for considerably less. A semi-hollow has a fixed stop-bar (the bar through which the strings are threaded). The only exception I can think of is a Telecaster Thinline, but never mind that. A semi hollow is exactly what the name implies: semi hollow. In the case of the PRS SE, the bottom half is solid mahogany, a large portion of which has been scooped out in a canoe shape. Then the mahogany has a maple top glued on. To picture the construction, draw a line down the middle of the body, from the neck joint to the strap button, dividing the guitar in half along a longitudinal axis. The upper half is scooped out and has one "f-hole" (really doe not look like an "F") cut into the maple top. Add two humbucker pick-ups, a volume and tone control, and presto--PRS SE semi hollow body guitar. A Gibson ES-335 is another semi-hollow but with a much different design, and a very fine guitar it is, but expensive--wish I could afford one. Gretch, too, makes semi-hollow models. Then there is Ricenbacer (sp?), but you will have to rob a bank to afford one. Other Marquees make them as well.

A true hollow body is, in fact, pretty damn hollow. A thin maple top is applied over a slim, braced mahogany shell (sometimes maple). The stop bar is not "fixed" onto the body because the body is completely hollow; rather the stop bar is fixed onto the bottom of the base of the guitar--it "floats." Pure hollow bodies have two f-holes, though some exceptions may have only one. Usually they have humbucker pick-ups, but there are models with p-90 type pick-ups, a much different critter. The diference in sound between the two designs is significant, as you can imagine. Gretch, Gibson, Ibanez, Heritage, PRS, (other marquees, too) make some fine examples of true hollow bodies, but they are quite expensive, fragile, and most frequently used by jazz players. I'm sure I have provided you with a lot of misinformation, or half-truths. I hope other forum members, a knowledeable bunch, will correct my errors, omissions, or amplfy on what I just glossed over. Good luck. (My dad never bought me a guitar because those god-damn rock-and-rollers played 'em, though he did have an affection for the jazz dudes.)

[Bellows1]

Awesome guitars!!! I love the Sorrento.

Thank you for your input.

[Iceman0124]

Got the Sorrento ages ago, wanted a gretsch 6129, couldnt afford it, and their cheaper alternatives were awful at best, so I tried to mutate a sorrento into a gretschy vibe.

Semis can be scooped as Marto described, though many archtop semi hollows are buit just like full hollows, basically buit and braced like an acoustic, with the semi 's having a solid wood block instead of soundposts or being totally hollow. I can get some interior shots of my gretsches, though the epi is too thin to see much internals.

Soundpost (5129, 5120 has smaller sound posts intead of one large center post)



Back/side bracing




Heres the best I could get of the sorrento, its much thinner so I couldnt get any shots of the center block making it semi hollow, heres some breacing though.

[Bellows1]

Originally Posted by Marto

Here's a good one: PRS SE semi-hollow. I've got one, and I like it. About 600 bucks, I think. Maybe a bit more. Could probably find a nice used one for considerably less. A semi-hollow has a fixed stop-bar (the bar through which the strings are threaded). The only exception I can think of is a Telecaster Thinline, but never mind that. A semi hollow is exactly what the name implies: semi hollow. In the case of the PRS SE, the bottom half is solid mahogany, a large portion of which has been scooped out in a canoe shape. Then the mahogany has a maple top glued on. To picture the construction, draw a line down the middle of the body, from the neck joint to the strap button, dividing the guitar in half along a longitudinal axis. The upper half is scooped out and has one "f-hole" (really doe not look like an "F") cut into the maple top. Add two humbucker pick-ups, a volume and tone control, and presto--PRS SE semi hollow body guitar. A Gibson ES-335 is another semi-hollow but with a much different design, and a very fine guitar it is, but expensive--wish I could afford one. Gretch, too, semi-hollow, a couple of semi hollow models, I think. Then there is Ricenbacer (sp?), but you will have to rob a bank to afford one. Other Marquees make them as well.

A true hollow body is, in fact, pretty damn hollow. A thin maple top is applied over a completely scooped out mahogany base (sometimes maple). The stop bar is not "fixed" onto the body because the body is completely hollowed out; rather the stop bar is fixed onto the bottom of the base of the guitar--it "floats." Pure hollow bodies have two f-holes, though some exceptions may have only one. Usually they have humbucker pick-ups, but there are models with p-90 type pick-ups, a much different critter. The diference in sound between the two designs is significant, as you can imagine. Gretch, Gibson, Ibanez, Heritage, PRS, (other marquees, too) make some fine examples of true hollow bodies, but they are quite expensive, fragile, and most frequently used by jazz players. I'm sure I have provided you with a lot of misinformation, or half-truths. I hope other forum members, a knowledeable bunch, will correct my errors, omissions, or amplfy on what I just glossed over. Good luck. (My dad never bought me a guitar because those god-damn rock-and-rollers played 'em, though he did have an affection for the jazz dudes.)

Thank you Marto, I appreciate all the information I can find.

[Marto]

Cool pic. And a cool design. That sucker is hollow, aint it!

[Iceman0124]

Originally Posted by Marto

Cool pic. And a cool design. That sucker is hollow, aint it!

Sure is, the 5129 ( one in the closeups internal shots) is actually louder unplugged than my ovation elite acoustic.

[TWANG]

I don't know how old your son is.. but if it's a first guitar ... I'd take a serious look at the epiphone dot studio.

I own one. Just got it. I also own a sheraton.
They are both semi hollows.

The dot studio amazed me for how well it played and how good it looks, feels and sounds.
I did change a lot on it.. but I do that to everything.

If he's not playing tradtiional jazz.. I doubt the hollow body is going to be anything but a pain in the butt for him.
they feedback, they have a dark sound, and they don't fit a lot of contemporary music as far as the vast majority of players are concerned.

The dot studio on the other hand is used in jazz rock blues pop.. you name it. By a lot of famous people, and for good reason.

The price is absurd for the amount of guitar you get. The warranty is decent, and aftermarket upgrades abound.

True the cosmetics are sparse. That helps keep the price down, but they play great, and can sound excellent.
A move up to the epiphone Dot would give you a bit more, and not for a lot more money, either.
So I'd look at both of those.
Here's my dot studio with my changes. *S*




TWANG

[Skynyrdpicker]

The Xaviere guitars are great; I own three of them and they all sound and play very nicely. If you do get him one, though, it will probably need to be set up upon arrival. This never bothered me, and, if you can get past doing a little work, they're GREAT guitars, but if your son doesn't know how to do that kind of thing, a tech could probably do it. Either way, all three of my Xavieres are great guitars that I'll be playing for a while.

[The_Sentry]

Bill.

I think with any of the cheaper brands....you're at least going to need to look into a setup. Dots are nice, as are the Xavier archtops and the Agile AS 820's. I'd say outside of a setup, any of those guitars would be fine...

[Marto]

Yep. I've been thinking about an Epi Dot, too . That's good advice. And they maybe simple and unadorned, but they look pretty cool--workman like, down-home bluesy. To my eye, at least.

[USP45Tim]

+1 on the Epi Dot. I think your son would love something like that. It's a great guitar.

[The_Sentry]

Originally Posted by Marto

Yep. I've been thinking about an Epi Dot, too . That's good advice. And they maybe simple and unadorned, but they look pretty cool--workman like, down-home bluesy. To my eye, at least.

Yeah, they're nice...and from a build perspective, I personally think they're better deals than solid bodies since when you get right to it, it's a bit tougher to "Fudge" an archtop or hollow body.

The Dot Studio seems like a nice deal.....but heck, for a few dollars more, you can have the Dot.

I still like the looks of the Xaviere. Another thing I like about the XV-910's...the tailpiece. It looks like a Bigbsy upgrade could be put on one of those with not a whole lot of fuss or mess (I like the diamond inlays as well...)

The only bad thing? Upgrading electronics can be a pain in the butt....(and on those Xaviere guitars...the tuners will probably have to be replaced....)







Not a bad guitar at all for 300 and change....less than a Dot for certain. (I also checked out Rondo's site...they're sold out of the AS-820's....so I don't know if it would be worth it to check 'em this time around...)

[zontar]

Check out Ibanez as well--the Artcore guitars run the gamut pricewise--but I've never seen a bad one--even in the lower price range. Nice guitars

[Bellows1]

Originally Posted by TWANG

I don't know how old your son is.. but if it's a first guitar ... I'd take a serious look at the epiphone dot studio.

I own one. Just got it. I also own a sheraton.
They are both semi hollows.

The dot studio amazed me for how well it played and how good it looks, feels and sounds.
I did change a lot on it.. but I do that to everything.

If he's not playing tradtiional jazz.. I doubt the hollow body is going to be anything but a pain in the butt for him.
they feedback, they have a dark sound, and they don't fit a lot of contemporary music as far as the vast majority of players are concerned.

The dot studio on the other hand is used in jazz rock blues pop.. you name it. By a lot of famous people, and for good reason.

The price is absurd for the amount of guitar you get. The warranty is decent, and aftermarket upgrades abound.

True the cosmetics are sparse. That helps keep the price down, but they play great, and can sound excellent.
A move up to the epiphone Dot would give you a bit more, and not for a lot more money, either.
So I'd look at both of those.
Here's my dot studio with my changes. *S*




TWANG

Thank you all for the responses. He is 14, been playing a little over a year now. He is a Metallica, metal/hard rock fan, but is just getting into the Beatles and Pink Floyd, along with Blues and softer rock. I guess he finally figured out Girls ain't into Metallica, Ozzy and Iron Maiden.

I have a local shop that has been great as far as setting up his guitars, but he has limited a very inventory.

[The_Sentry]

Originally Posted by Bellows1

Thank you all for the responses. He is 14, been playing a little over a year now. He is a Metallica, metal/hard rock fan, but is just getting into the Beatles and Pink Floyd, along with Blues and softer rock. I guess he finally figured out Girls ain't into Metallica, Ozzy and Iron Maiden.

I have a local shop that has been great as far as setting up his guitars, but he has limited a very inventory.

Heh.

It's all good either way....believe it or not, an archtop is no slouch in the metal department either....

[Bellows1]

Originally Posted by The_Sentry

Yeah, they're nice...and from a build perspective, I personally think they're better deals than solid bodies since when you get right to it, it's a bit tougher to "Fudge" an archtop or hollow body.

The Dot Studio seems like a nice deal.....but heck, for a few dollars more, you can have the Dot.

I still like the looks of the Xaviere. Another thing I like about the XV-910's...the tailpiece. It looks like a Bigbsy upgrade could be put on one of those with not a whole lot of fuss or mess (I like the diamond inlays as well...)

The only bad thing? Upgrading electronics can be a pain in the butt....(and on those Xaviere guitars...the tuners will probably have to be replaced....)







Not a bad guitar at all for 300 and change....less than a Dot for certain. (I also checked out Rondo's site...they're sold out of the AS-820's....so I don't know if it would be worth it to check 'em this time around...)

I've seen those, very nice looking guitars. Rondo lives about 20 miles from me, but he no longer has a showroom.

[The_Sentry]

Originally Posted by Bellows1

I've seen those, very nice looking guitars. Rondo lives about 20 miles from me, but he no longer has a showroom.

Bummer....

Well, unfortunately he also doesn't have any AS-820's in stock either. Those are the better archtops. (I own one of his SX GG5 models, and I like it...but the electronics in it were nothin' to write home about, and upgrading an archtop isn't quite as cut and dried as a solid body electric.)

[Iceman0124]

Did you get the PM I sent, if not this looks killer for the price, $299 new

Buy Ibanez AFS75TD Artcore Electric Guitar | Semi-Hollow and Hollow Body Electric Guitars | Musician's Friend



If I had any disposeable income at this time i'd probably snatch one up just for the hell of it.

[Bellows1]

Originally Posted by Iceman0124

Did you get the PM I sent, if not this looks killer for the price, $299 new

Buy Ibanez AFS75TD Artcore Electric Guitar | Semi-Hollow and Hollow Body Electric Guitars | Musician's Friend



If I had any disposeable income at this time i'd probably snatch one up just for the hell of it.

Yes Sir, I was just about to respond.

He really likes that one you linked too. I was a little ascared about the feedback issue I've heard about the hollow bodies until you offered the explination in the PM. Thank you.

Here is a quick picture of a LP studio we are refinishing.

[zontar]

Originally Posted by Iceman0124

Did you get the PM I sent, if not this looks killer for the price, $299 new

Buy Ibanez AFS75TD Artcore Electric Guitar | Semi-Hollow and Hollow Body Electric Guitars | Musician's Friend



If I had any disposeable income at this time i'd probably snatch one up just for the hell of it.

I've played one of those--and they are so tacky looking--the picture doesn't do it justice. The silver is very sparkly. It's very eyecatching--I had to try it it was so gaudy. The pickguard and pickup rings are cream--which does not match at all--I'd be getting some replacements...


BUT--more importantly--how does it play?
It was actually a lot of fun to play. I gave it serious consideration--but I'm not into Bigsby style vibratos--and it went out of tune easily--although if you're experienced with Bigsbys--it might go better.

Still it was close, although ultimately I'm glad I held out for an AF95.

But most Artcores are nice guitars.

[analogsystem]

Casino!

[nsureit]

My Gretsch 6119/1962HT is semi-hollow...the F-holes are painted on. This one resonates and sings beautifully, plus, it's lightweight.

[Iceman0124]

Originally Posted by nsureit

My Gretsch 6119/1962HT is semi-hollow...the F-holes are painted on. This one resonates and sings beautifully, plus, it's lightweight.

I got to spend some quality time with one of those recently.....she was really hard to give back. Even with a light strumming the whole instument just seemed alive.....and is by far the best semi I've ever played aside from a vintage double cut nashville