Recomend me a cheap semi-hollowbody

  • Thread starter Thread starter Nightfire
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Nightfire

Nightfire

Aspiring Idiot
Hey gang,

As it goes - always looking for more guitars, and always on the cheap. Looking for a cheap semi-hollowbody, preferably ES-335 shaped......the quality of pickups does not matter, they will be replaced by humbucker-sized P90's from guitarfetish.

Maybe some brands from the 80's that are now cheap on ebay???


Mike
 
What's the definition of "cheap?" I went used, but still current. Picked up an Epiphone Dot Studio from acquaintance a while back. I paid him $300, but he had swapped in a real nice set of Seymour Duncan's.

I think new now (mine was a couple years ago) they're down to $300 and less on sale.

It's easily one of the best "bang for the buck" guitars I own. Immensely playable.
 
I have already check out the Jay Tursers, and I really dont like their headstock.
I had checked the Rondo's out already, and while just over $300 I'm still hoping to do cheaper.



WhiteStrat said:
What's the definition of "cheap?" I went used, but still current. Picked up an Epiphone Dot Studio from acquaintance a while back. I paid him $300, but he had swapped in a real nice set of Seymour Duncan's.

I think new now (mine was a couple years ago) they're down to $300 and less on sale.

It's easily one of the best "bang for the buck" guitars I own. Immensely playable.
Click to expand...

Ahh, exactly what I had in mind already too. How are you liking it? Binding? Fretjob?

It this the kind you have?http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Epiphone-Dot-Studio-SemiHollow-Electric-Guitar?sku=518706

Or these?
http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Epiphone-Dot-Electric-Guitar?sku=518250

I was hoping to score a guitar for $200, then pickups and possibly Gibsgy which would add up to $100 = $300 total.


Mike
 
I've said it before and I'll say it again....pawn shops are your friend.:D

...unless you're on the other side of one.:(
 
pawnshops where I live aren't cheap at all.
epis dot or dot studio is a good lower priced guitar.. ebay used could be a steal.
but 200.00 will only get you the studio most times.

If you search for Agile guitars, you may come up with something..
TWANG
 
Look for vintage knock offs if you can find a good one. I picked my Vantage up for less than $150 and after a setup, pickup and tuner upgrade it is a great sounding and playing guitar.

Next step from my shopping days would be a Epi Casino (soapbar instead of humbucker sized P90, but i like the looks there personally) or a sherton. Most Dots i have seen are poor quality.

Lots of people give props to the Ibanez artcore series but i have had exposure to two or three from friends and i always thought hey sounded really thin, but with a pickup upgrade that might be fine.

Daav
 
I have an Epi Dot (335 clone) that was $400 new about 5-6 years ago. I think they still go for $400.....or maybe a little less on sale. The ones I've tried play well and sound decent (a pup upgrade would make a DOT a very decent guitar).

I have an Ibenez AG175 which I bought used for $200 - because I kept hearing the Artcores were soooooo good. I'm not impressed with the Ibenez I have.

If you want a 335 style guitar - you should really check out Epiphone.
 
when i get a jazzbox its more than likely it will be an epi.... i have played a lot of semi acoustics in shops over the years and the epiphones have always blown me away.

as with all epiphones you would need to figure in the obligitory setup....epihone is basically the gibson squire ..its a great deal whichever way you look at it.
 
Nightfire said:
I was hoping to score a guitar for $200, then pickups and possibly Gibsgy which would add up to $100 = $300 total.
Mike
Click to expand...

Did you miss this one:

http://www.rondomusic.com/product1693.html

gg6cusna1a.jpg


$219 (plus S&H) and easily a better value than Dot and definitely better looking. Unless maybe you don't like the natural finish (I don't). Quite possibly a better made guitar too (electronics and hardware don't really count, they're useable and comparable but better off replaced in either epis or these).

Not to mention their semi-hollow "thinline" teles (if you like that kinda thing, cuz I don't):

http://www.rondomusic.com/stlh3ts.html (they also have a natural there) $150 plus S&H.

stlh3ts1.jpg


I know this is not semi-hollow, but I have the Douglas WNO-630 (orange, mine was a b-stock, though) and they are a fantastic value (especially if you mod). they have a great finish, nice fretboard, gretschy neck, sounds great.

You can find a recent review here:

http://www.agileguitarforum.com/viewthread.php?tid=12096&goto=search&pid=148029

and stock soundclip here:

http://www.agileguitarforum.com/viewthread.php?tid=12180

(the guy is a lefty, but he owns a Gretsch Country Gentleman, so he compared them side by side).

I don't mean to overwhelm you, but especially if you're a modder, these are all great bases.
 
Last edited:
Pawnshops around here are WAY to expensive. After looking for a nice parlour guitar I found a few old Harmonies and Stellas and they all wanted in excess of $500, and for an old 4-channel Tascam mixer they wanted $300 cuase "it has tubes and everybody wants those nowadays":o

I'll look for some Epis on ebay, I have read a lot of bad reviews about the Epi Dot Studio, that the bridge isnt where it should be and its causing intonation problems etc. On the other hand Ive read a lot of good reviews about the Epi Dot (not studio).

Thanks gearjunky, yeah I had seen that guitar but - I'm not a fan of that super light natural look (a darker honey finish would be delicious though:cool:) and I am not a fan of Gold hardware at all. As for the Tele's, I already have a Tele and would really like an ES335 shape this time around.

Thanks for all the help, I'll let you guys know how it turns out and what I find.


Mike
 
Nightfire said:
Ahh, exactly what I had in mind already too. How are you liking it? Binding? Fretjob?

It this the kind you have?http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Epiphone-Dot-Studio-SemiHollow-Electric-Guitar?sku=518706

Or these?
http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Epiphone-Dot-Electric-Guitar?sku=518250

I was hoping to score a guitar for $200, then pickups and possibly Gibsgy which would add up to $100 = $300 total.


Mike
Click to expand...

Mine's the first one--the cheaper Studio model. Don't know how it compares to the other one, since I wasn't shopping around; just picked it up from a friend at a good price. Mine's solid red--not the woodgrain red. Don't think they make the solids anymore.

There are some things about it that bugged me at first (cost-savers). The binding is painted on. There are no fret markers. No pick guard.

That stuff didn't matter compared to how well it played for what I payed. The binding is painted real well, & I've added fret markers (didn't really need to) and a 3rd party pickguard (don't like the "E" pickguards, anyway).

Nightfire said:
Pawnshops around here are WAY to expensive. After looking for a nice parlour guitar I found a few old Harmonies and Stellas and they all wanted in excess of $500, and for an old 4-channel Tascam mixer they wanted $300 cuase "it has tubes and everybody wants those nowadays":o

I'll look for some Epis on ebay, I have read a lot of bad reviews about the Epi Dot Studio, that the bridge isnt where it should be and its causing intonation problems etc. On the other hand Ive read a lot of good reviews about the Epi Dot (not studio).

Thanks gearjunky, yeah I had seen that guitar but - I'm not a fan of that super light natural look (a darker honey finish would be delicious though:cool:) and I am not a fan of Gold hardware at all. As for the Tele's, I already have a Tele and would really like an ES335 shape this time around.

Thanks for all the help, I'll let you guys know how it turns out and what I find.


Mike
Click to expand...

So I'm not sure why the bad reviews on the Dot Studio. After my mods, I suppose I might just have well bought the more expensive model (differences are primarily cosmetic) but like I said, I was siezing an opportunity, not shopping more carefully like you are.
 
I was going to say Jay Turser...What's wrong with their headstocks? I just reviewed the Cleopatra (below left) for FrugalGuitarist.com and, minor issues aside, a very nice guitar. I've played one of their 133's (335 copy below right)in a burst finish as well and was pretty impressed.

JT_Cleo.jpg
jt-133nh.jpg
 
You might check out a Hamer Echotone. I got mine used on Ebay a number of years ago. I swapped out the humbuckers for Duncan P90's.

It's probably been my top 1 or 2 fav guitars over the years (the other one being my heavily modded Strat). It's stood the test of time, superb playability, the tone I wanted (even with the hummers in there). I have the red one. The P90s really set this one over the top IMHO.

I have about 12 guitars right now, but have cycled through another 10-15 over the years. I personally like budget models that I can mod - plus I get the variety of sounds I'm looking for.

I'm guessing 200 to 250 on Ebay if you look hard enough.
 
i have a korean dot, and i love it. after a fret dress and new nut it plays excellent--- kinda slinky, really. also, the stock alnico epi pickups are quite good--- at least the ones that came in mine (maybe i just got lucky?). the set-up work definitely didnt hurt anything.

incidentally, i have also contemplated going the dream 90 route with this one, or even finding another to do it with. i have a chrome dream 90 in the neck slot of a mongrel tele, and it is pretty sexy. i am particularly interested in how it might sound in the bridge position--- the dot is the only git i have with room for a full-sized bucker in the bridge position, and i havent been able to convince myself to mess with the stockers. blah blah. i find my dream 90 to be darker and fatter than a "real" p90 (which might also be perceived as muddier and less distinct), though all i have to compare it to is a p-90 loaded SG, so that might be a loaded assessment.
 
toobalicious said:
i have a korean dot, and i love it. after a fret dress and new nut it plays excellent--- kinda slinky, really. also, the stock alnico epi pickups are quite good--- at least the ones that came in mine (maybe i just got lucky?). the set-up work definitely didnt hurt anything.

incidentally, i have also contemplated going the dream 90 route with this one, or even finding another to do it with. i have a chrome dream 90 in the neck slot of a mongrel tele, and it is pretty sexy. i am particularly interested in how it might sound in the bridge position--- the dot is the only git i have with room for a full-sized bucker in the bridge position, and i havent been able to convince myself to mess with the stockers. blah blah. i find my dream 90 to be darker and fatter than a "real" p90 (which might also be perceived as muddier and less distinct), though all i have to compare it to is a p-90 loaded SG, so that might be a loaded assessment.
Click to expand...


I agree with you about the stock epi pickups being quite good. My Dot studio came with upgraded pickups, but the dude gave me the old stock ones as well. I was thrilled to have them. I threw 'em in an old blah sounding LP copy and brought it back to life...
 
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