What to look for in a semi/hollow

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nate_dennis

nate_dennis

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I'm really interested in getting a semi hollow electric. I know that a solid top is important to an acoustic, but even Gretch's higher end guitars have laminate tops. Is this important? What other things should I be looking for? Thanks guys.
 
It depends entirely on what use you want to get out of it. A hollowbody like the 335 style is an entirely different beast from an archtop with a solid top. What sound or style are you pitching at.

Yes a carved solid top makes a difference but whether it is better for your requirement I don't know. It would normally come at a premium though.
 
Gibson ES-175s are laminate tops, aren't they.

Just to give perspective.
 
ez_willis said:
you should be looking for one that plays well for you and sounds good to you. i wouldn't worry so much about anything else.
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I'd further add sounds good unplugged to you. Electronics can be switched, but way more than with a solidbody, the acoustic tone is going to really influence the sound. Find one that sounds rich, clear, and "alive" and even if the pickups blow, the guitar itself will be a good one and can be modded into a great one.
 
Thanks guys. If it still matters; I intend to use it in blues/classic rock type music, well, at least those types of tones. Some chimey indie sounding stuff too. The idea of it needing to soung good unplugged in good info. Thank you. As always, you've all been a big help.
 
Make sure the neck joint is really solid, any weakness there and you will never be able to keep it in tune.
 
keep in mind that pickups are really really easy to change on most solidbodies. If this thing sounds bad plugged in, like shit pickups or scratchy pots, it isn't going to be super easy to swap them out.
 
nate_dennis said:
Thanks guys. If it still matters; I intend to use it in blues/classic rock type music, well, at least those types of tones. Some chimey indie sounding stuff too. The idea of it needing to soung good unplugged in good info. Thank you. As always, you've all been a big help.
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In which case I wouldn't go the extra for a solid spruce top unless you find one that really grabs you. I'd still judge it on the plugged in sound if that is how you're going to be using it most.
 
DrewPeterson7 said:
I'd further add sounds good unplugged to you. Electronics can be switched, but way more than with a solidbody, the acoustic tone is going to really influence the sound. Find one that sounds rich, clear, and "alive" and even if the pickups blow, the guitar itself will be a good one and can be modded into a great one.
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I'll endorse that: I learned early on that an electric with poor acoustic tone could not be improved by changing electronics.
 
Look for feedback in high gain settings, because you will get em! Sometimes that is awesome, sometimes it can be a PITA, but suaully easy to control once you know where to stand/what volumes makes sense for the guitar/amp combination, etc.

Like everyone says they are like any guitar, materials/etc are only part of the ix, how it feels and sounds is the key.

Daav
 
Remember that a hollow body and a semi-hollow body are not the same beast. First, changing the electronics on a semi-hollowbody is not that different from a solidbody, as the pickups are generally mounted in the centerblock. A real hollowbody is a different animal. Also, I agree that I want to hear the guitar unplugged, and that goes for a solidbody as well. If you use a guitar for clean tones, the resonance of the body, or lack of it, will absolutely affect the way it sounds when it's plugged in. That's one of the reasons I like the Casino- no center block. I can sit around and play it acousically- it's just a little quiet, which makes it a good travel guitar.-Richie
 
Yeah, the diff between a semi acoustic (hollow box, thick or thin & probably an arched top) & a semi acoustic (plank with hollow wings) is significant.
I have both types. The boxes are great, can be nice unplugged even, and prone to feedback in a loud environment. The plank with wings has good sustain, lots of volume, not such an issue with feedback & some slight added tone from the wings (debatable).
The use of the terms semi acoustic or hollow body are certainly getting muddied - most folk on eBay seem to think of a semi acoustic as an acoustic with a built in pickup (odd eh?).
Is there a formal definition for the plank with wings as opposed to the box?
 
Yeah, an acoustic with a pickup is an electric-acoustic. A hollow body electric has no center block. A "plank with wings" as you call it, is a semi-hollow body electric, and a semi-acoustic is an acoustic with a very thin body meant for playing through a pickup pretty much exclusively.-Richie
 
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