Advice on 408 Semi-Hollow Body

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gtrwiz

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Looking for some advice. I currently play a Custom 24 (10 top) and it's my go-to guitar. It's roughly 10-12 years old and in near perfect condition. Sounds fantastic. But like most guitar players, I've got guitar acquisition syndrome, and I've been kicking around the idea of picking up a 408, as I am intrigued by the pickup switching system and the array of tonal options it can deliver.

In researching, I am loving the look of the Semi-Hollow Body 408's, but I've never owned a Semi (or full) Hollowbody. Can anyone advise on how the semi-hollow body would sound vs a solidbody Custom 24? Big difference? Subtle?

I ask because ultimately, I'd probably have to sell the Custom 24 to finance the 408. That will be hard to do. I guess what I am hoping is that the Semi-Hollow 408 will be an adequate tonal replacement for everything I can do on the Custom 24. And then some......

Thoughts?
 
I think it is safe to say the tones will be different, I don't know if you will get the same tones you are giving up in the Custom. From your description of the Cu24 I am going to guess it has the 5 way rotary. You will have more switching options with the 408 but not necessarily the same ones. My advice is to play the 408 and decide if you prefer the tonal options better than the Custom. As far as the semi-hollow addition to the 408, IMO it will give it a more open tone but won't be radically different. It's noticeable, but not the major contributor to the amplified tone. The switching options are the big difference.
 
If you have a go-to guitar in your CU24, I would not make the switch unless and until you play a 408 (or otherwise) and determine that is the guitar you've been dreaming of.

While the 408 will be different, if you've been playing a CU24 for over 10 years you will be frustrated the first time you can't get a certain "CU24" sound out of your 408.

Better would be to find a way to afford both, even if it means waiting a bit. You may find a 408 deal/steal on Reverb or something.

Oh, and the semi-hollow will be relatively subtle, compared to full hollowbody of say, the HB II.
 
Thanks for the quick responses ! Any others offering feedback are welcomed. Any owners of both a Custom 24 and a 408??
 
I will say that having owned both, still own the CU24, they are definitely very different animals. Not bad different, but definitely tonally different. I would go try one to make sure you like how it sounds to you, through your rig (as much as you could possibly do that).
 
If it's one of the Experience 408 semihollows with an ebony fretboard, you'll find it to be quite different than a full hollowbody. The ebony board gives the notes a sharper attack so that notes just jump off of the fretboard. But I agree with everyone else, I wouldn't ditch the CU24 until you spend some time with a 408. The 408 pick ups give the guitar broader spectrum than the average PRS which someone once related to me that it was like playing in High Def. And, that may be good or may be bad depending on your application, but it is going to be different than what you're used to.
 
Bowtiefanatc said:
I will say that having owned both, still own the CU24, they are definitely very different animals. Not bad different, but definitely tonally different. I would go try one to make sure you like how it sounds to you, through your rig (as much as you could possibly do that).
Click to expand...

Interesting. Mind if I ask why you parted with the 408?
 
Dancing Frog said:
If it's one of the Experience 408 semihollows with an ebony fretboard, you'll find it to be quite different than a full hollowbody. The ebony board gives the notes a sharper attack so that notes just jump off of the fretboard. But I agree with everyone else, I wouldn't ditch the CU24 until you spend some time with a 408. The 408 pick ups give the guitar broader spectrum than the average PRS which someone once related to me that it was like playing in High Def. And, that may be good or may be bad depending on your application, but it is going to be different than what you're used to.
Click to expand...

Here's the actual 408 Semi-Hollow I'm drooling over:

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/408SHWLCPO1 so its a Rosewood board.

The goal: I play in a cover band and we play music many different eras, from Beatles to Guns n Roses. Because of that, I am typically bringing an American Strat, a Les Paul, and my CU24 to gigs. And even a Tele from time to time. Guess I was hoping that a 408 would allow me to cover a bit more ground without so many guitar changes during a set. Truth is, I could probably play the whole night on just the Custom 24 (save for a few Jimi and Floyd tunes that require a Strat). Joey Bag-of-Beers in the back of the bar would never know the difference.
 
I have both, but I'm not as loquacious as these guys.

I will agree with the advice not to give up your Custom 24 until you have spent some time with a 408 or 408SH. It's a wonderful guitar, but it's different.

The SH is kind of rare. Just FYI.

There's also the 24-08.

What pickups do you have in the 24? The pups in the 408 are less swappable, so it's not like you can swap your old pups in to get closer to the sound you remember.
 
Dusty Chalk said:
I have both, but I'm not as loquacious as these guys.

I will agree with the advice not to give up your Custom 24 until you have spent some time with a 408 or 408SH. It's a wonderful guitar, but it's different.

The SH is kind of rare. Just FYI.

There's also the 24-08.

What pickups do you have in the 24? The pups in the 408 are less swappable, so it's not like you can swap your old pups in to get closer to the sound you remember.
Click to expand...


Yeah - I can't imagine there will be a lot of 408 SH like that one around. My CU24 has the Vintage Bass and HFS Treble pickups. I was just looking at the 24-08 as well. Could be a good compromise between the switching flexibility of the 408 system and a classic CU24 tone..............?
 
If I was thinking of spending that kind of money, I'd look at the brand new, most highly acclaimed and best designed electric guitar on the planet:

The 594. But that's just me.
 
I have a Signature Limited (the model that later became the 408) with the 408 pickups and switches, and a Cu22. I play in a mostly cover band and I'm happy playing my Siggy all night. It covers everything for me and is my go to guitar. I love it. It is quite a bit different from my Cu22 - more hifi is not a bad description. And if you're a traditionalist you may well not like it at all. If you have to sell your main guitar to fund something you're not sure about I wouldn't do it. The 408SH you found is gorgeous but if it was me I wouldn't. I would find the cheapest used 408 I could find, I just looked and there's one on reverb now for $1700. Hopefully that's in your budget to buy without selling your Cu24. You can then play it for as long as you need. If you don't like it, at that price point there wouldn't be any problems getting your money back. If you love it, you can go hunting for your dream 408 knowing what you're getting yourself in to.
 
Johan Allard said:
I have a Signature Limited (the model that later became the 408) with the 408 pickups and switches, and a Cu22. I play in a mostly cover band and I'm happy playing my Siggy all night. It covers everything for me and is my go to guitar. I love it. It is quite a bit different from my Cu22 - more hifi is not a bad description. And if you're a traditionalist you may well not like it at all. If you have to sell your main guitar to fund something you're not sure about I wouldn't do it. The 408SH you found is gorgeous but if it was me I wouldn't. I would find the cheapest used 408 I could find, I just looked and there's one on reverb now for $1700. Hopefully that's in your budget to buy without selling your Cu24. You can then play it for as long as you need. If you don't like it, at that price point there wouldn't be any problems getting your money back. If you love it, you can go hunting for your dream 408 knowing what you're getting yourself in to.
Click to expand...

Great advice
 
Johan Allard said:
I have a Signature Limited (the model that later became the 408) with the 408 pickups and switches, and a Cu22. I play in a mostly cover band and I'm happy playing my Siggy all night. It covers everything for me and is my go to guitar. I love it. It is quite a bit different from my Cu22 - more hifi is not a bad description. And if you're a traditionalist you may well not like it at all. If you have to sell your main guitar to fund something you're not sure about I wouldn't do it. The 408SH you found is gorgeous but if it was me I wouldn't. I would find the cheapest used 408 I could find, I just looked and there's one on reverb now for $1700. Hopefully that's in your budget to buy without selling your Cu24. You can then play it for as long as you need. If you don't like it, at that price point there wouldn't be any problems getting your money back. If you love it, you can go hunting for your dream 408 knowing what you're getting yourself in to.
Click to expand...

Thanks, Johan. Great advice. I may just pick up a "bargain" 408 and give that a run. Won't be as pretty, but........ And no matter what happens, I sorta doubt I'll ever have the nerve to part with my Cu24. It's one thing to "talk" about selling it....but a whole other thing to watch somebody walk away with MY guitar. :o)
 
As to the idea you can't do a Hendrix gig with something other than a Strat, gotta say, Jimi might not agree:

 
WeFixFlats said:
If I was thinking of spending that kind of money, I'd look at the brand new, most highly acclaimed and best designed electric guitar on the planet:

The 594. But that's just me.
Click to expand...
It lacks a whammy bar. How can it be the best designed, most highly acclaimed guitar?
 
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