Hollowbody or Singlecut Hollowbody? Need Some Help

[strat63]

I'm in need of a nice light weight guitar and of course I'm thinking about a PRS Hollowbody. Some years back I had a HB Spruce and loved it. Not sure why I moved it but it happens. I'm curious if there is much of a difference in tone between the current HBII and the SCHB. Obviously there will be a difference in feel due to the body shapes but are they otherwise similar in sound? Does one handle gain better?

I do not want a jazz guitar but I need a lighter weight because of a bad shoulder. Has anyone owned both? Thanks!

 

[Egads]

Used to have an archtop and have an SC HB standard. Love 'em both. A big factor is that the SC HB is fully hollow, where the HB has a center block. Other than those singing sustaining leads, I don't play much high gain, but I love how the SC HB feeds back and how easy it is to control. The HB would probably not feed back as easily, much like a 335.

No matter what you decide, get the piezo! It's a very pricy aftermarket add at the PTC, and I think with this style of guitar it 's well worth the initial outlay.

All that said, you should also check out the JA-15. I'm in love...again!

 

[David Grantham]

I have both with wide-fat and no center block construction. ( the center block on the current models are not like a 335 centerblock) The HBII may be a bit brighter than a SC-Hollowbody I due to the maple back. The SC- Hollowbody I has a slightly deeper sound acoustically because of the extra space in the upper bout. I also have a Hollowbody spruce, an arch top limited, and a JA-15 ( which is my favorite). The truth is I love them all. You can't go wrong with either choice. Here are some of the current pickups in each.

SC-HB McCarty SB uncovered Duncan 59 neck and pearly gates bridge
SC-HB dark cherry SB Fralin Pure PAFs with 5% overwind
Arch top limited stock
Hollowbody II uncovered Duncan 59 neck and pearly gates bridge
Hollowbody Spruce with 53/10 pickups

I have also had 245 pickups in both and a set of 57/08s in a HBII. They were all wonderful sounding.

 

[Kine]

Wow! ^^ That's an impressive hollowbody lineup!

 

[jfb]

I have both with wide-fat and no center block construction. ( the center block on the current models are not like a 335 centerblock) The HBII may be a bit brighter than a SC-Hollowbody I due to the maple back. The SC- Hollowbody I has a slightly deeper sound acoustically because of the extra space in the upper bout. I also have a Hollowbody spruce, an arch top limited, and a JA-15 ( which is my favorite). The truth is I love them all. You can't go wrong with either choice. Here are some of the current pickups in each.

SC-HB McCarty SB uncovered Duncan 59 neck and pearly gates bridge
SC-HB dark cherry SB Fralin Pure PAFs with 5% overwind
Arch top limited stock
Hollowbody II uncovered Duncan 59 neck and pearly gates bridge
Hollowbody Spruce with 53/10 pickups

I have also had 245 pickups in both and a set of 57/08s in a HBII. They were all wonderful sounding.

Great collection of the good stuff.

 

[vchizzle]

When trying out HB II and SCHB II, I found the SCHB II to be a little deeper sounding as well. I'm gonna guess that the SCHB w/mahogany back is a bit darker and warmer sounding.

 

[markie]

I concur with the above statements. The SCHB just sound a little more full to me.............

 

[László]

No matter what you decide, get the piezo! It's a very pricy aftermarket add at the PTC, and I think with this style of guitar it 's well worth the initial outlay.!

It's standard now.