Semi Hollow VS Hollowbody---help??

[tonyvenn]

Hello all...

My next (and final...yes, we've all said that before) guitar purchase will be a Hollowbody.

BUT...

I don't know if this is actually what I want.

Advice please...

Looking for a PRS that would be a 335 equivalent.
Looking for something that can do the U2/Edge Rickenbacker and Gretsch thing and also the Alex Lifeson/Rush 70's thing.
Looking for a trem.

Don't really care about jazz or country, but who knows...maybe later on

Would also like to strum it acoustically or have the piezo...


So...so far my Internet studies lead me to:

1) hollowbody II
2) custom 22 semi-hollow
3) 408 semi-hollow
4) SE custom semi-hollow bigsby


I'm seeking opinions on what's better--semi or full hollowbody...and also, the models mentioned above


THANK YOU!!!!

Tony

 

[sergiodeblanc]

I want a semi-hllow trem sofaking bad!

No help here, other than to let you know you're not alone.

 

[Tosca]

The laminated wood and construction of a 335 makes is sound a little different than all of those models you mentioned. I think the best choice to get the sounds you mentioned in a hollow or semi hollow term equipped guitar is the 408 semi-hollow...I think the only non PS version of this are the 2013 PRSX LTD 408's...I think there's still a few out there.

 

[Tag]

Looking for a PRS that would be a 335 equivalent.

No such PRS IMO. Out of the guitars you listed, the CU 22 semi hollow LTD is my favorite, which I like more than 335s, but they are very different.

 

[László]

The only full hollowbody PRS makes with a Trem is the NS-14 Neal Schon model. It has a Floyd Rose, which is a bit different from what you're asking for, but it might be something interesting to try out. It doesn't have a piezo, however, but the other hollowbody models don't have trems available.

Maybe someone could slap a Bigsby on a JA-15 for you? That might work. But it also doesn't have a piezo.

Other than modding something, I think you're either into Private Stock or you're S.O.L.

Semi-hollows don't really give you much of a Gretsch or 335 vibe, IMHO. Yeah, you can tweak 'em a little closer, but...it's not going to be what you have stated that you want. And as usual, I see that Tag and I agree once again.

 

[tonyvenn]

Hi guys...

Thanks for the replies so far.

Let's look at the CU 22 semi-hollow for a second. I'm not expecting to have this guitar do exact copies of the guitars I mentioned. No guitar can do that.

I want to get in the ball park for tonality, etc....

You talk about tweaking...are you saying the CU22 Semi-hollow is a good starting point....and then maybe tweaking out the pickups or perhaps the amp its played through?

There's no way I can afford "Private Stock".....and my initial idea was buy a used Hollowbody 2, and have it retrofitted with a Bigsby. But perhaps the CU22 semi-hollow is a smarter purchase...

Help again please!

Thanks!!

 

[Tag]

Hi guys...

Thanks for the replies so far.

Let's look at the CU 22 semi-hollow for a second. I'm not expecting to have this guitar do exact copies of the guitars I mentioned. No guitar can do that.

I want to get in the ball park for tonality, etc....

You talk about tweaking...are you saying the CU22 Semi-hollow is a good starting point....and then maybe tweaking out the pickups or perhaps the amp its played through?

There's no way I can afford "Private Stock".....and my initial idea was buy a used Hollowbody 2, and have it retrofitted with a Bigsby. But perhaps the CU22 semi-hollow is a smarter purchase...

Help again please!

Thanks!!

IMO, the CU 22 semi hollow LTD is one of the finest guitars PRS has ever made. I liked it more than any of my 3 ME 1s, my ME 2, my Quatro and every other PRS I have ever played with the exception of the Artist series semi hollow trems, but those do not have f holes, and are not as loud acoustically. IMO, there is no tweaking needed. Buy it, play it, and have as good a tone as can be had at any price. It can do blues in its sleep. It can do classic rock and sound HUGE. It can do jazz on the neck pup and sound VERY archtop like. It can do country with split coils. It can even do convicing heavy metal and death metal tones. Just an unreal guitar, that I feel is TOTALLY overlooked. I think a lot of rockers do not even give a semi hollow guitar, never mind one with an F hole, a fair chance. The guitar is a masterpiece. That being said, by your 335 yearnings, I think you should just buy a 335. I have a feeling you will be comparing anything else you have to a 335, and nothing will get you that tone other than a 335. I went that route myself. I tried the different Collings and other 335 type guitars all right alongside a 50th anniversary 335. I bought the Gibson, loved it, then sold it because I just dug my PRS tones more. If you said 335 just as a basic reference to a semi hollow type of tone, then I would say the CU 22 LTD SH will blow you away, but it does NOT sound like a 335. PRS does not make a Tele style guitar, and they do not make a 335 type of guitar. Its that simple. Another side note is you also mentioned a trem, but unless its bigsby equipped (and that is a totally differewnt sound again) I do not equate any trem equpped guitar with 335 like tone. If you really want a trem and a semi hollow tone that can do almost anything, and give you an ORIGINAL voice, you can not do any better than the CU 22 SH LTD. I cant rave enough about them. One of the finest all round guitars ever made IMO, that has an ORIGINAL and unique voice. SO fine.

This may or may not be a tone you would like with the guitar, but its one that is available with it, and one that I love. Its the CU 22 LTD into my Dumble clone, and for the style I play a lot of when I use overdrive, (jazzy/blues) one of the best tones I have ever gotten.

 

[Tosca]

I cant rave enough about them.

I think you're doing a good job of raving enough about them.

Kidding aside Tag, thanks for the comparisons. I know you've gone through some of the differences in various PRS HB construction methods before...but I'm still a little confused. What would be the difference in construction between the legendary CU 22 LTD SH you describe and the 408 LTD HB they made for PRSX 2013, and the regular HB2?

Also...I'm going through the same process of looking for a 335 type guitar which it sounds like you already have. You mentioned that you liked the Gibby 335 better than the Collings models....which ones did you try? Were you comparing to an I35 Deluxe with solid maple construction or the I35 LC with the same laminated construction as the 335? I also liked the tone of the 335 50th anniversary (but found the neck uncomfortable) so I'm trying to decide whether to go with a Gibby 335 Haynes or a Collings I35LC.

My apologies to the OP if this is hijacking your thread a bit...perhaps a discussion of different HB construction techniques and tones will be helpful with your dillema as well.

 

[Egads]

Here's an option) and it looks GLORIOUS!):

http://www.prsguitars.com/index.php/blog/post/ja_15_gets_a_tremolo_modification

There are defnitely SC HB IIs out there with bigsbys. I feel like I just saw one.

Also check this thread for a DC with one:
http://prsguitars.com/forum/showthread.php?8899-Hollowbody-II-with-a-trem&p=139855#post139855

 

[Jose]

The NS-15 is close. It has a Floyd. Wish they also came with the traditional PRS trem. I've been looking for something similar to what the OP describers and found nothing that I liked. No Bigsby nor Floyds for me. So, I'm building my own. Semi-hollow, body shape similar to the Gibson Howard Roberts that Lifeson played in the early 80s, and a PRS or Mann trem. plus, piezo...

 

[Tag]

I know you've gone through some of the differences in various PRS HB construction methods before...but I'm still a little confused. What would be the difference in construction between the legendary CU 22 LTD SH you describe and the 408 LTD HB they made for PRSX 2013, and the regular HB2?

I have not played that one, (I have played "normal" 408s) but I just am not crazy aout the 408 type of pups. They sound really good, but I prefer the traditional pickup styles, and love the 57/08s.

Also...I'm going through the same process of looking for a 335 type guitar which it sounds like you already have. You mentioned that you liked the Gibby 335 better than the Collings models....which ones did you try? Were you comparing to an I35 Deluxe with solid maple construction or the I35 LC with the same laminated construction as the 335? I also liked the tone of the 335 50th anniversary (but found the neck uncomfortable) so I'm trying to decide whether to go with a Gibby 335 Haynes or a Collings I35LC.

Both. The Collings are more hi fi and "cleaner" sounding. (Especially the solid wood), but i was looking for a 335 sound, and the Gibson gave me what I wanted. The Collings sounded better unplugged, but once plugged in, the Gibson came alive and was just much bigger and fuller souning, AND I LOVED that big neck! LoL! My buddy has an original 58 335, and it sounds amazing, and has that same big neck on it. Playing the 50th side by side with the original, the original was warmer and darker sounding which i liked, but th 50th had more note definition, and much more sustain. Probably due to the different plywoods used. Both Gibsons were great guitars, and if you find the right ones, 347s I like even more. A lot of clunker 347s though. Here is an A/B between a 79 347 and one of my PSs. Both sound great. That particular 347 was a killer though. One i should not have let go.
The ebony board and maple neck give it some snap and clarity that 335s do not have.

 

[László]

Tag's right about the CU22 SH Ltd with 57/08 pickups (those were standard). Fantastic guitars, I had one, too. Should never have let it go.

 

[tonyvenn]

Hey Tag (and others...)

I didn't want to post a long first message as my question, but I can expand a bit

I have NO experience with semi-hollows or hollowbodies. My thinking was, since I have a good representation of electrics, I'd like to explore that tone now...

For the record, I don't really care for Gibson...or gretsch or Rick...I was just using those names to try and convey what I was wanting...since my guitar influences play that stuff.

I don't like to stray at all from PRS...I trust the build quality implicitly.

As for a Bigsby...not married to that idea either...again, just trying to convey what I've seen.

I really like the idea of learning more about how these models are built...because I've read that full hollowbodies can feed back. That makes me think like...Ted Nugent

I've read that semi-hollows are a little more controlled.

So, your information is really helping.

The one thing you said that is the most important is...sounding ORIGINAL.

As an example....with a CU22 LTD, I'd like to play U2's "One" and be able to sound Edge-ish. I don't need to exactly nail The Edge. I've been down that path already...and I appreciate my influences and their choices of gear...but I've chosen PRS as ----MY--- voice, so I wanna go thru PRS' offerings and apply it to what I'm searching for.

Using Edge and Lifeson was just an idea to help approximate.

So...again...the CU22 LTD sounds good. I see they are 57/08's...
Do you think perhaps 53/10's would be perhaps a little more laid back sounding? Or would the 57's be an all-round "do everything" pickup?

Oh...and anything else you can offer up on their builds.


Damn I love this forum! So helpful!!

 

[Tag]

Hey Tag (and others...)

I didn't want to post a long first message as my question, but I can expand a bit

I have NO experience with semi-hollows or hollowbodies. My thinking was, since I have a good representation of electrics, I'd like to explore that tone now...

For the record, I don't really care for Gibson...or gretsch or Rick...I was just using those names to try and convey what I was wanting...since my guitar influences play that stuff.

I don't like to stray at all from PRS...I trust the build quality implicitly.

As for a Bigsby...not married to that idea either...again, just trying to convey what I've seen.

I really like the idea of learning more about how these models are built...because I've read that full hollowbodies can feed back. That makes me think like...Ted Nugent

I've read that semi-hollows are a little more controlled.

So, your information is really helping.

The one thing you said that is the most important is...sounding ORIGINAL.

As an example....with a CU22 LTD, I'd like to play U2's "One" and be able to sound Edge-ish. I don't need to exactly nail The Edge. I've been down that path already...and I appreciate my influences and their choices of gear...but I've chosen PRS as ----MY--- voice, so I wanna go thru PRS' offerings and apply it to what I'm searching for.

Using Edge and Lifeson was just an idea to help approximate.

So...again...the CU22 LTD sounds good. I see they are 57/08's...
Do you think perhaps 53/10's would be perhaps a little more laid back sounding? Or would the 57's be an all-round "do everything" pickup?

Oh...and anything else you can offer up on their builds.


Damn I love this forum! So helpful!!

Going by the above, I just cant see how you can do any better than a CU 22 semi hollow LTD. I dig the old artist series semi hollow/trems even more, but they do not have an F hole, and are not as loud when playing acoustically. You may also end up wanting to switch the McCarty or Artist series pups for 57/08s on one of those. They have a slightly thicker body than the CU 22 LTD, and give a slightly deeper tone, which I like. With all that being considered, I think the CU 22 LTD is as good as its going to get for what you are looking for. Another note, I owned 2 of them, and both were set up as well as any guitar i have ever owned. So easy to play it was unreal. At least as good as my PSs, (maybe better) and thats saying something!!! I also got a Quilted one brand new with overnight shipping from Musicians friend for $2500 total. (It took a little haggling which Ido not usually do, but it worked!) That is by FAR the best power to price ratio of any guitar purchase I have ever made. You can also most likely still find a new one, and get a 24-48 hour approval on it. A complete no lose situation!

 

[Tree]

..I had an artist 2 with tone chambers or semihollow whatever you wanna call it..its was a tone monster !..but really what I loved was the body thickness..it had just enough to say " baby got back " ! lol...when I did a pstock I ordered a McCarty semihollow body thickness..Im conscience of my chord playing as much as noodleing a solo to tickle my pituitary gland...I remember from the older forum Mr "JMINTZER " had a really cool x ray of his guitar and it showed how they did the tone chambers !!..maybe if he reads this thread he wll post a pic

 

[Tree]

..by the way Tag..I want your 10th anniversary ! \m/

 

[Tag]

..by the way Tag..I want your 10th anniversary ! \m/

Thanks! I am really lucky Hans saw me mention I was looking for one. Below is a cool shot Jamie posted of a semi hollow. this seems to be the way i prefer the most, with the glued on cap. They do it another way now as well, and the back is one piece, while still having the McCarty thickness. In person, they call it chambered. I would love to see an X ray of one of them to see what they look like inside! I now have 2 of each, but with 2 different body depths. The CU semi hollow LTD is the same thickness as a solid body, which makes THREE different body depths! You can see them in this picture. (Cu 22 LTD left..my first "chambered" PS in the middle, and my now departed 2012 semi hollow F hole Blue PS (McCarty depth) on the right. (Same depth as my pomegranite and 10th anniversary)

 

[Tree]

nice photo..so the far right is a McCarty which is thicker anyway but making it semi is what I think is the perfect thickness !!..very nice

 

[Tag]

nice photo..so the far right is a McCarty which is thicker anyway but making it semi is what I think is the perfect thickness !!..very nice

The one on the right is an Artist 3 semi hollow trem. (PS, but the same depth as my production Artist 3 semi hollows and my 10th) They now call it McCarty thickness, but I do not think they were making McCartys back in 94-95 when the Artist 2-3 semi hollows were being made. (I have no idea if Artist 1s were made semi hollow in that depth.) It just so happens they (Artist semi hollow and McCartys) are the same thickness. I asked Paul why he originally made the semi hollow Artists thicker, and he told me "so they would sound more hollow". LOL! It worked!!

 

[Herr Squid]

The guitar I use for Hemispheres-era Lifeson is a Singlecut Hollowbody that I put 53/10 pickups into. Here it is:

Truth be told, I don't know if it sounds anything at all like a 335. I do know that if I fire up my Axe-FX II with a dirty Hiwatt model and CE-1 chorus, it's got just the right mix of stringiness, girth, and grit for that sound. The stock SC245 pickups that came in it were way hot and bassy for that guitar in my opinion, but the 53/10s are great, and the 57/08s would be really good too.