Thoughts on PRS Hollowbody II?

matonanjin

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Are there different hollowbodies than the Hollowbody II Piezo 10-top? I'm looking in the new Sweetwater catalog and that's the only one I see. What's everybody's thoughts on it? I am a relatively new PRS owner. A Pauls owner and I love it. I tried several and fell in love with it because of the way it played, of course, and the tone, of course. I tried several PRS guitars and my local store, actually a lot, but what really clinched it was the this Pauls is so light.

But being a solid body and having had several spinal surgeries it is still too heavy after standing a while. I have a Gibson hollow body, a 325, and I like it, but I'd like another PRS, so I'm thinking about a PRS hollowbody. So what's everyone's thought on a PRS hollow body and which one if there is more than one?

Any thoughts are appreciated.
 
The PRS hollowbody is very light.
They are not all 10 tops.
They don't all have piezo either, but they are very versatile with it.
There are also some hollow bodies out there with a spruce top.
 
HB Spruce with piezo:

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I have a 2008 HBII with piezo - very light and comfortable. Also, very versatile - you don't have to worry about squealing or feedback and it can do rock leads with sustain and power. With the neck pickup and the tone dialed back, you can cop some great jazz tones. And with the piezo, on its own or blended, makes for a nice small/comfortable acoustic guitar.

One thing I wish they would add is the ability to split the pickups - but there's apparently not enough room for a push/pull pot. Mine has the older Archtop pickups which are low output around 7.3k. Newer ones (after 2011) have the improved PAF-like 57/08s.

I don't know if they still make a HBI or HB with Spruce - but generally the HBII is brighter because of the maple topped back.
 
I have one, and I'm probably keeping it, even though I'm getting a Singlecut Hollowbody.
Yes, they are lighter than solidbody guitars, I think you'll be happy with it.
As has been mentioned, you will find non-10 tops, etc., and the occasional artist package, and so on, but Sweetwater (as do most other online heavy stores) only advertise what they have in stock. If you want something cheaper than a 10-top, call your rep and let them know you want one when it comes in, I'm sure it can be arranged. Non-10-top PRSi are still better than many other companies' prettiest guitars, I have several non-10-tops, and my enjoyment of them is more a function of the guitar than whether or not it is a 10-top or not.
 
I recently acquired a 2004 McCarty Hollowbody. Love it! I'll like upgrade the Archtop pickups for something a little bp more ballsy, but it's a really nice, lightweight guitar that I intend on keeping.
 
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This is my 2012 PRS Hollowbody II Singlecut 10 Top in Solana Burst, with 57/08 pickups and probably the best sounding piezo pickup you'll ever hear in an electric guitar. It's just a stunningly beautiful and inspirational guitar and weighs in at 5 lb. 8 oz. IMO, you absolutely cannot go wrong with a PRS Hollowbody guitar; they're sublime...
 
FsLy2gW.jpg

N54kcds.jpg

uloHMSW.jpg

This is my 2012 PRS Hollowbody II Singlecut 10 Top in Solana Burst, with 57/08 pickups and probably the best sounding piezo pickup you'll ever hear in an electric guitar. It's just a stunningly beautiful and inspirational guitar and weighs in at 5 lb. 8 oz. IMO, you absolutely cannot go wrong with a PRS Hollowbody guitar; they're sublime...
Unholy carp, that's sublime!
 
Thanks for the responses and suggestions everyone! I appreciate the help. Those of you that posted photographs have stunningly gorgeous guitars.

I have two more questions if you will allow me.

1) I have an Epiphone Semi-hollow body. It's a Casino coupe. It's really light but when I play it standing up it is really "neck heavy". I have to constantly wrestle with it to pull the neck back up when playing it. I have heard of this complaint about the Gibson SG. The SG isn't a hollow body (or semi) but it is so light I have heard the complaint. Any such experiences with the PRS Hollow bodies?

2) I have a 1972 Gibson 325 hollow body which I really love playing. But the left strap hook is not on the neck side of the guitar (as on a solid body) but rather on back of the guitar. As a result when I stand to play the top of the guitar tilts away from me. This makes it more difficult to play standing. Maybe this is the nature of all hollow bodies and people just need to learn to adjust. Do people just learn to hold the top back with the forearm of the strumming arm or so other means? I talked to a couple luthiers and they offered to drill a hole to put a strap lock on the left/neck side of my guitar but I wasn't comfortable with that. What has been your experience with PRS hollow bodies? I guess the thing for me to do is go play one.

Thanks again.
 
Dunno if I am any authority on the issues, but to offer some answers:

1) I don't have any neck drop with my PRS HB (spruce, so really quite light!). But, I have an Epi Casino and I don't notice neck drop with that either. Maybe it is just the way I "wear" the guitar. Or my belly.

2) PRS guitars have the left/neck strap pin on the upper bout, either at the tip for DC styles (Cu24, regular HB, etc) or where the upper bout gets relatively vertical (SC designs). So the top of the guitar does not tilt away.
 
I remember reading a post on this forum where a member had a guitar that neck dived. IIRC he added an extension on the upper strap button to change the distribution point. It was like a 1/4, or 1/2 collar between the strap button, and the upper horn. Fixed the issue.
 
I have two, the 12 string in my avatar and a HBII with piezo, in faded abalone smokeburst, rosewood neck and 57 08s. The HB II is my go to guitar. It covers everything very well. I simply love it and want no other hollowbody.
 
FWIW, I've never felt any balancing issues with my HBII. It feels pretty similar to any other McCarty-shape based PRS, except lighter and much easier on the back. The neck doesn't seem to tilt it off-balance and it's very comfortable to stand and strum like an acoustic guitar.
 
I have an HB I with spruce top & archtops and HB II with with peizo and 57-08's - Never had any balancing issues. The HB I is quite a bit lighter than the HB II.
 
1) I have an Epiphone Semi-hollow body. It's a Casino coupe. It's really light but when I play it standing up it is really "neck heavy". I have to constantly wrestle with it to pull the neck back up when playing it. I have heard of this complaint about the Gibson SG. The SG isn't a hollow body (or semi) but it is so light I have heard the complaint. Any such experiences with the PRS Hollow bodies?
...
I guess the thing for me to do is go play one.
Yeah, I have that problem, it's called gravity. I try not to complain about laws I cannot break. No, seriously, the electronics in the body do counteract the weight of the neck somewhat.

And: yes, it is.
 
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