Help me Decide on a Semi-Hollow Body

[kbit]

I have't replaced the pickups. I'm generally a neck pickup person and I absolutely love how this one sounds. Very balanced but thick.
When I do use the bridge pickup I usually want it to sound kinda jangly and ragged, so I usually coil tap it.
Get some decent chime in the middle position. Lots of little tonal variations depending on what's tapped.

Not "perfect" but works for me.
Actually, it is pretty perfect. Leaving the bridge tapped provides lovely tones in all three pickup positions. Love it.

**Also, it's not perfectly balanced and there is some neck dive. But it's a fairly light guitar so it's not much an issue for me.

[AngryGoldfish]

The biggest drawback and con against the Duesenberg Starplayer TV is the chime-y pickups. The middle position, from the clips I've heard at least, sounds downright awful. Apparently they tap the humbucker in the bridge and wire it in parallel with the neck P90 or something like that. One reviewer said he rewired the guitar to a traditional set-up and feels it sounds way better. If I do go for the Starplayer—which I'd have to wait a little longer for compared to the Schecter or something else in a similar price range—then I'd probably do that. I don't like 'chime'. I like a blend of thickness, woodiness, and clarity. This is why I want a semi-hollow. They say it's the perfect description of a semi-acoustic electric guitar like an ES-335.

One problem I am foreseeing is how freakishly overpriced the Corsair is over here. They vary from £800-900 and nobody has one in stock. That's the price of a second-hand Duesenberg. Considering the US is selling the Schecter for $700-800, I think £900 is an absolutely rip-off, even with taxes and shipping. I don't think I want to pay £912 for a Schecter Corsair with a Bigsby. I've never seen them for sale second-hand either. I've only found two dealers in the entire UK that has them on their website still, and only one of them has one available to order, which I'd have to wait for them to do with the British distribution or import one from America. Which at that point I'd rather import it myself and skip all the shit.

[CaptainWampum]

Epiphone Casino is the winner in my book.

[kbit]

The biggest drawback and con against the Duesenberg Starplayer TV is the chime-y pickups. The middle position, from the clips I've heard at least, sounds downright awful. Apparently they tap the humbucker in the bridge and wire it in parallel with the neck P90 or something like that. One reviewer said he rewired the guitar to a traditional set-up and feels it sounds way better. If I do go for the Starplayer—which I'd have to wait a little longer for compared to the Schecter or something else in a similar price range—then I'd probably do that. I don't like 'chime'. I like a blend of thickness, woodiness, and clarity. This is why I want a semi-hollow. They say it's the perfect description of a semi-acoustic electric guitar like an ES-335.

One problem I am foreseeing is how freakishly overpriced the Corsair is over here. They vary from £800-900 and nobody has one in stock. That's the price of a second-hand Duesenberg. Considering the US is selling the Schecter for $700-800, I think £900 is an absolutely rip-off, even with taxes and shipping. I don't think I want to pay £912 for a Schecter Corsair with a Bigsby. I've never seen them for sale second-hand either. I've only found two dealers in the entire UK that has them on their website still, and only one of them has one available to order, which I'd have to wait for them to do with the British distribution or import one from America. Which at that point I'd rather import it myself and skip all the shit.

I'd agree that the Starplayer is pretty chimey.
& that sucks about the importing fees.
Is it feasible to import it yourself?

There are a couple on ebay that are in the US but will ship to the UK.

[Mudfuzz]

So with the live performances I've been doing recently and how I've been jamming at home, I've found myself in dire need of a semi-hollow body electric guitar. It's a whole other world of guitars that I have little to no experience with, though, so I thought I'd ask here for the thoughts and opinions of anyone with experience or without.

I'm not fussy about pickups, bridge types, neck dimensions/specifications, production country (though I want to stay away from Epiphone). I am, however, fussy about how big the guitar is. I don't want a huge 335 body, but I do want the acoustic qualities it possesses, or at least as close to it as possible. I'd rather something in between a traditional Les Paul and a 335 in size. I don't mind a hollow-body design as long as the guitar is not known to feedback because I will be using loud volumes and fuzz. Comfort for both seated and standing guitar playing is a must, so a light weight and small body size is important. Any thoughts?

I'm really keen on the Reverend Manta Ray and Tricky Gomez guitars, but I wonder how loud they are acoustically. I can't try them beforehand. The same goes for the Gibson Midtown Custom. I'm also keen on Guild guitars, especially these new MIK reissues. I've heard nothing but excellent reviews from them. The new Peerless Retromatic and the Duesenberg Fullerton TV are also guitars I'm keen on. Opinions? I don't want to have to pay what a Gibson ES339, a Yamaha SA22000BS or a Duesenberg Fullerton TV are all demanding, but I could push to that level if I really fell in love with them. The Hofner Verythin series seem to be popular, but their bodies are pretty damn big despite being so thin.

First I am going to say Prestige because I just love mine so much. They make a few models and are all nice. They are made in Korea but somehow under the watchful eye of "Canadians". The only thing you might not like about the one I have [NYS] is the weight, it's about the same as a LP or 335, but body size it is a little under the 335/Gretsch size. But I can go from country to blues to punk to metal on it and it handles it all really well. And yeah it will howl a bit cranked. It is also built more like a Ric /fender or 336 were it has a mahogany body that is hollowed out with a top.

sadly they don't do the sparklyes anymore


Also I played a Ibanez Artcore today that was really nice but it was big.

[AngryGoldfish]

I'd agree that the Starplayer is pretty chimey.
& that sucks about the importing fees.
Is it feasible to import it yourself?

There are a couple on ebay that are in the US but will ship to the UK.

I would definitely consider importing a guitar myself, but not one I haven't tried before. I can't avoid the fees, not without risking the entire guitar and finding a seller who is willing to ship it without insurance and reducing the marked value. For pedals it's easy, but with amps and guitars you kind of have to accept it and pay your dues. I won't have to worry about huge dealer mark-up if I imported it myself, either from a private seller or a huge chain who has the capitol to keep the prices as close to what they pay the distribution or directly from the company, in this case Schecter.

First I am going to say Prestige because I just love mine so much. They make a few models and are all nice. They are made in Korea but somehow under the watchful eye of "Canadians". The only thing you might not like about the one I have [NYS] is the weight, it's about the same as a LP or 335, but body size it is a little under the 335/Gretsch size. But I can go from country to blues to punk to metal on it and it handles it all really well. And yeah it will howl a bit cranked. It is also built more like a Ric /fender or 336 were it has a mahogany body that is hollowed out with a top.

sadly they don't do the sparklyes anymore


Also I played a Ibanez Artcore today that was really nice but it was big.

I've never heard of Prestige. I dig their large semi-hollow designs, but I don't like their hollow-body Les Paul-shaped models. That fancy binding and lurid inlay work is not my cup of tea. I used to love that kind of stuff, but I've moved on to more vintage looking, understated pieces. With that said, I do like some overstated guitars like the Duesenberg models. How comfortable is your NYS Deluxe MC?

edit: I just realised that the NYS Deluxe MC is fully hollow. I don't know if I want a hollowbody guitar. I use a lot of volume and fuzz.

[Iommic Pope]

I'm jumping in on this as I've recently acquired a boner for all things semi-hollow.
I really like the look of the Ibanez AS series.

Yeah, the precursors to the current models. I believe they were the AS103 and AS93. I could only afford an AS73, so that's what I got. The body shape is super comfortable, and the upper access is better than the Epi 339 I tried due to the trimmer shape of the horns. The AS103 especially had a great neck on the slimmer side, and the pickups were really clear.

I love the neck on my Iceman, like all Ibanez necks, its killer, but it is a three peice. How do you find the AS73 dude? I like the look of it cause its just so damn affordable and while the 153 is the duck's nuts, I can't stand gold hardware. Angry, you mentioned in the doom room that Ibanez need to tone down their shit a bit , I couldn't agree more. Pickguard isn't too big an issue, I just take em off, but I can't stand gold hardware.
And I found these:
http://www.ibanez.co.jp/products/u_hb_p ... ies_id=110
http://www.ibanez.co.jp/products/u_hb_p ... ies_id=110

Sooo much want.
But also too much gold.
Although I'm starting to think I can live with that if it ages quickly...

[AngryGoldfish]

The great thing about the gold on Ibanez guitars is that it fades quickly to a beautiful colour. It'll take a few years of sweat, but that's why I am more keen on finding a vintage used Ibby.

[Iommic Pope]

You don't work for Ibanez do you Angry?

Mind you, I could be accused of that sometimes.

[Mudfuzz]

I don't know if I want a hollowbody guitar. I use a lot of volume and fuzz.

but Killing Joke....
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4DokX4f98yw[/youtube]

[AngryGoldfish]

I don't know if I want a hollowbody guitar. I use a lot of volume and fuzz.

but Killing Joke....
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4DokX4f98yw[/youtube]

I was expected a folk band there... that has to be most interesting music I've heard in a while. It's kind of a weird cross between Slipknot, Fear Factory, British Punk, and Industrial Metal.

You don't work for Ibanez do you Angry?

Mind you, I could be accused of that sometimes.

I don't work for Ibanez, no.

[Chankgeez]

I was expected a folk band there... that has to be most interesting music I've heard in a while. It's kind of a weird cross between Slipknot, Fear Factory, British Punk, and Industrial Metal.

[AngryGoldfish]

The jumpsuit, distorted synthesizer, hollowbody, chorus melody, and heavy drumming all point to those bands and genres.

[Chankgeez]

I think Killing Joke invented all those genres.

[AngryGoldfish]

I've just realised that now, yeah.

I also hear Madness, Faith No More and Helmet in there somewhere. Good stuff though.