Hollow/Semi-Hollow for rock music?

[cmds]

So, after not playing electric for 4 years, I'm ready to get back into it. Now, the last time I played electric, I was a metalhead shredder, 100% committed to ruler-thin necks on Ibanez/Jackson and the like.I'm now discovering that my tastes have radically changed, so I'm lost in the world of electrics again. In the past 2-3 weeks, I've made a good 4 or so pilgrimmages to local shops to get my hands on as much as I could. I've basically come down to playing a larger body semi/hollow or a strat-style.

I feel very comfortable playing on both, but there's something about the semis and hollows I've played that's really spoken to me (Gretsch 5120, Epiphone Sheraton, Ibanez Artcore, Hagstrom HJ-500). Optimally, I would just buy a semi for jazz and a strat for rock, but I'm not in a position to make that purchase, so I'm looking for something to cover all bases. I'm not looking to go absolutely crazy these days, maybe as heavy as Sabbath on occassion, are these style guitars going to be able to handle that in a performance setting, or am I looking at a maelstrom of feedback if I even try?

I now turn to the much more knowledgeable AGF for a bit of guidance. All your help is greatly appreciated.

[Bob Womack]

The semi-hollows (E335 and ES355, etc.) have a solid center section that neck, pickups, and bridge/tailpiece are mounted on. That makes them much less susceptible to feedback than totally hollow guitars. I can gain up my ES335 pretty far with lots of volume and not have a problem with feedback.

Bob

[j3ffr0]

If you want the best of both worlds you might consider a semi-hollow with a coil splitter for both hum buckers. You'll have all of the semi-hollow sound and maybe 70% of the strats sound.

[alexevans917]

If you can find an 80's Epiphone Sheraton.... those guitars are brilliant and surprisingly affordable. They could definitely cover jazz and rock.

[mc1]

a gibson es-135 or howard roberts fusion would fit the bill. quite versatile, although not a strat sound. but good cleans and they handle distortion well. plus smaller and more comfortable than an es-335 (which is another super versatile guitar).

the artcores are nice for a lower cost alternative.

[cmds]

So the summary version of this is to avoid full hollows (The Gretsch and Hagstrom) and look for a semi with a center block, and I should be good.

[tractman]

I have a Sheraton II in natural that the bomb. Upgraded pots to CTS Thre is a Gibson burst bucket in the bridge. Killer tone. $500.00 shipped with mint hard case.

[franchelB]

Originally Posted by cmds

So, after not playing electric for 4 years, I'm ready to get back into it. Now, the last time I played electric, I was a metalhead shredder, 100% committed to ruler-thin necks on Ibanez/Jackson and the like.I'm now discovering that my tastes have radically changed, so I'm lost in the world of electrics again. In the past 2-3 weeks, I've made a good 4 or so pilgrimmages to local shops to get my hands on as much as I could. I've basically come down to playing a larger body semi/hollow or a strat-style.

I feel very comfortable playing on both, but there's something about the semis and hollows I've played that's really spoken to me (Gretsch 5120, Epiphone Sheraton, Ibanez Artcore, Hagstrom HJ-500). Optimally, I would just buy a semi for jazz and a strat for rock, but I'm not in a position to make that purchase, so I'm looking for something to cover all bases. I'm not looking to go absolutely crazy these days, maybe as heavy as Sabbath on occassion, are these style guitars going to be able to handle that in a performance setting, or am I looking at a maelstrom of feedback if I even try?

I now turn to the much more knowledgeable AGF for a bit of guidance. All your help is greatly appreciated.

Ted Nugent, and Malcolm Young come to mind when it comes to guys playing rock music with semi-hollow guitars. I don't recall hearing either one sounding awful when they played their guitars.

[Gypsyblue]

I play just about anything I feel like playing on my ES-335. I play mostly a jazzy blues style. But you can rock out with a highly overdriven tone with an ES-335 just fine - long as you have the chops and the "right" amplifier for the job.

(You're going to get a 100 watt Marshall stack next - right??? Just kidding! )

Eric Clapton's solo on Crossroads is supposed to be an ES-335 and it's one of the greatest rock guitar solos of all time. For heavier music (like Van Halen or metal) you'd do better with a solid body guitar - maybe a Strat style with humbuckers and with a Floyd Rose locking vibrato.

[Dru Edwards]

Originally Posted by Bob Womack

The semi-hollows (E335 and ES355, etc.) have a solid center section that neck, pickups, and bridge/tailpiece are mounted on. That makes them much less susceptible to feedback than totally hollow guitars. I can gain up my ES335 pretty far with lots of volume and not have a problem with feedback.

Bob

+1. Semi hollow will have less issues with feedback than a hollow body. I think a semi hollow would give you "something to cover all bases" (as you posted).

[cmds]

Originally Posted by Gypsyblue

(You're going to get a 100 watt Marshall stack next - right???

Oh no sir. 100w is SOOOO 80's. I'm going straight to that 350w Crate Shockwave.

I don't anticipate a lot of rock or metal stuff, but it'd be nice to fill in for friends bands if the need ever arose. Sounds like a solid center semi is going to fit the bill perfectly.

As usual, AGF came through in swift fashion. Thanks for all the help, guys.

[leeasam]

Taylor T3

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZAeFuW-PCk

[Dru Edwards]

Originally Posted by cmds

Oh no sir. 100w is SOOOO 80's. I'm going straight to that 350w Crate Shockwave.

I don't anticipate a lot of rock or metal stuff, but it'd be nice to fill in for friends bands if the need ever arose. Sounds like a solid center semi is going to fit the bill perfectly.

As usual, AGF came through in swift fashion. Thanks for all the help, guys.

You make my 100w Marshall TSL-100 seem so out of date! The Traynor I bought was 50 w and much more manageable is smaller places. I'm starting to prefer smaller wattage amps.

Anyway ... back to your topic. Is there any semi hollow that you're considering?

[cmds]

The ones I enjoyed the most were the Epi Riviera Epi Casino and Ibanez Afs80t. I also quite enjoyed the Sheratons I played, though I was sightly annoyed at the lack of a Bigsby.

[leeasam]

another video of the t3 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9YlXD...eature=related