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Old 05-26-2021, 02:33 PM
acoustigoat acoustigoat is offline
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Default Suggestions for smaller semi- or hollowbody guitar

I've started getting more into jazz-adjacent stuff (I'm definitely not a purist). I tried getting a warmer tone by putting flatwounds on my Tele, but I'm thinking a better answer (of course!) might be a semi or full hollowbody guitar.

My guitar teacher let me try his Chet Atkins Country Gentleman and holy Moses that was like playing a Buick! I loved the sound but not the size.

I'm looking for a smaller bodied guitar and am willing to give up some tone for comfort. So far I've tried out a Guild Aristocrat and didn't love it. Some other contenders might be an Epiphone Wildkat or Gretsch Electromatic Center Block Jr. model.

What other suggestions do you fine folks have?
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Old 05-26-2021, 03:11 PM
fpuhan fpuhan is offline
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Last year I bought a Taylor GS Mine-e in Koa, and I've been in love with it since. Only when I sit it next to a fuller-size guitar does the size become obvious. I just put a set of Stringjoy Naturals light gauge (.012 - .054) and the lows are deep and resonant and the highs just chime. The overtones go on forever.

It's lightweight, small, and 14 frets to the body let me play everywhere I go. And the best part of it is I didn't have to sell my first child to pay for it!
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Old 05-26-2021, 03:18 PM
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Well, Epiphone has the full size (still smaller than the Gretsch you played) ES-335 types and the smaller ES-339 models. I had an ES-339 with P90s for a while and there wasn't a single thing wrong with that guitar. Also, Ibanez makes fantastic semi-hollows. The full size AS models and the smaller AM models. I've had both in the past and if I wanted a semi-hollow with humbuckers (I really prefer P90s), I'd still be playing one of those. Definitely worth checking out...

-Ray
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Old 05-26-2021, 03:24 PM
fwphoto fwphoto is offline
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I love my Epiphone ES339. Its body is smaller than the 335-size like the Dot or Sheraton models. Mine is the humbucker version but, I think, there might be a P90 version available, too. If I had the $s I'd probably gotten the Gibson ES339, but that said, the Epiphone seems to hold its own pretty well.

Frank
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Old 05-26-2021, 04:48 PM
Steve DeRosa Steve DeRosa is offline
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The Country Gent is built on a 17" platform - think Gibson J-200 or Guild F-50 with a thinner body...

The full-size Gretsch Electromatic 5400-Series full-hollowbodies are built on a 16" platform - with the slim body depth they handle more like a 000/OM acoustic than a dread/small-jumbo, and they're probably at least a pound or so lighter than your Tele...

If you're serious about the jazz-tinged thing, a Korean-made Gretsch Electromatic 5420/5422 hollowbody (IME the Chinese stuff - including the current E-matic 5655 Juniors, of which I've played a couple - don't measure up in tone or QC) with a set of flatwound 11's/12's will provide a clean, articulate sound through the neck pickup - while still allowing you to explore your rockabilly side should you so desire...

BTW speaking as a former Tele owner you can get some jazzier tones, while still retaining the classic pickup combinations, by rewiring with a 5-way switch and the proper caps (and, of course, the aforementioned flatwounds); my own late-CBS '52 RI had the following setup:
  • Position #1: Neck PU/.1mfd (original 1952 position 1)
  • Position #2: Neck PU/.047mfd
  • Position #3: Neck PU (original 1952 position 2)
  • Position #4: Neck & bridge PU in series
  • Position #5: Bridge PU (original 1952 position 3)
Volume/tone controls are functional in all positions, allowing for additional subtle variations in tone beyond the presets; I also used flatwound 12's (the way Leo shipped them in '52), dropped the action as low as possible (a hack all the postwar jazzers and rockabilly cats knew) and tightened all hardware which, with the string-through bridge, will help you get some "wood" into your tone...
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Last edited by Steve DeRosa; 05-26-2021 at 06:44 PM. Reason: Clarification/additional info
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Old 05-26-2021, 06:49 PM
Gordon Currie Gordon Currie is offline
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I would also vote 339.

When I owned an ES-335 in the late 70s/early 80s, I would have killed for a 339 instead (difficult to find then). Perfect size for me.
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Old 05-26-2021, 07:34 PM
phcorrigan phcorrigan is offline
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These look interesting. Thinner than the G5420Ts:

https://www.gretschguitars.com/gear/...sby/2506831505

I believe they are made in Korea, so the quality should be similar to that of the Korean-built G5420Ts.
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Old 05-26-2021, 08:08 PM
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I have owned the Epi Wildkat and it was a fun guitar. I found it very dark sounding though.
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Old 05-26-2021, 08:13 PM
Rudy4 Rudy4 is offline
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outside of the box, and most definately not in jazzer territory, try out one of the newer Epiphone Olympics.

You might check out a B&G Little Sister Crossroads hollow body, too.
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Old 05-26-2021, 10:44 PM
Mark L Mark L is offline
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Takamine Hirade classical cutaway with cooltune amplification on board. Maybe a “crossover”, maybe not. Or Cordoba and so on, which are very popular here and widely available.

As you’ll hear sooner or later, jazz is about the music and its conception/production. Yes, true, but the instrument must also play a role.

Were you planning on fingerstyle or flatpick? Is your music more about swing, bebop, Gypsy, Herbie, Ellington Latin/Brazilian?

Do you want to improvise after stating the “head” a time or 2, or are you wanting to play Over the Rainbow and A Train just for the sheer fun of producing the harmonized melody?

More simply, can you give an example or 2 of someone inspiring to you that you think you could work on emulating. Benson, Charlie C, Kenny B, Roland Dyens, Freddie G etcetcetc.

It’s a big topic. Don’t let it flummox you, but it’s going to take effort, and good luck.
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Old 05-26-2021, 11:01 PM
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I picked up a Collings I30 and put flatwounds on it. Extremely versatile tones, very light weight joy to play and smaller than the 335 style.
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Old 05-27-2021, 04:36 AM
seannx seannx is offline
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Eastman T185MX

Smaller body than an ES 335, costs less, sounds and plays great.
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Old 05-27-2021, 06:37 AM
Golffishny Golffishny is offline
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If you're looking for a smaller size Epiphone has the Casino Coupe and the ES-390. Prs SE series has semi-hollow Customs and Hollowbody Standard and Hollowbody II. Also a new hollowbody with piezo pickup. Plenty of reviews on YouTube.
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Old 05-27-2021, 06:46 AM
Caddy Caddy is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by fwphoto View Post
I love my Epiphone ES339. Its body is smaller than the 335-size like the Dot or Sheraton models. Mine is the humbucker version but, I think, there might be a P90 version available, too. If I had the $s I'd probably gotten the Gibson ES339, but that said, the Epiphone seems to hold its own pretty well.

Frank
I also have an Epi 339 with HB’s in the natural finish. Really nice guitar and very comfortable to play seated or standing. Bought it new back in 2014. Zero regrets.
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Old 05-27-2021, 07:05 AM
Golffishny Golffishny is offline
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My error, Epiphone has the ES-339, not the ES-390. The 390 is a Gibson and a pricier option.
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