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Joined:
December 2005
Posts: 149
Location: New York, NY | I'm looking to get a new electric guitar and I'm hoping to get some advice. I have an Ovation Tangent, a special edition Ovation Tangent Bass, and a Mexican Fender Strat, but I'm looking to buy a really nice new electric...
I'm thinking I want a hollow-body or semi-hollow body and have been looking at Gibson ES-335's and a few different Gretsch models. Any suggestions from y'all woudl be greatly appreciated.
Don't know if anyone is a Gibson guy/gal here but I'ver heard from some people that thier production quality has gone down in the past few years (those people suggested I pick up a 335 from the 70's or 80's, saying they were well made then). Thoughs?
Let's assume for now that price isn't an issue (within reason)... |
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Joined:
August 2002
Posts: 8307
Location: Tennessee | Hamer Newport.
EDIT: Here's a picture of mine.
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January 2006
Posts: 228
| I would suggest an Ibanez Artcore AF75. |
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Joined:
May 2003
Posts: 4389
Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | Make your own hollow body or semi-hollowbody with warmoth parts.
hollow body option
or this is very cool
semi-hollow body telecaster
I recently bought a semi-hollow body from the showcase, sans tummy and countour cuts, for quite a bargain.
Just put on a gibson scale neck and there you go. |
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Joined:
April 2004
Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | Hamer Newport |
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January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | Hamer is the way to go. |
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Joined:
July 2004
Posts: 812
Location: Hicksville, NY | I'll second the Hamer, and although I don't own one, I've played some and it's definitely a keeper.
You might also check out Mosrite for that Ramones or Ventures vibe ... are these guitars still available in the market?? |
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Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 1071
Location: Carle Place, NY | As you can see, most folks here are Kaman Co. loyalists. The Hamer Newport is certainly a great semi-holow body.
You may also want to look at Heritage Guitars. This is the company that was started by former Gibson craftsman who refused to move with Gibson to Tennessee back in the mid 80's. They bought Gibson's old Kalamazoo factory and now are building guitars that are better and less expensive than a new Gibson.
Here's their site: Heritage Guitars
The comparible model to the Gibson 335 is the H535. |
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Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 10583
Location: NJ | if you decide on a hamer let me know I can help.
for an import check out the hamer echotone it has a lot of bang for the buck |
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Joined:
December 2005
Posts: 149
Location: New York, NY | thanks all! i'll look at the hammer and the heritage.
and thanks a lot for the offer of help alpep.
cheers,
JT |
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March 2006
Posts: 5
Location: Tampa Fl | I'm a Hamer Duotone owner/fan myself...
Great guitar for the money! |
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Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 12759
Location: Boise, Idaho | I'm not an authority on the electric guitars and would defer to the others. A friend who is quite and accomplished player, however, recently bought the Ibanez mentioned above and is very happy with the quality. I assume the Hamers are a step or 2 above it. |
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Joined:
April 2004
Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | or 3 ;) |
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Joined:
August 2005
Posts: 22
Location: Ky | I've owned about everything mentioned above, (except the Hamer) The Ibanez Artcore series are a phenomenal value for the money -but don't expect them to compare with a 70's Gibson 335. It depends a lot on whether you want to spend $400.00 or $4,000.00 or somewhere in between. The new stuff from China (Artcore series), is very good -especially if you need to stay under $500.00. The Mosrites, (real ones -or Japanese ones are cool, but expensive -and the necks are too skinny, unless you have tiny hands). If you're going to own only one hollow body, and have around $1500.00 to spend, I'd buy a used 6120 Japanese Gretsch. The combination of character, playability and sound is hard to beat. Any decent music sounds cool on a Gretsch, and nobody but Gretsch seems to be able to make a Gretsch. I had an early '90's one, and was really stupid when I sold it. I'm looking for another one, to keep. I'm not a Gibson guy, but they are great guitars. The Hamer to me looks like it's more in the Gibson vein. The Gretsch just has that rougher, more "rock-a-billy" edge to it. |
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Joined:
January 2006
Posts: 1483
Location: Michigan | I recently checked out the Taylor T-5 . A great playing piece but expensive . It has a very thin body to it and a gibson 60s style thin neck so if like to switch from playing chords to lead this guitar makes it really easy . I played one thru a Roland AC 60 and the sound was incredible . I think the price will get more affordible once the novelty of being a new breed of guitar wears off . This is definitly a guitar if you had the right amp that you could go from playing Mason Williams classical gas to an Eric Clapton lead in the switch of one of the settings for the 5 way pickup switch . This guitar comes with three pickups . It is an awesome guitar worth checking out .
Good luck to you on whatever you buy . GWB |
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Electric Guitar Advice
