Advice/Suggestions on Semi-Hollow guitars?

[Costase]

So basically, I'm in the market for something that isnt for metal and uses EMGs, and is a bit more versatile. I really like the sounds of some of these Semi-Hollow guitars! I've started writing more delicate and moody music so they seem like a pretty good fit. I've eyed up about 4 (all Epiphones lol):

-Dot
-Casino
-Sheraton (ideally a Pro II)
-Riviera

In an ideal world, I'd go for a Sheraton or Riviera, but budget for now may only allow a Dot as I can usually find good deals on em...or should I go with my gut and save for the sheraton/riviera?

My usual go to place is youtube for comparisons and get an idea of what one is capable of, but for those there doesnt seem to be much comparative or informative content up from what I could see. Anyone with experience with these able to give me the pros and cons of each, or maybe recommend me something else that sounds just as good? (and eve comes in a nice RED finish maybe??)

[bayswater]

IMO, you have to spend the time trying out the guitars you buy. Being left-handed, I used to try out right-handed guitars and order a left handed version on that basis. I had two very expensive disasters. Since then, I've only bought guitars I've played.

Of the semi acoustics on your list, I ended up with a dot after trying out a lot of guitars in a lot of stores. Less of the glamour, but didn't cost the same as a small car, and had "that sound". The others didn't, and not all the dots did either.

With guitars made by robots, you'd expect any of a specific model to be identical, but that wasn't my experience.

[mikehalloran]

With guitars made by robots, you'd expect any of a specific model to be identical, but that wasn't my experience.

Yep. They're still made of wood.

My favorite semi-hollow was the Höfner Verithin, One version was sold for years as the Carvin SH225 but it had a 1 5/8" nut that was too narrow for me. EMGs would drop right in


Anyway, the Verithin can be found used with 1 11/16" and 1 3/4" necks. Jay Rosen has one but I don't know the specs.
https://jayrosen.com/collections/everything?page=2

Speaking of Carvin, they've been making their own for a number of years now. Used are all over the place.

[mhschmieder]

The Hofner Verythin is an amazing piece of gear for the right price. I have the bass in that series, and might have bought the guitar as well, had I not just a month prior found the tin-body of my dreams: Eastman T486-RB Ray Benson Signature Model w/ Lollar low-wound pick-ups.

Both models are extremely hard to find in the USA; I had to be VERY patient and special ordered the Hofner bass and the Eastman guitar.

Another series worth checking out if you find one in person, is the Hagstrom Viking. I have the baritone in this series, and had the 12-string but sold that one as the pick-ups were too hot for my needs and the overall design was going for a harder-edged sound. But I've heard this is not true of the 6-string, and it definitely is not the case for the baritone, which includes a P90.

The Gibson/Epi models can all be good if you find the right one, but that's harder with those than with the ones I listed. Still, if you find one and it's a good specimen and priced right, go for it. Otherwise, I think you'll find you can do just as well or better, with an Eastman, D'angelico, Hofner Verythin, or possibly certain Hagstrom models, and probably a few others as well (even certain Gretsches if they are true thin-bodies and have center blocks).

[mhschmieder]

If you're more interested in deeper bodied arch-tops, but still on the somewhat smaller body size,, Epiphone came out with an incredible reissue of the ES-295 last year at a bargain price (under $1000) and it won't last long as Gibson never lets such Epi models stay in the catalogue long enough to get people into thinking they don't have to save $4000 for a good guitar.

I picked up an awesome Gretsch center-block design last year that is also under $1000 and frequently on sale for way less: G5622T in racing green with low-wound pseudo-Dynasonic humbuckers.

For jazz guitars, Ibanez is a good way to goL high-end Artcores like Pat Metheny or George Benson or non-sig models with similar specs. Not just for jazz either, but marketed that way. D'angelico has a few as well (I bought the huge-body EXL-1 model).

For an interesting twist, there's also the under-$1000 all-acoustic arch-top from Epiphone that won't likely stay available for long: the Masterbilt Century De Luxe. It does have a piezo pickup of sorts, but I never use it; I treat this as a true early-edition acoustic jazz arch-top replica, for swing music etc.

[mhschmieder]

I didn't know Carvin had a Hofner edition at one point; Mike's seems a bit older than the current series, if only because of that detail alongside the spelling, which they have recently switched to "Verythin" vs. "Verithin". These models go way back to the 60's or even 50's originally, and were popular at that time.