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Post by grayn on Sept 6, 2014 17:05:52 GMT
What is it about the semi-acoustic, electric guitar?
Before I start, just a minor rant. It seems that the good old semi is now referred to as a hollow or semi-hollow electric. Why? Because dingbats started referring to electro-acoustics, as semi acoustics. I mean, how difficult is it to remember! Even shops started getting confused. And as dumbing down is now the order of the day, we all have to stop confusing the stupid and say semi hollow. Rant over.
The semi acoustic is a reminder of times past. When most string instruments had sound holes. The most classical of which, is the F-hole. And it is the F-hole that most often features on a semi. Though they are often given an art-deco styling, or some go for an oval or round sound hole.Semis are usually sizeable and can be heard without an amp, more effectively than a solid electric. Obviously the bigger the body, the louder the sound. My Gretsch is twice as loud, acoustically, than my Eastman. And the body is almost twice as thick. Makes sense. What was that about dumbing down?
But, as if by magic, the semi acoustic will sound quite different to it's solid counterpart, when amped up. Like the wood type will effect an electric guitar, far more than you might imagine. When the body has hollow elements, things change again. I'll be honest, I'm not sure I've given this enough thought, to get all the right adjectives together. See, I've been dumbed down, too. My experience is, the amplified sound of a semi, is warmer and kind of spacey. It's subtle but even the sustain has a different decay. I've had a few semis over the years but it's only recently, that I've started to really appreciate their attributes. Yes, they are electric instruments but their acoustic element plays a big part in their appeal. In looks, feel and sound, they stand out, as a very appealing part of the electric guitar family.
Love to hear what others think, on this subject.
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Martin
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Post by Martin on Sept 6, 2014 17:58:17 GMT
You make an interesting point, but never having had a 'semi', I don't feel qualified to comment. That thread title though!   |
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Post by earwighoney on Sept 6, 2014 18:31:59 GMT
Grayn,
Some good points. The classic 'semi hollow' has a solid wood centre in the middle of the guitar to reduce feedback (eg Gibson ES-335) in contrast to the completely hollow body electric guitar (eg Epiphone Casino). Semi Hollows are no longer sizeable, there have been some new smaller Les Paul sized guitars, the ES-339's are supposed to be great; not sure how loud they are though.
I've had a soft spot for the semi hollow electric guitar, with the Gibson ES-360 and the Telecaster 72 Thinline with Widerange HB's being two of my favourites.
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ocarolan
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Post by ocarolan on Sept 6, 2014 22:26:37 GMT
Always loved the 335 look, though never owned one or anything like it. My brother had a lovely US made Epiphone Casino for a while which was a delight - wish I'd relieved him of it!
Keith
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Post by grayn on Sept 7, 2014 5:16:48 GMT
Thanks Martin: I think as you get older, you get to appreciate the semi, alot more.
Wiggy: I saw a local band recently, where the lead guitarist was playing an Epiphone (semi-hollow) and i think he'd replaced the pickups, for more powerful ones. I noticed, between numbers, when he bent down to look at his pedal board, there was noticable feedback. And that was with a centre-block. The guitarist in my band, plays a Gordon-Smith semi sometimes but never gets any feedback problems. All down to room size, positioning, amp and pickups, I guess.
Keith: I too love the 335 style semi. Especially the deep red ones, like Chuck Berry plays. I'm not usually a fan of black guitars but BB King's Lucille looks very tasty.
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Post by earwighoney on Sept 7, 2014 9:31:58 GMT
Thanks Martin: I think as you get older, you get to appreciate the semi, alot more. Wiggy: I saw a local band recently, where the lead guitarist was playing an Epiphone (semi-hollow) and i think he'd replaced the pickups, for more powerful ones. I noticed, between numbers, when he bent down to look at his pedal board, there was noticable feedback. And that was with a centre-block. The guitarist in my band, plays a Gordon-Smith semi sometimes but never gets any feedback problems. All down to room size, positioning, amp and pickups, I guess. Microphonic pickups contribute to unwanted feedback; a friend of mine had a Japan Fender Jaguar that had the worst pickups I've ever come across for microphonic feedback/squeal. |
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Post by vikingblues on Sept 7, 2014 15:19:49 GMT
I never used to pay much attention to semi-acoustics. Started noticing them shortly after I turned 50 - so that's the appreciating them more as you get older being mentioned again. The semi-acoustic is now the only type of electric that takes my attention from a visual point of view. My first was when I got a Hagstrom Viking Deluxe in 2008, but it then took about 3 years for it to start to work for me as something special rather than just pretty good. This was followed by a pickup upgrade in 2012 to Seymour Duncan/Seth Lover SH55 pickups and that turned it immediately into my go-to guitar. Astonishing improvement in the sound over the stock pickups.  As has been said above, and I agree - there is something about the sound of the semi-acoustic that sets it apart from other electric guitars (in a good way). I find it impossible to describe it though. The air inside the body has an effect as does the trapeze tail piece on my Hagstrom. There is only one guitar I regret having sold and that was a semi-acoustic. Not a big name, high class instrument - a Vintage VSA590 which was very like a Casino but the VSA had a central block. Wilkinson P90 pickups on it and a very good sound. I sold it to help fund a purchase from a new crop of Gibson SG Standards with P90s that came out - supposed to be a "special" guitar for me. Big mistake. Terrible, terrible, terrible, terrible, terrible, terrible, terrible, terrible, terrible mistake. The SG sounded fine on it's own - but mixed in on a recording with other sounds it just didn't make it's presence felt and upgrading the electrics or pickups meant ripping out PCBs and voiding the warranty .... PCBs!!!!!  ?!!!! Followed by SG sold at a hefty loss but I could still celebrate its departure.  Mark Having upgraded those pickups I now realise that any semi-acoustic I might get in the future will need it's pups upgraded - those SH55s leave stock standing for me. Then looking at by Viking Deluxe why would I want another semi?  |
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Post by chris501 on Sept 7, 2014 19:23:42 GMT
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Martin
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Post by Martin on Sept 7, 2014 21:56:28 GMT
Just browsing the ads this evening and discovered a fella near me selling a 1997 Epiphone Casino in a rather striking cherry red  Seems very nice and a good price too (£425). |
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Post by grayn on Sept 8, 2014 5:05:58 GMT
Seeing as we're posting hot semis, here's a beauty:  German made, Hofner Verythin. |
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Post by rodders on Sept 8, 2014 8:28:41 GMT
The day I wake up with a semi, rather than a solid, will be the day I start looking to buy a semi acoustic guitar....  |
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Martin
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Post by Martin on Sept 8, 2014 11:57:24 GMT
Show off  |
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Post by earwighoney on Sept 8, 2014 16:52:37 GMT
Just browsing the ads this evening and discovered a fella near me selling a 1997 Epiphone Casino in a rather striking cherry red Seems very nice and a good price too (£425). Not that great a price, a new one can be bought for £450! I myself was tempted by the Casino Coupe (smaller body) which is going for just over £300 before I went for a Tele... |
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Martin
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Post by Martin on Sept 8, 2014 17:09:59 GMT
The seller stated similar ones went for £550 so I assumed he was telling the truth. Anything to do with the spec of that vintage maybe? Maybe he was just fibbing |
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Post by grayn on Sept 8, 2014 18:31:33 GMT
I don't know a lot about Epis but it may be this 1997 model was made in Korea, rather than China, which gives it some Kudos. 17 years old too. The 90s were seen as good years for Gibsons, perhaps that's true of Epis, too.
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?!!!! 
Jo whoever he is.
