Oh... what to get...?

[Jestme]

I thought I would tap the guitar minded folks here.

I'm ramping up to buy a new [or used] guitar. I'm pretty much running in the blues direction and thinking perhaps a nice semi-hollow electric would fit in real well. Currently I have a Les Paul [2 humbuckers] and another solid body with 2 P90s. There are a few models that have entered my mind. I'm thinking somewhere up to $1000 or so... or less.

Any thoughts... any semi-hollow body players out there?

Thanks for any thoughts.

[Vladan]

Apart from obvious choices, ie. just go to a shop and try all the Ibanezes, Epiphones and cheaper Gretches (they're all way below your price limit and all very good), I'd go for ...

Squier Telecaster 72 Thinline.

[Jestme]

Vladan

Thanks for responding. Tele thinline is definitely on my list. Unfortunately I haven't seen any down at the local GC. I may have to spread out and find some other shops. There is also a Jim Adkins JA-90 Tele Thinline w/P90s... Haven't seen one around though.

I've been hearing great things about Ibanez Artcore line. I did get to play an AS 93. Seemed like a good possibility. Also played an Epi 339 and a Dot.

I'm just curious, do you have a Tele Thinline? Are the Squire Teles a good deal?

Thanks

[NicolasA]

Knowing what you want/what you like would help to help you!
Considering your current guitars, I'd say you need a Strat or Tele with single pick-ups (different from P90).
Ibanez AS 93 is a good choice for a semi-hollow, a tad 'impersonal' to me...the 'new' Framus Billy Lorento looks great but you might as well consider some Gretsch or an Epiphone Casino, or a Gibson Midtown...

[reb]

i bought mine 'used' from one of the online places. if you find one in good condition, i like them as an alternative to a ES335. i didn't get a color choice, as i was bargain hunting.  mine is black-would've like  a transparent finish. hagstroms are fairly underrated, imo. a lot of guitar for the price.

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/guitars/hagstrom-viking-deluxe-semi-hollow-electric-guitar

for that matter, i also had an ibanez as 73. darker sounding guitar, but a nice one. a classic, some say.  wish i had not sold it.

[Jestme]

I'd like a versatile guitar with a real electric rocking blues tone that can also go mellow and almost acoustic. I've been thinking of a semi-hollow body. Not too big, one of the smaller sized semi-hollows.

My latest guitar is a solid body with P90s on it. I love the P90s.
MY LP has humbuckers they got some really nice sounds as well.

I'm thinking maybe humbuckers with coil taps [Epi 339].  As I look around more I am realizing there are more semi-hollow body guitars around than I realized.
Tele Thinline [humbuckers]
Tele JA90 [P90s]
Epi 339 [Humbuckers w/coil taps]
Ibanez AS & AM series
PRS Custom Semi-Hollow body....

All of the above are candidates. The list seems to grow rather than shrinking. Boy it can be fun searching.

I'm scouting Craigslist but haven't found the right guitar on there ... at least not yet.

NicolasA - A Tele Thinkline w/Tele single coils might be the ticket. Would give me an alternative to the LP and the P90s

Reb - Do you have an Ibanez - What model? Sounds like you liked your AS 73...?

I'm in the US I have not come across any Hagstrom or Framus guitars. Would love to try one.

Also wondering about Carvin. I've heard good things about them but haven't come acros one yet.

Thanks for the replies...

[Jestme]

OK Here is an update...

I stopped at a store I don't generally go to... Played several semi-hollow body guitars. Amongst them was a used Heritage H535, a low end Ibanez, a MIM Tele Thinline... Of these I liked the Heritage the most.

The Heritage has several modifications...

• Lollar humbuckers
  
• Bigsby Tremolo added
  
• 3 way switch modified to possibly have a coil split position.
  

It's about 10 years old... not so shiny and new as the shiny new guitars...

Still looking.

[reb]

i no longer have any ibanez.  were i to get another, i would look long and hard at an as73.  all of the up-market ones-near $1,000 in price-have no real advantage over the as73, imo.  that said, they are a bit flashier, supposedly have 'better pickups'...but having played a few, it depends on your amp and your fingers as to what you will prefer.

the vikings have a bit saucier tone, all other things equal, and have a bit flashier headstock.  i think from time to time about selling my viking, then i play and think, 'heck, no.'

'used' guitars have been good to me. guitar center has a number of used as 73s. i did not check vikings, but they likely have some of those as well.  hagstrom has an 'i-beam' in the neck-my hag doesn't have any neck problems, whereas, a number of other guitars with 'solid' necks i have had have had a little warping, bowing, constant truss rod adjustment needs. all depends on what you like and will tolerate. nothing is perfect, i think...although some will say 'such and such guitar is perfect'. ha. hahaha.  maybe 'perfect' for them...or they got paid by someone to say so.

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Search/Default.aspx?internal=1&browser=&fsrc=ibanez+as73&src=ibanez+as73

[NicolasA]

I have a Viking and couldn't disagree with reb : he pretty much nailed it.

...this being said, I would go any day for a Heritage around 1.000$! I don't know how many there are on your side of the Pond, but around here the cheaper used one I heard of was the double (had a piezo in the bridge, as well)!

[DetroitBlues]

Blues guitar and no Stratocaster? I interchange LP and Semi Hollows for rock and blues... But there is something about the 2nd and 4th positions of the Stratocaster you can't find anywhere else.  However, Reverends make some of the best guitars around for less than $1k...