steampowered Posted June 23, 2010 Posted June 23, 2010 Hi all. This is my first post on the forum. After playing strictly acoustic for the past 19 years, I decided to get myself an "electric" guitar. After exploring the options, I decided to go with Heritage. I'm looking to play blues and jazz. The logical choice would be the H-555, yet I love the sound that only a hollow body can provide. Any H-575 owners out there who play blues? I know that hollow body aren't the best for blues due to feedback issues, but I've seen one or two amazing blues players with old gibson hollow body guitars.
Jazzpunk Posted June 23, 2010 Posted June 23, 2010 Welcome to the HOC! You can definitely play the blues on a Heritage hollow body! If that Bassett clip doesn't sell ya' I don't know what will!
Jazzpunk Posted June 23, 2010 Posted June 23, 2010 Also, you may wish to consider the Kenny Burrell Groove Master or the H550 as they both have laminate tops which will help to reduce possible feedback issues. Keep in mind that upper fret access will be limited over the 555 in comparison to which ever hollow body you choose. That's why you really need both!
eljay Posted June 23, 2010 Posted June 23, 2010 as the owner of a new H530, i suggest you give this model consideration, too. it is full hollow and thin. mine has p90 pickups so it will snarl, some. a 530 with humbuckers could be mighty sweet. good luck with your quest. eljay
Gitfiddler Posted June 23, 2010 Posted June 23, 2010 You can't go wrong with any of the Heritage semi hollows (535, 555, Millenium, or Prospect) Feedback should not be an issue unless extreme volume is your thing. All of the solid wood full hollows will howl, but as mentioned, the 550 and Groove Master should hold their own in a blues setting without too much feedback. Also the uber cool 530 and 525 are born to play the blues. I have a 550 that gets a HUGE blues tone, but back off the amp's bass pot as volume increases to keep it under control. You've got lots of options.
FrankV Posted June 23, 2010 Posted June 23, 2010 tons of guys played the semi-hollows; T-Bone Walker, Freddie King, B.B. King, the list goes on and on. I'm not too up on the history, but it seems like most of the early players used semi-hollows and electrified hollow body guitars, and later went to the solid bodies. I'm guessing because the early electric guitars were probably regular guitars with pickups installed. With the 535 and the amp I just picked up, a Peavey Delta Blues 115, with this big honkin' 15" speaker, I'm just starting to get the sound I want. I'm still homing in on it, but it's awesome.
jrfreed Posted June 23, 2010 Posted June 23, 2010 525, then thank me later!!!! The sic'est guitars coming outta Parsons right now are 525's and 530's for blues....just cant beat Lollar P90's and a hollow body guitar IMO
tulk1 Posted June 23, 2010 Posted June 23, 2010 You can't go wrong with any of the Heritage semi hollows (535, 555, Millenium, or Prospect) Feedback should not be an issue unless extreme volume is your thing. All of the solid wood full hollows will howl, but as mentioned, the 550 and Groove Master should hold their own in a blues setting without too much feedback. Also the uber cool 530 and 525 are born to play the blues. I have a 550 that gets a HUGE blues tone, but back off the amp's bass pot as volume increases to keep it under control. You've got lots of options. Just a quick note. Both of my Prospects were prone to feedback. And I don't use extreme volume or gain. Pulled the old Nugent/Thorogood trick of stuffing a small bit of natural sponge between the floating block and the back of the guitar. No change in tone or response. Just took a bit of the "prone to feedback" out of the guitar. And it still pushes air thru the f-holes and sings like a bird!
skydog52 Posted June 23, 2010 Posted June 23, 2010 I have a H-530 and with those P-90s she really growls and I haven't any problems with feedback. Check them out. Jay Wolfe has some sound clips on his sight with them.
smurph1 Posted June 23, 2010 Posted June 23, 2010 The sic'est guitars coming outta Parsons right now are 525's and 530's for blues....just cant beat Lollar P90's and a hollow body guitar IMO +1 on the Lollars..I have a solid body H-137, but they have a very sweet vintage tone..Plus Jason is a great guy who personally answers his e-mails!!
steampowered Posted June 24, 2010 Author Posted June 24, 2010 John Lee Hooker played a semi hollow Yes, LOTS of blues players use semi-hollows, which is why my natural thought is to purchase one to avoid feedback issues. I'd really like a hollow body, but just about all of my friends have warned me about feedback issues should I wish to play any driving blues. A local shop has an H 525 that I'll try out. I'm really yearning for that Super KB with the solid spruce top, but I'm afraid it would feedback too much is I pumped out any blues licks. Anybody here have the Super KB?
Jazzpunk Posted June 24, 2010 Posted June 24, 2010 Mr. Bassett is facing his amp about a foot away through half this vid! That's a solid top, fully hollow blues machine right there but no howling feedback! Do you guys think he's doing the sponge trick that Tulk suggested?
Kuz Posted June 24, 2010 Posted June 24, 2010 Mr. Bassett is facing his amp about a foot away through half this vid! That's a solid top, fully hollow blues machine right there but no howling feedback! Do you guys think he's doing the sponge trick that Tulk suggested? Really cool, but I could careless about his guitar..... I want that amp!!!!!!
Jazzpunk Posted June 24, 2010 Posted June 24, 2010 Really cool, but I could care less about his guitar
FredZepp Posted June 24, 2010 Posted June 24, 2010 Mr. Bassett is facing his amp about a foot away through half this vid! That's a solid top, fully hollow blues machine right there but no howling feedback! Do you guys think he's doing the sponge trick that Tulk suggested? Cool Vid.. Mmmm good.
steampowered Posted June 24, 2010 Author Posted June 24, 2010 I'm feeling rather fortunate to have found this forum! The videos and suggestions impressed and convinced me that I can get a hollow body without too many feedback fears. I don't know if anybody's heard of the late Charles Caldwell, but he recorded his only album on a hollow-body and it growls. So, after looking into all the models, I'm leaning towards the Eagle Classic, Henry Johnson, H-575 or H-550. The H-550 is laminated, and would have the least feedback related problems, right? Yet, I love the idea of a solid spruce top hollow body. The Heritage makes a near duplicate of Wes' L-5 which looks amazing. To be honest, other than 17" or the 18" tops, the only other differences I see in the above models is the tops wood (spruce, maple, or laminated maple). Any other tonal differences I should investigate? BTW, I agreed with whoever said to get both. I'll end up with a hollow body for jazz and a solid body for blues (the les paul design). Not that I really "need" to add two more guitars to the house, but why not?
Ray Posted June 24, 2010 Posted June 24, 2010 I'm feeling rather fortunate to have found this forum! The videos and suggestions impressed and convinced me that I can get a hollow body without too many feedback fears. I don't know if anybody's heard of the late Charles Caldwell, but he recorded his only album on a hollow-body and it growls. So, after looking into all the models, I'm leaning towards the Eagle Classic, Henry Johnson, H-575 or H-550. The H-550 is laminated, and would have the least feedback related problems, right? Yet, I love the idea of a solid spruce top hollow body. The Heritage makes a near duplicate of Wes' L-5 which looks amazing. To be honest, other than 17" or the 18" tops, the only other differences I see in the above models is the tops wood (spruce, maple, or laminated maple). Any other tonal differences I should investigate? BTW, I agreed with whoever said to get both. I'll end up with a hollow body for jazz and a solid body for blues (the les paul design). Not that I really "need" to add two more guitars to the house, but why not? The Henry Johnson signature model is a fantastic instrument and I do not think you will regret getting it. Having said that, all Heritage models are excellent. Anyway, here a link to a review of the Henry Johnson model by Wolf Marshall. http://www.delortoguitar.com/henry_johnson.asp
Guest mgoetting Posted June 24, 2010 Posted June 24, 2010 I'm feeling rather fortunate to have found this forum! The videos and suggestions impressed and convinced me that I can get a hollow body without too many feedback fears. I don't know if anybody's heard of the late Charles Caldwell, but he recorded his only album on a hollow-body and it growls. So, after looking into all the models, I'm leaning towards the Eagle Classic, Henry Johnson, H-575 or H-550. The H-550 is laminated, and would have the least feedback related problems, right? Yet, I love the idea of a solid spruce top hollow body. The Heritage makes a near duplicate of Wes' L-5 which looks amazing. To be honest, other than 17" or the 18" tops, the only other differences I see in the above models is the tops wood (spruce, maple, or laminated maple). Any other tonal differences I should investigate? BTW, I agreed with whoever said to get both. I'll end up with a hollow body for jazz and a solid body for blues (the les paul design). Not that I really "need" to add two more guitars to the house, but why not? Full bodied guitars are prone to feedback, but that can be controlled.
TalismanRich Posted June 24, 2010 Posted June 24, 2010 One of the things that I like about my 535 is when you get a bit of volume and get that controlled feedback that lets a note sustain "forever". It's a neat trick to use in a blues song. It can be done with a solid body, but you have to be so much louder to get the body to vibrate, and then the frequency range seems narrower. Its much easier with the semi.
Kuz Posted June 24, 2010 Posted June 24, 2010 Don't get me wrong, I love his guitar.... but a brown-face Fender, WOW!!!!!
steampowered Posted June 25, 2010 Author Posted June 25, 2010 Well, I'm sold on the idea of getting a hollow body. After reading about solid vs laminate tops, I'm at a stand-still. Lot's of my favorite players (Wes, Barney, Herb) at one time played the laminated Gibson ES-175. Could anybody who has both (as some of you here do) write about the tonal differences (if any). If you could only have one, what would you prefer, solid or laminated?
Jazzpunk Posted June 26, 2010 Posted June 26, 2010 Well, I'm sold on the idea of getting a hollow body. After reading about solid vs laminate tops, I'm at a stand-still. Lot's of my favorite players (Wes, Barney, Herb) at one time played the laminated Gibson ES-175. Could anybody who has both (as some of you here do) write about the tonal differences (if any). If you could only have one, what would you prefer, solid or laminated? Aw man, that's a tough one! Some of my all time favorite recordings tone wise, are of Kenny Burrell when he was playing his ES175. That said, I found my solid top 575 to sound amazing!
RonD Posted June 26, 2010 Posted June 26, 2010 Aw man, that's a tough one! Some of my all time favorite recordings tone wise, are of Kenny Burrell when he was playing his ES175. That said, I found my solid top 575 to sound amazing! C'mon Jazzpunk! Commit!! Steampowered, I feel your pain brother! This is an incredibly hard decision. It took me a while, but I've finally decided on the H 575. From what I've seen... the best of both worlds. Cheers, Ron
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