H525 and feedback

[Guest mgoetting]

Please post your experience with feedback on H525s.

 

I don't use high volumes. I found the 525 easy to control, especially compared to full arches.

 

I know that rockabilly and blues players like 525s.

[peteraltongreen]

Please post your experience with feedback on H525s.

 

I don't use high volumes. I found the 525 easy to control, especially compared to full arches.

 

I know that rockabilly and blues players like 525s.

 

I can't tell you about 525's,as I haven't got one. ( I want one,that's different ! ) I have,however played lots of Archies over the years.In the '60's,I used a Hofner 'Club 60',and a Gretsch Tennessean,hollow,but closed body guitars.Maybe is because 'Beatletime' wasn't so loud,and it wasn't a problem with the closed body ( Painted on 'F' holes for the Gretsch ).Next came an Epiphone 'Sorrento'. O.K. most of the time,except through one of the new 'Fuzz Boxes '. Next came a Gibson L5.O.K. for rhythm,Treble leads,sort of O.K.,mellow loud stuff...That B was a problem. Answer ? Either fill the guitar body with newspaper,screwed up, ( as Dan Armstrong suggested to me ),or the 'Van Epp Damper ',which didn't stop the 'B' buzz,only the open strings. I did,briefly have a Gibson E.S 225,which I had no problem with,about 5 years ago. If feedback is a problem,a Heritage H 535,or similar is the answer.

Peter Alton Green

[barrymclark]

I had a Gretsch full hollow Historic that did have F-holes and I played at volumes to get over a rock drummer. The tone is what you might expect from a modern rockabilly band that had a hard hitting drummer and a high-gain rhythm guitar. I never had any issues with feedback.

 

The rig, at the time, was a Fender Hot Rod DeVille with the Gretsch loaded with TV Jones' Classics. The gain was enough to where it really broke up and bit when I leaned into it. Listen to Stray Cat Strut by the Stray Cat to get an idea. High-toned, bluesy sorta tone.

[barrymclark]

I had a Gretsch full hollow Historic that did have F-holes and I played at volumes to get over a rock drummer. The tone is what you might expect from a modern rockabilly band that had a hard hitting drummer and a high-gain rhythm guitar. I never had any issues with feedback.

 

The rig, at the time, was a Fender Hot Rod DeVille with the Gretsch loaded with TV Jones' Classics. The gain was enough to where it really broke up and bit when I leaned into it. Listen to Stray Cat Strut by the Stray Cat to get an idea. High-toned, bluesy sorta tone.

Now I wanna go play some rockabilly a'la Setzer. It's a guilty pleasure.

[smurph1]

Now I wanna go play some rockabilly a'la Setzer. It's a guilty pleasure.

I would but I ain't got the skills.. but seriously a 535 (0r 555 if you can afford it) is a great guitar that will do all an archtop does, but that centerblock prevents most feedback problems..I just bought one and I'm beginning what I think will probably be a lifelong love affair with that git..I even cranked it LOUD in a small room with a rock drummer, and really had to work hard to get it to feedback..sounds AWESOME!!

[barrymclark]

I would but I ain't got the skills.. but seriously a 535 (0r 555 if you can afford it) is a great guitar that will do all an archtop does, but that centerblock prevents most feedback problems..I just bought one and I'm beginning what I think will probably be a lifelong love affair with that git..I even cranked it LOUD in a small room with a rock drummer, and really had to work hard to get it to feedback..sounds AWESOME!!

I bet it does! One day, I will have a 535.

[smurph1]

I bet it does! One day, I will have a 535.

you gotta my friend..I need to post a couple pics soon too..

[Guest mgoetting]

I asked for comments because I'm selling my 525 and one of the HOC members is interested but concerned whether it is a feedback machine.

 

He will monitor this thread. Any advice you can offer is appreciated.

[Guest mgoetting]

you gotta my friend..I need to post a couple pics soon too..

 

I would add that you can also get some great tones from a Millie or from a Prospect with a full centerblock, yet be equally protected against feedback.

 

I'm not bashing the 535- I'm a big fan. The other guitars are newer and often get overlooked.

[barrymclark]

you gotta my friend..I need to post a couple pics soon too..

I will. Won't be any time soon... but it will happen. I gotta finish paying for my 575 first!

[Tim]

I asked for comments because I'm selling my 525 and one of the HOC members is interested but concerned whether it is a feedback machine.

 

He will monitor this thread. Any advice you can offer is appreciated.

On my 575, I keep the the volume up and the gain down (or, is it the other way around...hmmm?)

[brentrocks]

the feedback is very controlable....i never have had any issues

[Guest mgoetting]

The buyer will have a day to try it out. I hope he will post his experience here.

 

Thanks for your input.

[FredZepp]

the feedback is very controlable....i never have had any issues

... And this comment is from Brent... He likes to Rock. So figure it's pretty cool.

 

The fact that the guitar feels more alive in your hands can be a blast and an inspiration.

[barrymclark]

... And this comment is from Brent... He likes to Rock. So figure it's pretty cool.

 

The fact that the guitar feels more alive in your hands can be a blast and an inspiration.

Agreed. I believe he uses far more gain than I do with the hollows.

[dukew]

Just tried out the custom 1 off 525 with Bigsby from Mark G. I loved every aspect about it but had issues with feedback. I tried it with my two Red Plate amps, my Louis Electric Little Buster and my Victoria Harvard. Only the Harvard handled the feedback (it's a 1 x 10 combo, the others are 1 x 12) and only to some degree. At lower to medium volume settings (on guitar and amp) it's sounds great but when I turned the volume on the guitar to 10 I started experiencing FB problems, obviously on lower notes and most noticably on the neck PU which makes sense. I play electric blues and rock, ie. Allman Bros. some ZZ, old Jeff Beck, etc. and when pushed it wanted to feedback. Stepping on a OD pedal made it worse. It sucks because this is a killer guitar in every sense other than the FB at louder volumes. I really wanted to keep it. I would be curious if the deeper body, 2.75" made it worse and how this one compares to a regular 525 (2.25" deep) or a 530. Other than the FB problems I had it's a 10 out of 10 guitar, no question with beautiful woody tones.

[Kuz]

I have a 575 & 525 and they can take a moderate amount of gain well. Your position to the amp is critical as well.

 

But with all that said, these hollow bodies aren't designed to play ZZ Top, Jeff Beck, and the like at full volume. That is what solid bodies are for.

 

For some Be-bop jazz/blues these guitars are the ultimate weapon (mostly played clean). And yes an OD pedal is only going to enhance the feedback.

 

Guitar guitars, but wrong type of music I am afraid.

[tulk1]

Simple trick for controlling a feedback prone hollow/semi - a bit of natural sponge in the cavity. On the Prospect I put just a tab bit underneath the floating block. It had no noticeable effect on the tone, the back still gives me that wonderful vibration when it's really working, and I still get the air pushed out the f-holes. Works wonders. On a 525 you'd probably need a bit more that I used in the Prospect. It's an old GT/Nuge trick.

[kbp810]

I've never really noticed any feedback problems with my 575, including after putting in the HB sized P90's - and I tend to play on the higher gain side as well.

 

The only time I get feedback is when perhaps facing the amp while within about 3 to 4 feet of it.

[jrfreed]

For some Be-bop jazz/blues these guitars are the ultimate weapon (mostly played clean). And yes an OD pedal is only going to enhance the feedback.

 

+1 my 530 is the ultimate jazz weapon. You can play with a touch of drive (and I mean a touch) but IMHO these models are not meant to high-gain.

[totonka]

I remembered watching this video of the guitarist (former) of the New Orleans band Cowboy Mouth talking about how he stuffed his Epiphone Casino, which I believe is a hollow body, to control feedback. No direct comparison to a 525, but maybe a nugget.

 

Stuffed Casino video Link

 

And this is no jazz band