I inherited my Grandpa’s 1960 Gretsch 6124 single anniversary guitar. He put a ton of psychedelic stickers on the case. The case handle broke and he made one out of an old leather belt. It is so cool.
I'd love to see an in depth video of you making an intro track by yourself, especially some recommendations on laying down drums without drums or a drummer.
electrified archtop guitars were indeed "all [jazz guitarists] had access to," but they also partially exist because of jazz guitarists! big band music was getting popular and with bigger and bigger ensembles being put together, jazz guitarists started getting drowned out, especially when it came time for them to solo, so there was a growing demand for amplified guitars, met by companies like gibson who basically just slapped a pickup on the archtops the jazz players already used. plus it should be noted that part of why they're still considered jazz guitars is because jazz guitarists prefer the more subdued and "woody" tones you tend to get compared to a solid body as you mentioned, which is the same reason 1920s jazz guitarists preferred the archtop acoustics over flattops
These types of Guitars were popular for Rockabilly, similarly the recently deceased Duane Eddy Also if you've seen the film "Concert At Big Sur," everyone in CSNY were playing similar guitars.
Just what I was thinking. One could do a whole episode on guitars used in Rockabilly and by the incomparable Duane Eddy. And good catch on CSNY at Big Sur. Stills and Young are crushing it with their big Gretsch's. Same during Buffalo Springfield. And Ted Nugent still rocks hard with Gibson Byrdlands.
1. Two minute intros rule. 2. Epiphone is really killing it lately. 3. If you don’t like Epiphones, D’Angelico make absolutely fantastic big body guitars. As a lefty, buying sight unseen is simply the way things will always be, and having been disappointed at 3 NAMM shows, because no one carries lefties at their booths, D’Angelico always have a wide selection of lefties to play at their NAMM booths! Fantastic guitars, if the Epi isn’t your thing, or if left handed models aren’t available 4. Great video, as always!!
Plus D'Angelicos are regularly blown out at near half price or even less. I picked up a Bedford SH recently for $479, little more than half its "normal" $899 price tag, and it's a fantastic guitar. Indonesian built, flawless finish and workmanship, sounds great with a wide range of all usable palettes and plays even better. I'm thinking now that my next may be a D'Angelico hollow body, as I have several semis but no true hollow body. (Well, one old Greco but it needs more work than I can do.)
🤘🏻😝 SURLY UNDERSERVED LEFTIES UNITE !!... 10% of the U.S. population is left handed... 1% of guitars produced are lefty . Fully half of Fenders total lineup, only comes Right handed.
@@kevinmackfurniture the thing that drove me nuts about NAMM shows was that the companies who produce left handed guitars, ESP, fender, Gibson, dean, Ibanez, etc., none of them bring lefties to their shows. I think it’s an esthetic choice- having all the pretty guitars going the same direction- but, man. Can’t try out amps, pedals, modelers, nothing. That’s why i loved the D’Angelico booth so much. They always had at least five different lefty versions of their models. I will say, in 2016, Fender really put in the effort; one strat, one tele. Ugh!!
I find it funny that guitar choice in different genres was mostly due to what the artist had access to or could afford. Then that style of guitar is the “right kind” for that genre for future generations. (Bringing a double neck SG to jazz jam night - from a Kieth Williams 5 Watt World story). 😂
I was thinking the same thing. I was also thinking how incredible some of those greats from the past would have sounded given the choices that are available now. People are always fawning over vintage guitars, but in large part, they sucked in many ways… including tone. Even this big box Epi (and I mean BIG) sounds kind of blah.
Jazz guitars feed back easier, are "wooly" in terms of tone and rock n roll guys like treble and cut. They just didn't appeal to rock and roll and electric blues guys as much. They're also not nearly as comfortable to play for extended periods on stage.
I mean that’s absolutely the case for punk, artists like the sex pistols used what they could get their hands on, and to this day, juniors and specials are integral touchstones for the genre.
Absolute truth - most if not all of my favourite players made use of what they had available, including in a more extreme example, part of an old fireplace for the Red Special, the rare case of a guitarist building their own from the ground up. Rarely do they ever covet pristine vintage remortgage your house type guitars; the closest I could find was Graham Coxon buying something from Vintage & Rare in London and remarking it was cheaper because it was badly refinished etc. Coveting gear can be fun, but not if it's at the expense of playing what you have. All those hours spent online gear hunting and not buying, are hours that could have been used to practice and get better sounds that way, from your fingers using better technique. I'm sure most players with access to the Internet have been down the GAS rabbit hole, and to be honest less really is more, the 5WW Keith maxim "the most music with the least gear".
Things I learned about guitars: 1. The genre is defined by the equipment. 2. Equipment is not defined by the genre. 3. Genres are not a "tone." (e.g., there is no such thing as a blues "tone." "What Strat pickup should I get for a good blues tone? questions drive me crazy. SRV certainly left his mark.
My dude, do you ever turn these intros into full fledged songs? They are amazing, and a different vibe from what you play with your band. What do you do with them?
Yes and due to his setup and rig and playing, it sounded awesome. He was right - semi-acoustics can be huge for heavier kinds of music. I believe any guitar can work for anything if you're resourceful enough as a player.
That is quite intriguing. I haven’t listened to that band in forever … like decades. So, obviously I will now spend a couple weeks obsessing, again, on a band I loved during my college days (finally past the Sundays and the follow up of trying to figure out where the heck they went … seriously, that band just disappeared completely).
First player that came to my mind: Geordie Walker, guitarist for Killing Joke, who played a hollow Gibson ES-295. It wasn’t Jazz 😎 May he rest in peace 🙏🏼
Beautiful, Rhett. Some of my favorite archtop players who aren't specifically jazz: Eric Gale (with the band Stuff); Freddie Stone (with Sly & The Family Stone); and Leo Nocentelli (early recordings with the Meters).
I'm a luthier and I'm starting to see a pattern.......necks that are set deeper into the guitar body not height wise but length wise seem to sound better......im going to try something and see what happens
My design was a bolt on neck that was securely bolted to a center block. I think center block hollow bodies are probably the best sounding and most versatile.
Most forget that some of the most Iconic guitar parts were made on these types of instruments. Think about Izzy Stradlin with his ES-175 on AFD, Alex Liefson with his ES-335 in early Rush, even Steve Howe used his ES-5 SWITCHMASTER on Roundabout.
Steve Howe played an ES175 I think you will find - it was Frank Zappa who played an ES-5 Switchmaster until the gigs got too loud and feedback became a problem.
I was lucky enough to inherit a 78 Ibanez FA-100 from my grandfather when he passed, love that guitar it’s by far my favorite instrument I own and play. I play a lot of rock, punk and folk on it and absolutely love it
I have an Epiphone Zephyr Blues Deluxe. With the fully hollow construction and three dog ear P90s it is a very different beast than any other guitar I own. It’s acoustic resonance is halfway between my semi-hollow and acoustics. It’s action and playability is very much electric guitar style. When the strings are brand new and bright, it really has an acoustic guitar flavor. When the strings are dead, it has a wooly Jazzbox flavor. I think that more than with any other guitar, the string type and condition affect the sound of this guitar. I haven’t played my Epiphone Zephyr Blues Deluxe at all recently, but I’ve been meaning to. Your video is inspiring me to pull it out again. Great video promoting the flexibility of the hollowbody electric guitar, and a breath of fresh air in the UA-cam video world of solid body and semi hollow videos. Thank you. Ps: It would be great if you A/B demo/tonal comparison between the original and the current recreation, considering that the pickups have different construction??? Thank you.
Glad you demo'ed it with a fuzz pedal! Been hearing rockers jamming out on White Falcons, lots of noise, very musical feedback...just always sounds great.
As already noted, Killing Joke's sound was centred on a Gibbo ES295, and then there's The Cult with Billy Duffy playing a Gretch White Falcon. Surprised that these examples (and others) didn't get a mention, Rhet, as it would help better illustrate the broad range of usefulness that you were trying to explain! 🤷♂️ BTW, I have two Antoria "Jazz-Star" guitars (the 'poor-man's L5' made in the 1980s), I switched the pickups for Irongear "Rolling Mill" PAF-style pups (poor man's Seymour Duncans 😄), cut down and drilled the hardwood bridge to take a tuneomatic and put Grover tuners on. They are awesome guitars, and the pair of them together probably only owe me about a grand!
Love the intro jam! I appreciate the historic notes woven into the video and the sound checks you run the equipment through. The recording of the Acoustic/Electric sound definitely brings a different level of engagement in the overall mood! 👏👏👏
Before it got stolen, I used to own a late '50s Epiphone Windsor. It had one of those New Yorker pickups. And before I gave the pickup to Mark Knopfler, I took it apart to see what made it tick. I don't have DNA evidence but those ivory surrounds probably *were* ivory in the older unit. The one I took apart certainly showed indications of being organic matter and not simply molded plastic like humbucker pickup rings. And, speaking of humbuckers, those pickups may kinda sorta LOOK like mini humbuckers, but they are single coils. Don't let the row of adjustable screws on the older unit fool you. Look long and hard enough, and you realize there is absolutely no room for a 2nd coil under them. And you're right. The New Yorker pickups have much in common with gold foil pickups, in that the base plate is folded upwards along one edge and that's what the screws go into.
@@ChuckNicholsonTRM That may be why they don't have a row of adjustable screws. Moving them further away from the edge, in order to make room for that second coil, would have looked odd and (pardon the pun) "blown their cover". That said, as different as the New Yorker pickups were, when you have a guitar with that overall construction, the specific pickups only make a small contribution to any distinctive sound. I'm sure the mini-buckers sound just fine, even if they aren't historically accurate.
@@markhammer643I think the pickups can make the plugged in sound of an archtop drastically different. I’m not a fan of the original NY Tone Spectrum pickups, so I have no problem with the use of minihumbuckers.
The Decemberists were the band that got me into hollow body guitar originally. Shakey Graves brought a lot of new ideas to the instrument also when he was a one-man band.
Thanks for this video! I’ve been considering adding the Zephyr to my collection…after seeing and hearing you put it through its paces…I will be picking one up!
I just bought a Guild Manhattan 175B, from Sweetwater by the way. and I can't put it down. I've always wanted a big box guitar since I saw Scottie Moore playing one when I was a kid.
I really enjoyed the video. I liked all the different sounds you get out of that guitar, good choice. I got a Godin 5th Avenue Kingpin II P90 jazz box not too long ago that I really like and looks great too, old school. Thanks!
Holy f...king s... Rhett! This thing is "FIRE"! What a track and opening to this feed. Wow! Where there is smoke there is fire my brother. This has it all dude.
I’ve got a mid 50s Harmony H-65 in natural finish. Big old fat jazz box that has her own unmistakeable vibe. It has a single Gibson P-13 pickup. The P-13 came out after the Charlie Christian ‘blade’ pick up. As Gibson moved forward with the P-90 pick up, Harmony bought a ton of P-13s from Gibson and used them with their guitars. Since it is a hollow body you just have to be aware that when amplified it’ll feedback like a banshee if you’re not careful. Still a beautiful example of a bygone era. I love mine (Miss Daisy) and it always makes me smile when I pick her up. That Epiphone that you showcase is truly first class.
Hi Rhett. As you ask, I have an Eastman AR380CE HB John Pisano, excellent jazz guitar, that I use for other kinds of music. It's excellent with fuzzy or distorted sounds and also for ambient.
I wanted to buy something like that years ago when I couldn't afford to. My guitar of choice was a Gretsch because of various people but mainly Duane Eddy. They were also one of the rockabilly guitars of choice as well as being jazz boxes. Anyway, one day I was feeling down so I walked from my office to Regent Sounds in Denmark Street (I chose them because the Rolling Stones recorded their first album there) meaning to play a guitar with no intention of buying it an picked up one of the Indonesian Gretsch hollow guitars with Broad'Tron pickups instead of Filter'Trons. Of course I fell in love with the sounds I could get without using pedals so I bought it. It is the best decision I ever made as far as guitars go. I also quit the job that was making me depressed so, win-win! Like you, every time I look at the thing I want to pick it up and play it and it is something that can be played without being amplified and which sounds good even unplugged.
I used to have a D'angelico Excel Throwback Archtop which was top notch. Ended up selling it for a Heritage H530. The H530 being Hollowbody has it's own vibe but has the essence of a full sized jazzbox. I really enjoy the Hollowbody experience.
Always thought I wanted an ES335... until I wrapped my hands around a Gretsch. 4 of them around the house now. I play almost 0 jazz on them and they absolutely scream. Been waiting for one of the large guitar voices on here to make this vide. THANK YOU!!!
Timely! I just bought a Gretsch and agree with all you said. These guitars are limited only by your imagination! Surprised you didn't even mention Scotty Moore, Chet Atkins, George Harrison, etc.
Excellent video Rhett, if I didn't have the John Lee Hooker 100th anniversary model you would have convinced me to buy one of these models. 👍Great playing by the way.
I have the Epiphone John Lee Hooker Zephyr 100th anniversary. Very close to this one with mini humbuckers. Excellent guitar, nothing to complain at it.
my friend’s dad has a big Orange Gretsch, the guy uses it for techno believe it or not. But it’s such a different kind of playing! Absolutely love picking it up from time to time when I’m at his place
i love watching these kind of video because you can see were the music comes from and how it's made and damn that guitar was awesome thanks for doing this
Pete Townshend composed and recorded the Album Who's Next and parts of Quadrophenia on a 1959 Gretsch 6120 Chet Atkins hollow body. Yes Won't get fooled again was recorded using that Gretsch hollow body through a Fender bassman amp. Live of course he used a Gibson SG or an LP along with his customary 100 watt Hi-Watt amps. The Gretsch was given to him by Joe Walsh. The story goes that he initially hated the guitar because of it's orange color. He took it home let it sit for a while then took it out and plugged it in and started playing it and fell in love with it.
Being a collector since 1971, I am down-sizing my equipment. I am not so sure one needs any more than an acoustic and an electric. I do like jazz boxes, which are also Blues boxes and have had three for over thirty years. But I also do not play them often and fortunately did not mortgage my house on a L-5. My feeling these days is that one guitar is a luxury and more than one, more luxurious. Collecting guitars is clearly better than collecting guns, ( I have many friends into that). These days I am reducing having more stuff. More is not better it is simply more. I played with the Meters, they did not have much equipment, just talent.
One thing I like about these guitars and semi-hollow bodies is that you can feel what you play through your chest. They vibrate more. They also have a more mid or boxy tone, which fits some styles and are good for controlled feedback and endless sustain. I usually play rock through solid bodies (Teles, etc.) but always love picking up my old Sheraton.
Back in the early 80s these guitars were so out of fashion, you could find wonderful Gibsons at bargain prices. Unfortunately, I didn't. Jump ahead forty years and I bought an older Samick. It's a great addition to my guitar sound pallet. Thanks for showcasing this type of guitar!
I put phosphur bronze strings on mine 👍 warmer tone as the humbuckers only pick up the steel core on wound strings. Had mine over 20 + yrs now.. personally best of both worlds between acoustic & electric.. more versatile. Wouldn't have another solid body guitar. I have that exact style of guitar but mines an old Gould 355. Try it with Martin phospur bronze strings... i think you'll be pleasantly surprised 👍🤗
Yes. That guitar , like MOST Epiphones , is absolutely a Work Of Art. Like all the old Gibson hollowbody and semi-hollow guitars ;i.e. Switchmaster , ES335 , L 5 , etc. are the most beautiful instruments ever sculpted. And I must include Guild and Gretsch too. Thanks for the post and you've convinced me to go to Sweetwater and make purchase.
One of my all time favorite albums is called “Snakes in the Playground” by the band Bride. Stylistically it’s in comfortable company with late 80’s Guns n Roses. Loved it since I was in middle school and I’ve never outgrown it. Many years after the fact as I became a guitar player, I was shocked to see that the lead guitar played big hollow body Epiphones like this. It’s a rare thing in that genre and scene.
When I see those giant Gibson Hollow body electrics, I immediately think of the big loud rock of Ted Nugent in the 1970s! I have my 1989 Gibson 335 dot for the same reasons, I know it's no Byrdland, Les Paul, but it's the biggest Gibson Hollow I could afford. I love it because it inspires loud rock as well as pretty acoustics through the amp. Hey Rhett Shull, these hollow bodies can feedback easily, maybe it's worth an episode of how to avoid feedback at high volume, and also perhaps how to sculpt feedback, à la sonic youth, etc.
Used to own a Casino and need to re-buy it sometime. Such a great unplugged sound and the P90s are always great. Tom Petty talks in a documentary about how most of his sitting around playing and a lot of his studio playing was actually a Casino. I've never really wanted the big jazz box style, the Casino always felt like a better in-between.
Yes Rhett.. I love the sound and the feel of flats on a hollow body. Have been moving to hollow bodies with my last couple of purchases. The ones with rounds breakup nicely and can live on the hairy edge of feedback with out making me go deaf.
Thanks for this overview. I've got a couple jazz boxes and have always been amazed at how versatile they can be. I've got a D'Angelico EX-1 with a single floating humbucker and its simplicity is appealing and I can get surprising sorts of flexibility from it. An old Washburn J-7 has been a loyal friend for about 20 years and I swear one could use it for just about anything.
I bought one less than a year ago off of Reverb for the same reasons. Man these Epiphone's are a sound beast! You found some good sounds off yours. Way to go.
Heard the song at the beginning on 1.5 speed, and holy! It rips!!! Rhet, Give it a 1.5 speed playback. Your bass playing is epic at that speed by the way.
Nice guitar and I absolutely agree with your praise of the hollowbody - an Ibanez Artcore AF75 was my main guitar for 9 years. It was great fun to watch the odd looks and then play RATM's Killing In The Name Of with it.
Nice to see hollow body guitars getting a little air time. So many to chose from. Don't forget the Godin 5th Ave Kingpin and Kingpin II. Kingpin P90s have a very unique sound and the Cherry body is truly beautiful. There are also a few variants.
I had a blonde '51 Zephyr Deluxe Regent for several years. I used it in many Western Swing and older Jazz/Swing shows. I was sad to have to sell it when my wife (amazing vocalist) and I sold our houses and hit the road in our travel trailer eight years ago, and just didn't have room for all our guitars. I also had a blonde '51 Triumph Regent as well during that time period. Sadly, it's gone as well!
I just recently got a fully hollow body that i absolutely love the sound of. It isnt a super big jazz box, it's a hagstrom viking II but i love the mini humbuckers with coil split, and i play it acoustically all the time
Steve Howe of Yes used an ES-175. From what I’ve read he still uses the Gibson plus a Gretsch G6120 Chet Atkins signature model. I owned a Gretsch Chet Atkins for a while but didn’t like the Bigsby on it so sold it.
Cool track Rhett. I bought a Gibson es175 with p 90’s with a bixby. It was right in this sweet spot. I got it back before I knew anything and it was sold to me as a es295. But turned out the seller lied. Still a cool guitar blues and rock and swing
You already have a hollow-body guitar, unless you've recently gotten rid of your Casino. I'd be interested to know how different a thick jazzbox hollow-body really is from a thinner Casino style guitar. Obviously the pickups are different, but i bet you could get pretty close between the two.
Put a Gretch adjustable bridge on that guitar and it will really open up and blow your mind! I put one of the Gretsch adjustable bridges on my Epiphone Emperor and it’s sweet sounds of Heaven!
I inherited my Grandpa’s 1960 Gretsch 6124 single anniversary guitar. He put a ton of psychedelic stickers on the case. The case handle broke and he made one out of an old leather belt. It is so cool.
I'd love to see an in depth video of you making an intro track by yourself, especially some recommendations on laying down drums without drums or a drummer.
neeeeed!
Second that, good video idea
He talked a bit about sampling drum loops in an earlier videos, been doing that a lot and it helped me write a good few fun things
EZ Drummer baby!
Yes 🙌
electrified archtop guitars were indeed "all [jazz guitarists] had access to," but they also partially exist because of jazz guitarists! big band music was getting popular and with bigger and bigger ensembles being put together, jazz guitarists started getting drowned out, especially when it came time for them to solo, so there was a growing demand for amplified guitars, met by companies like gibson who basically just slapped a pickup on the archtops the jazz players already used. plus it should be noted that part of why they're still considered jazz guitars is because jazz guitarists prefer the more subdued and "woody" tones you tend to get compared to a solid body as you mentioned, which is the same reason 1920s jazz guitarists preferred the archtop acoustics over flattops
These types of Guitars were popular for Rockabilly, similarly the recently deceased Duane Eddy
Also if you've seen the film "Concert At Big Sur," everyone in CSNY were playing similar guitars.
Just what I was thinking. One could do a whole episode on guitars used in Rockabilly and by the incomparable Duane Eddy. And good catch on CSNY at Big Sur. Stills and Young are crushing it with their big Gretsch's. Same during Buffalo Springfield. And Ted Nugent still rocks hard with Gibson Byrdlands.
1. Two minute intros rule.
2. Epiphone is really killing it lately.
3. If you don’t like Epiphones, D’Angelico make absolutely fantastic big body guitars. As a lefty, buying sight unseen is simply the way things will always be, and having been disappointed at 3 NAMM shows, because no one carries lefties at their booths, D’Angelico always have a wide selection of lefties to play at their NAMM booths! Fantastic guitars, if the Epi isn’t your thing, or if left handed models aren’t available
4. Great video, as always!!
Plus D'Angelicos are regularly blown out at near half price or even less. I picked up a Bedford SH recently for $479, little more than half its "normal" $899 price tag, and it's a fantastic guitar. Indonesian built, flawless finish and workmanship, sounds great with a wide range of all usable palettes and plays even better. I'm thinking now that my next may be a D'Angelico hollow body, as I have several semis but no true hollow body. (Well, one old Greco but it needs more work than I can do.)
🤘🏻😝 SURLY UNDERSERVED LEFTIES UNITE !!... 10% of the U.S. population is left handed... 1% of guitars produced are lefty . Fully half of Fenders total lineup, only comes Right handed.
Love my lefty D'Angelico DC Premier (an ES style guitar, but still)!
@@kevinmackfurniture the thing that drove me nuts about NAMM shows was that the companies who produce left handed guitars, ESP, fender, Gibson, dean, Ibanez, etc., none of them bring lefties to their shows. I think it’s an esthetic choice- having all the pretty guitars going the same direction- but, man. Can’t try out amps, pedals, modelers, nothing. That’s why i loved the D’Angelico booth so much. They always had at least five different lefty versions of their models. I will say, in 2016, Fender really put in the effort; one strat, one tele. Ugh!!
You are dead right on #1. See also Chris Buck’s Rickenbacker opening jam.
I find it funny that guitar choice in different genres was mostly due to what the artist had access to or could afford. Then that style of guitar is the “right kind” for that genre for future generations. (Bringing a double neck SG to jazz jam night - from a Kieth Williams 5 Watt World story). 😂
I was thinking the same thing. I was also thinking how incredible some of those greats from the past would have sounded given the choices that are available now. People are always fawning over vintage guitars, but in large part, they sucked in many ways… including tone. Even this big box Epi (and I mean BIG) sounds kind of blah.
Jazz guitars feed back easier, are "wooly" in terms of tone and rock n roll guys like treble and cut. They just didn't appeal to rock and roll and electric blues guys as much. They're also not nearly as comfortable to play for extended periods on stage.
@@norseman61man! Have you been around the wrong vintage guitars then.
I mean that’s absolutely the case for punk, artists like the sex pistols used what they could get their hands on, and to this day, juniors and specials are integral touchstones for the genre.
Absolute truth - most if not all of my favourite players made use of what they had available, including in a more extreme example, part of an old fireplace for the Red Special, the rare case of a guitarist building their own from the ground up. Rarely do they ever covet pristine vintage remortgage your house type guitars; the closest I could find was Graham Coxon buying something from Vintage & Rare in London and remarking it was cheaper because it was badly refinished etc.
Coveting gear can be fun, but not if it's at the expense of playing what you have. All those hours spent online gear hunting and not buying, are hours that could have been used to practice and get better sounds that way, from your fingers using better technique. I'm sure most players with access to the Internet have been down the GAS rabbit hole, and to be honest less really is more, the 5WW Keith maxim "the most music with the least gear".
That intro has all the knee-slapping, head-bopping, stank-facing vibe. Technically speaking of course
^ science
Almost Pink Floyd-like?
whitch what pedals can i create this sound?
This 👆🏼
It was very MuteMath
Things I learned about guitars:
1. The genre is defined by the equipment.
2. Equipment is not defined by the genre.
3. Genres are not a "tone." (e.g., there is no such thing as a blues "tone." "What Strat pickup should I get for a good blues tone? questions drive me crazy. SRV certainly left his mark.
How to get a good blues tone:
Listen to Freddy King, B.B. King, Sister Tharpe, etc.
Play like that on whatever gear you have.
@@hyrumjensen4712 there are so many great blues players, and each has their own style and tone.
I bought an ES-335 in 1970 for my first electric because….B.B. King. Still prefer semi-hollow bodies to this day
@@davidkeller6156 same reason I got an ES-125 with my enlistment bonus.
@@paristhalheimer I did add et cetera…
The second you switched to the bridge pickup all I heard was a straight up Telecaster.
That '49/'50 Epiphone has a beautiful sound. 👍
Bro, my favorite thing about this channel is how Rhett gets in his bag for every opening track. Absolutely fire 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Thanks for shouting out Ella, she is a marvellous guitarist !
My dude, do you ever turn these intros into full fledged songs? They are amazing, and a different vibe from what you play with your band. What do you do with them?
Needs to be inspired
Full-bodied hollow F hole guitars are awesome for all styles of music. My 1938 Gibson L5 GUT guitar gets better with age while played.
I REALLY like the sound of the older model! Thanks for the info & kind regards❣
I bought a Godin 5th Ave Kingpin P90 from Sweetwater a couple of months ago and really love it. As you said, it makes a great couch guitar.
Killing Joke's entire sound was based on Geordie using a fully hollow ES-295.
Thank you for mentioning Killing Joke
Yes and due to his setup and rig and playing, it sounded awesome. He was right - semi-acoustics can be huge for heavier kinds of music. I believe any guitar can work for anything if you're resourceful enough as a player.
That is quite intriguing. I haven’t listened to that band in forever … like decades. So, obviously I will now spend a couple weeks obsessing, again, on a band I loved during my college days (finally past the Sundays and the follow up of trying to figure out where the heck they went … seriously, that band just disappeared completely).
Hey..I have had a 295 for 60 years. It'll have to be sold at some point. Sad.
PS. feedback was not my friend
First player that came to my mind: Geordie Walker, guitarist for Killing Joke, who played a hollow Gibson ES-295. It wasn’t Jazz 😎
May he rest in peace 🙏🏼
Ted Nugent also used a hollow body guitar. A Gybson Birdland. An he played hard rock.
It was also my first thought. Yes these guitars can be pretty versatile!!!
and Billy Duffy in The Cult with a big White Falcon
Beautiful, Rhett. Some of my favorite archtop players who aren't specifically jazz: Eric Gale (with the band Stuff); Freddie Stone (with Sly & The Family Stone); and Leo Nocentelli (early recordings with the Meters).
You hit all the guys I was thinking of too!
I'm a luthier and I'm starting to see a pattern.......necks that are set deeper into the guitar body not height wise but length wise seem to sound better......im going to try something and see what happens
Thats why neck through guitars exist
My design was a bolt on neck that was securely bolted to a center block.
I think center block hollow bodies are probably the best sounding and most versatile.
Check out the bolt on neck in the new Eastman electric. Cool idea.
Yep, just look at the Firebird ☺️
To add to the list above, Mulecasters have the neck wood running thru the hollow steel body. Fun vibe
Most forget that some of the most Iconic guitar parts were made on these types of instruments. Think about Izzy Stradlin with his ES-175 on AFD, Alex Liefson with his ES-335 in early Rush, even Steve Howe used his ES-5 SWITCHMASTER on Roundabout.
Steve Howe played an ES175 I think you will find - it was Frank Zappa who played an ES-5 Switchmaster until the gigs got too loud and feedback became a problem.
Khruangbin would be proud of that intro!
Rhett has been really influenced by this band judging by his last videos and playing styles/tones/genre. Love it!
I was lucky enough to inherit a 78 Ibanez FA-100 from my grandfather when he passed, love that guitar it’s by far my favorite instrument I own and play. I play a lot of rock, punk and folk on it and absolutely love it
intro jams are amazing
I have an Epiphone Zephyr Blues Deluxe. With the fully hollow construction and three dog ear P90s it is a very different beast than any other guitar I own.
It’s acoustic resonance is halfway between my semi-hollow and acoustics. It’s action and playability is very much electric guitar style.
When the strings are brand new and bright, it really has an acoustic guitar flavor. When the strings are dead, it has a wooly Jazzbox flavor. I think that more than with any other guitar, the string type and condition affect the sound of this guitar.
I haven’t played my Epiphone Zephyr Blues Deluxe at all recently, but I’ve been meaning to. Your video is inspiring me to pull it out again.
Great video promoting the flexibility of the hollowbody electric guitar, and a breath of fresh air in the UA-cam video world of solid body and semi hollow videos. Thank you.
Ps: It would be great if you A/B demo/tonal comparison between the original and the current recreation, considering that the pickups have different construction???
Thank you.
Glad you demo'ed it with a fuzz pedal! Been hearing rockers jamming out on White Falcons, lots of noise, very musical feedback...just always sounds great.
As already noted, Killing Joke's sound was centred on a Gibbo ES295, and then there's The Cult with Billy Duffy playing a Gretch White Falcon.
Surprised that these examples (and others) didn't get a mention, Rhet, as it would help better illustrate the broad range of usefulness that you were trying to explain! 🤷♂️
BTW, I have two Antoria "Jazz-Star" guitars (the 'poor-man's L5' made in the 1980s), I switched the pickups for Irongear "Rolling Mill" PAF-style pups (poor man's Seymour Duncans 😄), cut down and drilled the hardwood bridge to take a tuneomatic and put Grover tuners on. They are awesome guitars, and the pair of them together probably only owe me about a grand!
Agree, such a Geordie tie in opportunity.
Love the intro jam! I appreciate the historic notes woven into the video and the sound checks you run the equipment through. The recording of the Acoustic/Electric sound definitely brings a different level of engagement in the overall mood! 👏👏👏
Before it got stolen, I used to own a late '50s Epiphone Windsor. It had one of those New Yorker pickups. And before I gave the pickup to Mark Knopfler, I took it apart to see what made it tick. I don't have DNA evidence but those ivory surrounds probably *were* ivory in the older unit. The one I took apart certainly showed indications of being organic matter and not simply molded plastic like humbucker pickup rings.
And, speaking of humbuckers, those pickups may kinda sorta LOOK like mini humbuckers, but they are single coils. Don't let the row of adjustable screws on the older unit fool you. Look long and hard enough, and you realize there is absolutely no room for a 2nd coil under them. And you're right. The New Yorker pickups have much in common with gold foil pickups, in that the base plate is folded upwards along one edge and that's what the screws go into.
The original 1950s versions of the pickups are single coils, but the new versions are mini humbuckers.
@@ChuckNicholsonTRM That may be why they don't have a row of adjustable screws. Moving them further away from the edge, in order to make room for that second coil, would have looked odd and (pardon the pun) "blown their cover".
That said, as different as the New Yorker pickups were, when you have a guitar with that overall construction, the specific pickups only make a small contribution to any distinctive sound. I'm sure the mini-buckers sound just fine, even if they aren't historically accurate.
@@markhammer643I think the pickups can make the plugged in sound of an archtop drastically different. I’m not a fan of the original NY Tone Spectrum pickups, so I have no problem with the use of minihumbuckers.
I have a hagstrom viking II that has silverfoil mini humbuckers that are splittable and they sound so great in either mode.
The Decemberists were the band that got me into hollow body guitar originally. Shakey Graves brought a lot of new ideas to the instrument also when he was a one-man band.
Thanks for this video! I’ve been considering adding the Zephyr to my collection…after seeing and hearing you put it through its paces…I will be picking one up!
you should totally release these jams... that jam would be in my constant rotation on my spotify
Rhett, I have a Gibson ES 165 Herb Ellis, a Epiphone Joe Pass and a Gretsch Tennessee Rose. So I think I'm covered.
I just bought a Guild Manhattan 175B, from Sweetwater by the way. and I can't put it down. I've always wanted a big box guitar since I saw Scottie Moore playing one when I was a kid.
I really enjoyed the video. I liked all the different sounds you get out of that guitar, good choice. I got a Godin 5th Avenue Kingpin II P90 jazz box not too long ago that I really like and looks great too, old school. Thanks!
Holy f...king s... Rhett! This thing is "FIRE"! What a track and opening to this feed. Wow! Where there is smoke there is fire my brother. This has it all dude.
I’ve got a mid 50s Harmony H-65 in natural finish. Big old fat jazz box that has her own unmistakeable vibe. It has a single Gibson P-13 pickup. The P-13 came out after the Charlie Christian ‘blade’ pick up. As Gibson moved forward with the P-90 pick up, Harmony bought a ton of P-13s from Gibson and used them with their guitars. Since it is a hollow body you just have to be aware that when amplified it’ll feedback like a banshee if you’re not careful. Still a beautiful example of a bygone era. I love mine (Miss Daisy) and it always makes me smile when I pick her up. That Epiphone that you showcase is truly first class.
I can see that you like it- it inspires your playing, I can hear it. I have been looking at one of those myself.
Man that intro song is everything! Those sounds you got are so unique ❤
Hi Rhett. As you ask, I have an Eastman AR380CE HB John Pisano, excellent jazz guitar, that I use for other kinds of music. It's excellent with fuzzy or distorted sounds and also for ambient.
Strong Khruangbin vibes in the intro. Awesome
Had a '52 Zephyr Regent Deluxe. Incredible box! Thanks for doing this updated review!
I wanted to buy something like that years ago when I couldn't afford to. My guitar of choice was a Gretsch because of various people but mainly Duane Eddy. They were also one of the rockabilly guitars of choice as well as being jazz boxes. Anyway, one day I was feeling down so I walked from my office to Regent Sounds in Denmark Street (I chose them because the Rolling Stones recorded their first album there) meaning to play a guitar with no intention of buying it an picked up one of the Indonesian Gretsch hollow guitars with Broad'Tron pickups instead of Filter'Trons. Of course I fell in love with the sounds I could get without using pedals so I bought it. It is the best decision I ever made as far as guitars go. I also quit the job that was making me depressed so, win-win! Like you, every time I look at the thing I want to pick it up and play it and it is something that can be played without being amplified and which sounds good even unplugged.
Cool guitars! Maybe one guitar could do it all, but it's so sweet to be able to have multiple guitars, and hollow bodies are def a must-have!
I used to have a D'angelico Excel Throwback Archtop which was top notch. Ended up selling it for a Heritage H530. The H530 being Hollowbody has it's own vibe but has the essence of a full sized jazzbox. I really enjoy the Hollowbody experience.
JUST picked this guy up and love it. Cool to see a jazz box featured. And sustain on that thing is insane.
Always thought I wanted an ES335... until I wrapped my hands around a Gretsch. 4 of them around the house now. I play almost 0 jazz on them and they absolutely scream. Been waiting for one of the large guitar voices on here to make this vide. THANK YOU!!!
Timely! I just bought a Gretsch and agree with all you said. These guitars are limited only by your imagination! Surprised you didn't even mention Scotty Moore, Chet Atkins, George Harrison, etc.
Such a nice vibe on that intro jam!
Hollow bodies are where it's at. I picked up an Ibanez AMH90PBM a few months ago. I love it and no I don't really play jazz.
Great song! Great playing!
Really great use of effects throughout. You can really feel how much this guitar inspires you.
Excellent video Rhett, if I didn't have the John Lee Hooker 100th anniversary model you would have convinced me to buy one of these models. 👍Great playing by the way.
I have the Epiphone John Lee Hooker Zephyr 100th anniversary. Very close to this one with mini humbuckers. Excellent guitar, nothing to complain at it.
my friend’s dad has a big Orange Gretsch, the guy uses it for techno believe it or not. But it’s such a different kind of playing! Absolutely love picking it up from time to time when I’m at his place
i love watching these kind of video because you can see were the music comes from and how it's made and damn that guitar was awesome thanks for doing this
Pete Townshend composed and recorded the Album Who's Next and parts of Quadrophenia on a 1959 Gretsch 6120 Chet Atkins hollow body. Yes Won't get fooled again was recorded using that Gretsch hollow body through a Fender bassman amp. Live of course he used a Gibson SG or an LP along with his customary 100 watt Hi-Watt amps. The Gretsch was given to him by Joe Walsh.
The story goes that he initially hated the guitar because of it's orange color. He took it home let it sit for a while then took it out and plugged it in and started playing it and fell in love with it.
Being a collector since 1971, I am down-sizing my equipment. I am not so sure one needs any more than an acoustic and an electric. I do like jazz boxes, which are also Blues boxes and have had three for over thirty years. But I also do not play them often and fortunately did not mortgage my house on a L-5. My feeling these days is that one guitar is a luxury and more than one, more luxurious. Collecting guitars is clearly better than collecting guns, ( I have many friends into that). These days I am reducing having more stuff. More is not better it is simply more. I played with the Meters, they did not have much equipment, just talent.
That intro tune was incredible! 😮
One thing I like about these guitars and semi-hollow bodies is that you can feel what you play through your chest. They vibrate more. They also have a more mid or boxy tone, which fits some styles and are good for controlled feedback and endless sustain. I usually play rock through solid bodies (Teles, etc.) but always love picking up my old Sheraton.
Back in the early 80s these guitars were so out of fashion, you could find wonderful Gibsons at bargain prices. Unfortunately, I didn't. Jump ahead forty years and I bought an older Samick. It's a great addition to my guitar sound pallet. Thanks for showcasing this type of guitar!
Super cool Rhett. A soundtrack for sure, somewhere.
I’ve got an Ibanez semihollow and love it. The neck pickup into a Fender tube amp is like melted butter.
I put phosphur bronze strings on mine 👍 warmer tone as the humbuckers only pick up the steel core on wound strings. Had mine over 20 + yrs now.. personally best of both worlds between acoustic & electric.. more versatile. Wouldn't have another solid body guitar. I have that exact style of guitar but mines an old Gould 355. Try it with Martin phospur bronze strings... i think you'll be pleasantly surprised 👍🤗
This video is very revealing, thanks a lot Rhett!
Love the opening jam! Wicked guitar tone
Seen lots of your intros and this is one of the sickest
Yes. That guitar , like MOST Epiphones , is absolutely a Work Of Art. Like all the old Gibson hollowbody and semi-hollow guitars ;i.e. Switchmaster , ES335 ,
L 5 , etc. are the most beautiful instruments ever sculpted.
And I must include Guild and Gretsch too.
Thanks for the post and you've convinced me to go to Sweetwater and make purchase.
One of my all time favorite albums is called “Snakes in the Playground” by the band Bride. Stylistically it’s in comfortable company with late 80’s Guns n Roses. Loved it since I was in middle school and I’ve never outgrown it. Many years after the fact as I became a guitar player, I was shocked to see that the lead guitar played big hollow body Epiphones like this. It’s a rare thing in that genre and scene.
When I see those giant Gibson Hollow body electrics, I immediately think of the big loud rock of Ted Nugent in the 1970s! I have my 1989 Gibson 335 dot for the same reasons, I know it's no Byrdland, Les Paul, but it's the biggest Gibson Hollow I could afford. I love it because it inspires loud rock as well as pretty acoustics through the amp. Hey Rhett Shull, these hollow bodies can feedback easily, maybe it's worth an episode of how to avoid feedback at high volume, and also perhaps how to sculpt feedback, à la sonic youth, etc.
Also, a mention of plywood vs. carved tops. The plywood tops are much better in a band situation where the guitarist needs to get over a drummer.
Used to own a Casino and need to re-buy it sometime. Such a great unplugged sound and the P90s are always great. Tom Petty talks in a documentary about how most of his sitting around playing and a lot of his studio playing was actually a Casino. I've never really wanted the big jazz box style, the Casino always felt like a better in-between.
Nice intro man and tasty blues licks. Hollow body's been on my mind for awhile now, dont push me over the edge ;)
Yes Rhett.. I love the sound and the feel of flats on a hollow body. Have been moving to hollow bodies with my last couple of purchases. The ones with rounds breakup nicely and can live on the hairy edge of feedback with out making me go deaf.
The music you played in this video were all suuuper nice, thanks Rhett!
It's a great sounding axe. Stellar bass lines and playing, btw.
I love them for rockabilly and Duane Eddy instrumentals
I just picked up a Hollowbody Guild Newark St X175 B man totally digging it and this Epi sounds fantastic
Some of your best playing so far. Some real intention in there.
OMG that 1949 model … amazing tone!
Thanks for this overview. I've got a couple jazz boxes and have always been amazed at how versatile they can be. I've got a D'Angelico EX-1 with a single floating humbucker and its simplicity is appealing and I can get surprising sorts of flexibility from it. An old Washburn J-7 has been a loyal friend for about 20 years and I swear one could use it for just about anything.
I bought one less than a year ago off of Reverb for the same reasons. Man these Epiphone's are a sound beast! You found some good sounds off yours. Way to go.
Heard the song at the beginning on 1.5 speed, and holy! It rips!!! Rhet, Give it a 1.5 speed playback. Your bass playing is epic at that speed by the way.
Nice guitar and I absolutely agree with your praise of the hollowbody - an Ibanez Artcore AF75 was my main guitar for 9 years. It was great fun to watch the odd looks and then play RATM's Killing In The Name Of with it.
Nice to see hollow body guitars getting a little air time. So many to chose from. Don't forget the Godin 5th Ave Kingpin and Kingpin II. Kingpin P90s have a very unique sound and the Cherry body is truly beautiful. There are also a few variants.
Loved the brief clip of Sister Rosetta with a Gretsch. Get a 6120.
Loving the intro track!! Did you make the drum beat from scratch or was it made some other way? nice work as always.
I had a blonde '51 Zephyr Deluxe Regent for several years. I used it in many Western Swing and older Jazz/Swing shows. I was sad to have to sell it when my wife (amazing vocalist) and I sold our houses and hit the road in our travel trailer eight years ago, and just didn't have room for all our guitars. I also had a blonde '51 Triumph Regent as well during that time period. Sadly, it's gone as well!
I just recently got a fully hollow body that i absolutely love the sound of. It isnt a super big jazz box, it's a hagstrom viking II but i love the mini humbuckers with coil split, and i play it acoustically all the time
This is my favorite haricut for you. Talking about the import things right here
I just love the stripes and translucency on the old 50s model’s pickguard.
Steve Howe of Yes used an ES-175. From what I’ve read he still uses the Gibson plus a Gretsch G6120 Chet Atkins signature model. I owned a Gretsch Chet Atkins for a while but didn’t like the Bigsby on it so sold it.
I have one! I have super heavy jazz strings on it, and its great for rock
I play with 12s on my hollow bodies. Also I use heavy picks too.😎👍✨
Cool track Rhett. I bought a Gibson es175 with p 90’s with a bixby. It was right in this sweet spot. I got it back before I knew anything and it was sold to me as a es295. But turned out the seller lied. Still a cool guitar blues and rock and swing
Rhett, an Awesome Guitar and video here, Thanks, Sweetwater is the only place I shop, They are Great, Cousin Figel
Yep. Need one. or two... ☺️
Cool song. Thanks for covering this topic 👍👍
Rhett you spoke my language me playing a hollowbody but not for jazz, thanks for this segment!!
Love that 50's sound. Both are nice, really. Might be on my "gotta have" list.
That opening track has to be the coolest sound I've heard in at least five years. Tell me that's going to be posted somewhere.
You already have a hollow-body guitar, unless you've recently gotten rid of your Casino. I'd be interested to know how different a thick jazzbox hollow-body really is from a thinner Casino style guitar. Obviously the pickups are different, but i bet you could get pretty close between the two.
Put a Gretch adjustable bridge on that guitar and it will really open up and blow your mind! I put one of the Gretsch adjustable bridges on my Epiphone Emperor and it’s sweet sounds of Heaven!
Just bought a Godin 5th avenue. Liked it so much I got another Godin two months later.