Phil Hurley's 1967 Gretsch, 1967 Guild, 1980 Epiphone & 2014 Gibson Guitars
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- Опубліковано 19 січ 2025
- Guitarist, singer & songwriter Phil Hurley of The South Austin Moonlighters shows us his favorite hollow body and semi-hollow body guitars:
1980 Epiphone Casino (0:35)
1967 Gretsch Chet Atkins Country Gentleman (2:04)
1967 Guild Starfire III (3:33)
2014 Gibson Rich Robinson ES-335 (4:46)
Phil shares the stories behind the guitars and showcases how they sound through a 1965 Fender Vibrolux.
Toward the end of the video you can hear Phil play the same riff on the four guitars back-to-back on the bridge pickups (5:35), middle position (6:16), neck position (7:34) and overdriven (8:48).
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Overdriven Gretsch sounds amazing
Yes, a surprise for me. Agree. Besides, is the best looking one
I think it sounded best all around. The shrill high end with the clean sound is tamed nicely on the Gretsch.
Overdriven Gretsch like original AC/DC..😁😁
That bridge position on that 335 is a good one dude.
The Casino 😍
The Guild was a surprising. The Gretsch stole my heart. All of these are wonderful instruments.
I would go for the Guild just cuz you just don’t hear much about them. I like to be different from what seems so popular at times. But I have to admit: the overdriven Gretsch sounded sooo good!
That's the best demo format I've seen on UA-cam. Playing identical licks on the guitar really shows the differences in the guitars.
Thank you for the kind words George. Some time ago I learned that our auditory memory span is remarkably short. When the two things being compared are more than a few *seconds* apart, most of us have great difficulty comparing them accurately. Thus I thought that playing the same riff back-to-back would do a better job of highlighting the differences between the instruments.
Agree... not just some notes, but real playing.. Great demo.
@@MythvsCraft Spot on. Also, even a slight difference in volume will be perceived as a difference in tone.
Thought I would like the Gretsch the best but, in the end, the 335 was my favorite. Just refined and ballsy. I can see why it’s your #1.
I don’t know who this guy is, but he has some sick guitars!
I'll call the guitar doctor.
Phil played with the Gigolo Aunts, best known for their song Where I Find My Heaven from the movie Dumb and Dumber.
Gretsch is in a league of its own. Damn that thing is sweet
For me, Guild is one of those "hidden treasures" that can still be picked up for reasonable money. They have a voice of their own, with a certain sense of "urgency" in it, which you have to like. But each and every Guild I've played sounded good, and virtually played itself.
100% agree. I've played a lot of guitars and own a few, and I grab my Guild Starfire V almost every time I head out to a gig. I love it to death.
I'll be honest, I like my DeArmond Starfire custom better than I do the new Guilds. For some reason, it sounds more like a "guild guild" than the new ones do. Good luck finding one though.
Even the new Korean made stuff is a hidden gem. I kind of hope they stay at the same level they're at now so the prices don't shoot up.
I have a 1966 Starfire V factory special order, clear maple, Bigsby delete, and Haggstrum floating bridge. Had it since early 1967 when the original buyer was desperate for money. He had it 2 weeks.. I've had it ever since.. It ain't ever going anywhere till I'm done and in the ground. ... and then it stays in the family, next generation.
Agreed, I spent years trying to find the perfect acoustic for myself and I found a 1977 Guild D-25 and it’s my favorite guitar. I now have the 12-string version (1981), which is a very good guitar. I paid roughly $800 for each of them. Imagine trying to find a Gibson or a Martin for the same price and quality! My girlfriend has her uncle’s 1965 Guild Starfire III and wants me to give her lessons. I cleaned it up and played it and it was incredible shape. Especially for a guitar that hasn’t been played in 40 years (poor guy died in a submarine accident in the early 80s).
I just bought a 50s model Gretsch after much shopping for the right sound. It has a wonderful voice, both acoustic and electric.
I would like a Guild Starfire some day though.
Thank you for sharing your beauties.
Really good sound comparisons.
Thank you for watching and for taking the time to share the compliment James. I like the back-to-back examples because they really highlight the differences. I was *there* when we recorded it all and even in real-time couldn't differentiate the sounds as well as I did after placing the same riffs back-to-back.
Very useful and informative.
Phil is a glorious guitarist and a gracious human being. Lovely to see him talk so passionately about his lovely collection of instruments
Thank you for watching Dave. 100% agree with your comment.
My favourites are the Guild Starfire and the Epiphone Casino, but the Gretsch didn't sound as thin as i expected with that Blackface amp, they actually sound quite nice for a rhythmic part, at least in the bridge pickup, the Gibson sounded very much mid focused for my taste, even if the Vibrolux helps it to not sound like full mud.
I have one of those early 80s casinos. Haven’t been able to find another yet, so happy I was able to come across one. Special instruments for sure
Love ❤️ the Epiphone
Watched a video of credence Clearwater revival and Tom Fogerty played a white guild 335 style.
That Epi with the P90's was awesome! The Gretsch was second fave! But that Epi you have is something special! What a guitar! Love it!
Phil of the thousands of Git videos on UA-cam your background knowledge and format is so so refreshing , thanks
Thank you for the kind words Mark. I'll pass them on to Phil.
I like how you can see the enthusiasm and passion this man has for his instruments, i like the playing as well 🙏🏾cheers!
Cheers to you!
Nice guitars. I play a 1966 Starfire lll myself. That's my main squeeze. Thanks for posting.
Wow that Gretsch amazing. To stand out that much in the company of so many other good guitars.
Great demo. Clear comparisons and they all sound great!
Thank you for the kind words Hugh!
I'll probably be the most unpopular contributor to the comments but after listening with a pair of inexpensive Bose computer speakers I like the ES-335. All of the guitars sound awesome, thanks for the demo !! Great collection.
Cool comparison.
as a Guild starfire iv owner . there is something about Guilds that's certainly underrated .
Between the guild and the Gretsch for sure...
yes
Epiphone 👍👍
Guild humbuckers. Underrated+++
Great comparison between 4 amazing guitars. The video was really well presented. As a guitar player, I could really appreciate the subtle differences between each guitar. But ultimately all variations of a similar theme of hollow/ semi-hollow guitars. Well done!
Thank you very much!
Excellent demo and wonderfully produced. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for the kind words Dennis. I'm hoping to go through a few more guitars with Phil soon.
Good demonstration. Thank you.
Beautiful guitars and wonderful playing! They all sound great to me, so might as well keep one sell the rest. OMG, I sound like my wife!
Great video. I am surprised to say I like the Gretsch best in every category.
I’ve had a Starfire 2 for 18 years & love it. Great demo comparison. All tone machines.
I really loved all the intruments George played
My son has a Gretsch acoustic. I am getting him a Guild Starfire V. This video rocks. Your production is great
Thank you for the very kind words Malakie. My channel has a few other videos with Phil and his guitars in case you're interested.
Everyone of em has a very unique voice. All sound awesome. Attack of the semihollows. Nice.
Thank you Jeremiah for taking the time to watch the video and share your comment.
Another great set of both objective and subjective comments and demos. Some really classic guitars and histories here and as for Chet . . . well, what can you say. He was one of my first guitar heroes way back when I was a wee lad.
Thanks to Miles 4 Books for sending me the link to this.
The Gretsch really has a nice focused mid-range that doesn't sound too bassy, especially in the neck and middle positions. Stays pretty defined, and nails that George Harrison sound! Excellent demos.
It really stood out in the overdriven section. Didn't have that sharp treble and sounded better because of it, in my opinion.
GREAT clip - thank you very much !
Overall . . . to my ears, the Gretsch is winning !!!
Phil, great video! Tony R from Lafayette, LA great to see your video all sounded great the Gibson had the fullest sound, the Gretsch surprising had less volume than the rest but still sounded good, Guild then Epi for my ears. I'm waiting for my 64 Country Gent to come back from shop I recently purchased. New frets and a TLC cant wait to play her!Hope to see you guys soon at Artmosphere Peace
Tony
Hi, Tony! Thanks for watching. We're back LaFeyette at the end of this month. Come see us!
Good comparison. Thanks for sharing. I have some experience with acoustics but a rookie with electrics. Interesting to learn.
That Country Gentleman is killer!
Great recording man, thank you. Those P-90s on Epiphone are a bit thin and harsh sounding, must be perfect for overdriven rockabilly jamming. The Gibson 335 is well rounded, balanced, smooth. Gretch is my favourite, so twangy. Guild even a bit more so, but with some odd special timbre that one either loves or not I guess. All are great in its own way.
Country Gent by a country mile
Thank you for watching Rob. The Gretsch was great, but I think the Guild stole the show for me, which is high praise in such a strong field.
Ya Rob, I gotta say, that Gretsch really had acoustic tones. Because of that it was my top pick as well. I mean, why else do you play a hollowbody? Because really, with the right set up, it is really not difficult to make a 335 sound like a Les Paul. But it is difficult to make an electric sound acoustic ! They ALL sound great, but only one of them achieved something great.
Agreed
Yep
Man help sounded so nice on the casino 😢👌
Great video, loved the way you displayed the sound of the guitar's, made it really easy to pick the differences. Gretsch gets my vote but I could be biased.
I love these fiddle tales, its nice to see the humble enthusiastic passion abounding in the stories here.
Super cool
Also proof here that gibson does make great guitars 1970 on till 2010+
best across the board semihallow sound demo Ive ever heard.
Gibson Gretch
Thank you for taking the time to share such kind words John. Editing/viewing the back-to-back clips of the different guitars playing the same riffs was certainly eye/ear opening!
Thanks Phil...So...I watched it again... and discovered that; It wasn't Just the "Sounding Out" of each model, it Was as Much the Atmosphere of the Presentation.
I appreciated That you incorporated the "Value You placed on Friendship(s)" and how good friendships bring so much quality into our lives, especially when a good friend; "Has an unexpected Surprise", waiting for us.
The Opening segment with "The Guild" was awesome.
What resinated with me was the matured notion that; all good things come to those who are patient and that compromise is really not an option. thanks for that, too.
@@johnpike5836 Thank you John. Phil indeed excels as a storyteller. If you haven't checked out the video of him showcasing three Les Paul Goldtops, check it out!
@@MythvsCraft on it
they all look and sound amazing.....
All guitars differ but all are a character of their own, fantastic Iike them all, its impossible to choose wich one .....it depends one is good in warm tones, others are just as good but better in
the twang or in the sparkling bits...wonderfull
Love those old Guilds... I has a Starfire II single cutaway with the old white plastic single coil pickups. Great for blues.
I've got the same one. (made in RI)
@@Harold710 I wish I still had mine, it was stolen in 69
Love that Gretsch! I think that's my dream guitar.
This was pretty awesome to watch. Love the way he speaks about his guitars, with such passion that comes across to us viewer. Amazing sounds, got the 335 (345) and Country Gent myself, and cool to watch someone else play "my" guitars!
Thank you for the kind words. Phil's enthusiasm is contagious isn't it?
Thank you!
The Gretsch is tops! The Epi is very good too. Gibson is nice. Guild for me tot so much.
For my ear, the Guild sounds best.
It is so great to see a guy so Fxxking in love with guitars tell you about how, where and why..all the best to ya Phil - thanks for the smile you gave me and the thinking about how all my 'girls' came to be here...
Thanks for watching, Jeff!
The riff that you play during the “Middle Position” segments is so damn tasty! DAMN. Keep on, my man!
It's help by the Beatles
hayden lince Shiiiiid. I’m so behind The Beatles catalog. Thank you!
@@AndrewX66 no problem man anytime
Cool vid and great comparisons at the end. All different, but all good. The Gibson and the Gretsch are the standouts for me.
Thank you for watching. The Starfire III was the biggest revelation to me. I didn't know what to expect and it came through with this wonderful, unique sound (especially clean).
that guild sounds incredible!!! thanks for all the guitar sound comparisons. sounded great, keep it up!!!
Beautiful guitars
#1 gibson es 335, #2 Epiphome, #3 Guild starfire, #4 Gretsch gentleman
that es335 is just amazing!
Phil agrees! :-)
great video, great playing, great guitars!
The gretsch and the guild sound the best especially overdriven. Very close guitars in terms of tone. The guild seems to have a slightly more bass sound in its tone than the gretsch. Awesome guitars! I would take the gretsch first, then the guild.
Thank you. I’ve been trying to decide on a semi hollow guitar. Don’t have access to all of these. To my ear, es335/Starfire III.
That guild does have loads of character. Just me, or did the Gretsch sound like the tone was dialed down?
Great tone from all but I love the Gretsch and Guild guitars the best.
I have a 67 Guild. My pride and joy!
The Gibson and the Gretsch sound Great!
The Gretch steals the show!! The Guild comes a close second tho
Love these! Hope there’s a couple of videos for strats/teles coming up!
Thank you for watching and leaving a comment. Phil's main guitar for many years was a T-style Trussart. We might be comparing it to a Fender Tele soon.
Holy moly! That Guild guitar!
The Guild has a fantastic voice and for me is easily the winner here. But I also enjoyed the nasaly snarl of that Casino overdriven - which is a quality I've noticed on them compared to most other semi-acoustics.
Overall what a lovely set of guitars
My choice is Gretsch w/ original filtertron
That Starfire III got fkn killer tone, right up there with the Gibby 335 in tonal quality.
Loved the casino
Terrific playing - thank you for sharing. The Epi and Gibby sound very close with the Epi being a little brighter with those P90s. The Gretsch being a solid body sounds like a solid body - very warm, particularly with distortion/rock and not so much on Jazz. Not familiar at all with Guilds other than I've heard the name... but man, that Guild seems to do all these music styles REALLY well and to me, is the overall winner.
I LOVE the Casino. It sounds like an old friend. But the Guild sounds like an old friend that you just discovered has super powers.
I used to own a Guild Starfire 111 (purchased in 1966) similar to this one - but with DeArmond pickups - great Rock a Billy guitar. I'm sorry I ever let it go! I still have my 1962 Gibson ES335TD - (purchased new in 1963) - the best playing guitar I have ever owned! I think the Gretsch pickups are the best sounding in this clip - twangy but full!
What a nice chap.
楽しい動画。
全部欲しい！
See what he means about that Guild!! Great vid.
Always just personal preference, but I prefer the Starfire :) Thanks for doing this. Hard to get back to back comparo's from other sources.
God I love all the four of them. This is the video I was looking for. They are all in my wish list except the 335 as I already have one. 😀
Thanks for this awesome video
Thank you for the kind comment Juan Pablo.
Right on!
I listened to this in stereo with a nice setup. From where I’m sitting it’s the Guild and the Gretsch for the W. The 335 sounds great with hi gain but I’m not a player who would benefit from that too much. Funny how I thought I would favor the Gibson but gotta trust my ears at the end of the day....thanks for this comparison!
Awesome video brotha. All sound amazing. Similar but with a twist. If that makes sense.
wow, beautiful guitars. Love the looks of that Guild, that Gibson is the best sounding out of the bunch IMO, with Guild 2nd
As a Grestch owner I'm generally biased, but that 335 is a cut above here. 👌 Gibson are starting to get things right again. The Marcus King 335 looks 🔥.
P.s. I loved how you played help!
They all sound great. Remember... Each guitar has a distinctive sound that you want to achieve. Doesn't matter who makes it. It matters how it sounds. The more guitars you own, the more sounds you achieve.
I really like what you did. I hear what you're talking about. This was great. Thanks, man.
Thank you for the kind words Robert. It's a treat to listen to Phil talk about (and play) guitars.
Nice collection you have I have eight guitars all made left handed my recent guitar bought from Amazon gretsch streamliner I love it so easy to play great action my other guitar before the gretsch was a LYX telecaster from Amazon only 109 dollars that price I couldn't believe it great guitar maple finished neck even a vintage telecaster bridge
I'm a local retired singer guitarist from New York now live in Florida I did alot of gigs over 48 years
I have in my collection Epiphone 50 s Les Paul fender squire SX stratocaster etc big body agile cool cat jazz guitar
To my untrained ears, they all sound great.
Gretsch has more characteristic and compact sound in the mids. I like it.
The Guild was a pleasure for my ear as well as the Gretch.
Gretsch is amazing
The best performance help songs- post Beatles era
Holy fuck. I was in love with the Casino some years ago (with Glary's epi model) but this video made me fall in love with it even more. Not to mention that gretsch tone.
They all sounded good and each has it's own voice. I think it comes down to the Guild and Gretsch to my ears. Of the two, I think the Gretsch sounds a bit better.
To me ,my 2 favorites that he has were the Grestch and the casino.I love the looks of both of them even though i know the gibson i really nice and epensive.