20 Best Semi Hollow Electric Guitars (Jan 2023 Update)

As with most people, I'm hesitant to buy guitars sight unseen through the mail. But with the current state of the world, that's becoming more and more the norm. Luckily the guitar arrived in absolutely perfect condition and set up nicely. The Red is really deep and rich. I know it's cliche, but the pictures really don't do it justice. I've been on a quest all these years for a guitar with a neck that properly fits my small hands and extremely short thumbs (nearly impossible to roll my thumb over the top of the neck ala Hendrix). I was torn between the Sheraton and the Casino, but decided on the Sheraton. When the next 48 month 0% promotion rolls around I may get the Casino as well. The tone of the Sheraton is very surprising for this price range. I also own a Clapton Strat (almost 3 times the price), and I absolutely enjoy the sound of the Sheraton more, as hard as that might be to believe. Obviously that is subjective. However, the place the Sheraton really shines for me is the neck! It fits my hands better than any other guitar I've ever played. Rolling my thumb over the top still isn't an easy proposition, but at least it's in reach (no pun intended), and with some practice I'll eventually get there. On the Strat it was impossible. I mainly play on the neck pickup, and it has a nice creamy, warm sound combined with my Blues Deluxe Reissue. I've never owned a 335 type guitar, as I always thought they were for jazz, but this guitar is very versatile. It's still a crapshoot with ordering through the mail, but I highly recommend the Sheraton if you (like me) can't afford a Gibson.Patrick B

Overall: Ive had this guitar a little over 24 hours now and cant put it down!! I got the blemished wine red model and the only blemish it had was a smidge of paint got on the binding where it meets the neck, i mean you had to really look close to see it and zZounds being the grandslam hitters that they are knocked 100 bucks off the price!!!I recieved it in a 1 1/2 days ( doesnt get any faster than that) and straight out of the box the action was perfect the intonation was spot on! The D string was maybe a cent out of tune. The guitar in wine red with the gold hardware is visually stunning, build quality you ask? Its built like a tank from the grover tuners, bone nut, loctone bridge and tail piece with a 3 way toggle you can litterally abuse and the probuckers sound amaZzing in full humbucker and coil split. This is a 1,000 + quitar with an intermediate price tag! Got to take a minute to shout out to the guys and gals at zZounds this is the third guitar that ive bought from them and they just keep knockin it out of the park!!! I will never shop for a guitar any where else you guys are first ballad hall of famers all the way!!! If your sick of the used car salesman approach and being followed around the lot, zZounds is the answer, they are the most professional ive ever dealt with period. Whem the extura prophesy in purple burst gets in stock, put one back for me, that is my next purchaseTommy

I can't believe how great this guitar is. First, the size. It's really big, but it plays small– not the sound –the feel. Another way to put it is that the Sheraton dwarfs my tele, but once I strap it on, it somehow plays smaller than the tele. It's surreal. Fit and finish were spectacular on my guitar. I understand that's going to be variable from instrument to instrument, but I got lucky. Not even a little natural fret sprout on mine. When I unboxed it, I was shocked at the quality of the craftsmanship. "Done up" indeed. The sound is glorious. These pickups are for real. There are lots of excellent sounds on tap from beautiful hollow body tone through a Princeton reverb to burning 70's rock through an OR15. I didn't expect it to have the versatility that it truly does. Jazz, blues, country, rock, and hard rock are all a few knob twists away. I own a few Epiphones and my Sheraton by far the best. If you want this guitar, don't be shy. But see if you can play one before you buy it, or if you buy it sight unseen, be prepared to return it if you get shipped one of the lemons that have been described in enough reviews to believe.Mike,R

Set up to perfection.. plays like a dream…. Sound and feel is perfect for 60s jangle, but then softens beautifully for those early 70s proggy sounds that I don’t normally own up to . Bought at the same time as my Furch. Red… I have spoken of the first class service that I received in more detail in that review, and I shall spare you a repeat, as I am usually a curmudgeonly old bu**er, and it’s not normally in my nature to speak so highly and warmly of someone twice in one day!!!😃😃😃😃😃Martin K.

Yes, the tonal range is great, especially the piezo pickup, nicely playable and overall looks and finish seem perfect. But, with nicely contoured access to the high notes let down by the overly large neck heal which starts a fret or two earlier than my other electric guitars. Another annoyance is the very cheap knobs which don't sit straight on the pots. I have a guitar costing a tenth of the price with better fitting knobs. The battery compartment is a bad joke of a design, as the battery holder comes out with the wires attached, you then have to prise up the battery from its contacts and the lever it out for replacement. Overall these are minor annoyances on what is a great guitar but, at this price I expected better. Oh yes, it came with a hard case. Which doesn't fit properly and with no tags or brand markings so who knows what it was made for. It did come with two loose bits of foam, one which was floating around unsure of its purpose.Kevin L.

I received the Black Gold Burst version about a week ago. It's a BEAUTIFUL guitar. The pictures don't do it justice. The f-holes really add to the appearance. Fender ALSO makes a hollowbody guitar, but they went the round sound hole direction, which, IMHO, is hokey looking. The sound is INCREDIBLE! I have 4 other electric guitars, including a Fender American Standard Strat, Gibson Les Paul, Gibson SG and an Ibanez Prestige- They are ALL wonderful guitars, and each has its own personality, in how they play AND how they sound. THIS guitar has a sound that TRANSCENDS ALL of my other guitars. There are a number of videos on YouTube. BUT, as with the appearance, they simply DO NOT do it justice. The humbucker pickups ALONE produce a sound that is CLEAR and RESONANT. Adding the sound from the piezo pickup sends it over the top! ABSOLUTELY MARVELOUS. I was a little reluctant to purchase a guitar made in China. However, the CONSTRUCTION and FINISH are PERFECT! PLUS, the cost is WAAAY less than the equivalent US-made version. I hope I've given you the idea that this is a SPECIAL guitar, BECAUSE IT IS!Kevin

I went to guitar center with 1k cash to buy a guitar as a tribute to my recently passed grandmother who always loved hearing me play. I went in planning on playing everything until something spoke to me. I played some guilds and X series martins and also This PRS. I ended up walking back to look at the amps again but the way that PRS felt and sounded was sticking with me. After a couple hours or trying nearly everything in the store I asked if I could have the employee unlock some of the American Taylors and martins from the top shelf. Im a huge Taylor fan but while I waited I played the PRS cause it wasn't locked. I put the PRS down and when I played the 2000$ Taylor it didn't feel or sound as good as the PRS. By the end of my multiple hour stay at guitar center, that PRS haunted me in the exact way I went in there hoping for, and it's the best acoustic i've ever played, even though its from china. The blue wasn't my favorite at first but by the time I bought it, it had already grown on me to the point that I wouldn't have it any other way. Seriously, don't buy online, go in to a store that has the on display and play it. If it speaks to you, buy the one that you played. Don't have the get a new in box one cause it may not have that magic.Nasty Nate

It's an Ibanez. I am a long time Ibanez fan. Even when they started the Artcore series. I own for PRS CU24's; American Fender Strat Deluxe and Tele; Les Paul elegant and Explorer. Except when I'm playing with our group I'm usually on one of my Ibanez. If they are lower end units like this I expect to change the electronics, nut and tuners. I did the tuners and had planned on installing Seth Lovers. Mean while I put some A4 magnets in the pickups and… NO SETH LOVERS! I love the tone, the responsiveness/sensitivity. See can be smooth as silk with the volume back or nice and crunchy @ 10. Pinch harmonics reach out and grab you in a nice way. Other than the tuning pegs, nut and strap locks she'll stay this way for at least a while. I got her for the color (I'm not into green guitars or fade finishes but she caught my eye for some reason) and what a friend "the Pickle" has become.Mondron

This is an extremely nice guitar, especially for the price. Great action, set-up, and play-ability straight out the box. Humbucker pickups are nice and warm, giving a nice "dark" tone to the guitar (strong bass and mid-tones) to my ears. Good variation of range of tone from the bridge and neck pickups and so is quite versatile. Lovely overtones/ harmonics going through a Blues Driver into an Orange Micro Terror — you can rock with this! — and the guitar combined well with a Roland Jazz Chorus 22 cancelling out some of the brightness of this amp. Quality of components and finish is very good. It's also a light guitar in terms of weight, so it's a practical instrument to play on stage, especially if you have a long gig — and are starting to get on a bit, like me. Of course, it's green, which might put people off, I guess… Then again, it's very eye catching and people won't miss it on stage! In summary, a great guitar at a great price that provides a different blues or jazz tone in addition to your other instruments.Damian F.

The cool factor on this guitar is a solid 10. So many "quirky" things – the double pickguard, poly on the fingerboard, soviet-era rocket hardware…. This is my third Rick (two basses) and the workmanship on the frets/setup is second to none. But…it did take me three tries at the 330 to get an instrument that did not have unacceptable finish flaws. The first had "orange peel" along the edge of the body and headstock. I used to work for a major US guitar manufacturer, and I recognize that a right angle edge is difficult to finish, but for this price, a good finish is to be expected. #2 looked like whoever painted the inside of the f-hole black, was in a hurry and got paint on the top and then it was cleared over. Touch it up, THEN send it out. The third one had some finish bubbles on the headstock, but after three tries, sometimes better is the enemy of good and I kept it. When they get the finish applied properly – it is stunning. The Fireglow is much better than in pictures and draws you in and "moves".Reviewinbacker

This guitar is not only gorgeous to look at, it sounds and plays like no other. I've been coveting this particular model & finish (360 Fireglo) for years, as they are hard to find — and worth the wait & money – no question. If you are new to Rickenbacker, they have a very unique feel that is both responsive and… WARNING, it makes it extremely hard to put down. The pick ups have a unique sound, superb range and versatility. You can add any effect to that and they just deliver out-of-this world tones. The little fifth "blend" knob is a great tool to balance your pick up sound. The more I play with this, the more stuff I discover. You can do rhythm or lead on ANY style, with 2 full octaves fretboard and easy reach to the highest frets, you can see why so many savvy guitarist have at least one of these beauties in their collection. BTW, this guitar comes with 2 cable jacks. The Rick "O" Sound (the hole for the cable on the bottom) will only work with a stereo cable when connected to two different inputs (amps/mixer). If you connect a regular cable to the Rick"O"Sound your neck pick up will not sound, it is not broken, it is because each pick up goes to a separate speaker with that mode (and it sounds like a fantastic beast). If you use the top guitar hole "standard" you will be good to go, because it still sounds amazing. Just don't connect cables to both holes simultaneously. The guitar came perfectly set up from the factory, the intonation, action and any calibration was spot on. Once I tuned it, it was close to impossible to put down. This is definitely an investment that passes down the generations as "inheritance." If you are interested in one of these beautiful guitars, please don't cheat yourself getting a "counterfeit" instrument. Even if you have to save for a while longer, it will be worth every cent and waiting minute. The pictures do not make them any justice. I am saving already for my next Rick (I'll do the 330 jetglo next).BeeZee

I own a Rickenbacker 330 in MapleGlo, which I purchased new in 2004. As I started to get into home studio recording, I went shopping for a Rickenbacker guitar, and literally bought the first one that I found, which, at the time, was probably the only one in town. I tweaked the set-up when I first got it, and it has only gotten better since, with almost zero maintenance, aside from string changes. It really is a great guitar, that sings wonderfully before even plugging it in, with a full chime, and smooth, blooming notes. I have long been a fan of Peter Buck from R.E.M., which was my original impetus for getting a Rickenbacker guitar, but once I got mine, it quickly worked its way into my own world of music and sound. I use D'Addario EXL115W strings on mine, with a wound G, which helps me play perfectly in tune, up and down the length of the fretboard. For jangle and chime, I tend to favor the middle pick-up position, with the 5th knob turned all the way to the neck pick-up, i.e., counter-clockwise, and the two tone knobs at the half-way point. The 330 does appear to have a slightly larger body than the 360, which I think lends itself to a fuller chime, although the 360 may rock a little better … I would say decide for yourself, if that is possible. In any case, I definitely and whole-heartedly recommend a Rickenbacker 330 in your favorite color. It is, in my estimation, the best rhythm guitar money can buy, made by a company which exhibits impeccable artistry and craftsmanship. Every Ric is exquisite, and the 330 is right up there with the very best of them.Steve

The looks are good for stage (the audience doesn't look too closely at the f-holes), but I wouldn't frame the thing and hang it on the wall. But, that's not what it's for. I bought this because I am an ordinary mortal who cannot afford a Gibson 335. This eases my 335 lust quite handily. The neck intonation is precise, my guitar came set up ideally, it has a great palette of tones. Unlike a Gibson, it has only one volume and one tone control, so one accesses that palette of tone differently. A plus- I can do volume-pot roll-ons more easily than with a 4-knob setup. It stays in tune, and is happiest when playing with a good tube amp set just at breakup – it cleans up with the volume knob, fills its jockstrap when you crank it back up, and use a good overdrive pedal to take it over the top for leads. Epiphones seem to be, in my experience, some of the best-built Chinese guitars. Good tone, good playability and tuning stability, It's the first of my guitars that I grab when headed for a blues gig.the old bald guy

I love the Dot, but I am disappointed in the quality control. I purchased a jet black Dot and I could tell right off the bat that there were problems. The first clue was a scratchy pickup selector switch. The guitar is set up un-neccessarily high. Fortunately it is very easy to adjust the action height on this model. The biggest disappointment is the second day I went to pickup the guitar and cracks had started to develop on the neck! This one when directly back to MF and they seem to have been very helpful. This time around I chose the natural finish, because I want to see the neck wood and determine if I have a finish issue or a genuine structural issue. The Dot I sent back didn't seem to have a structural issue, but the finish at a minimum was below par. The second guitar I received seems to work really well and has consistent tone.Fred

The Epiphone Dot is a major bargain, especially when compared to the USA-made Gibson 335. It has outstanding tone right out of the box. Being a tone fanatic, I replaced the bridge with a Tonepros TPFG bridge with nylon saddles, pickups were replaced by Throbak SLE-101 humbuckers, and the tuners were replaced with Kluson Revolution locking tuners. Now it is an awesome tone monster, still for way less than you would pay for the Gibson 335. Players should be aware that the body is significantly larger than a Strat or a Les Paul — but that's what happens when semi-hollow resonance is what you're after. The center block design is very effective at eliminating unwanted feedback from your amp. Don't think you have to modify it to make it sing, like I said before, it packs a wallop even in stock form. What I do strongly recommend is to have a professional guitar tech or luthier give the guitar a pro setup, complete with truss bar adjustment and saddle adjustment.stonnman

The cool factor on this guitar is a solid 10. So many "quirky" things – the double pickguard, poly on the fingerboard, soviet-era rocket hardware…. This is my third Rick (two basses) and the workmanship on the frets/setup is second to none. But…it did take me three tries at the 330 to get an instrument that did not have unacceptable finish flaws. The first had "orange peel" along the edge of the body and headstock. I used to work for a major US guitar manufacturer, and I recognize that a right angle edge is difficult to finish, but for this price, a good finish is to be expected. #2 looked like whoever painted the inside of the f-hole black, was in a hurry and got paint on the top and then it was cleared over. Touch it up, THEN send it out. The third one had some finish bubbles on the headstock, but after three tries, sometimes better is the enemy of good and I kept it. When they get the finish applied properly – it is stunning. The Fireglow is much better than in pictures and draws you in and "moves".Reviewinbacker

This guitar is not only gorgeous to look at, it sounds and plays like no other. I've been coveting this particular model & finish (360 Fireglo) for years, as they are hard to find — and worth the wait & money – no question. If you are new to Rickenbacker, they have a very unique feel that is both responsive and… WARNING, it makes it extremely hard to put down. The pick ups have a unique sound, superb range and versatility. You can add any effect to that and they just deliver out-of-this world tones. The little fifth "blend" knob is a great tool to balance your pick up sound. The more I play with this, the more stuff I discover. You can do rhythm or lead on ANY style, with 2 full octaves fretboard and easy reach to the highest frets, you can see why so many savvy guitarist have at least one of these beauties in their collection. BTW, this guitar comes with 2 cable jacks. The Rick "O" Sound (the hole for the cable on the bottom) will only work with a stereo cable when connected to two different inputs (amps/mixer). If you connect a regular cable to the Rick"O"Sound your neck pick up will not sound, it is not broken, it is because each pick up goes to a separate speaker with that mode (and it sounds like a fantastic beast). If you use the top guitar hole "standard" you will be good to go, because it still sounds amazing. Just don't connect cables to both holes simultaneously. The guitar came perfectly set up from the factory, the intonation, action and any calibration was spot on. Once I tuned it, it was close to impossible to put down. This is definitely an investment that passes down the generations as "inheritance." If you are interested in one of these beautiful guitars, please don't cheat yourself getting a "counterfeit" instrument. Even if you have to save for a while longer, it will be worth every cent and waiting minute. The pictures do not make them any justice. I am saving already for my next Rick (I'll do the 330 jetglo next).BeeZee

I own a Rickenbacker 330 in MapleGlo, which I purchased new in 2004. As I started to get into home studio recording, I went shopping for a Rickenbacker guitar, and literally bought the first one that I found, which, at the time, was probably the only one in town. I tweaked the set-up when I first got it, and it has only gotten better since, with almost zero maintenance, aside from string changes. It really is a great guitar, that sings wonderfully before even plugging it in, with a full chime, and smooth, blooming notes. I have long been a fan of Peter Buck from R.E.M., which was my original impetus for getting a Rickenbacker guitar, but once I got mine, it quickly worked its way into my own world of music and sound. I use D'Addario EXL115W strings on mine, with a wound G, which helps me play perfectly in tune, up and down the length of the fretboard. For jangle and chime, I tend to favor the middle pick-up position, with the 5th knob turned all the way to the neck pick-up, i.e., counter-clockwise, and the two tone knobs at the half-way point. The 330 does appear to have a slightly larger body than the 360, which I think lends itself to a fuller chime, although the 360 may rock a little better … I would say decide for yourself, if that is possible. In any case, I definitely and whole-heartedly recommend a Rickenbacker 330 in your favorite color. It is, in my estimation, the best rhythm guitar money can buy, made by a company which exhibits impeccable artistry and craftsmanship. Every Ric is exquisite, and the 330 is right up there with the very best of them.Steve

I sat down tried all of the Ibanez, D'Angelico, Epi, and Gretsch's from $400-1k and walked out with this one. If buying online please read… The frets are not medium jumbo… more like vintage medium, they are thinner and shorter than a typical medium jumbo. Also the neck profile in the hand is a tad thicker than an Epi 335 and also a bit narrower… closer to my LP with a 50's neck… which for my hand was perfect and why I chose this over the Epi's/D'Angelico's. I will say all of the Streamliner Gretsch's in the store played well. You can tell the guitars were set up nicely prior to shipping and came out of the box that way. I was able to grab a new in box from the back of the store and the setup was great. No fretwork needed at all… which is something I RARELY see in the sub 1k price point. Tuners are die-cast nickle but they are smooth as can be and do not feel the need to change. Pickups sound good to me as well. The neck is very Jazzy and soft and the bridge has some bite but in the upper-mids, not ice-picky, and cuts well. Because they are standard humbucker size, replacement options are plenty. In order to make this guitar stay in tune with the Bigsby, you'll need to work that spring in a little and do some work and lubing the saddles and nut. Not a knock, just a warning if this is your first Bigsby bridged guitar. All in all a great playing guitar with a good size and comfortable neck with room to grow/upgrade if you feel the need. I was looking for a semi-hollow with Bigsby preferably to add to the collection, and this fit the bill perfectly. Plenty of that Gretsch vibe and at no point does it look like nor do I feel like I am playing a cheap guitar… Which is what ultimately drove me away from the Ibanez's in this price point.JJ in SC

Guitar came set up great for my playing feel. The neck shape feels really comfortable for my hand, with great playability up and down the neck. I typically practice at home on the couch with no amp, and the acoustic sound is great, and quiet enough to not bother my wife. I have been a Strat player for a long time, and wanted a guitar with a different sound for some of the different bands I play with. This guitar does a good job of taking me out of my "comfort" zone. I typically play pretty hard with a heavy pick for solos, and thus can break strings more than I would like. That being said, this is not a good guitar to have a string break on , as changing a string on a gig with this Bigsby is quite a challenge to do quickly . I always have a spare guitar with me for this reason. All in all this is a great affordable guitar!ridinrog

This is my first guitar that isn't a bass. I chose it for the playability and kept it for the sound. The neck, fretwork, binding and finish beat expectations. Tuners, pots and the switch are ok but the jack spits out the plug on occasion. The neck pickup seems to dominate as initially set up. Slight neck-dive solved with a rawhide strap. Bottom line: it hits above its weight.John

It's an Ibanez. I am a long time Ibanez fan. Even when they started the Artcore series. I own for PRS CU24's; American Fender Strat Deluxe and Tele; Les Paul elegant and Explorer. Except when I'm playing with our group I'm usually on one of my Ibanez. If they are lower end units like this I expect to change the electronics, nut and tuners. I did the tuners and had planned on installing Seth Lovers. Mean while I put some A4 magnets in the pickups and… NO SETH LOVERS! I love the tone, the responsiveness/sensitivity. See can be smooth as silk with the volume back or nice and crunchy @ 10. Pinch harmonics reach out and grab you in a nice way. Other than the tuning pegs, nut and strap locks she'll stay this way for at least a while. I got her for the color (I'm not into green guitars or fade finishes but she caught my eye for some reason) and what a friend "the Pickle" has become.Mondron

This is an extremely nice guitar, especially for the price. Great action, set-up, and play-ability straight out the box. Humbucker pickups are nice and warm, giving a nice "dark" tone to the guitar (strong bass and mid-tones) to my ears. Good variation of range of tone from the bridge and neck pickups and so is quite versatile. Lovely overtones/ harmonics going through a Blues Driver into an Orange Micro Terror — you can rock with this! — and the guitar combined well with a Roland Jazz Chorus 22 cancelling out some of the brightness of this amp. Quality of components and finish is very good. It's also a light guitar in terms of weight, so it's a practical instrument to play on stage, especially if you have a long gig — and are starting to get on a bit, like me. Of course, it's green, which might put people off, I guess… Then again, it's very eye catching and people won't miss it on stage! In summary, a great guitar at a great price that provides a different blues or jazz tone in addition to your other instruments.Damian F.

At the base price, I was wondering how well made this would be but I wanted the white/ivory color so I bought it and I am glad I did. I had a guitar that cost a lot more and since I generally only keep one guitar (I am not a hoarder) I wanted to see which I liked better. Of the two, this one was easier for me to play. I like the big hollow-body feel and sound as well. The pickups would be the cheapest part but they are more than passable (though sound is personal and pickups can be changed). The guitar has a lot of heft (weight) to it in, what I consider, a good way. The neck is thicker than what I expected from Ibanez, although it is a hollow-body and not one of their metal guitars. Personally, I will change out the strings for Elixirs, the tuners for locking tuners, and put a Duesenberg tremolo (vibrato) on it (and maybe a roller bridge)(All personal preferences). But even now it is a great guitar to play. I did buy the Ibanez AS100C case for it here on MF (see comment there on the case). This is a great guitar and if anything happened to it I would buy another. It may sound expected in a commentary like this but I would say this is the best guitar I ever owned and I have owned all the brand names. That said, to each their own.BrazilBill

I'm a beginner so I can't say for sure what a super high quality guitar feels like, but I have definitely felt some cheap ones and this does not feel like those. Everything seems to be put together nicely. The action seems pretty good out of the box, and it doesn't seem to have any problems staying in tune after breaking in your strings. Personally, I'm not sure if I would get this rose gold color again. It looks nice, and matches the hardware very well, but to me something about the satin finish makes it feel cheaper than it is. Maybe if the neck was exposed wood instead of painted over I would feel differently, but I'm not sure. It is still a very nice looking guitar and anyone would be happy to own it.Nicolas

I love this guitar. The looks, the feel, the sound. Very playable. Really nice sounding pickups. Advertised as having Ibanez's high end Super 58s and I believe it. The pickups sound good full bore or dialed back. Subtle tone shadings with the tone controls. A lot of variety on tap. The neck profile is just a little thicker than I expected, compared to the Epiphones I'd been playing. Took about five minutes to get used to the feel. I like the slightly smaller body size. And it's beautiful to look at. The color, wood grain, and binding are all eye catching but classy.mg

Overall: First, condition on arrival. Not well packed, but no damage. Covered with what looked like sawdust, but wiped off easily. It required a truss rod adjustment, and had oxidation on all frets. Strings were not fresh. Came with Allen wrench and booklet. Corrective action. The guitar truss rod cover slides open so you don’t have to remove it. I had take out relief. I took it from 2.7 mm to 2 mm, and the action was then nice with no buzz. That’s a sign it was constructed properly. Removing the strings was easy with the tailpiece, and I now think all brands should do it that way. Cleaned guitar, polished frets lightly with 0000 steel wool, moisturized the fretboard. When I got it tuned up, it then played great. I debated about a semi hollow, I looked at all the models available on zZounds, and in this price range, I don’t think you can go wrong if it is not defective. So if it is built well, and just needs a quick tweak, doesn’t require professional help, it will be good. This model is light but solid. Features. The electronics all work smoothly and are tight, nice taper to the pots, and it is dead silent. The body is a great size, not as big as the 335 style. Has a lot of open ring and sustain. The neck reminds me of my D-28, but is not quite that size, it feels great. Substantial but quick enough. The frets polished up with little effort, and the fret ends are right, so I don’t feel them. The tuners seemed cheap at first, but they actually are functioning correctly. Solid and it is staying in tune. The intonation is really so close that I can’t hear anything needing adjustment. It’s staying in tune and playing in tune. Sounds. I honestly don’t know where they should be as far as height, so I played, and I just raised them 1 turn. Perfect, and it plays with different pickup selections with consistent volume. The pickups are warm, but articulate and respond to dynamics well. They are not the same as PAFs. But I didn’t want those, I wanted to have them start with mellower tones, and they do, but then I can brighten things up with the bridge, or more with the eq on my amp and pedals. I love the sound of them. I have a Mustang GT 40, and a Princeton RRI. The 65 twin model, and several tones through the tube amp have been a lot better than I expected. The highest gain so far was a Dirty Little Secret into the Princeton, medium, and it’s great. I can tell that I can go up to say, Duane Allman cooking slide tones easily, but slip back to B.B. and then George Benson and that is the range I was hoping for. Whether quiet and warm clean up to a maximum of ABB, with a semi hollow tone character, this attractive comfortable guitar is just great and I think it’s a good value. I think you would be better off than with say an Epiphone 335, but it’s not exactly the same sound, but this seems like the quality is a bit above to. The depth of the body is a touch thinner but it really rings when strummed. I am really pleased that I could adjust it easily, that it is staying in tune properly, and that it has a nice nice voice with a little versatility. I am very happy with the feel and sound, and I can’t think of one thing I wish was better.Jason

Looks are stunning. Sound is great. Pups have high output despite "medium" description. Rocks with all genres of music (Jazz to metal). Love that I can use my clean channel for both sparkle and overdrive just by turning up the vol. The 3 position switches for coil tapping aren't really necessary, but you can "kind-of" sound like a single coil Pup. Dont buy this if you want to sound like a strat style coil. This guitar can give a Les Paul studio are run for its money.Gerry

I thought getting back into professional music would be easy, no problem-BUUUUUT what I didn't take into account was all those years of abuse to my hands (in workshops all my life) took a toll. The love I have for acoustic guitars has given way to the love I now have for my new T5z. Talk about easy to play! It is more electric than acoustic, of course, but I play it all the time and am now taking a "commercial guitar" course and loving it. Without amplification, it's the best practice tool EVER! (Mine is the spruce top version) Through an amp it has more sounds and tones than can be imagined. It eventually will be replacing my acoustics for both five piece country band and twin guitars duo. I will be playing it through a Bose L-1 and Fender Blues Jr. They both sound great carrying this guitar-I'm the only thing holding it back-but that's changing. The quality, beauty, fit and finish from Taylor couldn't be better. My hands thank me every day for trading my HD28 for this inspiring T5z! I still have a lot to learn, but the T5z Standard is taking me where I want to go. Love it!!SuperJeff

FIRST AND FOREMOST: I'm just starting to play it, but my first impressions are very positive. THAT SAID: It's very flexible and interesting as an electric depending on how it's switched, and warm but crisp as an acoustic. It has a great neck and quick action, and the look-and-feel are beautiful and solid. The mahogany top is gorgeous. ALTHOUGH: It's a little light … I wish it had a bit more heft. AND: Those Taylor gig bags aren't impressive. It's not a cheap instrument and should include a hard case. IN BRIEF: Unplugged, it delivers a lovely acoustic sound; plugged in and pushed, it can certainly get wiry and crunchy. I think it's an excellent guitar and I'm delighted to own – and play – it.RICHARD

#5)Ease of use. I bought this guitar 5 months ago. After becoming blind with all of its "psychological warfare", having the jumbo frets, the spacing of the strings and the thinness of the neck has made playing guitar much easier. I like the placement of the controls. The navigation process like playing a rhythm acoustic switching to an electric lead can become quite seamless. #4) Say goodbye to cumbersome, clumsy, awkward and sore shoulders. The size and weight of this guitar is fantastic. #3) The Sound. Unplugged it's amazing, plugged in it's magical. The versatility of sound on this is unmatched. #2) Synergistic! When you combine all of the qualities mentioned, it's a no-brainer for a guitar that can do it all. #1) It's a Taylor! Couple this with a great company like AMS. #1 This was a very easy transaction from beginning to end. They have a knowledgeable staff in both sales and customer service. (Dan sent me 3 different pictures so the people with me could describe the guitar. Thank You Dan!). #2. The financing and the automatic payment plan was quick and easy. #3. The quality of the AMS company and staff exceeds all expectations before, during and after each transaction. I enjoy doing business with AMS. Thank you.Candice

Overall: The Epiphone Broadway is a well-appointed instrument that would be a bargain at twice the price. I've been playing guitar for almost 30 years and I've owned many guitars that cost five times more than the Broadway. I am pleasantly surprised – shocked, even – than an instrument THIS good is available at such a reasonable price point.Aesthetically, the Broadway is gorgeous out of the box. The vintage natural polyurethane finish is glossy and durable, though lacks the traditional charm of nitrocellulose. A heavy poly coat prevents the Broadway's hollow body from resonating optimally, though this is likely only an issue for very, very picky aficionados. The headstock inlay and Art Deco fingerboard inlays are beautiful and precisely installed. Tonally, the Broadway is responds extremely well to heavier flatwound strings. Simple truss rod, saddle, and bridge adjustments are all that's needed to accommodate flatwounds. Even with heavy strings (12+) the Broadway's action stays low and playable, with no fret buzz. Chords ring cleanly and single-note runs are articulate – both acoustically and when plugged in. Grover tuners are accurate and reliable, and the fret dressing is impeccable from the factory. The slim-taper 60s neck is substantive yet never unwieldy, though I'm accustomed to playing large necks on Les Pauls and 335s. Jumping from a Telecaster to a Broadway may feel like work for beginners.The stock pickups are good, though not as articulate as USA-made PAF replicas. The bridge pickup is understandably thin – but who uses a giant jazz guitar with the bridge pickup? The neck pup provides warm, round tones that respond incredibly well to variances in pick attack. Too dark? Use an acrylic pick. Too bright? Lean toward casein, acetate, or wood picks. Overall, I am thrilled with Epiphone's recent quality control improvements and couldn't be happier with my Broadway. It's not an acoustic archtop: don't expect it to be one. Though if you're looking for an affordable way to dip your toes into Wes Montgomery, Joe Pass, Jim Hall, or Grant Green style tones, the Broadway will get you much of the way there with cash to spare.Aaron

This is probably one of the best sounding guitars for jazz ever made. I own an L5 and this thing is right up there with it. I usually play the Broadway more because I like the neck better than the L5. It has a sound second to none and will not disappoint any jazz aficionado. I own two of these guitars. One I customized and replaced the pickups and the other is stock. Buy one and see for yourself. It's a guitar you won't want to put down.mwpv11

Overall: I have been anticipating the arrival of the Vintage Natural finish on this guitar for several months. The cosmetic choice was simply to have a different look than another guitar I already own. When it launched, there were few photos to get a good picture of the oversll look and construction. Then, a couple of weeks ago, zZounds loaded the set of pics I was waiting to see. I was skeptical. The guitar looks okay in the photos. I was sitting on the fence. There are a few different L-5’s I’m leaning toward but want to make sure before dropping that kind of coin. I noticed in the rear headstock shot the Made in China sticker. I was gonna let it go and move on. And, almost did. I recently picked up a Wine Red Joe Pass Emperor II Pro from zZounds (Made in Indonesia) and was thoroughly impressed. I love it! I’ve been playing it almost as much as the tried and true that I’m used to playing. So, I thought, ahh what the heck, why not?I ordered the Broadway on a Saturday night and it arrived Tuesday morning. I was pleased… I tried to stay calm and give it a chance. I cleaned the factory newness off with a finish cloth and tuned ‘er up and slowly started to get the feel for my new family member. What the hell, who am I kidding. For the price it is a great buy!I am sorry for having been a snob about Chinese guitars. This one got me. The fit and finish is on a par with some American models in the same and slightly higher price range. But, more importantly, the design is a classic archtop acoustic electric that is carried off to near pefection in this model. I do own an L-5 and it would be unfair to compare the two head to head. But, that’s not the point. The point is playability and joy. This guitar is an absolute joy. It has a voice all its own and the action is so light. I played her for about 4 hours on the first sitting. I wiped her down and put her on her new stand in the family. I came back to the zZounds website to see what I missed.. why didn’t I see the beauty of this guitar. I started reading the specs, all over again… I don’t know how many times I read them before ordering. And then, I crossed the reviews and saw there were none. I’m not big on expreesing my opinion on instruments. Each has it’s own personality and value and, as the old saying goes, “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder”.I felt compelled to write this review, not only as praise of this instrument but, to admit how wrong I was with a pre-conceived notion that a guitar made in China would somehow be inferior… Boy, I was wrong!And, I am grateful to admit it.Gary

For many years I was looking for one, after the AEX 1500, Studio Lord (open book), TRB 5 Bass I already have, next to the other famous brand guitars (ES and Kalamazoo), and now she's there. A logical and highly welcome addition: great to look at, great to play. A bit smaller than the ES I have, as heavy, but this size is wonderfully comfortable. Hardly any guitar plays as smooth and easy. Great tone reach: from warm, traditional jazz, to fusion (listen to Not Yet of Vinny Valentino!) to blues with the crunchy little edge around the warmth of the humbuckers. Octaves like Wes float out, single note runs like any known jazz cat. All in all, this SA 2200 has everything! Super craftmanschip, beautiful looks.sg2000

This is over all a wonderful example of a ES335 copy. Fit and finish is easily as good as any Gibson I've ever owned, however. The plating on the bridge and pickup is horrible. I have guitars costing much less that the 'gold' plating still looks great on. Only a few months into ownership, the guitar looked like it had a disease. I contacted Guitar Center and Yamaha and they both told me 'tough luck'. It is clearly a flaw in the plating process, but neither the manufacturer or retailer are willing to do anything about it. I therefore don't gig with it. I'll be darned if I want to promote a product that looks this bad and has no support.Greg D

Bought this a couple of months back, and it's the first Yamaha guitar that i've owned. I have to say the quality of workmanship and finish are very good, apart from the fretwork, which was disappointing. All of the frets had sharp ends and were not well polished. The truss-rod required a number of adjustments over the first few weeks, now that the guitar has acclimatized, it's stable – and the ebony fretboard is very smooth. Playability is ok, but sterile. If you're looking at a semi-hollow in the $2k price range, my recommendation would be to look elsewhere.MW

This guitar has a great neck, a hair wider than a typical Gibson, with a low-friction finish, and nice relatively small frets (none of that "jumbo" nonsense). I've got it set up almost dead flat and there's no fret buzz, with monel 13s for strings and the bridge adjusted to give about 2.5mm clearance at the 12 fret (heavy swing strumming). However, the nut was cut too high, so barring at the first fret is tough. I'll get around to that eventually. Some more negatives: 1. The pickup vibrated sympathetically while playing, and emitted some terribly annoying buzzes. I corrected this by removing the pu cover and bedding the guts in felt. This cured the buzz but had the side effect of reducing some acoustic volume and high end. 2. One of the feet of the bridge is not well-contoured to fit the body, so that's another project to tackle. I'll probably replace the whole thing with rosewood. 3. The metal "tone" label fell off the tone knob. I had to reglue it. Still, for the low, low price I paid, I'm quite satisfied.Miles

I walked into a local music store today just to check out the toys. I had no intention to purchase anything. I just like to look. I was forbidden by the family from buying anymore gear. Oops. I started out looking at amps. I could sneak one of those past the family. They only notice new guitars. After I plugged in a few guitars to test out the amps, I notice the Godin 5th Ave Cognac Burst all by itself calling me. It was love at first strum and the amp was not even turned on. Two minutes after I turn the amp on I was headed toward the register. I have been playing for two hours straight now and only took a break to write this review. I will be worth sleeping on the couch for a few weeks.Mr.G the Foster Care Recruiter.

I found myself un-obligated, bored and holding a fist full of cash one Friday afternoon, so I wandered into my local guitar shop. With a new found love of single coil pickups I had been eyeballing the Gretsch and Guild hollow bodies unfortunately too poor to actually buy one. On this afternoon, however, I played the Godin 5th Avenue Kingpin. It was love at first strum. Mine is called Cognac Burst. The satin finish on these instruments is beautiful, and give it a vintage, played look. This guitar has a really nice feel in terms of the neck and the thickness of the body. I have fairly long fingers and the neck is comfortable to play. It feels to me, a bit like the thicker necks on the Les Pauls of the late 50s. When I got the guitar, the shop said they'd dial it in for me for free, but frankly, I have no complaints as it is. With the classic style floating bridge you can drop the action impossibly low before you start to get fret buzz. After I brought mine home, I did just that and it plays like a dream. The frets are finished well and there is a bevel on the edge of the fret board and frets that keep them out of the way if you're in the habit of sliding your hand up and down the neck quickly. The Kingpin has a warm mellow tone when unplugged that is perfect for playing jazz and blues. I also enjoy the lower volume of the guitar since it has f holes when I play later in the evening. Plugged in, the P90 kills and sounds good clean and driven. It also retains that warm, mellow tone when played without distortion. I haven't had any trouble with feedback as I tend to keep the volume a bit lower for small spaces. All in all, this guitar is a great choice and plays as well as my Gibson Les Paul and my buddies Gretsch 51… whateverSlowleadmccey

After months of searching for my next guitar I finally settled on the Ibanez Prestige AZ series. As a lifelong strat player, my goal was to find a guitar that married modern features with classic American Strat-like qualities. The obvious choice might be the modern Suhr series, but the pricing on those was too high for me to even entertain exploring. The Ibanez Prestige AZ2402 is the perfect rendition of the featuree I was looking for and after 3 weeks of playing, I could not be happier with this purchase. I was able to secure the guitar for a few hundred less than new, as it was labelled as "minor blemish" on the AMS site. I immediately jumped on it and am ecstatic that I did so. To this day 3 weeks later, I cannot tell what the "blemish" could be. This thing looks, feels, plays and sounds like a brand new guitar. Out of the box the guitar was set up and only just slightly flat of tune. To meet my preference, some minor adjustments were made to the neck and bridge, but the 20 minutes or so that it took to slap some fresh strings on and make the measurements was well worth it. I have even had to do this on product that was brand new before, so I could not even attribute this to the "minor blemish" label. Th pickups are amazing. The coil switch mechanisms are great for added versatility, but the standard humbuckers are excellent and the guitar should still be considered even if you do not plan to use the switching system. The neck is super creamy and clear as a bell, while the bridge is just hot enough for metal and crystal clear enough to jangle some clean chords. The bridge is very solid with comfortable saddles and screams top quality. Tuning stability has not been any sort of issue, even with the use of the bar. I am not an extreme whammy bar user, but I did do some tests on deep dives and the guitar tuning needed no adjustment afterwards. In fact, since I changed the strings and did the setup on the second day, the guitar has not gone out of tune at all. I will highlight that the neck is way thicker than what I was anticipating, but in a few hours I was right at home with the feel. I have played many wizard necks and it simply was not what I was looking for, being accustomed to chunkier modern strat necks. The AZ neck is big, chunkier than the strat but I am now in love with it and this guitar has become my go to #1. Definitely recommend even at the full new price. This same guitar made in the US with all the exact same appointments would cost in excess of 4K. Great Guitar!Ryan

Sound: The Hyperion pickups do a great job overall and offer up a nice array of different sounds for just about every style of music. When in HH mode it goes from blues to rock and beyond with no problem. When the DynaMix switch is engaged the guitar takes on a completely different characteristic from jangly to warm and has some great tonal options for clean and crunch. I like the versatility of this guitar. It takes a bit of time to get used to all the options and you’ll have to tweak your EQ here and there to avoid them sounding thin or shrill, but I think you'll be able to find quite a few useful tones with this guitar. Features: The Gotoh tuners are sturdy and stable. The ratio is great and they really smooth with no issues at all holding tune. I had never used them before and I had to YouTube how to unlock them lol, but they work great. I prefer locking tuners with the knob on the back, but that's just personal preference. The Gotoh bridge feels spectacular. The titanium saddles are so smooth, no more rubbing your palm raw over rough saddles or screws. I don't use a trem much these days but it does a good job staying in tune even with some dive bombs and flutters. The roasted maple neck is beautiful and has a great smooth feel on the back. The cutaway and contours are very comfortable and the recessed input jack is a thoughtful highlight. And yes, most wireless transmitters will fit. I could not get my Line 6 G10 transmitter to fit in the AZ Premium I had. The Prestige is not as deeply recessed and the transmitter fits just fine. This is my first go around with stainless steel frets but I do like the feel of them and they look good too. Ease of Use: It’s a fairly straightforward guitar to use and maintain. Nothing overly complicated here. Changing strings on a 2 point trem is a breeze compared to Floyd Rose or Edge terms and with the locking tuners you can get through the task in just a few minutes. All the back panels open easily for access to trem springs, input jack, and electronics. The exposed truss rod socket makes adjusting the neck a snap. The included multi-tool is really all you will ever need for quick changes. Quality: This is where everyone will say they have high end made in America PRS, or Custom Shop whatevers and this is just as good or better. They will say that for a good reason because it’s the truth. Fit and finish are spectacular. No gaps or wiggles to be found. Fret work and fingerboard are simply top notch. It feels like it’s been your guitar for years. Electronics are smooth and there is an overall premium feel to this instrument. The hype is real…. FujiGen makes great guitars. Value: Value is a subjective measure. This is an expensive guitar for sure but when compared to similar “modern player” guitars out there the 2402 sits right in the middle price-wise. I feel it’s well within reason for what you get and it’s a good value for your money. I’d rather get a painted body with stainless steel frets than a bookmatched top and standard frets. Manufacturer Support: Haven't needed it The Wow Factor: In my humble opinion the wow factor is somewhat unseen. The story behind the AZ series is quite novel in that Ibanez reached out and met with some of the best and brightest guitarists around today. Over a period of 2 or 3 years and through several prototypes they compiled all of those suggestions into this amazing series of instruments. If all the artists involved really feel that this is their ultimate guitar then that’s pretty wow in my book. Overall: OK first let’s talk about the 800 pound gorilla in the room. That neck!!!! If you have done any research on the AZ series you already know it’s not a Wizard neck, but you may be surprised at how big it is. When I first grabbed it I was thinking I was going to return it, but after playing on it for a few days it felt like home. Like a lot of things about this guitar, the neck is a paradox. It shouldn’t feel this comfortable to someone who prefers Charvel and Jacksons, but it does. It doesn’t feel like a shred neck, but you can play that way remarkably well on it. It has its own unique shape like nothing I’ve played before. If I had to compare it to something I’d say somewhat resembles a Fender American Elite neck but more of a U shape with bigger shoulders. I can say that I don’t notice a huge change when going back and forth with my other guitars. It’s easy to transition between them without a lot of readjustment time to ‘get the feel’. I’ve seen a lot of forum posts asking about how the AZ Prestige stacks up to other instruments. Here’s my opinion. I own a Charvel Pro Mod DK24 HSS with the roasted neck and I really like that guitar a lot. The 2402 is a little lighter and sleeker and has a higher quality feel. I think the Hyperions as humbuckers are more versatile than the Full Shred. The 2402 neck is thicker and feels a little wider vs the DK which is more like a very thin Strat neck. I also briefly owned the Premium version of this guiAllan

So many professional guitar players choose this Ibanez Prestige AZ2402 and when you get your hands on one you know exactly why. Where to start?!? First off the Japanese craftsmanship on these guitars a second to none! Perfect execution in every way! Neck, body, frets, tremolo everything just fits together in joyful harmony to make for an awesome axe that practically plays itself. Stainless steel frets will last a life-time and pickups offer a wide array of tone arsenal. If you need just one axe in your collection i would recommend this for sure. Its worthy of calling it your #1 if you are a shredder, prog, or jazz player. This guitar is for everyone!usbzoso

I find a guitar to be very nice. Theres a slight reverberation in the E Sting against the fret board. Other than that I find the guitar in excellent condition. It plays well. This is my first Gretsch. Ive owned Gibsons les Pauls and others. This is a well made instrument. Reminds me of the Guitars used by the Stray Cats.kriyayogi108

New 'Gretsch' Guitars Are Now Made By 'Fender'; Which Is Why They All Sound Like 'Telecasters' – AND Are Cheaper. If LOOKING Like A 'Gretsch' Is All You Seek, Knock Yourself Out. But If You Want An ACTUAL Gretsch Guitar, Buy An Old One. These Imitations Are A Rip-Off In My Humble Opinion. THIS Is A 'Fender'.ec80-a

You always have to adjust the bridge before you play a fresh hollowbody. Just like a violin, you adjust your bridge almost right above the soundpost to achieve tone, stability, and intonation. If you don't even know how to take care of a hollowbody vs a solid body. LEARN. Don't complain like this dud below. Btw, it's a MIK (Made in Korea), which means it takes 4,000 miles to reach the East coast, and if came in perfect condition in the package, you're the luckiest player to own such a beautiful instrumentDYO