I've played solid body guitars pretty much the entire time I've been playing. Strats have been my guitar of choice & I also own a Les Paul, which is fantastic. BUT... I've recently played an ES-335 that has me wanting to make that my new #1 guitar. I will always have an assortment of various guitars, but that 335 has such an amazing tone and air-iness about it. You really have to play one to know - the "feel" of playing a guitar just doesn't come across on a video clip.
For me, the semi hollow sounds like more mellow and smoother. The Les Paul is much sharper and holds the notes longer. For playing blues I’d prefer the semi hollow. But that’s my preference. 🤷🏼♀️ 🎸 it made my decision on what to buy ...the beautiful semi hollow.. but the Les Paul is beautiful too.
I just now bought a nicely priced semi hollow from the pawn shop and its now the main guitar ive been wanting to play, i love the tone difference it has compared to my les paul special its so much warmer and organic sounding
I was considering a semi-hollow body. However, I think the solid body sounds so much better. There is no right or wrong. Thank you for your time. Solid body wins in my mind.
I would love to see somebody who can identify the sound of semi-hollow vs. Solid body, blind, in a recording. I have yet to hear a guitar part on a record and be able to say "oh, that is a semi-hollow body guitar."
For the most part, a 335 vs Les Paul vs SG is very similar, and most people won't know the difference. But to the ear of a guitarist, there are some tonal differences that do come through in recordings. If you've played any of these long enough, you'll know.
I've always liked Les Pauls from the way they look to the way they feel. But soundwise, semi-hollow guitars seem more versatile from the fact you can play them unplugged & feel lightweight, almost like an acoustic guitar.
@@alexkazhdan I beg to differ unless you're talking about single coils. My semi-hollow Tele with wide range humbuckers is a rock machine. Wouldn't say it sounds any better than a solid body of course
Beautiful playing on the semi-hollow. really liked that, and I think it's convinced me! They both sound great, but something about the extra oomf of feeling I'm getting from the semi-hollow is great.
From my experience, I've always found that semi hollows are fantastic rhythm guitars. Their thicker, meatier sound just sounds great as a driving force. When I'm a lead guitar player I use solidbodies, and if I'm a rhythm player I use a semi hollow. Win win
I pulled the trigger on a 64 Trini Lopez reissue and it's an absolute keeper. It took me a minute to dial it in but once I did, the deep growl and sweetness had me hooked. It also forced me to play with a lighter touch. A fantastic instrument.
@@maxmeyers6729 an electric with headphones is infinitely better and you can have as many different tones as you like. If you learn songs with distortion without getting used to how to mute you're going to sound like ass when you plug in, too. Been there, done that. Buy one, sure, but it's not going to make practicing any "easier". Buy a decent set of monitor headphones for your amp or interface.
Bare in mind, the Les Paul came out before the 335. The way I see it, the 335 is basically what Les Paul made in the Epiphone factory, a solid block of wood with the pickups in (humbucking pickups I might add, before those were invented), and a neck. That was the guitar, its a solid body electric. But it looked weird, and no one thought was a guitar. so he cut an Epiphone hollow body in half and made wings for 'The Log', to make it look like a guitar(not for any acoustic benefit). But Gibson wanted something closer to what Fender had with the Telecaster. Ted McCarty and designers came up with the 'Les Paul. (And his name on it because they weren't confident it would sell. when it did, 'Ok, we'll make your 'Log' now... Bingo, 335.... ) (Also consider, Leo Fender got his idea from Les's guitar as well, while Gibson procrastinated. But he wanted to make it quickly and cheaply. He wasn't exactly thinking of 'craftsmanship' at the time. Slab of wood, make it look nice, put the pickups in, and bang it out cheap enough kids can get it in their hands..... And it worked).
One of the best explanation ever. I have a question: at which point an hollow body start to feedback? How loud has the amply be to manifest that problem?
I’m really looking at getting into indie/alternative type music and I’m having a hard time choosing between tele strato or a semi hollow for that type of vibe. I do like the brightness of the strato but the feeling and warmer sound makes me really like the hollow body. Do you think a semi hollow would be good for what I’m trying to get into or would it be better to stick with a traditional strato or tele set up
I'd go for the hollow if I were you. Listen to Tame Impala lonerism for tone examples on how a semi hollow would sound on that style. The strat is also very over used and kind of a "default" sound in my opinion.
I closed my eyes and played a random part of the demonstration part. it was 50/50 whether i guessed right. I think it´s probably more apparent to someone who deals with guitars all the time, but i would also estimate that there´s audio of the acustic vibrations from the semi-hollow that we are not hearing, that only the player hears or those close enooug to them, because it isnt relayed through the electronics.
if you want more treble bite on your hollow body guitar, just lower your pickup height and re-setup. don't replace your guitar with solid body one for that reason
Hi- thanks for a good video. Greetings from an old dinosaur acoustic player who set it down a long time ago and is interested in dusting off the prodigious cobwebs via an electric. Much to learn! What are humbuckers anyway?! 🙂 That being said, would like to offer a friendly suggestion: it would help to hear a couple of identical riffs on the 2 guitars, and/or a little more of it. It's good to compare the single notes, but would help to hear a little more actual riffs. Like maybe a simple blues riff up the neck, compared to something down the neck as well. I'm trying to help both of us here. I am a candidate for a new guitar of some sort and am trying to figure out which one would be best for me. Am not knowledgable about electrics, but know what kind of sound I like (like everybody else). When I find the right one, it'd be fun to pick it back up again. Thanks again for a good video. Helps to hear the different comparisons. Good luck to you.
How are the semi-hollows with the Reverb full blast? Either the reverb be from pedals or from the amp, I would like to play with reverb without issues. Thanks!
I believe that the tone difference here is reflected more on the size of the body than the "hollow" itself. More wood, more vibrance on the neck and strings. Just like it happens with an Explorer's body.
To my ears, with the ATH-M40fs headphones, the sound of the pickups are the same on both guitars. The rendering is maybe be a bit wider on the hollow body; gives a small resonance, like more expressivity. But it's really really soft difference. Not more warm for my ears...
Solid body all the way. This test just put me off buying a semi-hollow again after not getting on with the last one I owned and sold. I actually prefer the smaller, more compact design of a solid body and found the 335 rather unwieldy, standing and sitting down, and didn't like the strap button position very much. Thank you for the test, it save me a packet. I'll stick with my Les Paul. Each to their own, I guess.
I like my Epiphone 339 semi hollow better than my epi emperor and my fenders for my style of playing. My favorite compromise between acoustic and electric. I like the feel and sound.
Also, a semi-hollow guitar is not an acoustic guitar. It will still need to be plugged in to some kind of amplification if you are playing a gig. It's not that much louder than a solid body.
What the pickup hears is the combined plucked string frequency and the vibrational harmonics introduced by the guitar's design, hence the differences we just heard. Recording is a different animal with effects, mics, DI to what? ETC. Even just a touch of reverb will change the game. 57 years of playing/recording, tons of guitars with matching pups, disimilar pups, strings etc. Use the same anp/volume/eq/pickup distances and you'll know what this guy is saying. Thx!
4:40 Yes everything adds to the sound of the guitar, sure. Even the gravity of the Moon. The main question is, what exactly in the guitar influences the sound more and what less.
I have always played acoustic off and on; nylon string classical finger style picking. Electric is just something I have been curious about so I was hoping to know what to listen for. Unfortunately, I didn't hear much of a difference. I know that some people use different guitars for different music styles but I can justify or afford to have an arsenal of guitars. Is there any electric guitar that would be best general purpose? I don't even have an amplifier on my classical acoustic even though it has a built-in preamp. I guess I need to learn about pickups, preamps, and things like that.
Les Pauls are fine for jazz. As standard they have humbucker pickups, which gives a more round and deep tone. Guitars with Singlecoil pickups are not popular in jazz
Honestly both can be played. Many people prefer jazz with humbuckers because they generally give a more mellow tone, but that doesn't mean single coil would sound bad, done right it could sound better. It is like metal using Distortion or Overdrive, they sound different but they can both be use.
If it weren't for confirmation bias there would be no guitar or audiophile speaker market, lol. This narator gets one thing right--the pickups can only pick up the vibration of the strings. What he gets wrong is that the vibration can be affected by a hollow or solid base beneath the bridge. The bridge cancels out any of that. The string will vibrate at a set wavelength / speed and the pickup will translate it. A string vibrating at the same frequency over the same pickups through the same amp will make...drumroll......the same sound. Everything else is confirmation bias.
Pete Richey there is another in youtube where one guy methodically removes by a circular saw like 35% of the body mass and testing along the way and the results were the same as having it fully-bodied.
The thing he does not mention the resonance frequencies can vibrate the top at very low volumes and sustain indefinitely. I know this extensively I own many different hollow-body and chambered guitars. I can easily get sustain at extreme low volumes.
I never played on any Les Paul or similar e guitar before, only once on a semi-hollow guitar in a guitar store, and I didn't like it xD I'm rather into my floyd rose e guitar with very low and thin strings and a one-directional working tremolo ;)
![ILLSLICK - WINTER IS COMING [Official Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/dwTMeM1zIhQ/mqdefault.jpg)
6:40
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Love you my guy.
Thanks I thought this idiot would keep droning on forever. Get to the point. Unsubscribed
Thank god
Omfg thank you
6:45 is where the playing starts lads
Not the hero we asked for but the hero we needed
Thank you for using guitars with the same pickups and I presume likely the same electronics. That’s massively helpful in this type of comparison.
the f holes dont look like an f if calculus is still haunting you after studies....
So true
F holes are integral to the hollow looks
I've played solid body guitars pretty much the entire time I've been playing. Strats have been my guitar of choice & I also own a Les Paul, which is fantastic. BUT... I've recently played an ES-335 that has me wanting to make that my new #1 guitar. I will always have an assortment of various guitars, but that 335 has such an amazing tone and air-iness about it. You really have to play one to know - the "feel" of playing a guitar just doesn't come across on a video clip.
For me, the semi hollow sounds like more mellow and smoother. The Les Paul is much sharper and holds the notes longer. For playing blues I’d prefer the semi hollow. But that’s my preference. 🤷🏼♀️ 🎸 it made my decision on what to buy ...the beautiful semi hollow.. but the Les Paul is beautiful too.
I just now bought a nicely priced semi hollow from the pawn shop and its now the main guitar ive been wanting to play, i love the tone difference it has compared to my les paul special its so much warmer and organic sounding
Rock on!
I would say the semi hollow definitely adds some warmth
It might be the pickups too
@@jerrog06 literally the same pickups.
@@NeesyPlaysGuitar 😂
and a bit more note definition
No shit sherlock
This vid was very well done and answered a lot of questions for me. Good job!
Semi hollow sounds more alive and open, warmer and sweeter sounding. Solid body has more punch and bite, and less noisy when properly shielded.
Shielded? Are you goofy or something?
I was considering a semi-hollow body. However, I think the solid body sounds so much better. There is no right or wrong. Thank you for your time. Solid body wins in my mind.
Exactly my thoughts
Absolutely love your style of playing and choice of notes.
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I would love to see somebody who can identify the sound of semi-hollow vs. Solid body, blind, in a recording. I have yet to hear a guitar part on a record and be able to say "oh, that is a semi-hollow body guitar."
Look up Andertons hollow vs semi vs solid blindfold challenge
Chapman can identify a guitar just by smelling them.
Or by tasting them
For the most part, a 335 vs Les Paul vs SG is very similar, and most people won't know the difference. But to the ear of a guitarist, there are some tonal differences that do come through in recordings. If you've played any of these long enough, you'll know.
Its not hard to tell .
This is exactly what I needed to make my decision. Thanks.
I've always liked Les Pauls from the way they look to the way they feel. But soundwise, semi-hollow guitars seem more versatile from the fact you can play them unplugged & feel lightweight, almost like an acoustic guitar.
They sound like shit unplugged and are actually less versatile than a solid body once it's plugged in.
How are they less versatile?
The opposite of what I'm saying. This is just my personal opinion, I hope you people understand that.
@@ryqn You can't use them with high gain, since they feed back like crazy.
@@alexkazhdan I beg to differ unless you're talking about single coils. My semi-hollow Tele with wide range humbuckers is a rock machine. Wouldn't say it sounds any better than a solid body of course
Beautiful playing on the semi-hollow. really liked that, and I think it's convinced me! They both sound great, but something about the extra oomf of feeling I'm getting from the semi-hollow is great.
I compared several guitars and went with the Paul Reed Smith McCarty 594 Hollowbody II. No regrets.
One of the best videos I have ever watched... thank you !
From my experience, I've always found that semi hollows are fantastic rhythm guitars. Their thicker, meatier sound just sounds great as a driving force. When I'm a lead guitar player I use solidbodies, and if I'm a rhythm player I use a semi hollow. Win win
Thicc
I pulled the trigger on a 64 Trini Lopez reissue and it's an absolute keeper. It took me a minute to dial it in but once I did, the deep growl and sweetness had me hooked. It also forced me to play with a lighter touch. A fantastic instrument.
I’d prefer the semi hollow since it’s basically an acoustic and a electric at the same time
except the pickups are all electric. it would be more of a difference if the 335 included an acoustic pickup.
Try playing it acoustically, it's only loud enough if your audience is 1 person sitting next to you.
Pieter-Jan but it’s good to practice with if your parents constantly tell you your too loud
@@maxmeyers6729 an electric with headphones is infinitely better and you can have as many different tones as you like. If you learn songs with distortion without getting used to how to mute you're going to sound like ass when you plug in, too. Been there, done that. Buy one, sure, but it's not going to make practicing any "easier". Buy a decent set of monitor headphones for your amp or interface.
Bare in mind, the Les Paul came out before the 335.
The way I see it, the 335 is basically what Les Paul made in the Epiphone factory, a solid block of wood with the pickups in (humbucking pickups I might add, before those were invented), and a neck. That was the guitar, its a solid body electric. But it looked weird, and no one thought was a guitar. so he cut an Epiphone hollow body in half and made wings for 'The Log', to make it look like a guitar(not for any acoustic benefit).
But Gibson wanted something closer to what Fender had with the Telecaster. Ted McCarty and designers came up with the 'Les Paul. (And his name on it because they weren't confident it would sell. when it did, 'Ok, we'll make your 'Log' now... Bingo, 335.... )
(Also consider, Leo Fender got his idea from Les's guitar as well, while Gibson procrastinated. But he wanted to make it quickly and cheaply. He wasn't exactly thinking of 'craftsmanship' at the time. Slab of wood, make it look nice, put the pickups in, and bang it out cheap enough kids can get it in their hands..... And it worked).
One of the best explanation ever. I have a question: at which point an hollow body start to feedback? How loud has the amply be to manifest that problem?
Thanks so much for making the video! It answered a lot of questions for me and was very thorough, informative and easy to listen to :)
Thanks for the informative video. I have often wondered about this issue.
*S I X T Y N I N E*
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Thank you very much for the clear explanation with display of the sound.
I prefer semi-hollow
Hey it's the "my cat from hell" guy
The hollow body sounds much more silky and smooth than the solid body
I would choose just on the way the 335 looks. It is gorgeous.
I’m really looking at getting into indie/alternative type music and I’m having a hard time choosing between tele strato or a semi hollow for that type of vibe. I do like the brightness of the strato but the feeling and warmer sound makes me really like the hollow body. Do you think a semi hollow would be good for what I’m trying to get into or would it be better to stick with a traditional strato or tele set up
I'd go for the hollow if I were you. Listen to Tame Impala lonerism for tone examples on how a semi hollow would sound on that style.
The strat is also very over used and kind of a "default" sound in my opinion.
Semi hollow is awesome for acoustic blues.
Hey Alamo, what amplifier did you use for this demonstration?
I closed my eyes and played a random part of the demonstration part. it was 50/50 whether i guessed right. I think it´s probably more apparent to someone who deals with guitars all the time, but i would also estimate that there´s audio of the acustic vibrations from the semi-hollow that we are not hearing, that only the player hears or those close enooug to them, because it isnt relayed through the electronics.
if you want more treble bite on your hollow body guitar, just lower your pickup height and re-setup. don't replace your guitar with solid body one for that reason
THANK YOU for that tip
Would the hollow body not feedback more (a desirable option in my opinion) when played loud though the amp?
I love the weight and forwardness of the solid body.
Thanks for this amazing video !!!!👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
I would describe the semi hollow as sounding somehow more open. Its like getting a breath of fresh air
Put two identical guitar models side by side and you'd hear as much difference if someone said they were different.
But they do sound different.
Just to make everyone aware, the solid body came before the semi-hollow body. :-)
It kinda shocked me that the flying V and the Explorer came at basically the same time as the ES
Some advice for uploader..would be good to list the exact amp u used..it does make a difference
Semi-hollow with smaller resonating chambers seems the perfect option
Question: Is there any difference in the tension on the strings?
Not if they're the same scale length and thickness
Nice demo
The first patented electric guitar was a solid body, the Rickenbacker Frying Pan patented in 1937
Hi- thanks for a good video. Greetings from an old dinosaur acoustic player who set it down a long time ago and is interested in dusting off the prodigious cobwebs via an electric. Much to learn! What are humbuckers anyway?! 🙂 That being said, would like to offer a friendly suggestion: it would help to hear a couple of identical riffs on the 2 guitars, and/or a little more of it. It's good to compare the single notes, but would help to hear a little more actual riffs. Like maybe a simple blues riff up the neck, compared to something down the neck as well. I'm trying to help both of us here. I am a candidate for a new guitar of some sort and am trying to figure out which one would be best for me. Am not knowledgable about electrics, but know what kind of sound I like (like everybody else). When I find the right one, it'd be fun to pick it back up again.
Thanks again for a good video. Helps to hear the different comparisons. Good luck to you.
How are the semi-hollows with the Reverb full blast? Either the reverb be from pedals or from the amp, I would like to play with reverb without issues. Thanks!
I believe that the tone difference here is reflected more on the size of the body than the "hollow" itself. More wood, more vibrance on the neck and strings. Just like it happens with an Explorer's body.
I had 2 acoustic that developed belly bulge. Would this be a suitable replacement?
I really like this guy, he actually knows what hes talking about and describes it well
Excellent demo!
Does the semi hollow sound good with pedals
To my ears, with the ATH-M40fs headphones, the sound of the pickups are the same on both guitars. The rendering is maybe be a bit wider on the hollow body; gives a small resonance, like more expressivity. But it's really really soft difference. Not more warm for my ears...
Same pickups. But are they the same wiring and pots?
what type of music is this you are playing ?
Do you ever have a problem w G string coming out of tune?
Neither of those guitars were built in the 40s.. 🤔 The Les Paul was 1952 and the ES 335 was 1958..
The Log?
If we reduce the treble tone and increase the bass settings on an amp, would a solid body sound similar the semi hollow?
Yazmir Yashkor more similar at least yeah
Sounded the same to me. Slight differences must be mostly due to the different pickups
Solid body all the way. This test just put me off buying a semi-hollow again after not getting on with the last one I owned and sold. I actually prefer the smaller, more compact design of a solid body and found the 335 rather unwieldy, standing and sitting down, and didn't like the strap button position very much. Thank you for the test, it save me a packet. I'll stick with my Les Paul. Each to their own, I guess.
What’s he playing? Kinda want to learn those demos lol
Sustain of sound:
Solid Guitar = Piano
Semi Hollow Guitar = Harpischord
Warmth of sound:
Solid Guitar = Harpischord
Semi Hollow Guitar = Piano
I like my Epiphone 339 semi hollow better than my epi emperor and my fenders for my style of playing. My favorite compromise between acoustic and electric. I like the feel and sound.
Thanks!
What song at around 8:00?? Or is that yours? It's nice!
Sounds like he's riffing around Yellow Ledbetter
There is an f hole on the 335 truss rod cover. Is that stock? I’ve either never noticed or never seen that.
Also, a semi-hollow guitar is not an acoustic guitar. It will still need to be plugged in to some kind of amplification if you are playing a gig. It's not that much louder than a solid body.
The semi hollow have some acoustic vibe sound
Nice demos
I'm puzzled... are the snares suposed to be higher than a sollid body?
What the pickup hears is the combined plucked string frequency and the vibrational harmonics introduced by the guitar's design, hence the differences we just heard. Recording is a different animal with effects, mics, DI to what? ETC. Even just a touch of reverb will change the game. 57 years of playing/recording, tons of guitars with matching pups, disimilar pups, strings etc. Use the same anp/volume/eq/pickup distances and you'll know what this guy is saying. Thx!
4:40 Yes everything adds to the sound of the guitar, sure. Even the gravity of the Moon. The main question is, what exactly in the guitar influences the sound more and what less.
I have always played acoustic off and on; nylon string classical finger style picking. Electric is just something I have been curious about so I was hoping to know what to listen for. Unfortunately, I didn't hear much of a difference. I know that some people use different guitars for different music styles but I can justify or afford to have an arsenal of guitars. Is there any electric guitar that would be best general purpose? I don't even have an amplifier on my classical acoustic even though it has a built-in preamp. I guess I need to learn about pickups, preamps, and things like that.
which exactly fender amp did you use?
Amazing
Thanks for the vid but my lvl 2 ears could barely differentiate. Will keep playing and listening to train them
Try headphones
There's almost no difference.
Thank you for the explanations, very helpful. Can Les Paul be used for Jazz? There is lot of mixed opinion about this.
Les Pauls are fine for jazz. As standard they have humbucker pickups, which gives a more round and deep tone.
Guitars with Singlecoil pickups are not popular in jazz
Anything and everything is fine for jazz, and plenty of single coil pickups popular in jazz.
Honestly both can be played. Many people prefer jazz with humbuckers because they generally give a more mellow tone, but that doesn't mean single coil would sound bad, done right it could sound better. It is like metal using Distortion or Overdrive, they sound different but they can both be use.
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no you cant if you use a les paul for jazz you die
If it weren't for confirmation bias there would be no guitar or audiophile speaker market, lol. This narator gets one thing right--the pickups can only pick up the vibration of the strings. What he gets wrong is that the vibration can be affected by a hollow or solid base beneath the bridge. The bridge cancels out any of that. The string will vibrate at a set wavelength / speed and the pickup will translate it. A string vibrating at the same frequency over the same pickups through the same amp will make...drumroll......the same sound. Everything else is confirmation bias.
Pete Richey there is another in youtube where one guy methodically removes by a circular saw like 35% of the body mass and testing along the way and the results were the same as having it fully-bodied.
th-cam.com/video/sYK0XX-nDVI/w-d-xo.html
The thing he does not mention the resonance frequencies can vibrate the top at very low volumes and sustain indefinitely. I know this extensively I own many different hollow-body and chambered guitars. I can easily get sustain at extreme low volumes.
Thanks man.
The ES335 is fuller sounding. The Les Paul is brighter. Assuming they both have classic 57s
Great video . Thanks !
Very helpful, thank you!
Yui and Mafuyu's guitarrrrrrrr!!!
Omg!
Isn't that why people came here? XD
starts at 6:45
Why do i have to wait until half video just to find the things which is in the title?
Why are we nearly seven minutes in before you do any playing?
I wouldn't be surprised that the pots you use influence the sound more than the chambered body
It seems like the solid is just pure string tone. Semi hollow has more of a reflection sound like an acoustic but in the background noise
I'm #Kajoguitar (as my TH-cam channel)
Wow very good lesson, the confusion I had ends here, thank so much.
Glad it was helpful!
Wish he played cannibal corpse with the semi hollowed but meh what can you do
My Gibson 335 sustains FAR longer than this one - they are all a bit different, so if you can - try before you buy!
For me hollow body seemd like a large hand guitar than the les paul.pure clean sound from the hollow body.
I was under the impression a semi hollow had more sustain, I learned something.
I never played on any Les Paul or similar e guitar before, only once on a semi-hollow guitar in a guitar store, and I didn't like it xD
I'm rather into my floyd rose e guitar with very low and thin strings and a one-directional working tremolo ;)
no distortion test :(
Semi hollow best for jazz song
Distortion test?
ES-335 warmth tone eats Les Paul's for breakfast, period.
Is the semi hollow body good for playing some country music?