T H E GA S STATION 98 Words: Jonathan Horsley / Photography Olly Curtis SMALL BODY SEMI-HOLLOWS These four semi-hollow guitars could change your perceptions, offering comfortable bodyshapes and tones from all eras TOTAL GUITAR NOVEMBER 2019 TGR325.gear_test.
HE TG TEST 99 W hen we talk about the semi-hollow electric guitar, often our first thoughts turn to the Gibson ES-335 and its ilk; guitars with wide bodies that you could use as life rafts in cases of extreme emergency. Are they awesome? Absolutely. But sometimes it feels like they are for players built like Mr Tickle. Not all semi-hollow electrics need be that cumbersome. Which brings us here.
T H E GA S STATION GRETSCH ELECTROMATIC £859 ESP LTD DELUXE £1199 G5655TG CENTER BLOCK JR X-TONE PS-1000FM Hot finish, hotter pickups Dial X for extreme What’s the difference between the Center Block and the Center Block Jr? This looks like a squished Eclipse... It’s all in the size. The Center Block Jr shaves a few inches off at its extremes, measuring a svelte 10.5-inches across at the upper bout, 13.5-inches across the lower bout and a 8.625-inch waist.
THE TG TEST HAGSTRÖM ALVAR £775 Classic looks, supreme playability FENDER VINTERA ‘70S TELECASTER THINLINE £999 Make everyday Tele Tuesday Is that the Hogwarts crest on the tailpiece? What’s this Vintera series about? No, but it is almost like Hagström has made playing this guitar a black tie event. “Elegance defined” is how they see it, and that tailpiece certainly classes up the instrument.
THE TG TEST HEAD TO HEAD A Bigsby-loaded Gretsch may be a familar sight, but this model has surprising muscle The battle for small semi supremacy commences T 102 hese four compact semi-hollow guitars have lot of virtues in common. They’re all resonant, comfortable, playable – the Hagström is especially playable – and when it comes to tone, they each put their own spin on what a semi-hollow could sound like. The G5655TG surprised us.
T H E GA S STATION FINAL VERDICT Semi-charmed kind of guitars I t is hard to look past the Gretsch with its stunning Orange Stain finish and gold hardware, the Bigsby vibrato, and little details like the thumbnail fret inlay and smaller, bound headstock. It is a beautiful guitar.
