hollow body

[Igos du Iskana]

I have been playing a megatar for about two years now and had lots and lots of fun with it. However, I just don't use the bass-part of the instrument (with only one hand you have to make choices ;) ). With that in mind and the ludicrously small room i live in as a student (only about 13 square yards) i'm thinking about trading in my megatar for a smaller 6-string electric.
I have been playing on a cheap epiphone SG clone and i like it a lot.
Now for my question.
I'm quite into blues-rock and i'm really curious about playing a semi-hollowbody guitars like an ES-335.
Does anyone have experience tapping on these instruments? does the sound while tapping benefit from the hollow chambers? or is it just a waste of money better spent on a regular solid body...
I'd like to hear yout thoughts on this..
regards,
Auke

[Blackie]

I can't answer your question about tapping on a 335, but if you follow the link below and listen to the 2nd tune on the CD (Midnight), you can hear a Warr Artisan semi-hollow guitar with nylon strings playing both bass, and guitar.
My experience is that the hollow body does indeed add a special flavor to the sound of touch-guitar. Whether the guitar has nylon or metal strings makes no difference.
Also, you don't have to have a bass side on a tap-guitar. Both sides can be in guitar range, allowing you to accompany yourself with one hand, and play melody with the other. Check out Jeff Moen.
Or, get an 8-stringer. Warr has even made 7-string Artisans.

Blackie

http://cdbaby.com/cd/fuzzylogicboptet

[Igos du Iskana]

that sounds great, has a very nice tone.
Those Warr's are truly magnificent instruments, but way out of my league financialy :( (i have nothing more to spend over what i'm getting for my megatar) besides, i only have one hand, that makes playing the baseline to your own melody a bit more dificult ;) that's why i think a 6-stringer would be a good decision

[Blackie]

...are you now convinced that a hollowbody guitar can lend it's tone to touch-style playing?
I love the ES-335. I have an ES-175, but I don't tap it.
All the best,
Blackie

[Nightmare Music]

with only one hand you can't simaltaniously use the bass and treble, but with the aid of a looper you could get the most out of the range it has available. which you couldn't do with a standard guitar

you may have already seen him, but check out Bill Clements, he's a one handed bassist.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5ThulqDmKc

[Igos du Iskana]

Originally posted by Blackie
...are you now convinced that a hollowbody guitar can lend it's tone to touch-style playing?


yeah i think i might give it a try in a few weeks
Thanks!

[Jesús Auñón]

Maybe this video can help you.

http://es.youtube.com/watch?v=IBx1D2Ghad8

Best wishes.

[TheEclectic]

Jesús -

Those are some sweet videos - really geat playing.

It was a nice suprise to see a Daion hollowbody. I have always liked that line of guitars, to bad they were only around for a few years.

I liked the tone you got on "Bartók by day, bar talk by night" the best - looks like a PRS guitar?

[Jesús Auñón]

Yes, is a PRS I play since 1992.

[lactose]

Wow that is a nice video. Bartok is nice also. The title cracked me up, I usually have a Bartok, Schoenberg, Penerecki in my CD rotation in my car. Can't say I have heard any bitonal / atonal stuff on a tapping instrument.

[Jesús Auñón]

Try this song by Michael Hedges:

http://es.youtube.com/watch?v=F1QD-FPvRO4

I think this is more or less atonal, but definitively contemporary.

[GaryOpenhill]

Originally posted by Jesús Auñón
Try this song by Michael Hedges:

http://es.youtube.com/watch?v=F1QD-FPvRO4

I think this is more or less atonal, but definitively contemporary.

That is absolutely awsome. Hedges's the man.

You're technique is totally jawdropping-to-the-floor-istique too, Jesús.

[Rayzcane]

Igos,

Have you given any thought to the Line 6 Variax instruments? You can get the low-end model for about $300 USD. It may not compare in quality to the more expensive instruments you mentioned but it does some redeeming qualities for a touchstyle player. If I were going to play touch-style on a six-stringed instruments it would be my choice.......

One of the reasons is that this guitar allows you to emulate the sounds of 20+ guitars, including several acoustic instruments.

Another prime reason is that you can play in various open tunings with the flip of a switch and/or the turning of a knob. And, there is one VERY SPECIAL bonus for a one-armed player, like yourself:

It allows you to drop the two bass strings by one full octave! In my opinion, this a great compromise for the touchstyle player who still wants to sound like a bass and a guitar, at the same time, on a single instrument. You can see and hear a demo of this feature, and many others, on the Line 6 webpage.

I wish you the best of luck in your endeavor.

Ray Langley

[Igos du Iskana]

Well that is an extremely cool axe :cool: I've never seen anything like it. Especialy as it is affordable (300 dollars is only about 170 euro's!) i will definatly keep this one in mind when i'm going shopping in a week or two. Thanks Ray!
Meanwhile i'm trying not to fall in love with a beautifull semi-acoustic by yamaha, the SA503 TVL (believe it or not)

Link to guitar (http://www.yamaha.com/guitars/products/productdetail/0,,CNTID%25253D60169%252526CTID%25253D600012,00.ht ml)

Auke

[Igos du Iskana]

Well, I took the plunge and bought me a new guitar...
After some serious browsing i found this beautifull Epiphone Dot
http://www.dolphinmusic.co.uk/shop_image/product/c08735a0b52d8cc373a4a4ee5b4abe54.jpg

The finish looks crappy on the picture, in real life it's much intenser. The wood realy looks like it's burning if the light hits in in the right angle :cool:
I also removed the ugly "€"sticker and painted the dream theater logo on the pickguard. I saw a chapman stick on one of their DVD's and that showed me that you can actualy play one handed. So i thought that logo was fitting.
The sound is incredible, if i can get some decent recording equipment i'll post some tunes...

[Tom Drinkwater]

Good choice on the Dot. I have always been impressed by the playability of that guitar. It is really a very good hollow body and it has received rave reviews by every publication that has reviewed it. I have an Ibanez jazz guitar but only play fingerstyle on it, it would probably work good if the action was lower.

[Igos du Iskana]

The action isn't as low as i want it to be because the 13th fret is a bit to hight just under the 2nd string. That's why i can't get it as low as my Epiphone SG special, it's action is as low as my megatar!
But even with that small "defect", it's very playable while tapping
Maybe if I have some money again (poor student here) i'll let somone file that fret and be able to get "Dotje" even lower.

[midivox]

Hi Tappers,
Always been a bg Eppiphone Fan. I have 4 of the Eppiphone Chet Atkins ones, or I should say I had 4, because I sold one of my extra ones on ebay Friday. That are all multichamered, so just tapping on their bodies get a nice pleasing sound.

I have a Variax 300 plus the software interface to create your own models and tunings. Its a great guitar, perfect for gigging, recording or composing.

Happy Tapping
MidiVox