Spotlight - Gibson CS336 - Monday

I have a question for you non-tonewoodies. Technically speaking, how does the hollow/semi-hollow nature of an electric guitar affect tone?

Ray, My ES 175 copy,,,, EPI version sounded real woody. If you listen to some of my clips of Ted Nugent on his Byrdland you will hear the growl his Black one puts out. Something about that barely controllable explosive feeling of a hollow body at high amp volumes that makes you go oooooooooooooooooooooooooo.
 
I have a question for you non-tonewoodies. Technically speaking, how does the hollow/semi-hollow nature of an electric guitar affect tone?

If this makes any sense at all, a 335/345/355 sounds "wetter" than an LP or an SG.
That initial "crack" as the string comes off the pick edge is not as pronounced.

Also, when you play a 335 or 355 (never used a 345) at high volume it seems to
"come alive" in your hands. Flying a large kite on a windy day or walking a large
dog comes to mind. You have to keep it under control or it will get away from you.
 
If this makes any sense at all, a 335/345/355 sounds "wetter" than an LP or an SG.
That initial "crack" as the string comes off the pick edge is not as pronounced.

Also, when you play a 335 or 355 (never used a 345) at high volume it seems to
"come alive" in your hands. Flying a large kite on a windy day or walking a large
dog comes to mind. You have to keep it under control or it will get away from you.
I just wonder how that gets in the signal chain. I stopped believing in tone wood, yet I percieve a certain airy-ness to a semi-hollow. Honestly, I think it is perceived more than actual. It may be time for another round of "guess that guitar; semi-hollow v solid edition!!"
 
I just wonder how that gets in the signal chain. I stopped believing in tone wood, yet I percieve a certain airy-ness to a semi-hollow. Honestly, I think it is perceived more than actual. It may be time for another round of "guess that guitar; semi-hollow v solid edition!!"

My 2 ES 335s do not sound the same even though they are the same.
Same pickups, electronics and hardware (one has gold, one nickel).
Same strings, same me playing them through the same amplifier.
They sound different unplugged too.
Gotta be the wood.

Yes?
No?
Maybe?
 
My 2 ES 335s do not sound the same even though they are the same.
Same pickups, electronics and hardware (one has gold, one nickel).
Same strings, same me playing them through the same amplifier.
They sound different unplugged too.
Gotta be the wood.

Yes?
No?
Maybe?
I think that there is no real answer except the on you have just given...they all sound different. Luckily, there are many ways to change how a guitar sounds if you are not happy
 
My 2 ES 335s do not sound the same even though they are the same.
Same pickups, electronics and hardware (one has gold, one nickel).
Same strings, same me playing them through the same amplifier.
They sound different unplugged too.
Gotta be the wood.

Yes?
No?
Maybe?

I think that there is no real answer except the on you have just given...they all sound different. Luckily, there are many ways to change how a guitar sounds if you are not happy

I am pretty sure if one were to scientifically analyze 2 exact same guitars even to the point of swapping one set of electronics between the 2, one would certainly see sound wave etc differences between the 2. The wood from different trees has to have some bearing on sound, especially on hollow body guitars. I also learned how different wood can resonate differently when seeing sme drum companies actually rap on the shells of different drums to make a blend of shells that are a tonal compliment to one another than ones that don't resonate in a pleasant mix among the different sizes.
 
Yeah, very nice indeed.

The bound neck without inlays looks very classy in an understated way with that body, imho. If the guitar can make a 57+ in the bridge sound good then it must be good! :D

Here, have one of my favourite female music video seductresses, in a slightly camp way of course - this video should please and disturb our Frank'd in equal measures. &, more to the point, I reckon you could really go at it (I mean play along to...) with that gorgeous Champagne Supernova 336.

 
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I am pretty sure if one were to scientifically analyze 2 exact same guitars even to the point of swapping one set of electronics between the 2, one would certainly see sound wave etc differences between the 2. The wood from different trees has to have some bearing on sound, especially on hollow body guitars. I also learned how different wood can resonate differently when seeing sme drum companies actually rap on the shells of different drums to make a blend of shells that are a tonal compliment to one another than ones that don't resonate in a pleasant mix among the different sizes.
Nobody survives the blind "tonewood" challenge. Nobody. Enter...if you dare - Whaaaahahahah!!!!!!!!
 
Only time I tried this was years ago - around 2000/2001 I had two G&L Legacy's that were my gigging guitars (main plus backup). Only difference was color and they were built right about the same time, so obviously they had the same pickups from the factory, same strings, setups, yada yada. Yet, they sounded different. Nothing radical, it was clearly a subtle variation on a specific theme, almost as if you just tweaked amp settings a little from one to the other, but they were definitely different.

I decided to switch the pickguard/electronics in them solely for aesthetic reasons (one was a white PG and the other black), and after switching them they sounded exactly the same as they had before.

At another point I switched out the necks, this for no apparent reason beyond the fact that I could :). When I did that though, whoa! - I had two completely different guitars on my hands. Neither sounded like it did before the switch. They were two more variations on the theme, damn close but noticeably different. I decided I preferred one of them that way and one the way it was before (which was the one I played the most), so that meant to me that it was that neck I was grooving on. I ended up switching the necks back eventually but it was an eye-opening exercise.
 
I can tell you I had a bolt neck Washburn 335 ish thing Oscar Schmidt (Delta Blues) this is a 200.00 guitar new.....can be had for 150.00 used.....

they sound damn good

probably plywood........who knows---note the crappy little el cheapo Fender Mustang dont sound bad either lol
---dont take a million bucks to sound good ----naw it dont
 
I have a question for you non-tonewoodies. Technically speaking, how does the hollow/semi-hollow nature of an electric guitar affect tone?
Perhaps the lack of shielding due to the f holes make a difference?
 
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---dont take a million bucks to sound good ----naw it dont

True in the truest sense of the blues. Just ask Junior...

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