Hollow Body VS. Hard Body

[JazzAt52ndStreet]

I was wondering....if a hollow body guitar was electric, and the sound was taken from a bunch of chips and wires?....what gives it that "hollow body" quality, as opposed to the hard body sound?

-52nd

[Tom K]

This is a mystery to me too - but still: turn the electricity off, and each guitar will have its own individual sound. Isn't it that the pick-up and amplifier, if they're good enough, basically amplify the natural sound of the instrument? Of course amp & speaker add their own tone colour as well.

[Gentle Giant]

The Gibson ES-175!

[groover]

Originally Posted by Tom K

This is a mystery to me too - but still: turn the electricity off, and each guitar will have its own individual sound. Isn't it that the pick-up and amplifier, if they're good enough, basically amplify the natural sound of the instrument? Of course amp & speaker add their own tone colour as well.

Guitar pickups are magnetic, responding to string vibration primarily, as opposed to microphone diaphragms which amplify a purely acoustic tone. However, it's possible that the signal from the pickups is affected somewhat by the acoustic resonance of the instrument, giving hollow-bodies their unique sound.

Amplifiers have their own character, also, as most people prefer the "warm" tone of valve/tube amplifiers over solid-state electronics, which could potentially be more neutral.

[al j]

everything groover said.

[shrugs]

Originally Posted by groover

Amplifiers have their own character, also, as most people prefer the "warm" tone of valve/tube amplifiers over solid-state electronics, which could potentially be more neutral.

Different types and different vintages of tubes will sound different. I am surprised that eai musicians don't explore this avenue.

[Dr Dave]

Hollow body electrics are great at producing feedback!

I'd own an ES 335, but I long ago pledged allegiance to Les Paul. It weighs too much, and some day it will give me double-curvature of the spine, but in the meantime, it has the tone I love.

[al j]

Originally Posted by Dr Dave

Hollow body electrics are great at producing feedback!

That's no lie, Dave. The FilterTrons on my 6122 make some of the sickest feedback this side of the Snake River.

my baby:

[Dr Dave]

Oooohhh....Pretty!

[al j]

Thanks, Doc. I had a 335 back in college and ended up selling it to get a Rickenbacker 360-6. I loved the Rick but hindsight taught me that the true keeper was the 335. Fluid. The Country Gentleman love affair began a couple of years after that but I could never afford one. 11 years later, closure. Like writing with a good fountain pen.

I loved the Les Paul too, but never owned one for the reason you cite: too frickin heavy. Bivins is probably laughing at us. I'd rather have a DuoJet anyway, so what do I know?

[JazzAt52ndStreet]

So ther verdict is that the pickup reacts to the vibrations inside the body as well as the strings?

-52nd

[Jason Bivins]

Originally Posted by Joe Christmas

I loved the Les Paul too, but never owned one for the reason you cite: too frickin heavy. Bivins is probably laughing at us. I'd rather have a DuoJet anyway, so what do I know?

Are you kidding me? Even in my rawk days the Les Paul was too heavy. I still keep my old Paul Reed Smith, which I would take any day over a Les Paul in terms of both tone and weight, but it's been at least five years since I played anything but my beloved Ibanez Artist on a gig.

By the way, Al, that's a beautiful guitar.

[rockefeller center]

Originally Posted by JazzAt52ndStreet

So ther verdict is that the pickup reacts to the vibrations inside the body as well as the strings?

-52nd

Not directly. The strings react to the body and vice versa -> resonance.

[al j]

J-Bling, I'd always thought that was an Les Paul you're sitting with in that photo with Ian. My full bad. I don't think I've ever played an Artist but think it's a snazzy looking ride. Ever test driven a Talman?