Question to my fellow guitar players about hollow body axes...

[TheMan]

OK, so I'm trying to add a hollow body to my guitar line up. I have a Fender Stratocaster, Gibson Les Paul and Gibson SG. I want an entry level hollow body, obviously if I had a grand to spare, I'd get a Gibson Dot 335 or any number of Gretsch guitars but I want something in the $500 range. After some investigating, these are my best options...

Epiphone Sheraton II
http://magazine.dv247.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/epiphone-sheraton-ii.jpg
What I like about this Epi is that it looks like the iconic 335 Dot, anyone out there can tell me how it performs? Can you play heavy rock with it?
Ibanez Artcore AFS75T

http://c1.zzounds.com/media/fit,2018by3200/quality,85/rotate,45/AFS75TDSV-3b7f24b7b742ed07f4bdf5c48624fc42.jpg
I've seen solid reviews for this guitar, very versatile, can play blues, jazz, classic rock and even heavy rock and I love the retro 50's look.

Any input by my axe wielding ISH bros would be greatly appreciated...rock on :rockon:

[outbreak]

Is that artcore a full or semi hollow? If you want heavy rock make sure you get a semi like the sheraton.

I've played a semi artcore that looks similar to that and it was a nice guitar but I've played others in store and they suck so make sure you try it first if getting an ibanez.

Never played a sheraton but I have an epi dot and it's a really nice guitar for the price, they use cheap nuts though so you might need to swap that over if you want it to stay in tune but other than that I've been happy with mine.

I want one of these at the moment

http://cdn.mos.musicradar.com/images/Total%20Guitar/256/gretsch-g5620t-cb-1200-80.jpg

I've currently got a full body gretsch but as soon as you hit it with too much volume and distortion it just feeds back, needs to be stuffed if I wanted to use it for shows or anything.

[DeuceWallaces]

I have an Epi Dot. The 95-05 Korean made dots are famous for quality:price ratio. The hardware is so-so but it can all be upgraded. I put about 800 into mine and now it's better than a 335 for about 1K less the price. Find a used one and look up the serial to find out which factory it was made at.

It may not be the best for heavy rock, but with a tube screamer and some V30's through a rectifier or whatever the **** people into heavy shit play I'm sure you'd be very happy for the price.

This is mine:

http://i.imgur.com/UXCGfXu.jpg

Schaller Tuners
Bone Nut
Gibson truss plate
Bigsby B7
Schaller Roller Bridge
Burstbucker Pro
Burstbucker #2
BCS ES335 vintage wiring harness
Gibson tophat reflector knobs

[TheMan]

Thanks a lot guys, great advice. I'm really torn between the Epi and the Ibanez. I guess it'll come down to trying them out in person. What I mean by playing heavy rock is more in the vein of Guns N' Roses, early Rush, Aerosmith etc. I know about the feedback issues on hollow body guitars. Outbreak, yeah, the Artcore is a full hollow body, not a semi. Thing is, I'm not planning on playing live with my guitars. There was a time when I gigged but now I'm just strictly a 'playing just as a hobby' player, so feedback might not be a huge issue with me since I don't plan on playing at a loud volume on stage. Anyways, I'm torn and I appreciate the info fellas.:cheers: