Change of tastes so...change of guitar, need advice

[Stevepage]

Well after about a year of being bored and uninspired, I've given up on trying to get a metal band together. So what's been interesting me and been constantly in the car is blues/rock like Bonamassa, Robben Ford, Andy Timmons etc.

So I'm changing everything, sell my amp and the majority of my guitars and going in a different direction.

Whats caught my eye recently is Godin LG's. They seem very well made as I've played one shortly unamped. They're a good price and look great. What's the opinion on them?

Also, PRS SE Custom Semi hollow. I've had a Standard 24 before (which I wish I kept now) so I'm familiar with the feel they have, but what's the quality like of the SE's? Are semi hollows hard to keep feedback under control? Also in the same price bracket as the Godins but how do they compare in quality?

[blue]

i've only played a Godin nylon string solid body, but it seemed very well put together.  i've owned a prs se, although not the hollow body.  it, too, was a very solid, well built guitar, which played and sounded very good.

[tomjackson]

Archtop Semi's can feedback a bit, even with a centre block.  It's a kind of howl / resonance that comes out of the F hole.  Mine squeels with higher gain as well but that's just down to the unpotted pickups, not the design.
I kind of like the hint of feedback but if you are playing loud with a bit of gain it can be troublesome.

That said, I would expect a lot less with the PRS as it has a lot less air inside it than a 335 and would be closer to a solidbody.  I guess it's more of a thinline type guitar that a semi so as long as the pickups are okay I think you could play Bonamassa levels of gain ok without it feeding back.

[38thBeatle]

I can't comment on PRS hollow body guitars but to the point about feedback. I can't say I have had too much of a problem with my 339. Only when things are really cranked up and perhaps the venue is small and I am right by my amp have I had any issue but then again I tend to play a fairly clean setting mostly. I think a high gain situation might prove more difficult ( I don't know-just speculating) but as you are shifting to another genre you mightn't have the problem either.

[Keven]

I for one can vouch for the Godin LG. I own two godin exit 22 with maple neck with different applications. the guitar ages very well. (had both for 5+ years and teaching every night with them and gigging and recording.. it's a workhorse)

the LG is also nice in its dual humbucker switching scheme. it comes stock with a 5 way blade. so you get Bridge Hum. Bridge Split. both Split. Neck Split, Neck Hum. it's nice to have this stock.

the stock pickups are pretty nice too. i think they're alnico (IIRC the GHB1 is Alnico and the NHB2 is Ceramic) it's not too expensive either. depends on your budget.

Obviously PRS are great but as far as SE goes.. it's in the same ballpark, though godin seems to have more consistent wood choices, as a stockist in my shop. i've seen a fair few of them.

do give it a tone shootout before buying though. i've been sorely dissapointed with some of the RedlineII's compared to Indonesia made Schecter Omen Extreme.

[Mr. Air]

I got a LG and I've had it for almost 15 years I believe. Mine truly is a great guitar. It's so easy and comfortable to play and has a quite slim neck. I remember trying a never model many years ago which had a thicker neck which really didn't suit me because I was used to slim one on my own.

I can't say anything about the current pickups on the LGs. I think Godin has made a few pickup changes LG wise. Mine has what's called Tetrad pickups. They are humbuckers, but each pickup got four magnets. They sound really good.

All in all, from my own experiences, the LG is a versatile and great playing guitar and it hasn't got the biggest price tag which is a great plus.

Maybe you should check out Reverend Guitars. They really bang for buck and got a nice line up of different models. Might be something there for you. I own a Manta Ray and it's super.

www.reverendguitars.com

[Stevepage]

Well I just got back from trying out a couple of guitars.

PRS Tremonti SE and Ibanez AR300

The PRS was more comfy and easier to play but the AR300 sounded much better. Better sustain, clearer sound and less 'plasticy' is the only way I could put it. Though if I was looking for a guitar to play hard rock or metal I'd go with the PRS.

I'm holding on until I try out a Godin though as I like the specs on the LG's.

[Simon D]

Can't comment on Godins - they're rarer than rocking horse shite around here.

However, I owned a PRS SE for about 18 months, and my impressions were that it was very well built and finished, but that the pickups weren't up to much (they got replaced by BKPs), the tuners were far from the best (also got replaced) and the fretwire was extremely soft and didn't stand up to heavy use very well.

That's just my 2 cents - hope it helps.