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Epiphone goes high-end with its Inspired By Gibson Custom 2025 collection: [from left] the '63 Firebird in Polaris White is joined by a 1959 Les Paul Standard, a '64 SG Standard, a 1960 Les Paul Special in TV Yellow and a 1962 ES-335 reissue.
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  1. Guitars
  2. Acoustic Guitars

6 of the best semi-acoustic guitars

News
By Guitarist ( Guitarist ) published 30 January 2017

Modern semis in a variety of styles and prices. It's time to get hip…

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Epiphone Gary Clark Jr 'Blak & Blu' Casino with Bigsby

Epiphone Gary Clark Jr 'Blak & Blu' Casino with Bigsby

Available with or without Bigsby, this hollowbody ES-330-style double-cut thinline gives plenty of hollowbody style without the depth or size of a bigger ‘jazzbox’.

Listen to Gary Clark’s music and hear just how valid a guitar like this is for a contemporary player. Epiphone has many larger hollowbodies and centre-blocked thinlines, too.

Epiphone Gary Clark Jr ‘Blak & Blu’ Casino with Bigsby review

Page 1 of 6
Page 1 of 6
Fender Starcaster

Fender Starcaster

Fender’s answer to the ES-335 was derided on its original launch, but has since become a minor classic within the genre.

This affordable remake isn’t exactly a reissue, but captures the style perfectly and - like the ES-335 - suits a huge range of styles thanks to its centre block, dual Wide Range ’buckers with four-control layout, and tune-o-matic/stud tailpiece bridge setup.

Fender Starcaster review

Page 2 of 6
Page 2 of 6
Guild Newark St Starfire II ST

Guild Newark St Starfire II ST

Originally recreated by Fender, new owner Cordoba has picked up the mantle and is continuing to plunder Guild’s past with an ever-widening array of guitars.

This Starfire II is a single-cut thinline with bridge block - a slightly more ‘hollowbody’ thinline than instruments such as the centre-blocked Starfire V, while the mini humbuckers bridge the gap between a single coil and vintage-style ’bucker.

Guild Newark St Starfire II ST review

Page 3 of 6
Page 3 of 6
Godin 5th Avenue CW HB

Godin 5th Avenue CW HB

Godin might not be the hippest brand on the planet, but the Canadian company makes some seriously good guitars that are perfect for the working musician.

Its 5th Avenue archtop range includes numerous variants and this cutaway, which has dual Godin humbuckers, and plenty of mileage, not least in its vintage-y satin sheen Custom Polished finish.

Godin 5th Avenue CW HB review

Page 4 of 6
Page 4 of 6
Gibson Memphis ES-339 Satin 2015

Gibson Memphis ES-339 Satin 2015

While you can easily put a load of cash on a Memphis-built ES-335, the down-sized ES-339 comes in a lot more wallet friendly, and in various formats, too.

It’s a neat concept for those of us who find the big ol’ jazz-age guitars rather bulky. You’ll still fi nd this 2015 model in some stores and its satin fi nish gives it a really ‘used’ vibe. And, of course, it’s a superb USA-made Gibson!

Gibson Memphis ES-339 Satin 2015 review

Page 5 of 6
Page 5 of 6
Gretsch G6118T Players Edition Anniversary

Gretsch G6118T Players Edition Anniversary

If your aspirations lie on the swinger side of the jazz, remember Gretsch ain’t just for rockabilly.

The company recently changed the game with its affordable Streamliners; it’s upgrading its mid-priced Electromatics right now, and the top Japanese models have already had a makeover. The Players Edition models feature String Thru Bigsbys, locking tuners, pinned bridges and ML bracing.

Gretsch G6118T Players Edition Anniversary review

Page 6 of 6
Page 6 of 6
Guitarist
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Epiphone goes high-end with its Inspired By Gibson Custom 2025 collection: [from left] the '63 Firebird in Polaris White is joined by a 1959 Les Paul Standard, a '64 SG Standard, a 1960 Les Paul Special in TV Yellow and a 1962 ES-335 reissue.
Epiphone expands and upgrades Inspired By Gibson Custom range with 8 stunning "reissue" electrics
Gretsch Limited Edition Jim Dandy Parlor Solid Top
Gretsch drops two limited edition Jim Dandy acoustics with solid spruce tops and off-the-charts mojo
Harley Benton HBJ-45E SBK
Harley Benton unveils dreadnought inspired by a classic workhorse – and it is crazy affordable
Gretsch Broadkaster Jr LX Center Block with Bigsby
Gretsch’s unveils new MIJ high-end semi-hollows with redesigned bodies and Pro Twin Six humbuckers
Duesenberg Alliance Series Tom Bukovac: the new semi-hollow signature model is a stunning singlecut with a quilted maple build in a natural finish.
“Unbeatable... A play-anything guitar”: Duesenberg Alliance Series Tom Bukovac Session Man review
Harley Benton Custom Line Nashville-Nylon BK: the latest nylon-string hybrid electro-acoustic from the German budget gear giant is a super-affordable option for players looking for that Tim Henson vibe. Just look at those decorative F-holes.
Harley Benton's Nashville Nylon might just be the most affordable electro-acoustic nylon-string yet
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On the left, a Gibson Les Paul Standard Double Cut, solid-bodied, in Vintage Cherry Sunburst, it looks like the archetypical singlecut. On the right, the new Les Paul Parlor, a guitar that applies the LP aesthetic to a small-bodied acoustic.
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