The uniqueness of semi solid guitars

[@JonIsJustTooLoud]

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[@gillesgenete9598]

Hello Jonathan, thanks for your beautiful music. Made me think of Joe Jackson and his complex jazz-pop music. About your ES, I prefered the tone of your Tokai for that music, it was sweet and warm. I love the Seth Lovers pick-ups that I have in my Eastma T59v, but in the Heritage they surprised me being so agressive. Semi Hollow, Chuck Berry, John Lee Hooker, and the great Alvin Lee playing/Schredding I'm Going Home at Woodstock 1969, they rocked !

[@JonIsJustTooLoud]

thanks you Gilles!!! The heritage sounds aggressive because of the seth lover pickups!

[@caseylee12]

Oh, yes, Joe Jackson!

[@namcizum]

Omg, what a coincidence! Right after I purchased my first semi-hollow guitar a few minutes ago, this is the first video I see on KZbin! Not to mention that you posted this only a few hours back! I got myself an Ibanez AS93FM for my birthday. I'll let you know how it is when it arrives next week!!

[@JonIsJustTooLoud]

Nice!!!!✌️❤️

[@homeboyjon4885]

I have a couple of friends with the Ibanez semi-hollows. I love them! I kind of want one, too, just because they feel and sound great. I think deep down I prefer the Artcores to my Epiphone ES339.

[@bmoraga01]

Jonathan love your playing. Very hip, very cool. I read an article recently (I think it was from Reverb.com) about the alternatives to the Gibson 335. They covered about a dozen guitars. I was blown away when the Tokai (like the one you're playing) was rated as one of the best and well worth it if you can find one. I didn't believe it until I heard you on this video. I love the tone and prefer it to the Heritage. Dark, but very expressive, while the Heritage sounded good but with a little too much harsh treble for my taste. Keep up the great work! All the best from southern California. Bert

[@JonIsJustTooLoud]

Thanks Bert!!! I hope you have subscribed!! if you have , welcome to the channel!!😀

[@RiotBike]

I have a 2008 Tokai ES-135 bought brand new from The Pianoman Shop and it's the best guitar I have. It's much lighter than any Gibson ES-335 I've played and way, way louder acoustically. The only issue I had was that it'll turn muddy as soon as I roll the volume down so I had to rewire it to a 50's configuration. It's perfect now but I ordered a Faber aluminium stop tail and will see how it sound. And oh, I didn't have to adjust the truss rod since day one. It came set up perfectly right out of the box and the neck is very, very stable.

[@JonIsJustTooLoud]

Thank you for sharing ✌❤

[@massimos6863]

Beautiful playing and great Tone Brother Jonathan ❤🎸👍

[@JonIsJustTooLoud]

Grazie Millie!

[@DenisAhmet]

Thanks Jonathan for this comparison. I got my first semi, a Harley Benton E35 plus in Cherry Red, I think the body is slightly smaller than an ES335 and bigger than a 339. After changing the pickups for AlNiCo II,s and decent tuning pegs, it is currently my favourite guitar to play and the tone is so rich and warm. It’s really comfortable when sitting down, chunky neck, great action, incredible sustain and as you say they look great. I’m really tempted to go up market and get something like the Heritage, Gibson or an Eastman. I played an Eastman about ten years ago, I wish I’d bought it as its hard to find left handed ones in the UK and it was just over £1000.00, great value, it was stunning, excellent workmanship and the tone was incredible - I’d need to order one special now. It’s hard to find Japanese Tokais, your one is I think? I’ve seen an ES335 Gibson in sunburst, my favourite colour for £1995.00 available new in the UK. I’ve seen mixed reviews of new Gibson’s, so very undecided. I’m no expert, but I think it was only hollow body’s that had problems with feedback. Some guitarists put tape over the f holes to stop feedback, it looks awful. I like the top of the range Ibanez semi’s too. Then there are specialist Jazz semi,s, I know nothing about them at all. So many choices. Thank you again Jonathan for this inspiring demo. Bless you.

[@JonIsJustTooLoud]

Lol.. don’t forget the ones by Yamaha!!

[@caseylee12]

I only have one semi-hollow guitar... D'angelico Premier DC, black, with the stairstep tailpiece. It's the best one I could afford. Man, I LOVE THIS GUITAR! Nothing else sound like a semi-hollow body guitar!

[@JonIsJustTooLoud]

Cool that guitar sounds like its really awesome from your description!!😀

[@MrTimdriver]

Great style you have Jonathan.

[@JonIsJustTooLoud]

Thank you Tim! ✌💚

[@Steven_SK]

I enjoyed every aspect of this video. Thank you!

[@JonIsJustTooLoud]

My pleasure!!

[@denbo6054]

Back when I played in a local Top 40s band our lead guitarist played a 335 with a bigsby and he played some Awsome rock leads. I dont know how he kept it from feeding back either but some how he did. Today I own a Gretsch semi hollow body but when I want to play rock leads I either go to my Fender Tele or my Les Paul kit that I built. Incidentally it had a terrible tunning problem on the G string. I bought a "Earvana" compensated nut and that helped a lot ! PS Loved your playing as always

[@JonIsJustTooLoud]

Thanks for sharing Dennis!

[@bustinclouds2007]

As always Thank you for your Time......Also enjoyed watching your live Video yesterday..........Told my wife my new guitars will go up in Value and can give them to our Kids.....Ha...We have no kids....She just smiled.........Tim n Tina.

[@JonIsJustTooLoud]

hahahahaha!!!! 😂

[@homeboyjon4885]

I told my wife I need enough guitars to give one to each of our grandkids...we don’t have any yet but since I don’t know how many we might have, I’m working hard to make sure I have enough guitars to go round.

[@acublues7252]

I have very recently discovered your videos and I have to say, ..... man, I really love how you play !!!!!!!!! , apart from the fact that you seem to be a very nice person. So you have a new fan from spain, By the way I love my Epiphone Sheraton with all my heart.

[@JonIsJustTooLoud]

Yes! I had a sheraton..beautiful guitar! ✌❤

[@AndrewAHayes]

I have the string butler MK II on my LP and it has stopped the D and G strings going out of tune, highly recommended.

[@JonIsJustTooLoud]

cool Andrew!!! I'll get one soon enough!✌🤓

[@johnthomas9190]

tasty playing brother...

[@JonIsJustTooLoud]

Thank you John!!🤓✌

[@mrlionel1965]

I love your videos. I got a Harley Benton HB35 about 6 months ago. It’s a really great guitar.

[@JonIsJustTooLoud]

yea! I've meaning to try one out actually!✌❤

[@allatsea2746]

Wow! Great playing! AND I wouldn't have thought that I actually would like the Tokai better than the Heritage, but I do. Such a smooth, slightly compressed attack.

[@JonIsJustTooLoud]

Thank you!✌♥

[@chuckrieger782]

"ES-SSS" Smooth,Sweet, Soulful!!! Fantastic video Jonathan!!! I'll be drooling over it all weekend...lol!!! Just a friendly suggestion again, now that you've done a fantastic video on thinlines, it would be a great opportunity to do a review of a Squier Starcaster Classic vibe. 👍😎🎸

[@JonIsJustTooLoud]

Thanks Chuckie!! checking up on the starrcaster now!

[@JonIsJustTooLoud]

ohwow!! now I know why you are crazy about it!! its beautiful!! Will try to get my hands on ooe for review!✌❤

[@chuckrieger782]

@@JonIsJustTooLoud Thank you, it's a very interesting guitar. It was actually Fender's second attempt to get into the 335 market. The original Starcaster models go for insane money these days... around $3,400 US! I was lucky enough to play an original model in the early eighties... It was in a local music store that I was taking lessons from.

[@chuckrieger782]

@@JonIsJustTooLoud Awesome!!! I knew you'd be interested in it!!! I love the Gibson meets Fender look and feel it has!!! The original ones were only made from '76-'80. I'm so happy they're reissuing them now. There is actually a cult following for them now. Hope you have a great evening...chat with you soon.🎸😎👍

[@Furtheronmusic]

Actually most 335s have dot inlays like your Tokai. The dot is the original 50s feature in early 60s they went to the blocks like used on later 70s sgs too, ie smaller than on a Lp/sg custom or 355. Later in the 60s they brought in a trapeze string holder to replace the stop piece. Both those changes were reversed in the 80s. Larry's was I believe a late 60s retrofitted with a tp6 stop tail as used by BB King on his 355s. I've never owned a 335 I've thought many times but never given in. I might fancy a 339 with the smaller body and like the epiphone models.

[@JonIsJustTooLoud]

Thank you for the info Graham!! I still like the block inlays though!! lol

[@gazzaad]

I've just got an Hagstrom Viking in Miami blue and it looks gorgeous and it sounds great . I know what you mean when you describe them and the fact you wanna keep picking them up . I wish I'd got one years ago

[@JonIsJustTooLoud]

yea...right?? lol

[@gazzaad]

Jonathan Koh I’m on about the style of guitar not the make

[@JonIsJustTooLoud]

Me too ✌️❤️

[@Vern859]

Vince Gill played on of those on the midnight rider tune with Greg Allman. His waz a Gibson. Boy Vince when into crazy guitar solo that day.. Its on utube. Check it out..

[@JonIsJustTooLoud]

Thanks for the heads up Vernon!✌❤

[@Bottiglianelleonde]

You play in an amazing way...And I think Tokai are very good guitars

[@JonIsJustTooLoud]

Thank you! and yes they are!✌🤓

[@tomdameek]

I heard of someone who put acoustic sponge underneath the pickups to cut down on feedback Jon. I imagine it may affect tone though. I wouldn’t sell my humble HB 35 plus for anything though. That Tokai is beautiful 😍

[@JonIsJustTooLoud]

Yep I heard that..maybe i might just give a try!

[@lchown1813]

I bought a string butler a while back for my Hagstrom Swede...similar neck to Gibson because I had the same problem with tuning stability....didn't really help...but not sure at this point if there is another reason...ie tuners might be an issue...they are Grovers but not sure of the quality or age of them...guitar is from the 80's..still struggling...possible that the nut isn't cut right....

[@JonIsJustTooLoud]

yea...nut is the 1st thing i check!

[@ghiadetomaso1642]

Ive got only few idea what an ES should sound like, youre Tokai seems to me very well, still a tiny bit too harsh, if you rolled back a bit of the tone, maybe think it definitely will sound warmer, the Red Devil corporate one, too harsh :) and yes use a Graphtech Nut they are fantastic and as an addon, i got a Squier Strat chinese made but it sounds just acoustic, no amp like Love so I know a bit of what you mean when naturally played

[@JonIsJustTooLoud]

thank you for sharing...✌❤

[@ghiadetomaso1642]

youre more experienced in playing live than me, maybe as an idea of a vid is use of not illegal drugs, no never but some drugs to make you fit for stage performance and some to make you then sleep well :o)

[@ghiadetomaso1642]

and as i say i will in future comments ad some relating links, band is located in my town very nice ES playing, enjoy kzbin.info/www/bejne/m56VhWarfr-Frc0

[@PeteAxeShields]

The Tokai sings like a Skylark x

[@JonIsJustTooLoud]

Yes it does✌️❤️

[@stevemora7845]

A couple of beauties! 👍🎵

[@JonIsJustTooLoud]

Yes they are!

[@lchown1813]

Hey Johnathon....I came back to this video again.(still dreaming about getting a hollowbody)...and noted that I liked the sound of the Tokai ...are they stock pickups?

[@JonIsJustTooLoud]

lol...Yes they are!

[@AntonioCavicchioni]

Lee Ritenour, Larry Carlton... Alvin Lee?

[@JonIsJustTooLoud]

I dont know...does he use one? Probably right

[@AntonioCavicchioni]

@@JonIsJustTooLoud Yes. He used it for many years. Check for example "I'm going home” , Woodstock.

[@mikki9644]

kicking out videos ;) i like that, i still work on my first one...... iam too dumb for adobe :D greetings (unfreundlich)

[@JonIsJustTooLoud]

Let me know when it is out!!!!✌♥

[@mikki9644]

@@JonIsJustTooLoud i will my friend all takes time. we finally got the paperwork for the house, 6 month later.....so in 2-3 weeks we can finally move in and i can start to build my shop. bought a pinrouter and cant use it....its with all my tools in my father in laws shed. so iam limited with what i can do, but iam filming a squier tele makeover, iam bored :D

[@JonIsJustTooLoud]

Mikki awesome brother!! We are all bored!! Lol

[@digitafutura6174]

Jonathan r u residing in Singapore or Malaysia?

[@JonIsJustTooLoud]

I’m in singapore ✌️❤️