Hey, Chas! I would think that, as picky as guitar player are, each would have a preference for their own instrument. From a production standpoint, it's more normal for a studio to own and supply it's own cherry, perfectly adjusted P bass and maybe a house bass amplifier.

You already know that people who play the kind of music we like use either a fully hollow....usually more than three inches thick, or a semi-hollow with humbuckers...usually 2 1/2" thick. Lee Ritenauer plays a 335 Gibson, which is the semi-hollow workhorse of the business. They are in the neighborhood of $3500.0o. Same with an ES 175, the guitar played by many of the traditionalists. It's hollow, has humbuckers, and costs about $3750.00 new. Of course, there is the L-5 and other Gibsons retailing for $10,000.00 up. L-5's and 175's are Herb Ellis, Wes Montgomery kind of instruments. George Benson used to play an L-5 until he started to sing and get into light fusion, when he switched to a semi hollow. He now has his own Ibanez branded GB instrument, which retails for about $2500.00.

Thing is, guitars are so personal that I would not get a "house" guitar. Piano, synths, B-3...even drums if you use the real thing, but not guitars.

If you really want one there, let me loan you a couple...a hollow DeArmond and a Peerless semi-hollow. Test them out. They sound great and will let you decide which way to go.

A DeArmond is an instrument sold as a Guild X 150. It was discontinued when Fender bought Guild, but they're around for the amount you want to pay and will do the job ($500.00).

Studio guys don't expect to use a studio instrument. If it's a convenience thing, it won't really matter what it is, as long as the neck is straight and the tone is OK.

For studio work, I keep an arsenal of two solid Fenders, a 335, a Parker Fly, a Guild 150, a classical, a HiBred (magnetic and acoustic pick-ups)and a traditional acoustic. Over a year's time, I'll use 35 or more different instruments, depending on the work.

Then, there's the issue of pickups...how many, how hot and what kind. Pickups are either "floaters"...attached to the side of the neck like a mic, not mounted into a hole in the body or permanently mounted ones.

A choice must be made whether you want a generalist guitar, capable of being used on fusion, standards and lots of other stuff or a specialty jazz guitar. They range from a single pick-up floater (limited tones, but Oh so sweet)to a Switchmaster (not made recently...three pickups used in combination.

The next decision is whether you want a collectible or not. I have really good expensive guitars that gain in value and much less expensive "beaters" that sound great but don't retain their value.

Peerless is a manufacturer of great sounding guitars that retail for less than $1,000. They are Korean manufacturers that used to make the $1,000 Guild, Gretsch, PRS and other major brand instruments. They were of such high quality that the Peerless line wsintroduced several years ago. They are FABULOUS, as is a similar brand,Eastwood.

I have recently met and purchased a Hendrickson amplifier and Peerless Bird of Prey from Lou at Guitars and Jazz. What an interesting fellow! He is a pharmacist who sell jazz guitars. when your AX bill comes in, it is processed at his pharmacy.

Gibson has intermittent quality problems; particularly recently, since they moved the factory.

Guitar is the one instrument a studio does not normally supply.

Want to try some out, I'll ship some to you and you can ship them back when finished.

No hurry. I only have a few over 200 AFTER getting rid of over 100.

Why don't you start to play? I'd be glad to help!

Russ