Epiphone Wildkat

[OHIOSTEVE]

I don't own a hollow bodied guitar. There is one of these locally I think I can get for $250 like new but no case. I know nothing about them. Anyone have any opinions on these?

 

[smk506]

I thought they were pretty cool, never bought one, but I played one a few times at Sam ash when they came out.

Not a traditional hollow body if I remember right, I think they’re very heavily chambered solid cores with back and top added or something along those lines.

 

[geddy]

I have the white royale. I like it. It has a good vibe. Moved the strap button behind the heel for balance and improved the bridge string break angle from the Bigsby. Sounds dark and missing something stock. However there is a well known, you evidence based, analysis of its shortcomings online, by Stuart from Award Session, that showed that the miles of high capacitance cable inside are the cause. Changing this puts back the high end and makes a big difference. There are YouTube vids that show this

 

[OHIOSTEVE]

Went and looked at it...money in my pocket. Came home without it. I just didn't fall in love with it I guess and I didn't NEED it.

 

[OHIOSTEVE]

I did leave the door open to go back for it but it just didn't grab me.

 

[Leumas]

I've ALMOST bought a wildkat at least 4 times. I always felt the same as you. It didn't move me to get it, even though the price was right.

 

[Parabar]

I have one and like it a lot. No, they are NOT a hollowbody, but as smk506 says, a heavily chambered semi-hollow. To me the tone is reminiscent of a beefier Telecaster-type sound.

 

[JMP]

I did leave the door open to go back for it but it just didn't grab me.

I hear you. With affordable used guitars, I often consider them a small investment or experiment in checking out various types of guitars.

 

[Fuelish]

I've had one for a few years now, it's a nice guitar, really, and apparently an Epi "original" and not a Gibson clone...now that I've messed with it enough - adjusted polepieces, added a lighter spring to the Bigsby, it plays and sounds just fine....man, that stock Bigsby spring was stiff...it still feels like work to play it (much like my LP) but it's a fun rock'n'roller.

 

[Cozmik Cowboy]

A friend of mine has been through probably a few hundred guitars in his 50+ years as a pro player. He has never bought used Epi, he has never bought a new non-Epi, and he has never sold an Epi. He has bought a new Epi about every 20 years; a '66 (IIRC, close if not exact) Casino, an '88 Sheraton, and a '0? Wildkat (I just realized it's getting close to time for another one).
I think that says something about the 'kat (it also probably says something that he plays the other two far more).
I played his once; I loved the look, the feel, and the sound. A unique beast.

 

[Wuuthrad]

How’s the master vol, 2 vol, one tone combo? That’s what interests me. I ended up with one of these ( I figure a large body semi hollow is a better idea )

Hagstrom Viking

 

[CB91710]

I've just never felt the love for the Wildcat.
Kinda like the Gibson Memphis... it seems like it's trying to be something it's not, and not succeeding in being either.
I love the traditional semi-hollow and hollow-body models... Yet I also dig the ES Les Paul and Blueshawk... go figure.

 

[Parabar]

How’s the master vol, 2 vol, one tone combo? That’s what interests me. I ended up with one of these ( I figure a large body semi hollow is a better idea )

View attachment 496743

Hagstrom Viking

That's the standard layout for Gretsch guitars. It works especially well if you use both pickups and adjust the volume of each pickup differently. The master volume allows you to turn up or down without changing the balance of the pickups.