Semi-Hollow / Hollow-Body Electric Guitar
An electric guitar built with a hollow or partially hollow body for a warmer, more resonant tone than a solid-body instrument, popular in jazz, blues, and rockabilly.
Semi-hollow and fully hollow electric guitars trace their design back to archtop acoustic guitars that had pickups added to them. A semi-hollow body, like the Gibson ES-335, combines hollow wings with a solid center block running down the middle, which tames feedback while still letting the body resonate for a warmer, airier tone than a solid-body guitar. A fully hollow-body guitar takes that resonance further with a completely open chamber, giving an even more acoustic-like voice, at the cost of being more prone to feedback at high volume and gain.
Types
- Semi-hollow — a solid center block reduces feedback while keeping some of the openness of a hollow body; versatile enough for jazz, blues, indie rock, and even moderate-gain rock.
- Fully hollow (archtop) — no center block, maximum resonance and acoustic character, favored in traditional jazz but harder to use with distortion or high stage volume.
- Thinline — a slimmer, lighter hollow or semi-hollow body (like a Fender Thinline Telecaster) that adds some hollow-body warmth to an otherwise solid-body-style guitar.
How to use it
- Plug in and set up exactly as you would a solid-body guitar — same cable, same amp connection.
- Because these guitars resonate more, be mindful of standing too close to your amp at higher volumes; that resonance can turn into feedback more easily than on a solid-body guitar.
- Take advantage of the warmer tone for clean and low-gain playing, where the extra resonance and sustain are most audible.
Care
Handle and store these guitars the same as any electric — a case or padded stand, away from temperature extremes. The hollow chambers make the body a bit more sensitive to humidity changes than a solid-body electric, similar to (though less so than) an acoustic guitar.
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