Semi-Hollow Guitars

Semi-Hollow Guitars have a hollow body with a solid wooden centre block running beneath the pickups from the neck to the bridge. Gibson introduced this construction in 1958 with the ES-335, and today you can find it on guitars by Epiphone, Gibson, Gretsch, Ibanez, Sire, Duesenberg, Rickenbacker and PSD. The hollow chambers on either side of the block give the tone air and warmth, while the block adds sustain and resists feedback when the amplifier is loud. This page features only semi-hollow models from the Semiacoustic Guitars category: Gibson and Epiphone ES-335, ES-339, ES-345 and ES-355, Epiphone Riviera, Gretsch Streamliner Center Block, Ibanez AS and Artstar AR520H, Sire Larry Carlton H7, and Rickenbacker 330 and 360.

What is the difference between semi-hollow guitars and hollow body guitars?

A hollow body guitar is hollow throughout, with no centre block. It has an airy, acoustic sound, but is more prone to feedback at higher volumes and with distortion. A semi-hollow guitar has a solid block in the middle, so it can handle a louder amplifier and overdrive while retaining some of the open tone of a hollow body. You can find fully hollow guitars, played mainly by jazz guitarists, on the Jazz & Hollow Body Guitars page.

What music suits a semi-hollow guitar?

A semi-hollow guitar is at home in blues, rock, soul, indie and jazz. Most models here have two humbuckers: the clean tone is round and warm, while with distortion the guitar sounds full and sustains its notes. Gretsch Streamliner and Electromatic models with a T in the name have a Bigsby tremolo for gentle vibrato, while some Duesenberg guitars have their own Duesenberg tremolo. Rickenbacker 330/12 and 360/12 are twelve-string versions with a chiming sound.

What should you look for when choosing a semi-hollow guitar?

• Body shape – the classic double cutaway of the ES-335, the smaller ES-339 body, the single cutaway of the PRS SE Zach Myers or the T-style body of the G&L ASAT Bluesboy Semi-Hollow.
• Bridge – a fixed Tune-o-matic bridge with a tailpiece keeps the guitar in tune, while a Bigsby tremolo adds vibrato.
• Left-handed options – left-handed versions include the Epiphone ES-335 LH and G&L ASAT Bluesboy Semi-Hollow Lefty.