The Resonant Charm: Our Picks for the Best Hollow Body Guitars
There’s something undeniably captivating about a hollow body guitar. They whisper tales of smoky jazz clubs, jangling rockabilly rhythms, and soulful blues licks. With their distinctive acoustic-electric blend and undeniable aesthetic appeal, hollow bodies offer a playing experience unlike any other.
But with so many options out there, how do you find the best hollow body guitar for you? Let’s dive into what makes these instruments special and highlight some of the top contenders across various budgets and styles.
What Makes a Hollow Body Special?
Before we get to the picks, let’s clarify what we’re talking about – and crucially, the difference between full hollow and semi-hollow.
Full Hollow Body: These guitars feature a completely open interior, much like an acoustic guitar, often with f-holes. This design provides maximum acoustic resonance, warmth, and a natural, woody tone. They excel in jazz, blues, and anything requiring a rich, complex clean sound. The trade-off? They are more prone to feedback at higher volumes and gain.
Semi-Hollow Body: These guitars have a solid block of wood running through the center of the body, flanked by hollow wings. This center block helps reduce feedback and adds sustain, making them much more versatile for higher-gain applications while still retaining some of that signature hollow body warmth and resonance. The Gibson ES-335 is the quintessential semi-hollow.Both possess that classic hollow body “voice” – warm, airy, and harmonically rich, but their construction dictates their ideal playground.
Why Choose a Hollow Body?
Unique Tone: A blend of acoustic resonance and electric power, offering incredible warmth, sustain, and character.
Versatility: From pristine jazz cleans to gritty blues and even indie rock jangle, many hollow bodies can cover a lot of ground.
Aesthetics: They are undeniably beautiful instruments, often featuring elegant archtops, f-holes, and classic finishes.
Feel: Often lighter than solid bodies, they can offer a more "acoustic" feel while playing.Our Top Picks for the Best Hollow Body Guitars
We’ve rounded up a selection that caters to different budgets, styles, and preferences, from classic full hollows to versatile semi-hollows.
- Epiphone Casino (Full Hollow) Why it’s great: An absolute legend thanks to its use by The Beatles. The Casino is a full hollow body with P-90 single-coil pickups, delivering a bright, articulate, and slightly gritty tone that’s perfect for rock and roll, blues, and indie. It’s incredibly resonant and offers fantastic value.
Best for: Players seeking a true full hollow experience, classic tones, and a guitar that begs to be played loud (with attention to feedback!).
Ideal genres: Rock, blues, indie rock, British Invasion. - Ibanez Artcore Series (Full/Semi-Hollow Options) Why it’s great: The Artcore series has democratized hollow body guitars, offering an incredible range of models (full and semi-hollow) at very accessible price points. They are known for their great playability, solid construction, and versatile tone, often featuring Ibanez’s Super 58 or Classic Elite humbuckers.
Best for: Beginners and intermediate players looking for excellent value, versatile tones, and comfortable playability.
Ideal genres: Jazz, blues, rock, funk, indie. - Gretsch Electromatic Series (Full/Semi-Hollow Options) Why it’s great: If you crave that iconic Gretsch “twang” and vintage aesthetic without breaking the bank, the Electromatic series is your go-to. Featuring Black Top Broad’Tron or Filter’Tron pickups, these guitars deliver sparkling cleans, punchy rockabilly tones, and a distinct character that stands out in any mix. Many models come with a Bigsby vibrato for extra flair.
Best for: Rockabilly, surf rock, country, indie pop, and anyone who loves classic Gretsch sound and looks.
Ideal genres: Rockabilly, surf, country, alternative, jangle-pop. - PRS SE Hollowbody Standard / Piezo (Full Hollow) Why it’s great: PRS brings its renowned build quality and playability to the hollow body world with the SE Hollowbody. These full hollow guitars are surprisingly resistant to feedback and offer a gorgeous, articulate tone thanks to their 58/15 “S” humbuckers. The Piezo model adds an acoustic-like pickup for even more sonic breadth.
Best for: Modern players seeking high-quality craftsmanship, versatile tones, and a comfortable, ergonomic playing experience.
Ideal genres: Jazz, blues, fusion, classic rock, ambient. - Gibson ES-335 (Semi-Hollow) Why it’s great: The undeniable king of semi-hollows. The ES-335 (and its more affordable Epiphone “Dot” and “Sheraton” cousins) is a workhorse, famed for its perfect balance of sustain, warmth, and feedback resistance. Its PAF-style humbuckers deliver everything from sweet jazz comping to searing blues leads and driving rock rhythms.
Best for: Professional musicians and serious players who need a supremely versatile, iconic, and high-performing instrument.
Ideal genres: Blues, jazz, classic rock, pop, country, fusion – virtually anything! - D’Angelico Excel Series (Full/Semi-Hollow Options) Why it’s great: D’Angelico guitars are known for their stunning art-deco aesthetics and superb playability. The Excel series offers beautifully crafted hollow and semi-hollow bodies at a more accessible price point than their Masterbuilts. They often feature proprietary D’Angelico humbuckers, delivering a rich, complex tone that’s perfect for serious jazz and blues players.
Best for: Musicians who appreciate classic elegance, smooth playability, and sophisticated tones.
Ideal genres: Jazz, blues, R&B, traditional pop.
Tips for Choosing Your Hollow Body
Full vs. Semi-Hollow: Decide if feedback at high gain is a deal-breaker. If you play loud or with heavy distortion, a semi-hollow is likely a safer bet.
Pickups: Humbuckers offer warmth and output, P-90s are brighter and grittier, and Filter'Trons have a unique sparkle.
Playability: As with any guitar, the neck profile and fret access are crucial.
Budget: There are fantastic options at every price point, so set a realistic budget.
Try Before You Buy: Hollow bodies have a distinct feel and sound; try different models through your preferred amp if possible.Hollow body guitars are more than just instruments; they’re pieces of art with a soulful voice. Whether you’re chasing the warmth of jazz, the twang of rockabilly, or the grit of the blues, there’s a perfect hollow body out there waiting to inspire your next tune.
What’s your dream hollow body guitar? Let us know in the comments below!