Ready to ship
55.000 Products
55.000 products
ready for shipment
Money Back
30 Day Return Policy
You have placed the following items into your shopping cart
Ready to ship
55.000 Products
55.000 products
ready for shipment
Money Back
30 Day Return Policy
The hollow body guitar has different names depending on its construction and sound. Some models, for example, are called jazz guitars. Although the latter term refers to a specific music genre, these types of guitars are very versatile. This versatility is offered through a wide range of sound possibilities, as the electric signal generated by the sound can be altered in infinite ways, for example, by choosing the amplifier. The hollow body guitar has been used in many music genres, such as blues, rock 'n' roll, rhythm & blues, jazz, and rockabilly, and remains very popular in these styles to this day. The difference between the hollow body guitar and the jazz guitar lies in the details. In terms of sound, both types of guitars generally offer a full and warm sound with a high bass presence, typically enhanced by the construction with resonance chambers and pickups. A good example of the versatility of these guitars is the obvious difference between the sound of B.B. King's guitar, Brian Setzer's rockabilly sound, or the tone of well-known jazz guitarists Pat Metheny and Jim Hall. All the musicians mentioned above play hollow body guitars. The famous model played by B.B. King (The Thrill Is Gone) was a Gibson ES-355 without f-holes, but with a resonant body. Pat Metheny's tone is much softer and darker thanks to his Gibson ES-175, which he later replaced with an Ibanez PM 1000.
The sound of the hollow body guitar is warmer and can be somewhat more bass-heavy than that of an electric guitar. Depending on the construction, a hollow body guitar develops some sustain, and depending on the model, the resonance behavior varies. With high gain sounds, this type of guitar poses greater challenges, as the resonance chamber makes feedback control difficult. It is often used in genres such as jazz, country, bluegrass, blues, or rockabilly, where extreme saturation or volume is usually not crucial.
The Gibson ES-335 is one of the most popular hollow body models, and manufacturers such as Godin, Duesenberg, Hagstrom, Epiphone, J & D, Ibanez, Yamaha, and Gretsch also offer numerous alternatives. Today, virtually all ES models are equipped with a central block in the middle of the body, which divides the resonant body into two parts and allows for a more pronounced sustain and better feedback control. ES models are particularly popular among jazz and blues guitarists. Gretsch's hollow body guitars, such as the Eddie Cochran model, are very popular in the rockabilly and blues scenes. The single-coil P90 pickups used in this guitar give the sound a distinctive definition.
While ES models are typically no more than 50 cm deep and not much thicker than electric guitars, the body of a jazz guitar is sometimes as wide as an acoustic guitar. This gives these models a drier, more direct sound with a powerful attack. In cheaper models, the top is often made of laminated plywood, which is very stable and quite resistant to moisture. Gibson and Gretsch models typically have a solid, carved spruce top.
There are also variants of classic electric guitar models with a hollow body construction. You can find Gibson Les Paul or Fender Thinline Telecaster models that are built with resonance chambers. These models are generally low-feedback and therefore versatile. There are also hollow body guitar models with a reduced body. Gretsch Streamliner guitars or the Ibanez Artcore series are also suitable for beginners or those looking for an affordable model.
If you want to start playing a hollow body guitar, you can purchase an instrument from us at a very reasonable price. For example, we offer hollow body guitars from manufacturers J & D and Epiphone starting at 300 euros, which is in the lower price range. If you choose a classic American Gibson model, you will find very famous guitars from rock music history in the mid-price range for under 1000 euros (e.g., the Guild Starfire IV). In the higher price range, there are hollow body guitars for over 3000 euros. If you are looking for something unusual and/or special, we recommend visiting our Custom Shop. Here you will find hollow body guitars made from carefully selected woods, with exceptional design, construction, and sound concepts, such as the electro-acoustic Taylor T5z models. The team in the guitar department is happy to assist you in choosing the ideal instrument.
PRS, Godin, Duesenberg, Taylor, Fame, Fender, Gibson, Hagstrom, Höfner, Epiphone, Guild, J&D, Ibanez, Yamaha, Mayones
