Hollow Body vs Solid Body Electric Guitars
Most electric guitars are a solid slab of wood. A hollow body is built like a big archtop jazz guitar with an open chamber inside, and it sounds and behaves differently enough that players either love it or never pick one up again. Here is how to know which side you are on.
Three kinds of body
- Solid body. A Stratocaster, Telecaster, Les Paul or PRS. Solid wood all the way through. Loud amps and high gain are no problem.
- Semi hollow. A thin body with a solid block of wood down the middle and hollow wings. The ES-335 shape is the famous one. A middle ground.
- Full hollow. No center block. The whole body is a resonating chamber with f holes. The Gretsch G2420T Streamliner is the one we carry.
What a hollow body sounds like
Woody, open and a little airy. Notes bloom instead of punching. Clean and lightly overdriven tones are where it shines, which is why you hear hollow bodies in rockabilly, jazz, country, blues and indie. Played unplugged it is loud enough to practice on the couch, which no solid body can claim.
The feedback question
A hollow body in front of a loud, distorted amp will howl. The body picks up the sound from the speaker and feeds it back through the pickups. Players who use it on purpose love it. Players who run heavy gain at band volume should look at a semi hollow or a solid body instead. At home volumes and with cleaner tones it is not an issue.
What the Bigsby does
The G2420T has a Bigsby B60 vibrato tailpiece. It is a gentle pitch wobble, not a dive bomb tremolo. It adds the shimmer you hear on old country and surf records. It also needs a proper setup to stay in tune, which is part of what we do on the bench before shipping.
Feel and size
A full hollow body is big. The G2420T body is wider and deeper than a Les Paul, though it weighs less because there is nothing inside. Smaller players sometimes find it awkward sitting down. If you can, try one on a strap standing up.
Who should buy which
- Hollow body. Clean and crunch players, rockabilly, jazz, country, worship, anyone who wants a second electric that sounds nothing like the first.
- Solid body. First electric, rock, metal, loud stages, anyone who wants one guitar for everything. Start with the electric guitar buying guide and the Les Paul vs Stratocaster guide.
Strings and care
Hollow bodies come with 10 or 11 gauge strings from the factory and sound best that way. See electric guitar string gauges explained. The arched top is thin, so a hardshell case is worth the money.
Every instrument we ship is set up by hand on our bench in Athens, Tennessee first. Read what a guitar setup is to see what that covers. Browse all electric guitars. Questions? Call the shop at (423) 462-1894 and a real person will help you choose.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you play rock on a hollow body guitar?
Yes at moderate gain. At high gain and band volume a full hollow body feeds back. A semi hollow or solid body handles that better.
Is a hollow body guitar good for a beginner?
It can be if you love the sound. Most beginners are better served by a solid body because it works for every style and costs less to start.
What is the difference between hollow and semi hollow?
A semi hollow has a solid wood block through the center which cuts feedback and tightens the sound. A full hollow has no block and sounds more open.
Does a Bigsby go out of tune?
A well set up Bigsby with a lubricated nut stays in tune for normal use. We set that up before the guitar ships.
