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The Guitar 101: Hollow Body Guitar | Blog

Apr 13, 2022

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 What is a hollow Body Guitar?

The hollow body guitars are famous for their clear, warm sound that is similar to the tone produced by fully electric guitars. They're also incredibly versatile, as you can play virtually everywhere on their own, or take them to the stage for a show using amplified electric guitars.

Hollow Body Guitar Origin

The background of this guitar really begins with its archtop model. In the early 20th century, guitar maker Orville Gibson designed an acoustic guitar with the back and top of the guitar curved. The year 1922 saw Lloyd Loar, who was employed by Gibson's Gibson company, further developed the archtop model and added F-holes.

The 1930s saw the first time guitar manufacturers started using pickups that converted the vibrations of strings to electrical signal. After the success of the first electric amplified steel guitar, Gibson introduced a pickup in the most well-known archtop model and created the first guitar that we now know as"the hollow-body guitar.

In a way this was an important step on the way towards developing electric solid body guitars that have changed the way that music is played and recorded in the present. But, the hollow body guitars still have their place in the music world and, to this day they are revered for their warmth and versatility particularly among jazz players.

 What is the difference between Hollow and Semi-Hollow Guitar

In an effort to combat the feedback issue, guitar makers looked for a way to create something halfway between hollow bodies and electric guitar that has a solid body. They developed the semi-hollow-body guitar.

This iteration is hollow above and below the strings. It still has the classic f-holes, but there is a substantial piece of wood in the middle, underneath the pickups and strings. This reduces feedback, and still preserves the warmth and acoustic characteristics.

 Different types of music that Use Hollow Body Guitar

The hollow body guitar sound makes it perfect for country, blues music, rockabilly, jazz, and country music. It was actually jazz musicians who popularized the instrument at the time it was created. Even before electric amplification, archtop guitars were often described as "jazz boxes."

In reality that you could use a hollow body guitar to play just about all kinds of music. The only exception would be hard rock or metal, which often involve lots of distortion. It can also cause excessive feedback. Semi-hollows or solid-body electric guitar could be the best choice for these genres.

 How do I play an Acoustic Body Guitar

The great thing about hollow-body guitars is the fact that they can be played without or with amplifying.

Remember that hollow body guitars are highly susceptible to feedback--that loud, squealing noise that occurs whenever a person who is using a microphone gets close to the same speaker that the microphone plugs into.

For hollow guitars the feedback will be Acoustic. It means that the audio produced by the amplifier is reflected within the body of the guitar that causes the strings to vibrate, which creates a signal for the pickup. This makes the amplifier produce an even greater volume of sound and so on.

To keep this from happening, try at least one of these options:

  • Stay away from the amp
  • Play at a lower volume
  • Play with a lower gain and avoid using distortion
  • Use a noise gate to your amp
  • Stuff the inside of the guitar with foam
  • Make sure to cover the holes in the f-holes using specific plugs

If the style that you are playing calls for high gain and lots of distortion or overdrive, consider getting an electric guitar with a solid body instead. It will save you the hassle and ensure that your listeners don't experience any unpleasant feedback.

Have a go at a hollow Body Guitar to see if you can make it work for yourself.

If you're considering buying one, be sure to rent the device, borrow it, or test the device in the local music store before buying one. There's a chance you'll fall the love of it!

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