10 Best Hollow Body Guitars Under $500

Best Hollow Body Guitars Under 500

Hollow body guitars—they’ll never go out of fashion.

Not only super cool, but they also produce a remarkable tone. A tone that features on the biggest selling tracks and echoes around the fullest arenas.

It’s time for you to join the party. On top of the pile sits the Gibson ES-335. But, what if you can’t afford it!?

Then let’s talk about the best hollow body guitars under $500. There are more options than you realize.

The Best Semi-Hollow and Hollow Body Guitars Under $500


Epiphone ES-335 Semi-Hollow – The Best Semi-Hollow Body Guitar Under $500

The Epiphone ES-335 sits at the summit as Editor’s Choice. Epiphone is the only brand permitted to officially license Gibson designs. As a budget alternative to Gibson, this ES-335 is a solid imitation.

The ES-335 is famous for its versatility. Is there a genre that you haven’t seen one of these guitars used? From jazz to country and blues. The tone will sound at home.

Thanks to the center block keeping feedback at bay, you can push the gain into overdrive. So for the classic rock sizzle, this guitar is a tried and tested master.

Fitted with two Epiphone Alnico Classic Pro humbuckers, you’ll have output. Not to mention clean highs and a warm midrange. Some players find the neck pickup a little too muddy. A slight height change can resolve this.

Down to the finest detail, the rounded c-neck is a comfortable experience. Smooth fret edges allow for unobstructed neck movement.

The sheen of the Indian laurel fingerboard begs for big bluesy string bends. And the well-crafted neck profile fits like a glove on the palm.

The ES-335 is a close imitation of a guitar that has changed the course of popular culture. Beyond tradition, peak playability and tonal spectrum make it an Editorโ€™s Choice.

For gigging pros, the ES-335 is a great road companion. With its laminated, durable body, you’ll be investing in a guitar built to last.

Pros:

  • Value for money
  • Playability of rounded C-profile neck
  • 2 x Alnico Epiphone Classic Pro Humbuckers
  • Officially licensed replication of Gibson ES-335
  • Material list: Maple top and body. Mahogany neck and Indian Laurel fingerboard.

Cons:

  • Some stock requires slight pickup adjustment to achieve the best tone.

Read Also: The Best Semi-Hollow and Hollow Body Guitars

Grote Semi-Hollow Body – Best Cheap Semi-Hollow Body Guitar Under $500

Budget Pick
GROTE Semi-Hollow Body Guitar
$179.00
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As a budget pick, the Grote semi-hollow guitar will come with its flaws. Priced under $200, it’s expected.

Now, it most definitely won’t compete with a Gibson, and unlikely to outplay an Epiphone. But, with some careful mods, the sky’s the limit. Because the Grote gives you a foundation to work on.

You can’t fault the craftsmanship of the finish and binding. The maple woods give you a solid framework to build a special custom shop guitar.

So, with a few mods, it could be a unique guitar molded to your playing needs. Consider an overhaul of pickups, tuners, and a solid set up as a starting point. Choose this option if you’re on a one-way road to destination studio guitar.

What about if you don’t want the trouble of modification? For the beginner, it’ll be ready from the point of arrival. And considering the price, this Grote is a tidy entry-level semi-hollow.

Out of the box, the nice action and intonation render it a playable guitar to learn on.

Sure Grote has cut costs on the hardware. But with pleasing aesthetics and a charming tone, it’s a great casual guitar.

With a scale length of 24.75″, it echoes most Gibson and Epiphone models. At this price, you could consider it a trial run to discover if the shape and size feel right for you.

If you enjoy the larger body and scale length. When you’re ready to upgrade, you’ll take to an Epiphone without worry.

Pros:

  • Affordability
  • Alluring aesthetics
  • Construction quality above price point
  • Playability of neck and contoured body
  • Material list: Maple top, body, and neck Blackwood fingerboard.

Cons:

  • Needs modification for studio use
  • Cheap hardware (Nut, pickups)

Gretsch Guitars G2420 Streamliner – Best Hollow Body Guitar for the Money

Best for the Money
Gretsch G2420 Streamliner
$499.99


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Our pick for the best hollow body guitar for the money is the Gretsch Guitars G2420.

The deep, large and arched body is a nod to tradition. And as a fully hollow body, you’ll get acoustic-type characteristics. The oversized f-holes pour out plenty of low-end warmth and crispness.

Through the Broadโ€™Tron BT-2S humbucking pickups, they maintain the glow of bass but with a twang. A mannerism making this guitar a go-to in-country and rockabilly. 

Controls allow you to blend the pickups. This gives you variety to sculpt and experiment with your tones.

Using laminated woods has kept the costs down. The laminated maple top doesn’t affect the tone as much as you may think. There are plenty of high-end archtop guitars that use the same approach. The nato neck is a suitable mahogany alternative and the laurel fretboard is smooth on the fingers.

Surrounding the edges is beautiful aged white binding. It’s fitted with retro aesthetics. Art deco tailpiece and hump block inlays are some finer details to admire.

Under $500 is a bargain. You’re getting a stage-ready guitar that’ll catch the eye under the lights. But talking of stage, remember that this is a hollow body so it won’t handle high gain without some feedback. Keep it light.

Pros:

  • Value for money
  • Single cutaway, fully hollow body
  • Eye-catching design and appointments
  • Dual Broad’Tron BT-2S humbucker pickups.
  • Material list: Laminated maple body, nato neck, and laurel fingerboard.

Cons:

  • Hollow body susceptible to feedback. Not suitable for high gain playing.

Ibanez Artcore AF55 Hollowbody – Best Beginner Hollow Body Guitar Under $500

Best for Beginners
Ibanez Artcore AF55 Hollowbody
$329.99


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Ibanez and playability go hand in hand. Ibanez designed necks have a level of comfort thatโ€™s transforming the way we look at beginner guitars.

See, the Ibanez AF55 features playability that beginners can get to grips with. In the literal sense. The AF Artcore mahogany neck is easy to grip. It’s there to assist you on your journey.

With 20 frets, the scale length measures up at 24.7″. On the shorter side, beginners won’t find it difficult to navigate.

The obvious negative—if you want to riff high up the board you’ll have limits. But, as a beginner, thereโ€™s some practice before shredding like Steve Vai. Besides, the single-cutaway allows for access when you’re ready for 17th fret licks.

The medium frets are a nice middle-ground for beginners. They’re not too big, making it hard to change chords. Nor are they too small making things extra delicate.

Last but not least—the price. Priced a touch over $300, it’s an ideal price point for beginners. It’s not a $100 guitar that’ll fall apart in a few months. The construction means it won’t need replacing when progressing to the next level.

At this price, there are certain negatives. There is a plastic nut. The pickups aren’t the most desirable but they do their job. For jazz, blues and alt. rock it’s a perfect starting point.

Whether chords or riffs, playing the AF55 is an enjoyable experience. No longer is the hollow body reserved for pro jazz guitarists. And—with its archtop shape and VT06 tailpiece, it looks like a stunner!

Pros:

  • Value for money
  • Playability of AF Artcore neck
  • Vintage looking VT06 tailpiece 
  • Medium-sized frets easy to maneuver
  • Material list: Linden top, back, and sides. Nyatoh neck and bound walnut fretboard.

Cons:

  • Plastic nut

Read Also: The Best Electric Guitars for Blues

Ibanez Artcore AF75 Hollow-Body – Best Intermediate Hollow Body Guitar Under $500

With full-on jazz vibes, the AF75 is a handsome hollow body ready for intermediate use. So why does it suit this level of player?

By now, you’ll understand Ibanez guitars have a level of playability. The AF75 is no different. Fitted with an AF Artcore neck and bound walnut fretboard—it’s sweet to play!

As an intermediate player, youโ€™ll be in the habit of regular playing. Sometimes, you donโ€™t want to set up your rig. With a deep large body comes huge projection, so the AF75 has acoustic capabilities. Off the cuff, the AF75 is ready to noodle unplugged.

When plugged in, Classic Elite pickups come to the fore. Enhancing the fat, low-end there’s a rich and nuanced tone. With jazzy clarity and deep singing folk undertones, they’re a hit for mellower genres.

You’re getting value for money with the AF75. Sure, there’s plenty of plastic. But you’ll learn to overlook the cheap dials, pickguard, and nut. Because it’s a guitar that punches above its price point.

Construction highlights include top fretwork, a resonant body, and a charming finish. 

On looks alone, this guitar is worthy of a professional pick. Perhaps where it falls short is the tuning reliability. While itโ€™ll stay in tune to an extent, under stage light heat the reliability could suffer.

Considering the price, it’s an amazing guitar and one that’ll excel in jazz, blues, and folk. Its imposing low end and pinpoint clarity give this guitar a character that could find its way onto a record.

As your skill-set progresses, this guitar will meet your needs and it’ll find fresh ways to inspire. It’s steeped in vintage archtop tradition but with the playability benefits of a modern guitar.

Pros:

  • Beautiful vintage design
  • Playability of AF Artcore neck
  • Loud enough to play unplugged
  • 2 x Classic Elite humbucker pickups
  • Material list: Linden top, back, and sides. Nyatoh neck and bound walnut fingerboard.

Cons:

  • Some cheap plastic hardware (nut, pickguard, and dials)

Guild Starfire SC – Best Single-Cut Hollow Body Guitar Under $500

Based on the iconic Starfire II and III single-cut guitars, the Starfire I SC resembles a classic.

The body is 2 inches thick so roars with a hefty pronunciation in the low end. The bridge block supplies further sustain to an already resonant guitar.

The tonewoods are durable and serve up a woody traditional tone. With a maple body, the slim f-holes pour out air, brightness, and a depth in the low end.

It’s a tone that translates across the genres excluding hard rock and metal. Bluesy, jazzy, but with a center block it’ll handle some gain. So, with some subtle overdrive, you’ll achieve a killer rock sound.

The Guild-designed HB-2 Alnico II humbuckers preserve the vintage transparency. Complete with a push-pull coil splitting feature, you have options. So, you can dial in the snap of a single-coil tone from either pickup. 

The humbuckers are a standard size. Why is this significant? Itโ€™s a delicate touch if you want to install new pickups. Installing new pickups is a painless task that requires no modification to the body.

Balancing tradition with modernization, the neck is far removed from a vintage style. It’s a fast-playing neck designed to help you set the pace for high BPM rock. 24 ยพ inch scale length and a modern thin ‘U’ profile beg for riffs and solos.

An affordable single-cut semi-hollow for intermediate and professional players. The Starfire I SC will handle stage and studio with ease.

Some pickier players may benefit from the fine-tuning of a setup to get it performing to its best. It’s also worth noting that the price doesn’t include a case. But the negatives on this guitar are minor.

Guild has created a guitar of immense versatility with the Starfire I SC. It looks dangerous with its sharp-horned single cut. It can sound dangerous too but with a few dial turns you’ll have soft mellow tones.

A great guitar for the genre-fluid guitarist. Complete with a manufacturerโ€™s limited lifetime warranty you can have faith in this guitar.

Pros:

  • Tonal versatility
  • Guild build quality
  • Manufacturer’s lifetime warranty
  • Fast playing neck modern thin ‘U’ shaped neck.
  • Material list: Laminated maple body, back, and sides. Mahogany neck and Indian rosewood fingerboard.

Cons:

  • A setup to fine-tune factory setup will improve performance.

Read Also: The Best Les Paul Style Guitars

Epiphone ES-339 P90 PRO – Best Hollow Body Guitar Under $500 with P-90 Pickups

Inspired by Gibson, the Epiphone ES-339 PRO has its roots deep in the famed Kalamazoo factory. The ES-339 has some hallmarks of an ES-335. The iconic shape, center block, and f-holes. But—it has a much smaller body.

The shrunken dimensions are a welcome change for any player of a slighter build. For the player who wants the vibe of an ES-335 in a more manageable package—the ES 339 P-90 PRO is the answer.

Why the PRO in the model name? There are some noticeable upgrades. To start, the finish is more precise. It doesn’t look like the wood has had a plastic whitewash.

Itโ€™s common to use cheap hardware for cost-cutting. Not on the ES339 P-90 PRO, there are some rock-solid components. LockTone tune-o-matic bridge, stopbar tailpiece with โ€œDeluxeโ€ tuners and tulip buttons.

Let’s not forget the pickups. The soapbar P90 pickups recreate first-generation P90s installed in Gibsons since 1946. Voiced for both rhythm and lead, you won’t need to change guitars for strumming or lead.

You can tell these pickups are a product born from attention to detail. Strong materials and components go a long way to enhance the sound. While not the most boisterous, they offer rich in the low, honk in the midrange, and plethoric highs.

The jack plate is black plastic. Itโ€™s a standout negative that might not have much shelf life. A nickel replacement will complete a magnificent set of hard-wearing fixtures.

The ES-339 P90 PRO has a pure ES sound. On sound alone, this is a pro pick. But the craftsmanship and appointments take it to further levels. It’ll be in your collection for donkeyโ€™s years, so with the price tag considered—it’s a bargain. For the budget-conscious gigging musicians it could be your number one.

Pros:

  • Good quality hardware
  • SlimTaper ‘D’ profile neck playability
  • 2 x Epiphone’s P-90R PRO Soapbar pickups 
  • ES-335 characteristics with shrunken body size
  • Material list: Laminated maple top and body. Mahogany neck and pau ferro fingerboard.

Cons:

  • Cheap plastic jack plate.

Read Also: The 10 Best P90 Electric Guitars

Ibanez AM73B – Best Hollow Body Guitar Under $500 for Small hands

Are you a player with small hands? Lightweight and slighter, the AM73B is convenient for anyone with a smaller frame.

The scaled-down dimensions have a wide appeal. Are you a hyperactive performer? The floaty weight allows you to jump, play it above your head—or whatever other tricks you have up your sleeve.

On-stage loopers can also reap the rewards. If you’ve got keys to trigger, the body is manageable to maneuver humbler stages. Of course, you could use a solid body. But you want the sound of a semi-hollow. The AM73B has manageability while maintaining the fullness and sustain characteristics of a semi-hollow.

This Ibanez AM body shape has its origins back to the 80s. It’s a classic semi-hollow shape with a double-cutaway for clear access to upper frets.

The short neck won’t have you struggling to tune. You’ll be able to reach the headstock, even if you’re shorter. But, the AM73B appears in proportion.

Sustain is high on the agenda. Chords and notes will ring and hang. This is not a sharp, snappy-sounding instrument. While not short of high-end crispness, the all-maple body serves a bright attack and sustains across the spectrum.

Sure, thereโ€™s some cheap hardware on this guitar. Replacing the generic tuning machines will improve it. But, you won’t get it all in this price range.

The Ibanez AM73B performs way beyond a learner guitar. For the smaller players who want traditional semi-hollow characteristics, itโ€™s a balanced guitar. The AM73B has the benefits of the solid body size but the timeless chambered tone.

Pros:

  • Tonal sustain
  • Scaled-down semi-hollow body
  • Artcore set-in neck with large frets
  • Exposed pickups. ACH1-S on the neck and ACH2-S on the bridge.
  • Material list: Maple top, back, and sides. Bound laurel fingerboard.

Cons:

  • Inferior stock tuning machines

Read Also: The Best Guitars for Small Hands

Ibanez Artcore AS7312 – Best 12-String Hollow Body Guitar Under $500

The Ibanez Artcore AS7312 is a 12-string guitar for studio instrumentalists on a tight budget.

It has a similar shape to the Gibson ES-335 but with bigger f-holes. There’s further Gibson inspiration in the Ibanez humbuckers. A close replication to Gibson’s humbuckers offering tonal versatility.

This guitar will withstand heavy usage. So, if you’re a performer, it’ll handle day-to-day use. But it’ll be on hand as a studio accomplice. You can play runs as the AS7312 accommodates high neck playing. The action is consistent along the fretboard. 

The AS7312 makes transitioning from 6 to 12 strings simple. The neck isn’t too thin to be too delicate. Nor is it too thick, making it difficult to spread your fingers.

The spacing between the double octave strings is standard and like an Ibanez 6-string guitar. Larger-handed players may find it difficult to navigate. A new nut with wider spacing is a quick fix for this issue.

Sure, the Ibanez AS7312 won’t emulate a Rickenbacker. But few 12-strings will carry the same sharp treble and unrivaled sustain. Itโ€™s also worth mentioning that Rickenbacker guitars cost thousands of bucks.

But the Ibanez AS7312 offers a close replication of more expensive 12-string guitars. At first strum, itโ€™ll spark creativity. The unmistakable 12-string jingle-jangle and chorus-like effect will pull you out of your comfort zone.

Pros:

  • Affordability
  • Strong construction quality
  • Traditional ES style semi-hollow body
  • Classic 12-string richness and chorus effect tone
  • Material list: Linden body, nyatoh neck with bound laurel fretboard

Cons:

  • A larger-handed player may need a new nut for improved string spacing.

Epiphone Wildkat Bigsby Hollowbody – Best Vintage Style Hollow Body Guitar Under $500

Best Vintage Style
Epiphone Wildkat Bigsby Hollowbody
$499.00


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“They don’t make them like they used to.” Have you ever muttered these words? Chances are you’ll be a fan of old-school guitars.

Vintage guitars are hot property. When the demand is high, you can expect prices to rocket. Originals can set you back eye-watering sums.

Hereโ€™s the solution. Letโ€™s introduce the affordable Epiphone Wildcat. Vintage design but with modern construction, youโ€™ll have the cool retro look alongside modern stability. And with a killer sound—it’s a beauty.

The Wildcat is a striking instrument, full of detail, you won’t know where to look. It has a chunky headstock with a 50s style Epiphone emblem. So, the headstock looks the part, but the Grover tuners offer solid tuning stability.

The rosewood fingerboard is elegant allowing for smooth string bends. The chunky neck feels true in the hand. Although smaller hands may struggle, the stocky neck is a refreshing throwback. The well joined set-in neck and single cutaway allow for high fret playing.

For many, the Bigsby ranks as the best tremolo created. Fitted with a Bigsby tremolo tailpiece you’ll have hours of endless fun bending notes. It’s another dimension to the fantastic Wildcat.

How could this guitar get any better? P90 pickups? 2 Alnico P90 pickups deliver the retrospective semi-hollow tone of the Wildcat. Versatile, from jazzy mellowness to country twang there’s a tone for you. Responsive to your playing, these P90s will bite when aggressive with your pick hand.

So, what do you need to know? Well, this isn’t a bare-boned guitar. It’s not for a beginner. The dials are unique in spacing. Two-volume dials are a distance apart and considering thereโ€™s a beefy whammy bar to navigate around, best leave this one to the pros.  

The Epiphone Wildcat is a professional guitar but without the expense. Pros will enjoy exploring a plethora of tones. Although it appears like it should weigh a tonne, it’s lightweight. With 50s looks, the Epiphone Wildcat is born for the stage.

Pros:

  • Bigsby tremolo tailpiece
  • Country and rock’ n’ roll twang
  • The 50s style super cool retro look
  • Versatility and tone of  2 x Alnico P90 pickups
  • Material list: Maple top and body, maple neck, and rosewood fingerboard.

Cons:

  • Busy design can confuse beginners

What are Hollow Body Guitars Good For?

Hollow body guitars have acoustic characteristics delivering clear and mellow tones. Traditionally, this type of guitar is a mainstay in jazz and blues. But, their use has extended to alternative rock genres. With a tendency to feedback under high gain, some artists have used this trait to their advantage. Ted Nugent is a case in point.

Hollow Body Vs Semi-Hollow Body Guitars: Whatโ€™s the Difference?

The key difference between hollow and semi-hollow guitars is a center block of wood. The body of a hollow guitar is empty except for electronics. But, semi-hollow body guitars have hollow chambers on either side of a center block. By utilizing a center block, semi-hollow guitars can deal with intensified gain. Making them better suited for heavier genres.

How to Choose The Best Hollow Body Guitar – Buyerโ€™s Guide


Materials & Build Quality

Let’s start by saying, with a criterion of under $500, you won’t get a US-built guitar. Often considered the pinnacle of construction, they’re priced way beyond this budget.

So, what makes American-built guitars so good? Here are a few factors to help understand how well-built guitars are born:

  • Sourcing material will be a meticulous process. Only the best tonewoods make it onto an American-made guitar. These woods are subject to careful drying processes enhancing tone.
  • American manufacturers will have a more limited run. This allows heightened time to craft each instrument.
  • Heightened luthier ability, skill set, and training.
  • The build process will have handcrafting elements with an emphasis on quality control.

So, this explains what makes a well-built guitar. For further reading, look at this article.

But—here’s the thing. Guitar manufacturers are developing ways to deliver the best quality for cheap prices. And, for under $500, there are some splendid guitars.

The hollow body guitars reviewed in this article are subject to strict research. They’ll have a build quality to compete beyond their price bracket.

Itโ€™s surprising to see so many iconic brands available at this price. Manufacturers like Epiphone and Gretsch have a strong reputation for build quality. So youโ€™ll be in safe hands.

In this price bracket, manufacturers can use lesser quality woods. Although this is important, the wood quality of electrics is less critical than acoustic. Many guitars appearing on the best hollow body guitars under $500 use maple. This is a common tonewood characterized by bite and bright attack.

A common area subject to cost-cutting is hardware. The good news is that in most cases, you can change the hardware to mod your guitar to a higher spec.

Body Shape

Thinking of hollow guitars conjures up images of jazz boxes. Then, on the semi-hollow side of things the ultra-cool ES-335. But, both hollow and semi-hollow have many variants.

A commonality on full and semi-hollow guitars is the holes on each side of the guitar. We know these as f-holes. Developed from classical stringed instruments like violins, theyโ€™re a quintessential ingredient.

On aesthetics alone, they add to the tradition of the instrument. But they also boost the sound. The f-hole operates like an acoustic soundhole. Helping improve projection and enhancing a natural sound. The size difference of the holes can affect the sound with more open gaps causing airier tones.

The body dimensions will have a huge significance on your decisions. When dealing with hollow or semi-hollow guitars they can be big and deep. For players of a slighter build, a scaled-down version will be more convenient. Likewise, beginners find the more petite design is easier to get a hold of.

A bigger body will have louder projection and more depth. So, if you can go the full hog, it’ll have its perks.

Pickups

So, do you need a single-coil, humbucker, or P90 pickups? Understanding the mechanics of a pickup is confusing. It can dishearten if you don’t understand. So let’s break it down into digestible information to help you decide.

  • Single coil – Pioneered by Leo Fender, single coils deliver twang. The crisp and bright tone makes them ideal for clean genres like classic rock, indie, folk, and blues. Theyโ€™re less focused in the midrange and offer a lower headroom than humbuckers.
  • Humbuckers – The humbucker is the brainchild of Gibson. Designed to cancel hum, they can handle high gain and distortion. More focused on the midrange they have a thick and warm character. The ability to get aggressive tones makes them ideal for blues, jazz, rock, and metal players.
  • P90s – These are a variation on the single-coils despite looking like a humbucker. First used in Gibsons they’re gritty and coarse but versatile. They can work well in a plethora of genres like jazz, blues, and beyond. P90s are a tonal middle ground between single coils and humbuckers. The P90s popularity in the punk movement has seen them installed on new guitars ever since.

Use this outline as a guide. It’s not a one size fits all approach but let your desired genre help decide which pickup is best for you.

Playability

Playability is all about comfort. Now, this varies from player to player. The neck is often one of the biggest contributing factors. With different profiles available. Which is the best fit for you?

Youโ€™ll need to give the guitar a test drive. So, it’s worth popping into your local shop to see if it’s a good fit. If you’re buying online, follow the links on this site. They’ll go to retailers that have good return policies so you can send it back if it doesn’t fit the bill.

You can change certain things to improve playability. Hereโ€™s a brief list of how to boost playability on your guitar.

  • Tuning Heads – An out-of-tune guitar isn’t playable and can be downright frustrating. This is a common area that manufacturers cut corners to keep prices low. The good newsโ€”changing tuners is a quick fix. Itโ€™s something that most guitar shops will help with. Look for locking tuners by brands like Grover.
  • Action – This is the distance between the strings and the fretboard. An enormous distance requires more pressure and is tiresome on your hands. But, if itโ€™s too low you can experience fret buzz. So itโ€™s about finding a balance. New guitars, at large, have out-of-the-box good action. If you feel the action needs improving, adjusting the truss rod and sanding the saddle can help. Always speak to a pro tech if youโ€™re unsure.
  • New strings – As time goes on strings grow tired. It seems obvious, but a new set of strings makes the world of difference. Also, consider the gauge of strings. If youโ€™re unsure, test different gauges to find the most suitable.

Sound

Although they look similar, hollow bodies and semi-hollow guitars have nuanced differences. If you seek an acoustic-like tone but with a smoother sound, opt for a hollow body. Hollow body resonance with mellow characteristics is super for jazz and blues.

Need something rockier? Geared towards more fiery playing, a semi-hollow is apt because of its ability to handle gain.

The pickup will also have an enormous impact on your sound. So pair your preferred pickup type from above with the style of guitar and you’ll start sculpting your tone.

Amplification works together with the guitar and pickup to shape your tone. Think hard about what sound you want. Once you’re clear on the tone you want, you can make the big decisions.

Recap of the Best Hollow Body Guitars Under $500

Best Hollow Body Guitar Under $500Award
Epiphone ES-335 Semi-HollowEditor’s Choice
Grote Semi-Hollow BodyBudget Pick
Gretsch Guitars G2420 StreamlinerBest for the Money
Ibanez Artcore AF55 HollowbodyBest for Beginners
Ibanez Artcore AF75 HollowbodyBest for Intermediate Players
Guild Starfire SCBest Single-Cut
Epiphone ES-339 P90 PROBest with P-90 Pickups
Ibanez AM73BBest for Small Hands
Ibanez Artcore AS7312Best 12-String
Epiphone Wildkat Bigsby HollowbodyBest Vintage Style

Conclusion

Whether it’s a full hollow or semi-hollow, there are some great guitars to pick from.

All priced under $500, you’ll find one to fit your budget. Remember, price shouldn’t restrict creativity.

Have fun exploring your new guitar. Whatever way you decide, enjoy the beautiful tones of hollow and semi-hollow guitars.

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