Best Semi-Hollow Guitar for Any Budget: Blues, Jazz, and Vintage Vibes!
Semi-acoustic guitars for beginners, intermediates, and pros!
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Best Semi-Hollow Guitar for Any Budget: Blues, Jazz, and Vintage Vibes! · Source: Epiphone
What else belongs in your guitar rack, besides a Strat, Tele, and Les Paul? That’s right, a semi-hollow guitar! Even though its construction is often a bit more complex than solid wood instruments, you don’t have to spend a fortune to find a high-quality and versatile instrument. Here, we have a few suggestions for you for the best semi-hollow guitar for any budget, from affordable to incredible!
Check Out These Semi-Hollow Guitars!
Semi-Hollow vs Hollow Guitars
During the early years of the electric guitar’s development, manufacturers had to deal with one problem in particular: noise and feedback. The main issue back then was the instruments’ vibrating tops. The frequency of the vibrating top and the frequency of the vibrating strings interfered with each other (simply put) and caused ear-piercing feedback.
To counteract this and the top’s vibration, so-called center blocks were installed in hollow-body guitars. This solid block in the center of the guitar also housed the pickups and shields them from unwanted vibrations. The center block also gives the guitar a lot more punch and precision.
The Best Semi-Hollow Guitar for Any Budget
The fact that there are still some highly recommended, high-quality affordable semi-hollow guitars available is mainly due to the increased skills of Far Eastern manufacturers, who still achieve excellent value for money thanks to low labor costs.
It is worth noting that our suggestions of the best semi-hollow guitar for any are purely ranked by price, not by any other metric. Compared to other guitar types like Strats, Les Pauls or V-Style guitars, good-sounding semi-hollows require a higher level of craftsmanship. And make not mistake, just because many blues and jazz guitarists play such a model, that does not mean you can’t play one in rock, punk, or metal.
Harley Benton HB-35 Vintage Series
Of course, Harley Benton can’t be left out when it comes to value for money. The Thomann Group’s own brand offers the perfect introduction to the world of semi-hollow guitars. With the HB-35 BK from the Vintage Series, you’ll get a great guitar for well under $1,000.
It offers all the features of a good semi-hollow guitar: a maple body and neck and a mahogany center block that provides a solid tone foundation. The two vintage-style humbuckers deliver a huge amount of punch for this type of guitar, giving it its own character. With its two volume and tone pots and a 3-way switch, this guitar will make even Les Paul fans happy.
The neck offers space for 22 frets and, with a nut width of 42 mm, is designed to be highly playable. The die-cast tuners might not compete with more expensive brand-name products, but they can be replaced quickly and easily. Get all the details at Thomann*. And if you’re feeling DIY, try building the best semi-hollow guitar yourself with HB’s DIY kit*.
Squier Affinity Starcaster
If you’re looking for a guitar that blends semi-hollow charm with modern playability, this Affinity Starcaster from Fender’s subsidiary Squier might be worth a look. Its laminated maple body with a center block delivers that open, resonant tone we all love from semi-hollows.
The bolt-on maple neck features a comfortable “C” profile and the Indian Laurel fretboard offers a smooth surface perfect for endlessly bluesy bends and fast arpeggio runs. And with 22 medium jumbo frets, a 25.5″ scale length, and a 9.5″ radius, this model is great for both chord strummers and solo champs.
For pickups, this model comes with two ceramic humbuckers that deliver punch, clarity, and just the right amount of grit. A 3-way switch, master volume, and master tone controls give you all the tonal flexibility you need, while the fully adjustable bridge and sealed die-cast tuners with split shafts ensure rock-solid tuning and easy string changes. Check it out at Thomann*.
Epiphone ES-335 and Sheraton
A true classic and THE flagship model when it comes to distinctive Epiphone designs from recent decades, the Sheraton is a classic jazz and blues design, but has also been played extensively by rockers since the 1970s. A narrow body made of laminated maple sits under a mahogany neck with an Indian laurel fingerboard.
With the Sheraton Natural, Epiphone reaches into the past and delivers the Frequensator tailpiece, which works in tandem with the Tune-o-Matic bridge. ProBucker Mini humbuckers are reminiscent of the jazzy sounds of the 60s.
In addition, we just have to mention the Epiphone version of the legendary ES-335! You can get it here* and the Sheraton here* from Thomann.
Gretsch G5655TG Electromatic CG
Gretsch is pretty much synonymous with semi-hollow guitars, other than Gibson’s ES-335. Few other manufacturers have built such a reputation among jazzers and bluesers, both for guitars and drums! While there is a whole range of more expensive, extremely good-looking and equally good-sounding models, the G5655TG Electromatic CG is the perfect starting point for Gretsch. It’s certainly a contender for the best semi-hollow guitar!
This semi-hollow guitar is made of laminated maple and features a maple neck with a laurel fingerboard. The rest of the features are typically different for Gretsch: a Bigsby tremolo, two Broad’Tron humbuckers, and four controls (volume, tone, master volume, and master tone) set the Gretsch apart from the competition.
The guitar, painted in a bright and wonderfully “old” Cadillac Green, has a very playable thin Uprofile neck and feels much more modern in the hand than the classic look. Get it from Thomann*.
Gibson ES-335
The mothership. The model most guitarists think of most if you ask them about the best semi-hollow guitar – if you’re not on a budget. With its maple body and figured maple top, this guitar delivers a warm, airy resonance. The mahogany neck has a rounded “C” profie. Paired with a rosewood fretboard and small block inlays, it provides a smooth playing experience.
The 24.75″ scale length and 22 frets provide endless bending and sustain, and the slightly wider 1.69″ nut width gives your fingers just that extra a bit room to breathe. Under the hood, two T-Type humbuckers capture everything from sweet cleans to biting blues and overdriven growls.
The ABR-1 bridge with titanium saddles ensures solid intonation and resonance, and the Gibson Deluxe tuners hold tuning exceptionally well. With nickel hardware and a hardshell case included, this guitar is more than a nod to the past—it’s a love letter to tone, craftsmanship, and playability. Check it out at Thomann*.
This list of the best semi-hollow guitar is based on Jan Rotring’s article at Gearnews.de. Translation and adaptation by Julian Schmauch.
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