Guitar Hollybody and Semi Hollybody
Hollowbody may seem like an unfamiliar term when you're new to the guitar world. What is the hollow body? Think every guitar has a solid body? How is Hollowbody different from semi-hollow? Don't worry, we'll explain everything to you through this brief article on hollow and semi-hollow body guitars.
You may be surprised, but we believe you've heard of hollow bodies, semi-acoustic or thinline guitars as well as less common (and imprecise) terms like archtop electric body, electro- acoustic, jazz box, and multi-compartment body. Since its appearance in the 1930s, the hollow body has dominated the music scene and the same is true of the semi-hollowbody. Everyone from The Beatles to Jack White plays these instruments, and of course we don't forget to mention blues artist BB King's semi-hollow "Lucille".
With many artists passionate about many genres of music, it is clear that hollow and semi-hollow guitars have established their own niche. Even as companies continue to release solidbody models after solidbody, a large amount of R&D investment is still being poured into driving the development of semi-acoustic guitars. You're probably thinking there's something very special about these guitars, aren't you? You are right. But what is that? This article will answer these questions for you.
History begin
Hollow body
We cannot understand something deeply without looking at the history in which it formed and developed. The same goes for the hollow guitar body, which takes us back to the golden age of jazz where the big bands were very successful. They didn't want the guitar sound drowned out by the cheers of the crowd. Although pickups already exist, amplifying the sound of acoustics is still a difficult task. Rickenbacker's George Buchamp and Spanish electronic musician Ken Roberts made a splash with a concert-style acoustic in mahogany laminate, the company's first signature guitar. It is truly a pioneering instrument in the field of electric guitars.
Not long after, Gibson entered the competition with their model ES-150. Prior to that, Guy Hart had designed a rod pickup for the company's lapsteel models, which meant they were intent on electrifying the guitar. Everyone fell for the ES-150. Its loud and clear sound caught up with the brass trumpets. Equally important is that extremely famous guitarist Charlie Christian also owns such a guitar and has achieved much success with this guitar model.
Semi-hollow body
In the early 1940s, the electric guitar with a hollow body was a very hot guitar model that everyone wanted to own. Not only because the design is suitable for playing jazz music, but also because many people are also curious and explore other music genres with this masterpiece. At that time, however, the semi-hollowbody guitar was just beginning its journey. Les Paul's "The Log" was created in 1939 as the first guitar model to be marketed. It got its name because it's actually a 4×4 log placed vertically in the center of the body. Although heavier than a regular hollow body, the central block of wood ensures that it does not appear cracks that Les Paul does not like. The Log is also a pioneer instrument in this field. And like other avant-garde instruments, it is far ahead of its time. When introduced to Gibson by Les Paul, "The Log" was mocked and rejected.
But then they changed their mind in the 1950s when the first solid body electric guitar hit the market. Broadcaster changed the game, and Gibson realized they had to do something drastic if they wanted to compete. Ted McCarty remembered The Log and used it as a prototype. Cue ES-335, which fuses the warmth and resonance of a hollow body with anti-reflection. 16 years later, The Log finally has a date, albeit in a recreated form. Gibson's ES-335 is now a cultural phenomenon. Musicians flocked to buy and many other brands also started producing their own semi-hollow models. From then on, hollow and semihollow bodies were an inevitable part of the market.
Tim understands the details of each shape
Hollowbody
Construction: Some people mistakenly think that the hollowbody is just an acoustic guitar but has additional pickups attached. Other than semi-hollow, it's true that hollowbody models are really close to acoustic guitars, but there are differences between them as well. A hollowbody guitar is not a block of wood and yes, a hollowbody is lighter than a solidbody.
Besides this obvious feature, the hollowbody is as diverse as other guitars. Examples include the vibrato tailpiece, the adjustable bridge, and the neck that attaches to the body at a higher fret than the acoustic models. Many hollowbody guitars also have arched curved fronts as opposed to the flat fronts of acoustic guitars. Therefore, hollowbody usually does not have a standard round hole in the middle of the guitar, but instead has an F hole or shallow holes.
By design, some hollowbody models can be as thin as electric guitar solidbody. Certainly, these early models were acoustics with curved fronts and Charlie Christian pickups, like the Gibson L-50 model. Those are heavy guitars with V-necks. Of course, sleeker versions will follow soon, such as single and double cut bodies with shallower necks like the Epiphone Casino.
Sound Quality: Honestly, the sound of a guitar rarely comes from a single factor. Construction, strings, and tonewood have a great influence on the sound of a guitar. However, hollowbody guitar models have their own tonal standards.
For starters, the hollowbody's midrange tends to be more focused and resonant than an acoustic one. And from its origin we also realize that it can have many different sound qualities. Interestingly, the hollowbody is often considered a practice guitar due to its "silent" feature when you play but not plugged in. It doesn't sound as loud as the acoustic ones, but still has enough volume to hear.
Compared to the solidbody, the hollowbody's sound is warmer and more rounded, especially in the lower low end. The highs will also be quite bright but rarely reach the glassy heights of the solidbody. Feedback is also something you need to consider, especially when you play at high volume and gain levels.
Semi-Hollowbody
Construction: If you remember, semi-hollow guitars are built to compete directly with solidbody, so they share many of the same characteristics. The waist is tight, rarely more than 3 inches deep and and lightweight. But what is special about this guitar model and separates it from the hollowbody is the center block. Depending on the brand and model, there are countless styles and designs on the market. Older models used to have hollow bodies and were attached to a 2x4 wooden plank. Today, manufacturers have completely removed the center block from the body of the guitar.
Like we said earlier, there is no standard way to place a center block on the body of a guitar. Sometimes it takes up the entire length of the body, sometimes it's just in the bridge, other times designers break it up into smaller blocks to reinforce the guitar's sound. So it becomes a highly personalized attribute. . As with hollowbody, there are many types of semi-hollow. Traditional semi-hollow models have wide, flat sides and curved backs. Later appeared more revamped versions, mimicking the solidbody's playability without sacrificing resonance.
Sound Quality: The wood block in the middle of the semi-hollow performs an important task of eliminating feedback. You may have remembered that hollowbody guitars tend to have feedback problems. That's not a concern when it comes to semi-hollows. Even at maximum volume and gain, that block of wood in the middle minimizes sympathetic vibrations. If you can't resist overdrive, distortion or fuzz then this is great.
Although feedback is prevented, it is difficult to determine the sound quality of a semi-hollow guitar without considering the factors involved. Every guitar is different. Some produce a timbre that is indistinguishable from a solidbody, while others sound quite similar to that of a hollowbody. Again, it depends on the build, the strings, and many other things.
But if we have to generalize, the semi-hollowbody follows the hollowbody in various ways. It doesn't resonate like acoustics but still has a louder volume than solidbody. When you turn the volume up, the semi-hollow has a clearer and sharper tone than the hollowbody thanks to the wood block in the middle of the feedback compartment. Thanks to that you'll probably see fiery alnico pickups mounted on semi-hollows.
Although they may be quite retro, hollow and semi-hollow have a place in the guitar world for many special reasons. You could say it's thanks to timeless versatility, nostalgia for old tones or vintage aesthetics. The elusive allure is part of the undeniable charm of these guitar models. And that, has made hollowbody and semi-hollowbody more and more accepted.
See more:
Tags:
