Electric Guitar (Semi-Hollow) — Lutherie Encyclopedia

Electric Guitar (Semi-Hollow)Type: instrumentAn electric guitar with a thin hollow body and a solid center block, combining acoustic resonance with feedback resistance for versatile tonal applications.## History The semi-hollow electric guitar was pioneered by Gibson with the ES-335, introduced in 1958. Designed by Ted McCarty, it addressed the feedback issues of fully hollow electrics while retaining some of the acoustic resonance that players valued. The innovation was a solid maple block running through the center of a thin laminated maple body, with hollow chambers on either side. This design quickly found favor with blues, rock, and jazz musicians for its versatility. The ES-335 and its variants (ES-345, ES-355) became among the most recorded guitars in popular music history. ## Construction Semi-hollow guitars feature a thin body (typically 1.5 to 2 inches deep) constructed from laminated or carved maple with a solid wood center block. The center block runs from the neck joint to the tail of the body, and pickups are mounted directly into it, reducing the acoustic feedback that plagues fully hollow instruments at high volumes. F-holes on either side of the center block allow the hollow wings to resonate acoustically. Most semi-hollows use set-neck construction with humbucking pickups, a Tune-o-Matic bridge, and a stop tailpiece or Bigsby vibrato. Scale length is typically 24.75 inches. ## Tonal Characteristics Semi-hollow electrics occupy a tonal middle ground between solid-body and fully hollow guitars. The hollow wings contribute warmth, airiness, and a subtle acoustic quality to the amplified tone, while the center block provides sustain and feedback resistance.…