semi hollow bodies?

koonce · 05-06-2006, 05:53 PM

i have a question about semi hollow body guitars like a gibson es335 or one of those semihollow telecasters. when they are unplugged do sound like an acoustic or are they quiet like a normal solid body electric?

**Only Alive** · 05-06-2006, 06:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by koonce

i have a question about semi hollow body guitars like a gibson es335 or one of those semihollow telecasters. when they are unplugged do sound like an acoustic or are they quiet like a normal solid body electric?

They are louder than a solidbody electric, but still very quiet. It won't really work as an acoustic.

-Nick

Hopeful · 05-06-2006, 06:05 PM

Maybe just a little louder, not significant and really not meant to be played acoustically as in a performance.

Major Tom · 05-06-2006, 06:50 PM

IMO, they are like 90% solid body, 10% acoustic. The hollow part comes into play if you crank up the amp a bit - the sound waves will vibrate the thin parts of the guitar and cause extra sustain-mojo at lower volumes than an all solid.

Ax · 05-06-2006, 10:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Major Tom

IMO, they are like 90% solid body, 10% acoustic. The hollow part comes into play if you crank up the amp a bit - the sound waves will vibrate the thin parts of the guitar and cause extra sustain-mojo at lower volumes than an all solid.

That's pretty accurate.. i have an Artcore... Mine is semi-hollow and sounds like a dream... i do use mine however where i would use an acoustic.. of course i don't play acoustic concerts, i use it when i'm writing music... unplugged it is about 2-1/2 times as loud as a solid-body but only about half as loud as an acoustic, plus it has great tone when it's unplugged, unlike a solid body....

gg7 · 05-06-2006, 11:03 PM

i don't know about the gibson style guitars, but i've owned two semi-hollow tele style guitars. they were louder than the solid bodies i've played, but they weren't acoustic guitar volume by any means. i like the semi-hollow tone and weight for sure. i may end up with another one eventually.

**Rainer.** · 05-07-2006, 10:14 AM

Yep, semi-hollows are quite electric sounding. My buddy's Epi Sheraton is loud enough to peck around at home when it's quiet in the house, but still, not that loud. I have a full hollowbody, and it's a quite different beast than the semis, which are, again, more solidbody than hollow. I could probably mic up my hollowbody for a performance, but it has a lot brighter tone than your average acoustic guitar, mainly because of it's maple neck, back, and sides.