What is a semi acoustic guitar?

A semi acoustic guitar is a guitar with hollow areas in its body as part of the construction. A Gibson ES-335, for example, is a semi acoustic guitar. The name is something of a misnomer: they do not operate in any real way as acoustic instruments, though they may coincidentally be slightly louder when played unplugged than their solid body counterparts. The semi acoustic nature of the guitars is intended to change the 'plugged' sound of the car, easing some of the focus and introducing a more open sound.

What are semi acoustic guitars made from?

Almost all semi acoustic guitars are made with a laminated body, a solid centre block of maple and a mahogany neck.

What is the difference between a semi-acoustic guitar and a hollow body guitar?

The main difference between a semi-acoustic guitar and a hollow body guitar is the solid centre block in semi acoustics such as the Epiphone Sheraton. Hollow body guitars such as the Epiphone Casino have no centre block, so they are completely hollow.

Are semi-acoustic guitars larger than solid body electric guitars?

Yes, usually. Semi-acoustic guitars like Gretsch and Gibson ES models tend to be larger than solid body guitars, though some exceptions do exist. PRS, for example, offer semi hollow Custom 24 guitars that are the same size as solid body equivalents.

What are the most popular semi acoustic guitar models?

The most popular semi acoustic guitar is the Gibson ES-335 and Epiphone’s version of the same design. Gretsch semi acoustic guitars are also very popular.