This guide looks at the best semi-acoustic guitars. These instruments can also be referred to as a semi-hollow guitar or a hollow body guitar. These instruments combine the sound of acoustic guitars with those of electric guitars.
Semi-acoustic guitars are perfect for jazz, blues, fingerpicking, country, or any music where you want to play a lot of chords. These guitars give a solid and louder tone when compared to other guitars.
Quick Look: Best Semi-Acoustic Guitars
★ #1 Best Semi-Acoustic Guitar Overall: Paul Reed Smith ★
- Best Bigsby Tremolo Semi-Acoustic Guitar: D’Angelico Series Bob
- Best Fixed Bridge Semi-Acoustic Guitar: Guild Starfire II ST NM
- Best Double Humbucker Semi-Acoustic Guitar: Gretsch G6609
- Best Cutaway: Ibanez Artcore AS73G
- Best Semi-Acoustic Guitar for Beginners: Epiphone Casino
- Best Intermediate Semi-Acoustic Guitar: Gretsch GS655TG
- Best Semi-Acoustic Guitar for Professionals: Gibson ES-335
- Best Cheap Semi-Acoustic Guitar: Epiphone Casino Coupe
- Best Semi-Acoustic Guitar Under $2,000: Guild Starfire VI
- Best Semi-Acoustic Guitar Under $1,000: Gretsch G5657T
- Best Semi-Acoustic Guitar Under $500: Epiphone Casino Worn
One of my favorite guitars I owned was a semi-hollow acoustic guitar made by Aria Pro II. It had an excellent tone, and it was my first introduction to this type of guitar. They have a good tone when compared to regular electrics.
This guide to the best semi-acoustic guitars should help you find something to meet your needs.
What Is a Semi-Acoustic Guitar?
Gibson came up with the semi-acoustic or semi-hollow acoustic guitar in 1958. These instruments are known for their clean and warm tones. They come with pickups as well as electronics.
The cavity inside the guitar is hollow, so you get acoustic sounds and electric ones when plugged in. A regular electric guitar, such as a Fender Stratocaster, has a solid piece of wood for the body and is called a solid body guitar.
Types of Semi-Acoustic Guitars
Semi-acoustic guitars all tend to be similar, but there are a few different types that you need to know about. Most of these differences are in the pickup configuration or the body shape. Here are the main types available.
Bigsby Tremolo Semi-Acoustic Guitar
Some semi-acoustic guitars come with the Bigsby tremolo. This is a large tremolo arm on some of these guitars. It allows the player to bend the notes to different pitches.
Fixed Bridge Semi-Acoustic Guitar
Most semi-acoustic guitars have what’s called a fixed bridge. This is a bridge system that doesn’t have any tremolo arm attached to it. This bridge helps keep the tuning of the guitar stable.
Double Humbucker Semi-Acoustic Guitar
Semi-acoustic guitars usually come with double humbucking pickups. Some of them may have three humbucking pickups, but most have two.
Best Cutaway Semi-Acoustic
Semi-acoustic guitars have a cutaway at the top of the instrument. This is either a single cutaway or a double cutaway. This makes it easy to access the higher frets on this type of guitar.
Things to Consider When Choosing a Semi-Acoustic Guitar
There are a few things you need to know before you buy a semi-acoustic guitar. Here are the points to keep in mind.
Level Of Experience
A semi-acoustic guitar is usually something that an intermediate or advanced player will use. However, they can be used by beginners.
Beginner Semi-Acoustic Guitars
It’s recommended you have some skill on guitar before you try a semi-acoustic guitar. This is because the body is a lot larger than a regular electric or acoustic guitar.
Intermediate Semi-Acoustic Guitars
An intermediate semi-acoustic guitar is made with better wood and has great pickups. You may also want one with a Bigsby tremolo system or a fixed bridge, depending upon your playing style.
Pro Semi-Acoustic Guitars
Professional semi-acoustic guitars have an easy-to-play neck. It’s at the professional level, and the guitar you choose will depend on your individual playing style.
Size
A semi-hollow guitar or semi-acoustic guitar has one basic shape. They either come with a single cutaway or a double cutaway so you can access the higher frets. The bodies are larger than regular electric or acoustic guitars.
Price
Semi-acoustic guitars come in at a wide range of prices. Here’s what you need to know.
Budget Semi-Acoustic Guitars
A budget semi-acoustic guitar will have a decent sound, but it won’t be that great. You can expect to pay between $300 and $600. This is the right choice if you’re new to this type of guitar.
Midrange Semi-Acoustic Guitars
At the intermediate stage or mid-range price, you can expect to pay from $600 to $1,500. These instruments have more options, the pickups are better, and they have a superior tone.
Top-End Semi-Acoustic Guitars
Professional or top-end semi-acoustic guitars have everything you could want, as they’re made to a high quality. You can expect to pay anywhere between $1,500 and up.
Best Semi-Acoustic Guitar Brands
There are several popular semi-acoustic guitar brands. These are also referred to as semi-hollow guitars. Instruments from these companies would all make excellent choices.
Gibson
Gibson makes popular semi-acoustic guitars. The company was established in 1902 and has been a leading guitar manufacturer since then. They make instruments to a high quality.
Ibanez
This Japanese company makes semi-acoustic guitars as well as other instruments. They’ve been in business since 1908. They have a wide range of this type of guitar.
Gretsch
Gretsch has been around since 1883. In the 1930s, they started making guitars. They have several semi-acoustic guitars in various price ranges. Next to Gibson, they’re the most popular manufacturer of this guitar.
D’Angelico
The D’Angelico brand has been making guitars since 1932. They make a broad range of semi-acoustic guitars for all budgets and styles.
Guild
Guild has been making guitars since 1952. They’re known for both acoustic and electric guitars. They have several semi-hollow models to choose from at various price ranges.
Top 10 Best Semi-Acoustic Guitars Overall
When purchasing a semi-acoustic guitar, you want one that sounds great and has easy playability. Here are the top 10 instruments for all playing abilities as well as budgets.
Guild Starfire II ST NM Semi-Hollow
- Scale length: 24.75″
- Fingerboard radius: 9.2″
- Frets: 20
- Pickup type: 2 x humbuckers
- Body shape: Semi-hollow
- What’s included in the box: Guitar, documentation
- Material & finish: Mahogany, laminated wood, rosewood, gloss finish
- Best for: Beginner or intermediate players with a modest budget
The Guild Starfire II ST is an excellent semi-hollow guitar. It has high output dual LB- 1 humbucker pickups. This instrument also has two tone and two volume controls.
✅ Great pickups
✅ Two tone and volume controls
✅ Great neck
✅ Good price
❌ No case
❌ Some feedback at higher volumes
Why I Recommend It
This instrument comes in at a reasonable price. It has great tone and playability. It’s the perfect guitar for a beginner or intermediate player.
Gretch Guitars Streamliner G2622 Semi-Hollow
- Scale length: 24.75″
- Fingerboard radius: 12″
- Frets: 22
- Pickup type: 2 x BT-25 humbuckers
- Body shape: Semi-hollow
- What’s included in the box: Guitar, documentation
- Material & finish: Nato, laminated wood, maple, gloss finish
- Best for: Beginners that want a budget guitar
The Gretsch Streamliner features great humbucking pickups for an improved tone. Another nice feature is the center block of wood, which reduces feedback and improves the guitar’s volume.
✅ Great look
✅ Decent pickups
✅ Less feedback
✅ Solid bridge
❌ No case
❌ Could use better wood
Why I Recommend It
The Gretsch Streamliner is the perfect introduction to semi-hollow guitars. It has a balanced tone, a nice guitar neck, and a decent set of pickups, so you get a reliable sound and performance.
Ibanez Artcore AS73G Semi-Hollow
- Scale length: 25.5
- Fingerboard radius: 12″
- Frets: 22
- Pickup type: Humbucker
- Body shape: Semi-hollow
- What’s included in the box: Guitar, documentation
- Material & finish: Maple, mahogany, satin finish
- Best for: Beginners looking for a good semi-hollow starter guitar
The Ibanez Artcore AS73G is the best beginner semi-acoustic guitar. It’s easy to play, has a good neck, and won’t break your budget. The guitar has stable tuning and a nice look, making it ideal for beginners.
✅ Good pickups
✅ Nice look
✅ Big tone
✅ Reasonable price
❌ Basic pickups
❌ No case
Why I Recommend It
I like the Ibanez Artcore AS73G because it’s a simple semi-hollow guitar. It has everything that you need as a beginner. It has a good tone and playability, and it has a classic look to it. You’ll love playing this instrument.
Gibson ES-335 Semi-Hollow Guitar
- Scale length: 24.75″
- Fingerboard radius: 12″
- Frets: 22
- Pickup type: MHS II 2 x humbucker
- Body shape: Semi-hollow
- What’s included in the box: Guitar, documentation, case
- Material & finish: Maple, mahogany, laminated wood, satin finish
- Best for: Advanced players that want a reliable guitar
The Gibson ES-335 is one of the most popular Gibson guitars. It’s an excellent semi-hollow instrument. It features great pickups and electronics, and it has an unmatched tone. You get what you pay for with this guitar.
✅ Great tone
✅ Excellent pickups
✅ Great look
✅ Hardshell case
❌ Expensive
❌ Hard to hold for some players
Why I Recommend It
The Gibson ES-335 is an iconic instrument and one of the better semi-hollow guitars on the market. You’ll have a guitar that can cover many different styles. You can rely on this instrument for many years to come.
D’Angelico Premier DC Semi-Hollow Guitar
- Scale length: 24.75″
- Fingerboard radius: 10″
- Frets: 22
- Pickup type: 2 x humbuckers
- Body shape: Semi-hollow
- What’s included in the box: Guitar, documentation, gig bag
- Material & finish: Laminated wood, maple, gloss finish
- Best for: Intermediate guitar players that have a lower budget
The D’Angelico Premier DC is a solid and well-built semi-acoustic guitar. It has excellent pickups, a great playing neck, and it’s affordable. This guitar also features a stable bridge and tailpiece.
✅ Easy-to-play neck
✅ Great look
✅ Stable tuning
✅ Good pickups
❌ No hardshell case
❌ No extras
Why I Recommend It
If you don’t have a whole lot of money to spend, have a look at the D-Angelico Premier DC. This is a superior semi-acoustic guitar. It has excellent playability, a good tone, and it ships with a gig bag to protect your investment.
Gretsch Guitars G6620T Players Edition Nashville
- Scale length: 24.6″
- Fingerboard radius: 12″
- Frets: 22
- Pickup type: 2 x Sensitive Filtertron humbuckers
- Body shape: Semi-hollow
- What’s included in the box: Guitar, documentation, tremolo, case
- Material & finish: Maple, laminated ebony, gloss finish
- Best for: Advanced players looking for a semi-hollow with a tremolo arm
The Gretsch G6620T Players Edition Nashville has a superior tone and gives you excellent performance. It’s the ideal choice for jazz, blues, country, and similar styles. The pickups on this guitar give you the sound that you want.
✅ Bigsby tremolo
✅ Superior pickups
✅ Hardshell case
✅ Double cutaway
❌ Expensive
❌ Some controls in cumbersome places
Why I Recommend It
If you’re looking for a professional guitar with an exceptional tone, the Gretsch G6620T Players Edition Nashville is the one to get. I love the pickups on this instrument, the playable neck, and that it has a Bigsby tremolo.
Gibson Custom CS-356 Semi-Hollow
- Scale length: 24.75″
- Fingerboard radius: 12″
- Frets: 22
- Pickup type: 2 x humbuckers
- Body shape: Semi-hollow
- What’s included in the box: Guitar, documentation, case
- Material & finish: Maple, mahogany, nitrocellulose lacquer
- Best for: Advanced players that want a big tone
The Gibson Custom CS-356 is a superior guitar. It has two humbucking pickups, along with two tone and two volume controls. This gives you a lot of tonal options. It has a solid and comfortable neck, which is easy to play on.
✅ Good pickups
✅ Stable tuning
✅ Comfortable beck
✅ Hardshell case
❌ Huge cost
❌ A bit heavy for some
Why I Recommend It
The Gibson Custom CS-356 will cost you a lot of money, but it’s well worth it. This is a guitar designed for a professional. You’ll have reliability, tone, and a guitar that you can do almost anything with.
Epiphone Riviera Semi-Hollow Guitar
- Scale length: 24.7″
- Fingerboard radius: 12″
- Frets: 22
- Pickup type: 2 x humbuckers
- Body shape: Semi-hollow
- What’s included in the box: Guitar, documentation
- Material & finish: Mahogany, laurel, maple, gloss
- Best for: Beginners or intermediate players that want a starter guitar
The Epiphone Riviera is an excellent beginner semi-acoustic guitar. It has a great tone and a solid construction. I love the look of this guitar and the stable Tune-O-Matic bridge. This is a good choice for a beginner.
✅ Good price
✅ Nice pickups
✅ Stable tuning
✅ Attractive look
❌ No case
❌ Odd tailpiece
Why I Recommend It
The Epiphone Riviera has a classic look to it and a great tone. You won’t spend a lot on this guitar, and it’s a good alternative to the expensive Gibson. This is a solid semi-hollow guitar for today’s player.
Guild X-175 Manhattan
- Scale length: 24.75″
- Fingerboard radius: 9.5″
- Frets: 20
- Pickup type: 2 x Dearmond Alnico humbuckers
- Body shape: Semi-hollow
- What’s included in the box: Guitar, documentation, case
- Material & finish: Mahogany, laminated maple, gloss finish
- Best for: Intermediate guitar players that want a Bigsby tremolo
The Guild X-175 Manhattan is a solid intermediate guitar. It features great pickups for a superior tone. You get a full Bigsby tremolo system and an instrument that looks great. It’s ready to go right out of the box.
✅ Good pickups
✅ Attractive finish
✅ Comfortable neck
✅ Solid tuning machines
❌ Expensive
❌ Bigsby takes some getting used to
Why I Recommend It
The Guild X-175 is an excellent intermediate semi-acoustic guitar. It has the tone and sound that you want. The pickups are high output, and it includes a Bigsby tremolo. This is a great choice for any intermediate player.
Epiphone Casino Hollow Body
- Scale length: 24.7″
- Fingerboard radius: 14″
- Frets: 22
- Pickup type: 2 x humbucking
- Body shape: Semi-hollow
- What’s included in the box: Guitar, documentation
- Material & finish: Maple, mahogany, Indian laurel, gloss finish
- Best for: Beginners looking for a good quality semi-hollow guitar
The Epiphone Casino Hollow Body is the perfect starter guitar for anyone that wants to get this type of instrument. It’s easy to play and has great sounding pickups. You get a nice sounding guitar for a low price.
✅ Good price
✅ Nice pickups
✅ Easy to play
✅ Stable tuning
❌ No case
❌ No extras
Why I Recommend It
The Epiphone Casino has been around since 1961. It’s been played by many famous players, including George Harrison. This is the perfect instrument for any beginner, as it sounds great and it’s easy to play.
Best Beginner Semi-Acoustic Guitars
You have a lot of choices on the market when looking for the best beginner semi-acoustic guitar. Here are some top choices that you might want to consider. They all have excellent value, easy playability, and the tone you want.
- Ibanez AS73FM: This guitar has elite pickups, a good tone, a nice neck, and it won’t cost you a lot of money.
- Epiphone Sheraton PRO II: This instrument features solid wood, good pickups, a nice playing neck, and it comes with a hardshell case.
- Gretsch G2622 Streamliner: This is an excellent low-cost semi-hollow guitar. It’s easy to play and has good pickups and the tone you want.
Best Intermediate Semi-Acoustic Guitars
At the intermediate level, you’ll get a lot more for your money. These instruments are made with better wood, have a better tone, and are perfect for many different musical styles. Here are a few choices that you might want to consider.
- Gretsch G5655TG: This guitar has a big tone, superior pickups, an excellent neck, and a Bigsby tremolo.
- Ibanez As93ZW Artcore Expressionist: This instrument has a classic look, easy playability, a good set of pickups, and excellent tuners.
- Epiphone Broadway: This guitar has a classic look, a great tone, excellent pickups, and it’s affordable for intermediate players.
Best Semi-Acoustic Guitars for Professionals
You have a lot of choices when looking for the best semi-acoustic guitar for professionals. There’s a broad range of high-quality instruments on the market. Here are some top choices you might want to consider.
- PRS Hollowbody II: This is an excellent sounding instrument with high-quality pickups, a smooth finish, an excellent neck, and the tone you want from a professional sounding guitar.
- Gretsch 612OT-HR Brian Setzer: This guitar features signature pickups, a Bigsby tremolo, a huge tone, a smooth playing neck, and the sound you want from an expensive instrument.
- Gibson Es-335: This is a well- known, top-quality guitar with excellent performance, sound, playability, and reliability.
Best Semi-Acoustic Guitars Under $2,000
You don’t have to spend a whole lot of money on your semi-acoustic guitar. There are plenty of options under $2,000. Here are the top choices that you might want to consider buying. They all sound great and have excellent value.
- Guild Starfire VI: This guitar has a Bigsby tremolo, a solid construction, and high output LB-1 pickups.
- D’Angelico Excel Series SS: This instrument has Seymour Duncan pickups, an excellent bridge, easy playability, and a great look.
- Ibanez JS M10 John Scofield: This guitar has a superior tone, excellent pickups, a smooth playing neck, and an affordable price.
Best Semi-Acoustic Guitars Under $1,000
If you have a modest budget, you can still find a great instrument under $1,000. There are more options than ever before on the market at this price range. Here are three options that would make excellent choices for any player.
- Ibanez Artstar AS135: This is an excellent guitar with great pickups, a smooth playing neck, a great tone, and it comes in at an affordable price.
- Gretsch G5657T: This instrument has a Bigsby tremolo, good pickups, a smooth finish, stable tuning, and everything you need in a guitar under $1,000.
- Epiphone ES-335: This guitar is an affordable version of its Gibson counterpart with excellent tuning, a great look, and nice pickups. It comes in at a reasonable price for any beginner or intermediate player.
Best Semi-Acoustic Guitars Under $500
When looking for the best semi-acoustic guitar under $500, you might think your choice is limited. Here are a few options that you should look at, as they’re all excellent bargains yet have the quality you want.
- Epiphone Casino Worn: This instrument features P-90 pickups, smooth playability, a good tone, and a great look, even though it costs under $500.
- Guild Starfire I DC: With this guitar, you get a tremolo, nice pickups, a great look, easy playability, and everything you need to sound amazing.
- Ibanez Am73B: This guitar features a nice fixed bridge, decent pickups, a smooth finish, a good neck, and a price that won’t break your bank account.
Best Cheap Semi-Acoustic Guitars
Often, you don’t have a lot of money to spend on a guitar. Here are some more options that are budget friendly that you might want to consider. These are all good choices for any player.
- Guild Starfire I SC: The Starfire I SC has the airy tonality of a hollow body instrument with bright overtones and pronounced lows. A great option.
- Epiphone Casino Coupe: This guitar has old-school looks, a nice neck, stable tuning, a fixed bridge, and a big sound for not a lot of money.
- Ibanez AF55L Artcore: This guitar features a fixed bridge, too high-output humbuckers, a smooth finish, and an affordable price for anyone.
Best Bigsby Tremolo Semi-Acoustic Guitar
Some semi-acoustic or hollow body guitars come with the Bigsby tremolo. This is a large tremolo bar on the bottom portion of the guitar. It can be cumbersome for some people to play, so it’s not for everyone.
This bar allows the player to do some whammy bar and vibrato tricks that aren’t possible on most semi-hollow guitars because they have a fixed bridge.
- Epiphone Wildcat LTD: This instrument comes in at a low price, yet it has a big tone, easy playability, and a vibrato system for under $500.
- D’Angelico Premier Series Bob Weir SS: This guitar features a professional tone, easy playability, a good finish, push-pull tone control, and a nice Bigsby tremolo system.
- Gretsch G6636T Players Edition: This guitar has a Bigsby tremolo system, excellent looks, superior pickups, and a great neck.
Best Fixed Bridge Semi-Acoustic Guitars
A fixed bridge semi-acoustic or semi-hollow guitar is the standard type. This is a bridge that doesn’t have a tremolo system on it. The bridge stabilizes the tuning of this type of instrument and makes it easy to change strings.
- Gretsch G2655 Streamliner: This guitar has a fixed bridge, an easy-playing neck, a great look, great pickups, and you’re not going to spend a whole lot.
- Guild Starfire II ST NM: This guitar comes in at a good price and has a nice cutaway, a solid wood construction, easy playability, and great pickups.
- Ibanez GB10EM: This George Benson signature guitar has a fixed bridge, a smooth playing neck, a great finish, a nice look, and an affordable price.
Best Double Humbucker Semi-Acoustic Guitars
Almost all semi-acoustic guitars come with double humbucking pickups. Some may have three humbuckers, but the standard is two. This type of pickup gives a big sound and tone when compared to single-coil pickups.
- Ibanez Artcore AS53: This instrument is low cost and easy to play. It has decent pickups and a good sound, making it perfect for any beginner.
- Gretsch G6609 Player’s Edition: This guitar features a double-cutaway body in a handsome stained finish.
Best Cutaway Semi-Acoustic Guitars
The semi-acoustic guitar comes with what is called a cutaway. This means that the body has been scooped out at the top, so you have easy access to all frets. These guitars can either have a single cutaway or a double cutaway.
Here are a few options that you might want to consider.
- Gibson Es-335: This Gibson is one of the best semi-acoustic guitars thanks to the double cutaway, great pickups, and a sound that can’t be beat.
- Gretsch 2627T: This guitar has three pickups, a double cutaway, a nice neck, and an amazing tone for under $500.
- Epiphone Riviera Custom P93: This instrument has a huge tone with three humbucking pickups, a solid wood construction, a nice neck, a smooth finish, and a tremolo system.
Semi-Acoustic Guitar Parts & Accessories
Semi-acoustic guitars have several parts that you need to know about.
Neck/Headstock
The neck is where the frets are attached to the guitar. The headstock holds the tuning pegs as well as the nut. The neck goes through the body of the guitar, or it’s bolted on.
Pickups
Semi-acoustic guitars normally come with humbucking pickups. Some models also come with single-coil pickups.
Electronics
Hollowbody guitars also have a tone control, a volume knob, and a pickup selector switch. Some of them have two volume knobs and two tone controls. The instrument also has an input jack for the cord.
Bridge
The bridge on this type of guitar is either a tremolo style or fixed bridge. Most instruments have a fixed bridge, but some of them have a Bigsby style tremolo.
Pickguard/Strap Buttons
Some instruments have a pickguard, and most of them come with two strap buttons.
Semi-Acoustic Guitar Craftsmanship
Here are a few things to think about when it comes to how the acoustic guitar looks, feels, and sounds.
Wood
Semi-acoustic or hollowbody guitars are made with several different types of wood. Here are some of the more common ones.
- Laminate: A lot of semi-acoustic guitars used laminate wood. This is several layers of wood that are used to construct the guitar body.
- Maple: Some guitars are made with maple wood because it’s solid and produces a nice tone.
- Mahogany: This is another word that’s often used to make this type of guitar. It produces a warm and resonant tone.
- Rosewood: This wood is often used for the fretboard. It’s smooth and easy on the fingers.
Finish
There are several types of finishes used on semi-acoustic or hollowbody guitars. Here are a few of the common ones.
- Nitrocellulose lacquer: This type of lacquer is often used to finish acoustic type guitars. It’s hard and helps maintain the finish for a long time. There are other types, but this is the most common.
- Shellac: This type of finish produces a smooth and shiny surface.
- Varnish: This has a good lifespan and a secure bond, and it helps keep moisture out.
Semi-acoustic guitars can be colored in many different ways. Popular colors include natural, sunburst, black, silver, red, and blue.
The Overall Tone & Sound
This type of guitar has a punchy and loud tone. This makes it the ideal choice for blues, jazz, rockabilly, and any other style when you’re going to be playing a lot of chords as well as doing solos.
Buying New vs Used
It’s probably a good idea that you buy a new semi-acoustic guitar. It’s difficult to know what you get when you buy something used if you’re a beginner, so you should purchase a new one.
You can buy a used guitar if you have some experience with guitars since you’ll know what you’re getting. Be careful if you buy a used one online and ask many questions so you don’t end up being disappointed.
What’s in a Semi-Acoustic Guitar Box?
When you purchase a guitar, several things will be in the box. Here’s what you can expect.
Case/Gig Bag
Some guitars ship with a case or a gig bag. You should check with the store to make sure your guitar comes with a case or gig bag.
Checked Tag/Documents
New guitars should come with a checked tag. This indicates it’s been checked by the manufacturer or by the store that you bought it from. You may also get documentation with your guitar.
Tremolo Arm
Some hollowbody guitars have a tremolo arm. Make sure this is with your guitar if you have purchased one with a tremolo.
Allen Wrenches
You may also get a couple of allen wrenches with your purchase. This helps you adjust the bridge as well as the truss rod.
Extras
You’ll probably want to buy a few things that aren’t included when you purchase your guitar.
- Picks
- Extra strings
- Guitar cable
- Amplifier
- Chair/music stand
- Case (if not included)
Semi-Acoustic Guitar Brands to Avoid
Whenever you purchase a semi-acoustic guitar, try to go with the name brands. You should avoid knock-off guitars such as the ones that come from China. You don’t know what the quality of these instruments will be.
Most major manufacturers, such as Gibson, Gretsch, Ibanez, and so on, make semi-acoustic guitars. You should purchase from these companies.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Here are some answers to commonly asked questions.
How Much Do Semi-Acoustic Guitars Cost?
Semi-acoustic guitars come in a wide range of prices. You’ll find one for all playing styles. It doesn’t matter what skill level you’re at. Common price ranges are:
- Beginner: $300-$600
- Intermediate: $600-$1,500
- Advanced: $1,500+
What Are the Best Semi-Acoustic Guitars?
These are the guitars that I consider to be the best semi-acoustic or hollowbody guitars. All of these would make great choices.
Paul Reed Smith Hollowbody II: Best for Professionals
I’ve played Paul Reed Smith Guitars, and they make excellent instruments. The Hollowbody II has what you want in a semi-acoustic guitar. It has great pickups, a nice neck, and a big tone, making it a clear winner.
Epiphone Riviera Custom P93: Best for Intermediate Players
The Epiphone Riviera Custom P93 guitar is an excellent bargain for intermediate players. You get a tremolo system, three excellent pickups, a full set of electronics, and a huge tone.
Epiphone Casino: Best for New Players
The Epiphone Casino is the perfect choice for any beginner because it has good pickups, an easy-to-play neck, a great look, and it comes in at an affordable price.
Where Are the Best Semi-Acoustic Guitars Made?
Most of the best semi-acoustic guitars are made by major American guitar manufacturers such as Fender, Gibson, etc. A few other international companies, such as Ibanez, make great guitars in this style.
What Is the Best Sounding Semi-Acoustic Guitar?
The Gibson ES-335 is one of the most iconic semi-hollow guitars. It was the favorite guitar of blues guitar player B.B. King. This instrument has a superior tone, playability, pickups, and performance. You can’t get much better than this.
Where to Buy Semi-Acoustic Guitars
There are a few places where you can buy semi-acoustic guitars. Here’s what you should know before you make your purchase.
Amazon
Buying through Amazon is always recommended. They have a good price range. They update their stock frequently, and they have good customer service.
Online Music Retailers
Sweetwater is another place where you might want to order online. They have an excellent 30-day money-back guarantee, payment plans, and free shipping. This company also has a wide range of instruments for you to choose from.
Your Local Music Store
You can also buy one of these guitars at your local music store. Make sure you take someone that understands guitars if you’re a new player. This way you’re sure you get something that works for your needs.
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Table of Contents
- Acoustic Guitars
- What Is a Semi-Acoustic Guitar?
- Types of Semi-Acoustic Guitars
- Things to Consider When Choosing a Semi-Acoustic Guitar
- Best Semi-Acoustic Guitar Brands
- Top 10 Best Semi-Acoustic Guitars Overall
- Best Beginner Semi-Acoustic Guitars
- Best Intermediate Semi-Acoustic Guitars
- Best Semi-Acoustic Guitars for Professionals
- Best Semi-Acoustic Guitars Under $2,000
- Best Semi-Acoustic Guitars Under $1,000
- Best Semi-Acoustic Guitars Under $500
- Best Cheap Semi-Acoustic Guitars
- Best Bigsby Tremolo Semi-Acoustic Guitar
- Best Fixed Bridge Semi-Acoustic Guitars
- Best Double Humbucker Semi-Acoustic Guitars
- Best Cutaway Semi-Acoustic Guitars
- Semi-Acoustic Guitar Craftsmanship
- Buying New vs Used
- What’s in a Semi-Acoustic Guitar Box?
- Semi-Acoustic Guitar Brands to Avoid
- Frequently Asked Questions:
- In Conclusion
In Conclusion
I hope you found this guide to the best semi-acoustic guitars to be helpful. These are excellent guitars with an amazing tone and playability. Pick one up if you’re into jazz, country, blues, and similar styles.
Please share this article and leave comments. I hope you enjoy your new semi-acoustic guitar. Have fun playing and never stop jamming.