Hollowbody guitars bring a unique tone and feel that just can’t be matched, perfect for those into smooth jazz, gritty blues or retro rock vibes. We’ve rounded up the most popular models, so now it’s your turn to have your say! Vote for your preferred hollowbody guitar and check out how the others voted. Don’t forget to share your thoughts in the comments or share this poll with fellow guitarists!
1. Gretsch G6122T (Chet Atkins)
Body: 3-Ply Laminated Maple.
Neck: Maple.
Fingerboard: Ebony.
Bridge: Rocking Bar Bridge, Bigsby B6G Vibrato Tailpiece.
Pickups: 2 x TV Jones Filter'Tron Classic Humbucker.
2. Gretsch G6136T-59
Body: 3-Ply Laminated Maple.
Neck: Maple.
Fingerboard: Ebony.
Bridge: Space Control Bridge with Pinned Ebony Bridge, Bigsby B6G Vibrato Tailpiece.
Pickups: 2 x TV Jones Filter'Tron Classic Humbucker.
3. PRS II Piezo
Body: Flamed maple top & back, mahogany sides.
Neck: Mahogany.
Fingerboard: Rosewood.
Bridge: PRS Stoptail bridge.
Pickups: 2 x PRS 58/15 LT + LR Baggs Piezo.
4. PRS SE II Piezo
Body: Flamed maple top & back, mahogany sides.
Neck: Mahogany.
Fingerboard: Ebony.
Bridge: PRS adjustable piezo stoptail.
Pickups: 2 x PRS 58/15 LT "S" humbucker + Piezo system.
5. D'Angelico Deluxe 59
Body: Mahogany laminated.
Neck: 3-piece Maple/Walnut.
Fingerboard: Ebony.
Bridge: Tune-O-Matic Bridge with Stairstep Tailpiece.
Pickups: 2 x Seymour Duncan D'Angelico Great Dane P-90.
6. D'Angelico Excel 59
Body: Laminated spruce top & flamed maple back and sides.
Neck: 3-piece Maple/Walnut.
Fingerboard: Ebony.
Bridge: Adjustable Bridge with Stairstep Tailpiece.
Pickups: 2 x Seymour Duncan D'Angelico Great Dane P-90.
7. D'Angelico Excel EXL-1
Body: Laminated spruce top & laminated maple back and sides.
Neck: 3-piece Maple/Walnut.
Fingerboard: Ebony.
Bridge: Floating Ebony Wood bridge, D'Angelico Stairstep Tailpiece.
Pickups: Seymour Duncan 59 Humbucker.
8. D'Angelico Excel SS Soho
Body: Laminated spruce top & laminated maple back and sides.
Neck: 3-piece Maple/Walnut.
Fingerboard: Ebony.
Bridge: Adjustable Bridge with Stairstep Tailpiece.
Pickups: Kent Armstrong Jazzy Joe Floating Mini Humbucker.
9. D'Angelico Excel Style B
Body: Laminated spruce top & laminated maple back and sides.
Neck: 3-piece Maple/Walnut.
Fingerboard: Ebony.
Bridge: Floating Ebony Wood bridge, D'Angelico Stairstep Tailpiece.
Pickups: DeArmond Rhythm Master 1000 Single-coil.
10. D'Angelico Premier EXL-1
Body: Laminated spruce top & flamed maple back and sides.
Neck: Maple.
Fingerboard: Ovangkol.
Bridge: Rosewood/Stairstep.
Pickups: D'Angelico Floating Mini-Humbucker.
11. Eastman Guitars AR372CE Archtop
Body: Laminate Maple.
Neck: 3-piece Maple.
Fingerboard: Ebony.
Bridge: Floating Ebony Bridge, Chrome Plated Trapeze Tailpiece.
Pickups: 2 x Kent Armstrong HPAG-1 Humbucker.
12. Eastman Guitars AR480CE John Pisano
Body: Maple.
Neck: Maple.
Fingerboard: Ebony.
Bridge: Floating Ebony Bridge, Solid mounted Ebony tailpiece on brass with Pisano Frog Inlay.
Pickups: Seymour Duncan Seth Lover Humbucker.
13. Eastman Guitars AR503CE Archtop
Body: Laminated spruce top & flamed maple back and sides.
Neck: 3-piece Maple.
Fingerboard: Ebony.
Bridge: Floating Ebony Bridge, Ebony Tailpiece.
Pickups: Seymour Duncan Seth Lover Humbucker.
14. Epiphone Broadway
Body: Maple with Spruce top.
Neck: Maple.
Fingerboard: Indian laurel.
Bridge: Adjustable Floating Pau Ferro with Frequensator Split Trapeze Tailpiece.
Pickups: 2 x Epiphone Alnico Classic PRO Humbucker.
15. Epiphone Casino
Body: Maple laminated.
Neck: Mahogany.
Fingerboard: Indian laurel.
Bridge: LockTone Tune-o-matic with Diamond Trapeze.
Pickups: 2 x Epiphone PRO P90.
16. Epiphone Emperor Swingster
Body: Maple laminated.
Neck: Mahogany.
Fingerboard: Indian laurel.
Bridge: LockTone Tune-O-Matic Bridge with pinned Laurel base, Bigsby Vibrato Tailpiece.
Pickups: 2 x Epiphone SwingBucker Humbucker.
17. Epiphone USA Casino
Body: Maple/poplar/maple laminated.
Neck: Mahogany.
Fingerboard: Rosewood.
Bridge: ABR-1 Tune-O-Matic Bridge with Trapeze Tailpiece.
Pickups: 2 x Gibson USA P-90 Dogear.
18. Gibson ES-330
Body: Maple/poplar/maple.
Neck: Mahogany.
Fingerboard: Rosewood.
Bridge: ABR-1 Tune-O-Matic bridge, Trapeze tailpiece.
Pickups: 2 x Dogear P-90.
19. Godin 5th Avenue CW Kingpin II P90
Body: Canadian Wild Cherry.
Neck: Silver Leaf Maple.
Fingerboard: Rosewood.
Bridge: Pinned Graph Tech Adjustable TUSQ Bridge.
Pickups: 2 x Godin Kingpin P-90.
20. Godin 5th Avenue Uptown T-Armond
Body: Canadian Wild Cherry.
Neck: Silver Leaf Maple.
Fingerboard: Richlite.
Bridge: Tune-O-Matic Bridge with Bigsby Vibrato.
Pickups: 2 x TV Jones T-Armond.
21. Godin A6 Ultra
Body: Silver Leaf Maple with Solid Cedar Top.
Neck: Mahogany.
Fingerboard: Richlite.
Bridge: Richlite with Custom Godin Under-saddle Transducer.
Pickups: Custom Godin Humbucker.
22. Gretsch G2420T Streamliner
Body: Laminated Maple.
Neck: Nato.
Fingerboard: Laurel.
Bridge: Adjusto-Matic Bridge, Bigsby B60 Tailpiece.
Pickups: 2 x Gretsch Broad'Tron BT-3S Humbucker.
23. Gretsch G5420T Electromatic
Body: Maple laminated with trestle block.
Neck: Maple.
Fingerboard: Laurel.
Bridge: Adjusto-Matic Bridge with Secured Laurel Base, Bigsby B60 Vibrato Tailpiece.
Pickups: 2 x FT-5E Filter'Tron Humbucker.
24. Gretsch G5422TG Electromatic
Body: Maple laminated with trestle block.
Neck: Maple.
Fingerboard: Laurel.
Bridge: Adjusto-Matic Bridge with Secured Laurel Base, Bigsby B60 Vibrato Tailpiece.
Pickups: 2 x FT-5E Filter'Tron Humbucker.
25. Gretsch G6120T (Brian Setzer)
Body: Maple laminated with trestle block.
Neck: Maple.
Fingerboard: Ebony.
Bridge: Adjusto-Matic Bridge with Pinned Rosewood Base, Bigsby B6C Vibrato Tailpiece.
Pickups: 2 x TV Jones Brian Setzer Signature Filter-Tron Humbucker.
26. Gretsch G7593T Billy Duffy Falcon
Body: Laminated Maple.
Neck: 3-piece Maple/Walnut.
Fingerboard: Ebony.
Bridge: Adjust-Matic Bridgge with Pinned '70s Style Ebony Base, Bigsby B6CW Vibrato Tailpiece with Wire Handle.
Pickups: 2 x Black Top Filter'tron humbucker.
27. Gretsch Pro Nashville
Body: Laminated Maple.
Neck: Maple.
Fingerboard: Ebony.
Bridge: Adjusto-Matic Bridge, Bigsby B6GP String-Thru.
Pickups: 2 x Gretsch PRO-FT Filter'Tron Humbucker.
28. Guild M-75 Aristocrat
Body: Mahogany with Laminated Spruce Top.
Neck: 3-piece Mahogany/Maple.
Fingerboard: Ebony.
Bridge: Tune-O-Matic with Pinned Cups/Guild harp.
Pickups: 2 x Franz P90 Soapbar Single-coil.
29. Guild Starfire III Dynasonic
Body: Maple.
Neck: Mahogany.
Fingerboard: Ebony.
Bridge: Guild Tune-O-Matic with Rosewood Base and Guild Vibrato Tailpiece.
Pickups: 2 x Guild LB-1 humbucker.
30. Guild T-50 Slim
Body: Laminated Maple.
Neck: Mahogany.
Fingerboard: Ebony.
Bridge: Ebony/Guild harp.
Pickups: Franz P90 Single-coil.
31. Guild X-175 Manhattan Special
Body: Maple with Spruce Top.
Neck: Mahogany.
Fingerboard: Ebony.
Bridge: Guild Tune-O-Matic with Pinned Ebony Bridge and Guild Vibrato Tailpiece.
Pickups: 2 x DeArmond Dynasonic Single-coil.
32. Heritage Standard Eagle Classic
Body: Solid Curly Maple with Solid Carved Sitka Spruce Top.
Neck: 5-piece Curly Maple.
Fingerboard: Ebony.
Bridge: Adjustable Rosewood Base with Finger Bail Tailpiece.
Pickups: 2 x Seymour Duncan Seth Lover Humbucker.
33. Heritage Standard H-530
Body: Maple with Flamed maple Top.
Neck: Mahogany.
Fingerboard: Rosewood.
Bridge: Locking TOM-style bridge with trapeze tailpiece.
Pickups: 2 x Lollar Dogear P-90.
34. Ibanez Artcore AF75
Body: Linden.
Neck: Nyatoh.
Fingerboard: Laurel.
Bridge: ART-1.
Pickups: 2 x Classic Elite Humbucker.
35. Ibanez Artcore Expressionist AF95FM
Body: Flamed Maple.
Neck: 3-piece Nyatoh/Maple.
Fingerboard: Ebony.
Bridge: Gibraltar Performer Bridge with VT06 Tailpiece.
Pickups: 2 x Super 58 Alnico Humbucker.
36. Ibanez Artcore Expressionist AG95
Body: Quilted Ash.
Neck: 3-piece Nyatoh/Maple.
Fingerboard: Ebony.
Bridge: Gibraltar Performer Bridge with VT06 Tailpiece.
Pickups: 2 x Super 58 Alnico Humbucker.
37. Ibanez George Benson Signature GB10
Body: Maple with Spruce Top.
Neck: 3-piece Maple.
Fingerboard: Ebony.
Bridge: Ebony/GB10.
Pickups: 2 x GB SPECIAL Alnico Humbucker.
38. Ibanez PM200 Pat Metheny
Body: Maple.
Neck: Mahogany.
Fingerboard: Ebony.
Bridge: Gotoh GE103B Bridge with PM Tailpiece.
Pickups: Silent 58 Humbucker.
39. Ibanez PM3C Pat Metheny
Body: Maple with Spruce Top.
Neck: 3-piece Nyatoh/Maple.
Fingerboard: Ebony.
Bridge: Gibraltar Performer bridge, VT200 tailpiece.
Pickups: Ibanez PM Special Single-coil.
40. PRS McCarty 594 II
Body: Flamed maple top & back, mahogany sides.
Neck: Mahogany.
Fingerboard: Rosewood.
Bridge: 2-Piece PRS Stoptail.
Pickups: PRS McCarty III Bass (neck) & PRS McCarty III Treble (bridge).
41. PRS SE Standard Piezo
Body: Mahogany.
Neck: Mahogany.
Fingerboard: Ebony.
Bridge: PRS Adjustable Stoptail.
Pickups: 2 x PRS 58/15 LT "S" humbucker + Piezo system.
42. Sire Larry Carlton H7F
Body: Maple.
Neck: Mahogany.
Fingerboard: Ebony.
Bridge: Tune-O-Matic(Rosewood Bottom) & Tailpiece.
Pickups: 2 x Sire LC Vintage Humbucker.
43. Taylor T5z Classic
Body: Tropical Mahogany.
Neck: Tropical Mahogany.
Fingerboard: Ebony.
Bridge: Ebony with Micarta saddle.
Pickups: Samarium Cobalt Humbucker (bridge), Dynamic Body Sensor (middle) & Concealed Samarium Cobalt Humbucker (neck).
Suggest a product
If you believe a suitable product is missing from the list, kindly email us at suggestion@geardecider.com with the name of the list and the suggested product. If the product aligns with the list’s criteria, we will add it promptly.
Understanding Hollowbody Guitars: A Guide for Players and Enthusiasts
Hollowbody guitars are a distinct class of electric guitars that combine the warmth of acoustic instruments with the power of electric amplification. Originally designed in the 1930s, these guitars have played a pivotal role in shaping genres like jazz, blues, rockabilly, and classic rock. What sets them apart is their fully hollow wooden body, which resonates similarly to an acoustic guitar, giving them a rich, full-bodied sound
Unlike solid-body guitars, hollowbodies are constructed with a carved or laminated arched top and back, usually featuring f-holes similar to those on violins. This design not only enhances their aesthetic appeal but also contributes to their signature tone—warm, rounded, and resonant with a touch of natural reverb. When amplified, hollowbody guitars maintain clarity while adding a woody character that’s especially beloved by jazz and blues players.
There’s also a closely related category called semi-hollowbody guitars. These have a center block running through the body to reduce feedback while retaining some of the hollowbody warmth. While both types share tonal similarities, true hollowbody guitars tend to produce more acoustic resonance and are often preferred for more traditional or mellower tones.
Popular models include the Gibson ES-175, known for its lush jazz tones; the Gretsch White Falcon, with its iconic look and bright, chimey character; and the Epiphone Casino, famously used by The Beatles. Brands like Ibanez, D’Angelico, and Godin also produce excellent hollowbodies, each with unique construction methods, pickups, and tonewoods that influence sound and playability.
However, hollowbody guitars are not without their quirks. One key consideration is feedback—because of their hollow nature, these guitars can be more prone to unwanted feedback at high volumes or with heavy distortion. This makes them less ideal for high-gain rock or metal but perfect for clean to moderately overdriven tones.
When choosing a hollowbody guitar, consider factors like body size, neck profile, pickup configuration (P-90s, humbuckers, or mini-humbuckers), and whether you want a traditional floating bridge or a fixed Tune-o-Matic style. These elements all affect tone, comfort, and versatility.
You might be a seasoned player. Then again, you might be just beginning your musical journey. Either way, hollowbody guitars offer a unique blend of tone and tradition. They’re not just instruments; they’re expressive tools that bring personality and history to every note you play.
This list is here to guide you, whether you’re buying your first hollowbody or adding another gem to your collection. Let the community’s votes and comments help you find the perfect match for your sound.
