HELLO, HOLLOWBODIES!

Addictive hollow- and semihollowbody guitars for every budget — including four standout models for less than $500

Ten addictive hollow- and semi-hollowbody guitars for every budget, including four standout models for less than $500

EVERY GUITAR PLAYER, AT SOME point in his or her life, has put serious thought into owning a hollow or semi-hollow electric. It’s a perfectly understandable inclination; visually, there’s a lot going on, thanks to their oversized bodies, ample curves and eye-catching f-holes. Then, of course, there are the tonal differences to solidbody electrics, which are often considered thicker and more direct, though less open, airy and dynamic. And while semi-acoustics — a term that, confusingly, includes semi-hollow and hollowbody guitars — have often been regarded as jazz or blues instruments, these guitars have been wielded by players in just about every genre. Mastodon’s Brent Hinds has been spotted playing a Gibson B.B. King Lucille, while Nirvana/Foo Fighters legend Dave Grohl and much-missed Soundgarden frontman Chris Cornell went so far as releasing their own Gibson ES-335 signatures.

As we know, guitars built this way are more prone to feedback — which, depending on the player, can be a blessing or a curse — though newer models aimed at metal players, such as the Squier Contemporary Active Starcaster, feature ceramic pickups on a sealed body to avoid unwanted noises. So there really is no reason such an instrument can’t be harnessed and applied to almost any musical situation. As a result, these kinds of guitars are now ubiquitous, with numerous options to suit every kind of player. Here’s our roundup of our favorites, including five models (with four priced at $500 or less) for players on a budget.