Best Semi-Hollow Body Guitar TOP 3 (2023)

Semi-Hollow electric guitar, our top picks

If you are looking for thebeste semi-hollow bodyelectric guitar for your $500 budget, then you have more options than you probably realize. There are some great onessemi-hollow body gitarenon the market.OfGibson ES-335is at the top, with an amazing design. In 1958, the ES-335 brought jazz, blues, country and rock guitarists a new sound.Solid-bodyelectric guitars were still a fresh idea back then and many guitarists fell in love with the newest of the newest, a so-called Stratocaster. However, many guitarists had grown up with the boomy, full-body acoustic and acoustic-electric jazz guitars of the 1930s and 1940s. The ES-335 was an intermediate form.

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Semi-acoustic electric guitarslike the ES-335 are built with a solid solid center block with a hollow “wing” on each side. They lack the full acoustic projection of a true hollow-body guitar. However, they retain some of the acoustic tone and sound particularly good clean, or with a smooth overdrive. They are also usually narrower than hollow-body guitars and therefore easier to play.

Gibson's concept for the ES-335 had many descendants in bothGibsonas other manufacturers. It is alegendary instrumentbecome, and with good reason. But, as you probably already know, the Gibson ES-335 is priced well above your budget if you want to stick to your $500 budget. That's okay, there are still plenty of options, some of them really good!

This article reviews three of the best semi-hollow body guitars under $500. If you have read any of my articles before, then you know that my goal is to help youbest guitarinaccessorieswithout having to pay too much money for it. You can do that with these guitars.

OK, let's see those guitars then!

Epiphone Dot

Epiphone is the best candidate as a replacement for the ES-335 for less than € 500. The Dot is a mid-level guitar, but many veteran guitarists also have positive comments on this guitar. The Dot itself has acquired a somewhat mythical status among guitar fans. Not surprising, when you consider thatEpiphoneever Gibsonbiggest competitor in the top of the guitar market before Gibson took over the company. When it comes to hollow and semi-hollow body guitars, Epiphone is still damn good.

The Dot has a laminated ash body and top, with a mahogany neck and a rosewood fingerboard. The pickups are Epiphones Alnico Classic humbuckers, which are controlled by 2 volume 2 tone controls and a 3-way switch. A tune-o-matic bridge with stopbar tailpiece and Grover tuners completes the hardware.

While the Dot certainly doesn't have the epic quality and sound standard of the ES-335, it's still a great guitar for thousands of dollars less than the original. The Dot consistently scores high marks for its sound, looks and playability.

Also check out:If you like the Dot and you have a few extra bucks to spend, you might want theEpiphone Sheraton IIto consider. It's a guitar similar to the Dot, but it's an upgrade in certain areas and looks even better. If you're a beginner and can't really afford the Dot, consider the Dot Studio, a more affordable version of the Epiphone Dot.

Matt Marshak on the Epiphone Sheraton II:

Ibanez Artcore AS73

Ibanez may seem like a surprising choice when it comes to semi-hollow body guitars. Ultimately, this guitar brand is known for shred machines like the RG and S series, not to mention the original 7-string designs. But Ibanez made a name for itself in the 1970s with some very stylish guitars and the company continues that tradition with the Artcore lineup. Ibanez Artcore guitars come in everything from classic solid body guitars to hollow body guitars. And semi-hollow body guitars like the AS73.

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The Ibanez AS73 features an ash top, back and sides with a set mahogany neck and rosewood fingerboard. The dual Ibanez ACH pickups and 3-way switch, plus the bridge setup, make this guitar's design very similar to that of the Dot. This just goes to show how big an impact ES-335 has had on guitar design. However, the Ibanez has a slightly different look & vibe, for those people who like to go off the beaten path.

While Epiphone seems to dominate the market for affordable semi-hollow body guitars under $450, it's good to know that there are other good options out there as well. And the Ibanez is one of those options.

seems to have the market cornered when it comes to affordable semi-hollow body guitars under $500, know there are other options, and Ibanez is a good one.

Also check out:The Ibanez Artcore Expressionist AS93 goes one step further than the AS73 and has upgraded features such as a flamed ash top, block inlays and Custom 58 pickups. You'll go over your budget with this guitar, but it's still a great guitar for a reasonable price. For beginners, the super affordable AS53 may be the best option.

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More about the Ibanez AS73:

Fender Modern Player Telecaster Thinline Deluxe

The design of the Gibson ES-335 is definitely a classic, butmaybe you have something completely different in mind. The Fender Telecaster Thinline is an interesting alternative to the typical semi-hollow body design. Instead of a center block with hollow wings, we are dealing here with a guitar body with cut-out cavities. It looks like a Tele, plays like a Tele, but sounds slightly different from the Teles you're probably used to.

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Fender Modern Player Telecaster Thinline Deluxe: aunique semi-hollow body guitar

Fender also has the does Modern Players series, a more affordable lineup of guitars aimed at up-and-coming musicians. Here we find the Telecaster Thinline Deluxe.

The Fender Modern Player Telecaster Thinline Deluxe features a semi-hollow mahogany body with a one-piece ash neck and fingerboard. As for the electronics, the stock Telecaster pickups have been replaced with a pair of Modern Player MP-90 single coils. You control the sound with 2 volume and 2 tone controls and a 3-way switch.

Inside the Modern Player Thinline Tele we see a guitar that resembles the classic Tlecaster enough to feel familiar, but with a unique vibe that makes this guitar stand out from the crowd on stage or in the studio. If you're looking for a truly unique semi-hollow body guitar, consider this guitar a serious option.

Also check out:The Fender Classic Series Thinline Tele is on the pricey side, but you'll still save money when you compare it to the Deluxe version. If you're serious about the Thinline Tele, think about the Classic Series. On the other hand, if you're not quite sure about it and don't want to spend too much money either, look at the Squier Classic Vibe Thinline Tele. The Squier Classic Vibe series also scores high marks for its performance in reviews from veteran guitarists.

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Listen to the Fender Modern Player Telecaster Thinline Deluxe:

Which semi-hollow body guitar should you choose?

If you wanted to stretch your budget, you could find a multitude of top picks from some of the big brands. If you're looking for the best semi-hollow body guitar under $500, it's really challenging to find theEpiphone,IbanezinFenderdefeat.

• The Dot is a classicand is probably the guitar I would start with. People have different opinions about Epiphone, but I've always thought that if you find a good one, they're some of the best guitars out there. They also have a solid reputation when it comes to archtop guitars. While the Dot is certainly based on Gibson's designs, Epi certainly made its mark here.
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• Ibanez is also a great brandand I personally have very good experiences with the brand in terms of quality. The Artcore series is a bit of a black horse when compared to guitars in the Epiphone lineup, but if you like Ibanez, or just want something different from Epiphone, you can you can't miss the mark with this one.
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• The Thinline Telecaster is a battle apart. Either you love it or you don't. There's probably little I can say to change your mind. If you think the Thinline is cool then I would suggest you consider the Squier Classic Vibe version. He just might surprise you!
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Good luck choosing when you buy your new semi-hollow body guitar!

Even more guitars

• The best guitars for Jazz

Check out some cool hollow-body guitars from top brands such as Epiphone, Washburn and Gretsch here. The right jazz guitar is going to help you capture the exact tone you've been looking for and give you years of enjoyment. It also doesn't hurt that these guitars look beautiful!

• The best guitars for Country Music

As a country musician, a semi-hollow body guitar may be just what you've been looking for. If not, here are some additional options. From the thwang of the Telecaster to the smooth tones of the Les Paul, this article will help you figure out which guitar is right for you.

• The best electric guitars under €500

Still not sure? Here are a few of thembest electric guitars under $500. They come from the best brands in the guitar world, and sound great without emptying your wallet. These instruments prove that you don't have to pay the top price for the perfect guitar.

Read also:

• Buy best guitar TOP 10
• Electric guitar buying guide
• Buying an acoustic guitar guide
• Bass guitar buying tips