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6 Best Hollow Body Guitars Under $500 (2024 Expert Picks)

Hollow and semi-hollow body guitars are old school electric instruments. These are different from solid-body guitars and have a hollow chamber in their body. This changes their sound, by increasing their resonance and making them more sensitive to vibration. 

Hollow body guitars are a cool way to get a different tone. They sound great for old music like blues, jazz, funk, gospel, and more. 

This guide shows you the best hollow body guitars on the market today!

I tested 6 products and found the Gretsch Streamliner to be the Best hollow body guitar under $500.

Gretsch has been making hollow-body guitars for years and years, so they have experience and knowledge with what they are doing. This really shows in the Gretsch Streamliner, which is some of the best hollow body guitars we’ve seen. 

This guitar features two tasty humbuckers, which create a powerful, beefy tone that’s sure to turn heads. This guitar is also light and easy to carry around. If you’re looking for a semi-hollow body electric guitar, you really can’t go wrong here. 

Hollow body guitars have always intrigued me. These guitars have such a cool unique style. They look like old-school instruments and have the sound to match. These guitars are great for genres like Jazz, Blues, and Funk. They create resonant, twangy sounds that are great for catchy riffs.

The best Best hollow body guitar under 500 for you depends on your style, skill level, budget, and taste.

There are many semi-hollow body guitars out there, so we’ve written this guide to help you find the perfect match. When choosing guitars, make sure you pick one with a style that works for the kind of music you like to play. 

Keep reading for our full review of the Best hollow body guitar under 500!

Alternatively, check out our review of the best guitars for beginners, or the best Taylor guitar for the money.

Best hollow body guitar under $500 in our tests

Best hollow body guitar under $500 Reviewed in Detail

1. Ibanez AS53 Semi-Hollow-Body (AS53-TKF)

Ibanez AS53 Semi-Hollow-Body (AS53-TKF)

The Ibanez AS53 is a great guitar for players of all levels, from beginners to pros. This electric guitar features a mahogany body and neck, a rosewood fretboard with medium jumbo frets, and humbucking pickups for warm, rich tones. The medium frets and shorter 24-inch scale creates a smooth transition between your fretting hand and your picking hand.

Ibanez is a guitar company that has been around since 1954. They’ve definitely built up a good reputation for quality and performance. The AS53 is the perfect starter guitar for those who are just getting into the instrument. It’s designed with the beginner player in mind and has stable electronics, allowing easy adjusting without any hassle.

Ibanez AS53 Infinity pickups are equipped with warm, balanced articulation for an excellent response for varied musical genres. You can fine-tune your tone with the three-way pickup selector switch, which is made to match the pickup output with your guitar’s volume and tone controls.

The innovative Art-St Bridge was designed with a new and uniquely effective tuning stability mechanism that provides stable tuning for string instruments like guitars, violins, and basses. It delivers easy access to notes that are usually more difficult to play, which makes it ideal for experienced players as well as beginners.

When it comes to semi-hollow and acoustic guitars, Ibanez has been making some of the world’s most iconic electric instruments for years. Ibanez is proud to offer a semi-hollow electric in the form of the AS53. The warm tone of the AS53 is super satisfying and a lot of fun to play with. 

Product Specifications:

  • Body Material: Mahogany
  • Fretboard: Rosewood
  • Pickup Configuration: 2 x humbucker

Pros & Cons:

  • Fantastic quality in an affordable price range.
  • Two punchy, twangy humbuckers.
  • Double cutaway for upper fret access.

Verdict:

If you’re looking for a semi-hollow guitar with a warm tone, clean look, and affordable price, Ibanez AS53 is a perfect choice. At its price point, there’s no better deal out there. It’s well-built and sounds great through its humbucker pickups. This is easily one of the best hollow body guitars under $500.

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2. EART E-335 6 String

EART E-335 6 String

The E-335 is a hollow body guitar with a mahogany body, rosewood fretboard, and a zebra finish on top. The whole package is very well-thought-out, and it’s also easy to play with the GFS system. It’s a mimic of the Epiphone Dot guitar, which is another popular hollow body guitar design.

The EART E-335 is the perfect in-between guitar for players who want an affordable option that sounds great but doesn’t want to compromise quality. With laminated mahogany back and body, a mahogany neck, and a mahogany neck block, this guitar is not only gorgeous to look at, but also sounds really good!

This is a high-performance, high-quality instrument. It is made of natural and environmentally friendly materials, and the wood’s natural finish is preserved with a gloss coating.

The E-335 is an inspired electric guitar for players who want the best quality and performance for high-quality sound. With a sleek design, this electric guitar is full of features that make playing easy. Whether you’re shredding modern rock or playing classics, you’ll be in heaven!

This is a new super-light, compact, semi-hollow-body guitar that is built for comfort, speed, and great tone. With the warmth of a semi-hollow body and a classic look, the EART E335 guitar has the sound of vintage guitars at a price you can afford.

Product Specifications:

  • Body Material: Mahogany
  • Fretboard: Rosewood
  • Pickup Configuration: 2 x Humbucker

Pros & Cons:

  • Great tone at an affordable price.
  • Excellent sustain and brightness.
  • Stable tuning, good versatility.
  • Needed some setting up.

Verdict:

This is a great guitar in a very affordable price range. This guitar excels for high gain playing hor clean musical styles and is capable of producing a range of tones. I really like the sound of this guitar for delta blues. The arched maple top increases the acoustic capabilities of this guitar, helping it to produce decent mid-grade tones on a tight budget.

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3. Ibanez Artcore AF75G

Ibanez Artcore AF75G

This Ibanez guitar features mahogany and rose-gold metallic flat body, Linden top, walnut fingerboard, and a humbucker position. The AF75G is an easy-playing electric guitar with the classic Ibanez sound.

Ready to step up your game with the AF75G? This guitar has a powerful sound, sleek design, and more.

The Ibanez Artcore AF75G is the perfect guitar for any artist looking to make a mark on their style and on the world. This guitar is able to take your playing to the next level. Featuring a slim neck profile and Ibanez’s patented neck, you’ll find this guitar easy to play

The Artcore AF75G is a true hollow body electric guitar at a budget-friendly price. It features two humbucking pickups, sparkling gold hardware, and a refined body and neck. The classic styling and luxurious finish offer a streamlined look on stage and in the studio.

The Ibanez Artcore AF75G is a beautiful instrument with a lovely hollow body, lush sound, and a great price. It’s made of mahogany and has one volume & one tone knob, as well as a 3-way pickup selector switch. Get your groove on with this guitar!

What does this guitar sound like? It’s bright, well-rounded with a great amount of mid-range bite. This is an amazing guitar, and the body shape makes it super comfortable and easy to play. Despite what you’d think, this guitar handles harder rock styles with ease and sounds as good distorted as a solid body electric.

If you’re looking for a traditional hollow body electric guitar, the Ibanez Artcore AF75G is made for you. This beautiful rose gold-tone guitar sounds as good as it looks!

Product Specifications:

  • Body Material: Mahogany
  • Fretboard: Rosewood.
  • Pickup Configuration: 2 x  humbucker

Pros & Cons:

  • Unique, eye-catching appearance.
  • Diverse tones are available with humbuckers and versatile controls.
  • Slightly prone to feedback.

Verdict:

The Ibanez Artcore AF75G electric guitar is the perfect hollow body electric guitar for a budget of under $500. This guitar uses tasty tonewoods for increased resonance and sound quality. The Artcore AF75G also comes equipped with two powerful humbuckers which are capable of producing a fat tone. 

With a sleek, contemporary aesthetic and a versatile tone, the AF75G is one of the better hollow guitars in its price range.

Check Price on Amazon

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4. GROTE Electric Guitar Hollow Body

GROTE electric guitar hollow body

A classic, professional acoustic guitar with a modern twist. If you’re looking for a guitar with the most beautiful styling and design, then the GROTE electric guitar is the perfect choice for you.

The Grote gives you an amazing experience that is almost unlike anything else. You’re getting an instrument that is made with excellent quality and vibrant sound, which will give you a lifetime of playing.

The Grote G-1 Custom Electric Guitar is an electric guitar that not only looks beautiful but sounds amazing. The maple neck and body, volume/tone, humbuckers pickups, and maple fretboard give this guitar the perfect combination of a classic look and sound.

This is a handcrafted guitar made of ebony and spruce wood. They are handmade by workers in China, and the quality of the guitar is excellent. The production is exquisite, and it comes with a hard case and certificate of authenticity.

This guitar is made with artful finishes that make it look like a work of art. It’s made of poplar and Sapele and a slim hardwood neck with a rosewood fingerboard. It’s one of the most beautiful guitars you’ll ever own.

The latest design is completely round and looks very attractive. This guitar has a classic sound suitable for anyone looking for a solid, signature instrument that will last a lifetime.

This guitar has a highly promising sound quality with two powerful humbuckers. The Grote Electric guitar is an affordable hollow body guitar with a classic look and tone. Made from quality wood, it has a double-cutaway body with a comfortable, rounded neck and frets that are easy to play with. The Grote electric guitar offers a traditional, vintage sound.

This electric guitar is a beautiful, stylish, and affordable instrument. 

Product Specifications:

  • Body Material: Poplar and Sapele
  • Fretboard: Rosewood
  • Pickup Configuration: 2 x Humbucker

Pros & Cons:

  • Affordable but decent quality. 
  • Excellent low and bass tones. 
  • Competes with more expensive electric guitars. 

Verdict:

This hollow body guitar is not just for beginners. It’s perfect for players of all levels who are looking for a quality instrument at a price point that won’t break the bank. The GROTE electric guitar features a dual-center block in the body for enhanced sustain and tone. It’s got a rosewood fingerboard and bridge, Grover tuners, and is covered with nitrocellulose lacquer.

Overall this is a great instrument for beginners who love hollow bodies.

Check Price on Amazon

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5. Gretsch Streamliner

Gretsch Streamliner

The Gretsch Streamliner has been a favorite among professional musicians for decades.

Get up to speed with the new Gretsch Streamliner. This electric guitar features a laminated maple body with a “U” shaped maple neck, 12” (305 mm) fingerboard radius, and a secured adjustable-action bridge. The Streamliner includes two open-coil humbuckers for that fat and snappy tone, as well as a three-position pickup switch for different pickup configurations.

The Gretsch Streamliner Round Neck acoustic guitar is a contemporary take on the classic hollow-bodied Streamliner design that was first introduced in 1941.

The G2420 Streamliner Hollow Body from Gretsch is big, bold, and righteous. Designed for the modern guitarist who yearns for something beyond the norm, this commanding instrument oozes attitude and serious tone. With powerful sonics and a new, “civilized” aesthetic, the G2420 is a unique instrument for powerful players.

The G2420’s powerful voice, amplified by a pair of high-gain mini-humbuckers and a pair of is like nothing else on the market today. 

This instrument features a powerful double-cutaway hollow body and timeless appointments.

This big, bold guitar features Gretsch’s patented Bigsby vibrato tailpiece and innovative dual-element pickups. Designed with the modern era in mind, it also boasts newly designed, more comfortable controls and features. 

Product Specifications:

  • Body Material: Maple
  • Fretboard: Mahogany
  • Pickup Configuration: 2 x humbucker

Pros & Cons:

  • Fantastic Gretsch build quality.
  • Two retro humbuckers for a unique tone.
  • Super high-quality tone and feel.
  • Prone to feedback, more suitable for old styles of music than new.

Verdict:

The Gretsch Streamliner is one of the best hollow body guitars on the market. These guitars have been around for many years, and are cherished by many musicians and guitarists. These have a fantastic set mahogany neck which increases sustain and tuning stability. The faithful f-holes give the maple top a unique, traditional appearance. Overall this is easily one of the best semi-hollow guitars you can find.

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6. Squier Affinity Starcaster

Squier Affinity Starcaster

The Squier affinity Starcaster was the best-selling budget-friendly Fender guitar of all time. The Starcaster features a classic Fender offset semi-hollow body with dual Squier humbucking pickups and a satin neck finish. Coming in at an affordable price, the Starcaster is the perfect entry-level instrument for both beginners and seasoned bass veterans alike.

From the first moment you plug it in and step on the Starcaster’s authentic Fender offset semi-hollow body, you’ll know that you are in good company. You’ll also instantly feel the difference when you get your hands on the new, dual Squier humbucking pickups. Not to mention the satin-finished neck with a new fret edge treatment and chrome-plated hardware. For starters and seasoned players alike,

The affordable Fender Squier Affinity Starcaste electric guitar is a solid, lightweight, and affordable take on the iconic Fender Telecaster that’s perfect for beginner and student players alike. Made by Squier, but designed by fender, this is your chance to get a taste of professional instruments at an affordable price. 

The Squier affinity Starcaster is a perfect fusion of quality and affordability. Its semi-hollow body and arched fingerboard offer a balanced tone that’s perfect for the blues or classic rock.

The Squier affinity Sarcaster is a semi-hollow electric guitar equipped with a maple neck and rosewood fingerboard. With its contoured headstock, the Starcaster is the perfect blend of vintage style and modern touches that you can use to create your own personal sound.

The Squier Affinity Starcaster is a must-have for any musician who wants to get started with Fender instruments. 

Product Specifications:

  • Body Material: All Maple Body
  • Fretboard: Maple
  • Pickup Configuration: 2 x humbucker.

Pros & Cons:

  • High-quality Fender design at a Squire price point.
  • Unique, retro appearance and tone. 
  • Sounds as cool as it looks.
  • Bright, maple fretboard makes playing fun and easy. 

Verdict:

The Starcaster by Squire is a new reincarnation of a classic, antiquated guitar design. This hollow body offset guitar is a 21st-century answer to vintage design questions. Featuring two tasty humbuckers, this instrument is ready to create the perfect tone for your music.

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Hollow Body Vs Semi-Hollow Body Guitars: What’s the Difference?

This is a question that many guitar players ask themselves. The hollow body and semi-hollow body guitars are quite different from each other in their design but have some similarities as well. Let’s have a look at the difference between these two.

Hollow body guitars, also known as semi-acoustic or semi-electric, are made up of a single, solid piece of wood typically spruce or cedar. They produce a warm sound with no feedback and usually have wooden bodies shaped in the form of either a classical guitar or an archtop guitar like that of an electric guitar

Hollow Body guitars are generally smaller and have a large body, while Semi-Hollow Body guitars have a thin or thick body with a smaller center chamber.

A hollow-body guitar is built around one large hollow in the center of the top part of its body. The inside of this chamber has the same shape as the outer shape, giving it an “outwardly-curving” (cantilever) look from above.

Semi-hollow guitars are built with two different chambers – one on top and one on the bottom – separated by wood that makes up most of their bodies.

Buying Guide: What to consider in a $500 Hollow Body Guitar

What to look for when buying this type of product

There are a few things you should consider when choosing a hollow body guitar.

The shape and style

There is a tonne of hollow-body guitar designs out there. They all use slightly different body dimensions and sizes. The type of body shape you go for has a large effect on the sound and feel of a guitar. The best one for you is really a matter of personal preference. Some use shapes that are closer to solid-body electric guitars, such as a strat or telecaster, others are more vintage and acoustic looking.

Pickups

The kind of pickups your guitars have creates a huge impact on the sound quality. You’ll be choosing between single coils and humbuckers. Single coils are brighter and more piercing, whereas humbuckers are warmer and fatter. The best choice for you depends on the style of music you want to play. Humbuckers also tend to be a bit better when working with distortion and high gain amplification. 

Conclusion

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Overall, I thought the best Best hollow body guitar under 500 was the Gretsch Streamliner!

This is a fantastic semi-hollow body guitar made by experts in the scene. Gretsch has made many of the best hollow body guitars throughout time, so they really know what they are doing.

The Gretsch Streamliner is a lightweight, semi-hollow guitar that packs a punch. It has a beautiful resonant tone that will satisfy any player or listener. The tune o Matic bridge helps keep the guitar in tune, and the hollow wings give it a good balance. Overall this guitar is more towards the professional end of the market, although it will definitely keep new guitar players happy too. 

Check out the Gretsch Streamliner today!
Still, looking for a new guitar? Check out this post about the best headless guitars.