Electric Guitar Body Styles: Everything You Need to Know

Types of Electric Guitar Body Styles

An electric guitar is a valuable instrument to any musician. It can be used for almost any genre of music, and electric guitars are the most widely used type of electric instrument. There are many different body styles to choose from, but what should you know before making your decision? In this blog post, we will discuss electric guitar body styles, including the pros and cons of each style. We’ll also cover some tips on choosing an electric guitar based on your needs!

There are a few different electric guitar body styles that you will find on the market. Each one has its unique sound, and it is important to know what each type sounds like before making your purchase. Here is a list of the different types of electric guitars and what they sound like:

Solid-Body Electric Guitars

An electric guitar with a solid body is usually hardwood or metal. Solid-body guitars are known for their bright, cutting sound and heavyweight, making them difficult to hold up for long periods. Many electric guitars have the main body as wood but offer various other materials in accent pieces or necks that vary from plastic to rosewood and ebony. The electric guitar was born out of the acoustic guitar.

The first electric guitars were acoustic guitars with pickups to amplify the sound. It wasn’t until 1932 when Gibson came up with one of the first solid-body electric guitars, the ES-150 model. Since then, electric guitar designs have only improved, especially with the electric bass guitars introduced in 1951.

These types of electric guitars often come with a tremolo bar, which is used to make changes in pitch during playing by pulling it down or pushing it up. This type of electric guitar is very common and has been used in many different genres such as country, jazz, rockabilly, pop, ska-punk, and even death metal. There are many different shapes and sizes of solid-body electric guitars. Some popular ones include the Gibson Les Paul, the Fender Stratocaster, and the Fender Telecaster.

Pros

• Solid-body electric guitars have a bright, punchy tone, perfect for rock and blues.
• Very easy to play and are perfect for beginners or experienced players.
• Versatile sound and can be used for various genres.

Cons

• Quite expensive, depending on the brand and model.
• Slightly heavy, which can be a problem for some players.
• Often come with a tremolo bar, which can be difficult to use.

Hollow Body Electric Guitars

A hollow-body guitar has an arched top, back, and sides with a sound hole in the body. This type of guitar is known for its warm, mellow tone and is often used in jazz and blues music. Hollow Body Guitars are also known as semi-acoustic guitars, and they can be either two or four strings. These guitar body styles come in many different shapes and sizes as well. Popular hollow electric guitar models include the Gibson ES Series, Guild Starfire, and the Ibanez Artcore.

Hollow electric guitar bodies are made with either laminated spruce or mahogany, and the top is made with either spruce or maple. Laminated guitar bodies are created by glueing together several thin sheets of wood. This type of guitar body is known for its low cost, durability, and easy repair. Laminated guitar bodies are also good at cutting down on feedback when amplified.

Pros

• Typically have a warmer and more mellow tone than solid-body electric guitars.
• This style of guitar is excellent for blues and slide guitar.
• Great instruments to use in large venues such as stadiums where the sound needs to be projected effectively without creating a lot of noise or distractions.

Cons

• Hollow bodies tend not to have the sharp attack that solid bodies do, so a hollow body may not be ideal if you are looking for a guitar that can cut through the mix.
• More prone to feedback than solid-bodied guitars, so if you plan on using them in a band setting, make sure you consider how your amplifier will interact with the guitar’s sound before you buy it.
• More expensive than solid body guitars because they require a lot of craftsmanship to create the sound chambers.

Semi-Hollow Body Guitars

Semi-hollow guitar bodies are most often made of mahogany and maple. This is because both these planks of wood exhibit an open grain structure – this enables the guitar body to “breathe” more freely, allowing for greater resonance and sustain. Semi-Hollow guitar sound chambers can be constructed either vertically or horizontally, but the most common guitar body construction is a Vertical Semi-Hollow. The chamber’s air pressure allows for greater levels of resonance and sustain than any solid guitar can deliver.

A semi-hollow guitar has many different styles used in every genre, including Jazz, Rockabilly/Rock n Roll, R&B, Pop & Country. The guitar style was first introduced to the world by Gibson in the early 1950s. The ES-335, a double-cutaway guitar, was the first guitar to have this style, a maple top, back, and sides with a solid mahogany centre block, which stabilizes the guitar. The ES-335 was originally designed for jazz guitarists since it has a mellow sound than solid body guitars. This guitar is perfect for guitarists who want a little bit of both worlds and don’t mind losing out on volume.

Today, one very popular guitar that is a Semi-Hollow guitar would be the ES-335 by Gibson. Many people have played this guitar, including Eric Clapton, B.B. King, and Chuck Berry. Some other Semi-Hollow guitar companies are Ibanez, Epiphone, Gretsch, and Washburn.

Pros

•  A warmer tone than a solid body guitar
• More resonance and sustain than a solid body guitar
• It can be played at higher volumes without feedback
• More comfortable to play standing up than solid body guitars because of the large surface area on the lower bout.

Cons

• Usually heavier due to thicker wood used in construction. This can lead to neck and shoulder discomfort when playing for long periods, especially with acoustics with smaller bodies.
• Not as bright of a tone as a solid body guitar
• It can be more susceptible to feedback at higher volumes than a solid body guitar

How to buy an electric guitar with a specific body style

When buying an electric guitar, there are a few things you need to keep in mind. The first thing to consider is what style of guitar you want. There are many different body styles to choose from, so it’s important to find one that fits your style and personality. Some of the most popular body styles include the Stratocaster, Les Paul, and Telecaster. These guitars have been used by some of the biggest names in music, and they’re sure to give you a great sound.

Another thing to consider is what kind of hardware the guitar has. You want to make sure the guitar has all the features you need, such as a tremolo bar or whammy bar for added effects and a locking nut for tuning purposes. One more thing to consider is the type of pickups in your guitar. There are two types of electric guitars, ones with single coils and ones with humbuckers. Single coil pickups generally have a thinner sound, while humbucker pickups tend to be fuller sounding. It’s important to see if the guitar you’re looking at has the type of pickups you want.

Which is the best type of electric guitar body style for you

Different guitar body styles have advantages and disadvantages, so it can be hard to know which one is best for you. And just because a guitar is a right size doesn’t mean it’s the right body style for you. Body style usually comes down to personal preference, but if a guitar has a sound that you love, that might override your personal preference.

There are a few factors that can weigh into your decision to buy an electric guitar body style:

• Size of your hand
• Preferred playing position
• Desired tone from the guitar
• The type of music you play
• The design of your house or apartment/room

FAQs: Buying an electric guitar with a certain type of body style

Q: What guitar body style should I get?

A: There are many guitar shapes to choose from, and the shape you pick will determine the guitar’s tone and comfort level. For instance, a guitar with a smaller body will be more comfortable for smaller hands, while guitars with thicker bodies will provide more sound and power. On the other hand, guitar shapes are based on aesthetic preference as well- guitarists have different tastes in what guitar body styles they like best.

Q: Where is the guitar neck located?

A: The guitar’s neck will be found in one of two places- the guitar’s headstock or its body. The neck is where you will find the guitar’s frets, strings, and tuning pegs.

Q: What is guitar body style best for me?

A: As a beginner, you should probably go with one of the guitar shapes used by guitarists for decades. For example, the guitar body styles of a Stratocaster and Telecaster have become iconic in rock and blues music because they provide guitarists with a great tone and the right amount of string tension. On the other hand, if you’re looking for more bass in your guitar, guitar body styles like Les Paul’s or SGs will provide you with the sound and power you need.

Q: How do I know which guitar body style to buy?

A: The guitar body style you choose should be based on the type of guitar sound you are looking for. For example, if you want a guitar with a rich sound with lots of sustain, you should go for a guitar body style like a Les Paul. If you’re looking to play heavier guitar sounds like a rock guitar, you should go with a guitar body style that is thicker and has powerful pickups.

Q: What guitar neck should I buy?

A: The guitar neck is the part that you hold and play with it. There are guitar necks with a standard width of about one inch, while others will be slightly wider or thicker in size. For example, guitar necks that are thinner and narrower than average guitar necks will be easier to play for guitarists with smaller hands, while thicker guitar necks can help guitarists with big hands play faster.

Conclusion

So there you have it, a comprehensive guide to electric guitar body styles! Whether you’re just starting or are an experienced player looking for a new guitar, choosing the right guitar body style is essential to getting the sound and feel you’re looking for in your next gear. Thanks for reading!