Hollowbody

A term applied to an electric guitar that features a large, fully hollow body, similar to an acoustic guitar with built-in pickups and electronics. Hollowbodies are typically archtop designs, although there are flat-top hollowbodies as well. Hollowbody guitars offer a full, rich, warm tone with acoustic guitar-like resonance and sustain. Most hollowbody guitars are susceptible to feedback problems at higher volume levels, so they are most often used for traditional jazz and other styles where volume is not a concern. Exceptions include Steve Howe and Ted Nugent, who were well-known for using Gibson ES-175 and Byrdland models, respectively, for progressive and hard rock styles.