There are many different types of electric guitars available today. But most of them are based on a few fundamental models that have been around for a long time. So it may be difficult for you to differentiate them accurately. But worry not; here’s our article on different types of electric guitars to help you.
After reading this, you can confidently uncover the best guitar for your requirements and learn precisely what you should be comparing. In addition, you will be able to tell the difference between the many electric guitars kinds.
Types of electric guitars
Electric guitars are classified into four types:
- Guitars with solid bodies
- Guitars with semi-hollow bodies
- Guitars with hollow bodies
- Guitars that are both acoustic and electric
Guitars with solid bodies
The solid body is the most popular and common form of an electric guitar. As a result, it’s the most often utilized, as well as the most widely sold and misused, in the music industry.
Solid-body guitars are constructed from solid pieces of wood. Tonewoods are materials used in guitar construction that provide varied tonal qualities to the instrument and different weights, feel, and overall hues.
The fundamental benefit of this design is that the solid body provides better resistance to feedback, increased sustain, and a thicker overall body. As a result, solid-body guitars are a superior choice for rock and metal.
These versatile instruments may be used in various musical genres, stages, and circumstances.
Additionally, these guitars are more strong and more lasting. Similarly, their tone is more balanced and “tempered” than other varieties of electric guitars.
Guitars with semi-hollow bodies
Semi-hollow guitars are similar to hollow-body guitars in appearance, but they often have smaller bodies with a core wooden block within them.
This aids in feedback management while providing the instrument with some of the tone qualities of a hollow body.
With the exception of extreme metal, this sort of guitar has been utilized successfully in almost every genre of music.
The Gibson ES-335 is an example of a semi-hollow design that debuted in 1958 and is still popular today. In terms of body size, it falls between a hollow and a solid body.
Many builders use the same basic template. However, there are variations available.
Guitars with hollow bodies
Though look similar, unlike Semi-Hollow guitars, guitars with hollow bodies do not have a wooden structure in the middle of the body.
The body shape of a hollow guitar is the same as that of a semi-hollow guitar. Semi-hollow guitars offer a warmer tone than true hollow-body guitars. They will also create more feedback.
As a result, they are unsuited for styles that require significant gains. Instead of semi-hollow guitars, hollow guitars have two basic body styles: the ES-335 design and the Gibson ES-175. Hollow ES-335-style guitars are more widespread than Gibson ES-175.
But still, most musicians favor semi-hollow guitars as their choice because of the feedback they offer.
Guitars that are both acoustic and electric
An electro-acoustic guitar is similar to a conventional acoustic guitar, with one significant difference: it has electronics similar to an electric guitar. This means you may put your instrument into an amp or PA system and crank up the volume for a live performance.
The primary function of an electro-acoustic is to allow you to enhance the loudness. Whether you need to match the rest of your band or you’re doing solo gigs.
Electro-acoustic electronics are meant to mimic the inherent tone of the acoustic instrument as accurately as possible.
The ability to apply guitar effects like reverb, delay, or modulation is an additional advantage if you prefer to experiment with your music.
As a gigging musician, an electric acoustic saves you much time and money. The only genuine alternative to an electric acoustic guitar is to mic it with an external microphone.
Here you can also learn about different types of acoustic guitars.
Conclusion
We hope this thorough reference to the different types of electric guitars will assist you in making an informed selection.
But do keep in mind that electric guitar parts are becoming increasingly interchangeable. We have progressed beyond the old way of classifying them only based on physical type. More is needed to portray their sound, feel, and variances. Nowadays, the pieces of a guitar and how they are assembled are more important than ever.
