Budget Hollow Bodied Electric Guitar for £500 tops ?

Considering the above on the lines of an Epiphone 335 or similar !
Any recommendations out there Guys ?

Many thanx.

Epiphone are almost always a safe bet, though if cost is a key factor I think you can get better bang-for-buck elsewhere.

I have a '90s Gibson 335 with a slim-taper '60s style neck. That neck shape, which I think is on the Epiphone version too, is lovely. They are a bit cumbersome if you're used to solid-body electrics.

Technically a 335 is semi-hollow, so that puts it against things like the Gretsch Streamliner, or Yamaha SA models. I think Yamaha can be a tough sell because of the branding, but they're well made and cracking value in my experience.

If you want true hollow body, Gretsch again has some good stuff in the Electromatic range. I had one and they're very nicely built.

Ultimately depends what you're after. Styling is obviously subjective, but past that any of the above is a great guitar and, for most mid-range guitars, you've often got scope to improve it later with upgraded pickups.

My Aria TA 50 is superb ,and was cheaper than the Epiphone ,and has Duncan designed pickups, fabulous sound,

I have a Harley Benton HB35 in Lemon from Thomann. Fantastic guitar.
Only sold in a complete set-up now from what I can see.. But they have others.

Much food for thought here, many thanks Guys !

I’m

Jans said:

Epiphone are almost always a safe bet, though if cost is a key factor I think you can get better bang-for-buck elsewhere.

I have a '90s Gibson 335 with a slim-taper '60s style neck. That neck shape, which I think is on the Epiphone version too, is lovely. They are a bit cumbersome if you're used to solid-body electrics.

Technically a 335 is semi-hollow, so that puts it against things like the Gretsch Streamliner, or Yamaha SA models. I think Yamaha can be a tough sell because of the branding, but they're well made and cracking value in my experience.

If you want true hollow body, Gretsch again has some good stuff in the Electromatic range. I had one and they're very nicely built.

Ultimately depends what you're after. Styling is obviously subjective, but past that any of the above is a great guitar and, for most mid-range guitars, you've often got scope to improve it later with upgraded pickups.

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in terms of sound, what is the difference between a Semi Hollow and a Hollow and what types of music do each respond to best ?

A semi hollow guitar body will have a solid piece of wood running down the middle of the body, for a hollow body it will be that, hollow, just like an acoustic guitar.

Hollow Body: Lighter in weight normally, brighter sound, less sustain, and prone to feedback at high volumes. Commonly found in jazz, some blues, and rockabilly. Can be used acoustically

Semi hollow body: Warmer thicker sound, less bright, less feedback, can play louder and with distortion, heavier. Found in jazz, blues (Eric Clapton), rock (Dave Grohl /Foo Fighters), Rock & Roll (chuck Berry).

I'd add:

Used at typical "at-home" volume, I find the acoustic sound of a hollow body competes with the amplified sound in a way that can be annoying. The semi-hollow doesn't have that issue, while retaining the advantage of being acoustically louder than a solid body. Nice if you want to noodle outside or late at night without the hassle of headphones etc.

If you're new-ish to guitar, I strongly recommend physically trying some before you buy. Just to get a point of reference. Needn't be exactly what you intend to buy, just get a sense of the different guitar designs and how they sound and feel. Things like neck profile, scale length, and the physical size of the thing make a big difference, especially when you're still finding your feet (hands?).

Yes as above .. try a few out before you buy. Some epiphone guitars have quite thick necks so may not suit your playing style. There’s loads out there. It’s finding a good shop these days .. pmt has gone today. Gak went a while ago.. if it’s cheap beware .. lots of fake stuff out there..