JAZZ GUITARS - Archtop vs Semi Acoustic - hollow body vs semi hollow body

I`ll be explaining (incl. professional sound demos) the differeces between a hollow body and a semi hollow body jazz guitar.

▶ Starter Packs with 5 easy lessons/songs:
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The sound demos are professionally recorded and include:
+ Archtop / hollow body jazz guitar: unplugged and plugged into an amp
+ Semi acoustic / semi hollow body jazz guitar unplugged and plugged into an amp

The jazz guitars in this video are:
+ Eastman AR905 CE (Archtop guitar)
+ Gibson Howard Roberts Fusion (semi hollow body guitar)

Equipment used in this video:
+ For the unplugged hollow body and semi acoustic guitar demos i used a Neumann KM 184 condenser microphone
+ The amped sound demos were miked using a Shure SM 57 into an AER compact 2 acoustic amp.

Archtop / hollow body jazz guitar characteristics:
An archtop`s body is completely hollow inside, hence the name hollow body jazz guitar. When you play a hollow body guitar unplugged, it produces a rich, fat tone with little sustain, but noticeable wood characteristics.
When you plug an archtop into a good amp it, the wood is still recognizable, but it sounds more mellow now. Due to its hollow body, the archtop can produce unwanted feedback when plugged into an amp.

Semi acoustic / semi hollow body jazz guitar characteristics:
Semi acoustic guitars have, what`s called a "sustain block". It makes the tones ring longer - it adds sustain. Also, the semi hollow body jazz guitar produces far less feedback than the archtop does.
When you play a semi acoustic guitar unplugged, it lacks volume and warmth. A semi acoustic guitar is made to be plugged into an amp.
The semi acoustic has super mellow mids and is more versatile. You can not only play jazz with a semi hollow body jazz guitar, but also blues, fusion and even rock.
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Enjoy, Sandra :-)

[mouselim]

Very good explanation! Finally a reviewer who gives a good point of view instead of simply being neutral.

(PS: A note to all reviewers - go your bias/objective point of view. It's your point of view - no one (well at least the nice folks) going to fault you for it as long as it's honestly done).

[SirAndyDee]

I`m not a jazz guy, but this video helped me understand jazz guitars a lot more.

[gitaaa]

Thanks for posting. I didn’t realize there was a difference until heard side by side.

[mainsblanches]

Super equipement and guitars!!...nice demo!!...

[garymcaleer]

So glad your posts came back up. Merry Christmas, 2021. Pray all is well, Princess.

[dottoreguzmanrulz]

Sounds pretty cool, Sandra!Thanks for the tipsJam on!

[TS-soxi]

Semi-acoustic 335 style all the way for me. Thanks for doing this!

[captainusa]

Very well explained, very useful as I'm considering between the 2..

[whimpypatrol]

This video is such a home run! I just found a Standel 25L15 amp and it was affordable. It was the kind of amp Merle Travis and Wes Montgomery used in the late 1950's. Travis played a gibson Super 400, which is now in a museum, thru one. But, when Gibson made Travis a clone of his 400, Travis had them do some changes and use a maple top with a center block. I had never heard of a center block on a 3" thick 18" wide Jazz guitar -- what a great idea! So now I am looking for one with a center block to go with my new jazz amp.

[RockStarOscarStern]

I've played a Harmony H929T Tenor Guitar fitted w/ a Recording King Pickup, & strung w/ John Pearse #450 Strings tuned GDAE like a Violin/Mandolin but an Octave down. This lower tuning gives the Guitar a much deeper & mellower sound that's appropriate for playing Jazz. I plugged the Guitar into the amp & I got a pretty epic Jazz tone out of it, which really rocks. Fun fact the Tenor Guitar was originally a Band instrument (Basically a Tenor Banjo neck on a Guitar body) which was designed when Banjoists had to switch to Guitar as they found out that the sound of a Banjo wasn't really a good fit for the newer styles of Jazz.

[ericschwartz]

Great video explaining the sonic differences. Thank you.

[NemoNepersonne]

I have an Eastman archtop like yours, but with a gorgeous sunburst. That’s exactly how it sounds unamplified and with an amp. Great tone with an amp, and no fun at all without one. Thanks for the comparisons.

[davidbergman]

Excellent video.   I've played guitar a long time and have switched styles on many occasions between jazz, classical and finger style.   I've seen so many guitar players worry so much about what type of guitar they're playing for any particular style, when in reality, they really ought to learn to play first, then worry about matching the instrument to their technique and style.   Just two cents.

[mellowords]

Nice little Moonlight in Vermont there :) great playing!

[remley]

Thanks so much! I love all of your lessons, and really respect your opinion in these matters. I've decided to sell my strat and go with a semi hollowbody epiphone joe pass model. I decided jazz is really all I care to play, besides giging in Mobile, AL, U.S.A. pays so little, that it's not worth playing music I don't care for. Happy new year Ms. Sherman. ☺

[KymaeraTech]

this was insanely helpful. thank you!

[alexl.]

Thank you! Been shopping for an archtops and couldn't decided on which sounded better

[SuperCarver]

ah ..Moonllight in Vermont....equisite jazz tune. the HR definitely seems to have that tone edge over the custom EASTMAN acoustic.
I also remember the neat sound of the LATE 60S EPIPHONE HR with the oval sound hole but still an archtop. These were
so unique. in tone . Does anyone remember seeing one of these?

[fpssroc]

Pretty guitar and informations
감사합니다

[alfredbellanti]

Great information Sandra, now I know.