fullhollow

Full hollow refers to a class of stringed instruments, most commonly hollow-body electric guitars, that are built with a completely hollow interior and no solid or semi-solid center block. The term is used to distinguish these instruments from hollow-body guitars that rely on additional structural elements to control feedback or from solid-body guitars.

Construction and design features typically include: a fully hollow body made from wood such as maple, spruce, or laminated alternatives; archtop or flat-top profiles; and f-holes or similar sound apertures allowing air resonance. The absence of a solid center block contributes to a lighter overall construction and a more acoustic-like resonance. Pickups used on full hollow instruments vary and may include single-coil, P-90, or humbucker configurations, chosen to complement the instrument’s warm, airy character.

Sound and playing characteristics often emphasize a rich, resonant, and harmonically complex tone with strong sustain and pronounced acoustic aura. The bridge and bracing influence sustain and projection, while the guitar’s body coupling affects feedback tendencies. Because of their fully hollow design, such instruments are more prone to feedback at higher volumes, particularly with high-gain amplification; players manage this through lower gain, tone shaping, or careful stage monitoring.

Historically, full hollow instruments have roots in early electric guitar design and remain popular in jazz, blues, and genres that prize expressive dynamics and natural resonance. They are frequently contrasted with semi-hollow and solid-body guitars in discussions of tone, feedback, and versatility.