Semi Hollow Guitar roundup
The Best Semi Hollow Guitars for the Money
The semi hollow guitar market covers every budget from £130 to £3,000 and beyond — these are the standout instruments at each price tier.
The best semi hollow guitar for the money depends on budget, playing context and how important construction quality is relative to price. This guide covers the standout instruments at each price tier — the ones that offer the best combination of build, tone and value.
Under £300: Harley Benton HB-35 and Ibanez AS73
Two instruments compete for first place at this price point. The Harley Benton HB-35 (Thomann's house brand) offers ES-335-style construction — centre block, dual humbuckers, double cutaway — at around £130. The build quality is not in the same league as mid-range instruments, but the construction is correct and the instrument plays acceptably when set up properly. For a first semi hollow guitar at minimum cost, it is a serious option.
The Ibanez AS73 sits at around £250–280 and is a step up in construction and hardware. The Artwood series has been a staple of the accessible semi-hollow market for decades. Reliable hardware, a comfortable neck and a tone that represents the format correctly. The most recommended choice in this price band.
£300–£500: Epiphone Dot and ES-335
Epiphone's Dot and Inspired by Gibson ES-335 are the standard recommendations in this range. The Dot is Epiphone's long-running ES-335-format instrument — available in multiple colour options, equipped with Alnico Classic humbuckers and a comfortable neck. The ES-335 model adds closer adherence to the Gibson specification, including a longer scale and updated hardware.
Both are competently made instruments that represent the format faithfully. For players who want the ES-335 experience without the Gibson price, the Epiphone range is the obvious choice.
£500–£800: Yamaha SA2200 and Ibanez AS93
The Yamaha SA2200 is one of the most consistently respected instruments in the semi-hollow market at this price. Thermo-aged spruce top, mahogany back and sides, Yamaha's own pickups and excellent construction consistency. It sounds and plays like a more expensive instrument.
The Ibanez AS93 adds flame maple top, abalone binding and Ibanez Super 58 pickups to the Artcore Expressionist platform. A very capable instrument for blues, jazz and clean rock tones.
£800–£1,500: PRS SE Hollowbody II and Guild Starfire
The PRS SE Hollowbody II is a genuine double-cutaway semi hollow guitar with a spruce top, maple back and sides, PRS SE 245 humbuckers and quality construction throughout. It is consistently praised for its clean-to-crunch versatility. At around £900–1,000, it competes with some current-production Gibson models at twice the price.
Guild's Starfire instruments carry the brand's own legacy in the format — alternative to Gibson's approach, with a character of their own. The Starfire IV and V are well regarded by players who want something distinctive alongside the ES-335 mainstream.
Over £1,500: Gibson ES-335
The current-production Gibson ES-335 is the reference instrument at premium prices. Available in standard and custom configurations, it sets the specification against which everything else is compared. Build quality, wood selection and pickups are all at the highest level of the production range. For players who want the original and have the budget, it is the obvious endpoint.
Boutique and Used Options
Beyond the new production market, the used instrument market offers significant value. A well-maintained Epiphone Dot or Ibanez AS73 from ten years ago at £150–200 is a better instrument than many new guitars at that price — with the advantage that setup issues have typically been resolved. Boutique makers — Collings, Eastman, D'Angelico — produce ES-format instruments with premium construction above the major brands but below the Gibson level.
The semi hollow guitar used market also includes vintage instruments from the 1960s and 1970s that attract premium prices. These are best purchased through specialist dealers who can verify provenance and condition. For general buyers, the current production market offers instruments at every price point with reliable availability and warranty coverage.
For guidance on choosing between these instruments based on your playing style and needs, see the buyer's guide. For first-time players, see the beginner's guide.
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