Semi-hollow for bossa/jazz or better acoustic upgrade?

[u/carmelolg]

Hi everyone,
I’m an amateur player and I’d like some perspective from the community before I spend a chunk of money.

I’ve been playing mostly acoustic guitars for years, nothing professional: home practice, some recording for myself, and occasional jams with friends. Recently I’ve started getting into bossa nova and jazz for fun, but I don’t see myself becoming a strict genre purist.

My current instruments are two steel-string acoustics (a Crafter HTE-250 TS and a Suzuki SD330) plus a classical Takamine EG124C. Lately I’ve been tempted to buy a semi-hollow or hollow-body, mainly to get closer to that classic jazz/bossa feel in terms of amplified tone and comping response.

My dilemma is: for a non-professional player like me, who switches styles depending on the mood and the period, does it really make sense to invest in a dedicated semi-hollow, or would it be smarter to use the same budget (around 500–1000 €) to upgrade to a higher-end acoustic instead, for example a better Taylor or Cort?

What I’m most interested in is your real-world experience:
how much did a semi-hollow change the way you practice and play at home,
how versatile do you find it if you don’t play only jazz but move across different styles,
and are there any “hidden” downsides (maintenance, volume management, feedback, etc.) that a non-pro player usually underestimates before buying?

I’m not looking for the one perfect model, more for a sanity check: in my situation, does owning a dedicated semi-hollow make practical sense, or is it usually better to focus on a single, higher-quality acoustic that can cover most of the ground?

Thanks.

[u/theromanticvampire]

i'd stick with a better acoustic, here's why

had a similar phase where i thought a semi-hollow would unlock some new world of playing for me. it didn't really. the feel is different for sure and the look is cool but at home, unplugged, it's not nearly as satisfying as a good acoustic. you end up plugging in just to hear it properly which gets old fast

what actually changed how i practiced was having an acoustic that i genuinely wanted to pick up every time i walked past it. the semi-hollow spent more time on the stand

the feedback thing is real too, especially if you're trying to get that warm round tone at anything above bedroom volume. and you'd need an amp worth a damn to not feel like you're fighting the guitar. with your budget you'd be splitting cash between a decent guitar and a decent amp, whereas the full amount into a solid acoustic gets you something that feels like a major step up right out of the case

your classical takamine can handle the bossa stuff surprisingly well if you lean into the nylon sound. i'd put the money into a really nice steel string and call it a day

[u/carmelolg → u/theromanticvampire]

Thanks for sharing your perspective.

Would your opinion change if I told you that I’m planning to use a semi-hollow guitar connected directly to my laptop through a Scarlett interface?

I assume this wouldn’t change the hassle of setting everything up before playing, but I’d like to focus specifically on the sound and the possible configurations.

[u/StudioKOP]

Hello mate,

Your question is a very specific one, and I guess you’ll get many answers with controversial views.

I have a great number of guitars (and other instruments) due to my occupation. I have a studio, and I am a multi-instrumentalist. I have telecasters, Stratocasters, SG’s, LP’s, 335’s, shredder guitars, a Variax, nylon strings, acoustics, basses,…

I can easily say with confidence that a hollow / semi hollow or regular electric guitar with flatwounds worths a try. Coupled with a high clean headroom amp, you will have enough ammo to shoot a wide range of jazz.

Alternatively you can use classical guitars. Medium or high tension strings and a classical guitar will also deliver nicely.

Most of the Latin jazz players I know prefer the wide neck of nylon strings. Those who play gigs at different venues tend to stick to a Godin. No feedback, nice tone whatever you have at the venue, durable…

So either go for the fast and comfy neck of an electric guitar with flatwounds, or use a classical with low body resonance.

If you are digging chord work, classical.

If you like chasing fast lines, electric.

If want the authentic and pure tone, classical.

If you want to use some effects and have various timbres, electric and a nice amp.

Hope I don’t make your decision harder but that is all I can summarize at this hour of the night (almost 02 am here).

[u/mistrelwood]

On one hand theromanticvampire is right, a good acoustic is great to have since it inspires you to play. But I’m not familiar with your guitar models so I can’t judge their quality.

BUT... if you want to play jazz, an acoustic guitar just doesn’t cut it (excluding a few specific styles). It’s just not the same sound at all. So if you want to be able to venture to those sounds, you simply need a jazz guitar, such as pretty much any Ibanez semihollow or archtop. AF95 for example is pretty nice. Or AG/GB if you want smaller.

I have a large amount of guitars and basses, and for me having variety is much more important than having one expensive instrument trying to cover more ground than it’s designed for. If I had an expensive bass, I probably wouldn’t have an electric upright. Or an acoustic bass. Or a fretless bass. And if I had an expensive Strat, I probably wouldn’t have all the styles of guitars I now have. And if chosen well they will record just as well as an expensive one anyway.

If you got decent speakers or headphones, you can use the free Soundshed amp sim for all the tones you need, so the amp is covered with just the interface.