#1
Ibanez AF75
Fully hollow archtop · Spruce top, maple back/sides, ACF1n/ACF2n humbuckers, Quik Change tailpiece, 24.75" scale$300–$420 usedBest for: Budget hollow body, jazz and clean playing, first fully hollow guitar
The Ibanez AF75 is the most reliable budget fully hollow archtop guitar. Ibanez Artcore construction quality is consistent — the spruce top, maple back and sides, and bound neck are well-made for the price. The ACF humbuckers are adequate for jazz and clean blues without the microphonic issues common in budget pickups. Used at $300–$420, the AF75 is the starting point for exploring hollow body territory.
What to check used: Fully hollow guitars are feedback-prone at high gain and high volume — the AF75 is no exception. At stage volumes with any significant overdrive, careful pickup height adjustment and volume management are necessary. Test the pickups for microphony: plug in at volume and tap the pickup covers — moderate acoustic coupling is normal, excessive coupling requires wax potting.
#2
Epiphone Casino
Fully hollow (P-90 pickups) · Fully hollow laminated maple, P-90-style dogear pickups, wraparound tailpiece, 24.75" scale$420–$580 usedBest for: The Beatles/Lennon tone, jangle-pop, blues, Britpop, P-90 character
The Epiphone Casino is the guitar associated with John Lennon (who played a 1965 Casino on countless Beatles recordings), Paul McCartney, and later Keith Richards and Noel Gallagher. The fully hollow construction and P-90-style pickups produce a bright, cutting, slightly gritty midrange character that is immediately recognizable. No other guitar sounds quite like a Casino through a pushed amp. Used at $420–$580, it's the most iconic fully hollow guitar at a budget price point.
What to check used: Feedback is part of the Casino's design character at stage volumes with any gain. The P-90 style pickups can be microphonic. Learn to position your body relative to the amplifier to control feedback. The Casino is a rock and roll guitar; its feedback characteristics were used musically by Lennon and Richards rather than fought.
#3
Gretsch G5420T Electromatic
Fully hollow with Bigsby · Laminated maple body, Black Top Filter Tron pickups, Bigsby B60 vibrato, 24.6" scale$550–$750 usedBest for: Country, rockabilly, Western swing, Gretsch character at accessible price
The Gretsch G5420T Electromatic is the mid-level Gretsch hollow body with a Bigsby B60 vibrato — the standard sound for classic country, rockabilly, and Western swing. The Black Top Filter Tron pickups have the essential Gretsch character: twangy articulation, slightly scooped midrange, and that specific chicken-picking transparency. The Bigsby vibrato enables the subtle pitch inflections that define the style. Used at $550–$750.
What to check used: Bigsby setups require understanding the geometry: the string break angle over the saddle must be correct for proper intonation. On a used G5420T, verify the bridge saddle compensation is set correctly and the Bigsby spring arm returns to neutral position after use. The Filter Tron pickups can develop hum from proximity to certain lighting — this is a known Filter Tron characteristic, not a defect.
#4
D'Angelico Excel EX-59
Fully hollow archtop · Spruce top, maple back/sides, Seymour Duncan humbuckers, stairstep tailpiece, 24.75" scale$750–$1,000 usedBest for: Jazz, clean blues, vintage archtop character with modern components, collectors
D'Angelico was one of the most respected archtop luthiers of the 20th century — the revived brand makes guitars in the original style with modern quality control. The Excel EX-59 uses genuine Seymour Duncan humbuckers (a significant quality upgrade from budget pickups), a spruce carved top (not carved, but arched spruce), and the classic D'Angelico stairstep tailpiece. For jazz players who want archtop character with reliable modern pickup performance, the EX-59 is a serious instrument.
What to check used: Verify the Seymour Duncan pickups are functioning cleanly in both positions — tap the pickup covers to check for microphony. The stairstep tailpiece is distinctive but fragile; check that all four stop pins are intact. D'Angelico archtops have relatively large bodies — verify the instrument is comfortable to play in your preferred playing position.
#5
Gretsch G6120T Players Edition
Fully hollow Nashville · Maple body, Broad Tron BT-65 pickups, Bigsby B6 vibrato, neo-classic inlays, 25.5" scale$1,100–$1,400 usedBest for: Mid-level professional Gretsch, country and rockabilly stage guitar, Chet Atkins sound
The G6120T Players Edition is the serious working musician's Gretsch — above the Electromatic line but below the professional USA models. The Broad Tron BT-65 pickups are a significant upgrade over the basic Streamliner pickups, and the full-size Players Edition construction is more refined than the G5420T. The 25.5" scale provides more string tension for the Gretsch twang articulation. Used at $1,100–$1,400, it represents the best value in the Gretsch hollow body lineup.
What to check used: The 25.5" scale requires slightly heavier string gauges than 24.75" scale instruments to maintain equivalent playability feel. Verify string gauges are appropriate for the scale. The Bigsby B6 on this model is the larger vibrato version — verify arm clearance and spring tension are correctly adjusted.
#6
Gibson ES-175
Fully hollow archtop (jazz standard) · Fully hollow maple/spruce construction, 490R/490T humbuckers (current), trapeze tailpiece, 24.75" scale$1,800–$2,800 usedBest for: Professional jazz, bebop, the standard jazz hollow body, collectors
The Gibson ES-175 is the foundational professional jazz hollow body guitar. Wes Montgomery, Joe Pass, Pat Metheny, and Jim Hall have all played ES-175s — it's the definitive jazz archtop for the post-bebop era. The fully hollow maple construction produces a warm, dark, controlled tone that sits perfectly in a jazz ensemble. No other guitar is as closely identified with the jazz guitar tradition. Used at $1,800–$2,800 for modern production models.
What to check used: The ES-175 is an expensive professional instrument — authenticate carefully. Verify serial number, check for any replaced pickups or changed hardware, and examine the top arching for any repairs. The trapeze tailpiece is original equipment; a replaced stoptail is a modification that affects value and character.
#7
Collings I-30 LC
Fully hollow archtop · Spruce top, maple back/sides, Lollar pickups, Kent Armstrong wiring, 24.75" scale$2,800–$3,800 usedBest for: Professional jazz, the finest quality hollow body at this price range, investment instrument
Collings Guitars builds what many consider the finest archtop guitars in current production. The I-30 LC (Laminated Cutaway) combines Collings construction quality with fully hollow tone — the spruce top, maple back, and custom Lollar pickups produce a full-frequency jazz voice that competes with vintage Gibsons at a fraction of the cost. Collings instruments hold their value exceptionally well. Used at $2,800–$3,800, it's within reach as a serious professional purchase.
What to check used: At this price point, have the guitar inspected by a luthier before purchasing. Verify the Collings serial number and check for any setup issues. Collings instruments rarely have problems, but a $3,000+ purchase warrants thorough inspection. The Lollar pickups are premium components — verify they are original and functioning.
#8
Peerless Tonemaster Custom
Fully hollow archtop · Spruce top, maple back/sides, floating humbucker, bound ebony fretboard, 25" scale$800–$1,200 usedBest for: Jazz, serious archtop tone at mid-range pricing, alternative to Gibson and D'Angelico
Peerless Guitars is a South Korean builder with decades of archtop production experience — they produce instruments for multiple major brands. The Tonemaster Custom is a fully hollow archtop with floating pickup (not mounted to the top — critical for acoustic resonance in jazz), ebony fretboard, and quality components throughout. Used at $800–$1,200, Peerless archtops offer significantly more instrument quality than their pricing suggests and are valued by jazz players who know them.
What to check used: Peerless is less well-known than Gibson or Gretsch — used prices reflect this, representing genuine value for knowledgeable buyers. The floating pickup is a different setup philosophy than body-mounted pickups; the floating mount must be correctly adjusted relative to the strings. Verify the floating pickup bracket is secure and the pickup height adjustment is functioning.
