When it comes to choosing an electric guitar, first consider the body type you want. There are three different body types to choose from: solid, semi-hollow, and hollow body. Each body type produces a distinct sound preferred in different aspects of the music world.

Solid Body

The most common body type is the solid body, which means that the entire guitar is solid wood. Most people use these guitars in heavy music such as rock and metal. The density of the wood helps create a better sustain, which means it's more resistant to feedback, and it produces a clearer sounding low end, which refers to the bass tones.

Semi-Hollow Body

For musicians who want a similar sound to that of a solid-body guitar but with a louder tone, the ideal choice is a semi-hollow guitar. The bouts of these guitars are hollow, but a large block of wood runs along the center. They also have F-holes built into the instrument to allow airflow. These types are more prevalent in jazz and blues type music.

Hollow Body

The hollow-body electric guitar is completely hollow inside, which creates a higher and more acoustic tone. Jazz musicians favor these because of their warm, round, and clear tones. When playing at a loud volume, these guitars produce loud feedback, which means they're not the best choice for rock concerts.

Other Guitar Considerations

Other factors to consider when choosing the right guitar include the brand you like, whether you're a right- or left-handed player, the type of wood, and the number of strings that you're looking for. Some companies specialize in a certain kind of guitar. For example, most Yamaha electric guitars are solid bodies. Ibanez also creates a large variety of solid-body guitars, but it also manufactures semi-hollow and hollow-bodied guitars, including 12-string electric guitars.

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