Hollow body guitars have fully hollowed bodies with no solid centre block, giving them a light feel and a naturally resonant acoustic character. This construction allows the body to vibrate more freely, producing an open, airy sound with strong warmth and depth.

They are closely associated with jazz, blues, and early rock and roll, where clean tones, dynamics, and natural resonance are valued. Hollow body guitars offer rich, rounded lows and smooth highs, but are more prone to feedback at high volumes, making them best suited to lower-gain and clean playing styles.