SOLID Body vs HOLLOW Body! Is There A Difference?!

[@iBoss818]

Very well done video, superb playing. I could definitely hear the difference between the 2. Hollow body guitars have characteristics that solid bodies can't replicate.

[@brandonmtrujillo]

Just put that intro on repeat haha

[@magnusbragason7101]

First of all, really nice playing ! Most noticeable diff was with the distorted tones, there to my ear the hollow body was more smooth sounding while the sb was more harsh.

[@marcvanhie4425]

I prefer the hollow body guitar, a bit warmer and more pleasing to my ears. Thanks for the demonstration Ben, always a joy to hear you playing.

[@ztikmaen]

Holy crap I cannot believe how absolutely tasty your playing is, I had stankface for that whole intro... Great production quality too!

[@BenNeal]

Thanks so much!

[@thecs6363]

Thanks!

[@Kaelan66]

Would also be interesting to see a comparison of fully Hollow vs center block!

[@BenNeal]

Yeah that would make a great video!

[@MartinBlasick]

Beautiful sense of groove on the rhythm and the leads, too. Lovely.

[@Pfanne69]

Bro wtf I just randomly found your video and you sound amazing

[@BenNeal]

Hey thanks!

[@Nightwinflyer]

I write songs in my home studio, I keep pretty detailed records of what guitars and amps I used, pedals etc...and after I move on from one song to the next, I couldn't tell you what guitars I used on what by listening to the mix! I am often wrong thinking 'that sound' came from this guitar or amp only to look it up and find out it was something totally different. A good example is Rush's Alex Lifeson...the guy used every guitar, amp, and effect pedal under the sun, but he always sounds like Alex.

[@margaretzabinski9977]

Looks like Santa knows where your tree is. Great stuff man. Thanks

[@BenNeal]

Haha thanks!

[@AdamJohnSwenson]

I thought the hollowbody sounded more "open" and the solidbody sounded more "solid" - which makes sense. I just got a Godin 5th Avenue archtop full hollow with dynasonics and the openness and clarity on it are just next level. The Godin line is a great alternative to Gretsch. And I'd echo what others have said - your content is great, and I think deserves more love from KZbin. I subscribed and liked etc. :)

[@Ludi-uy6so]

Love your playing mate

[@BenNeal]

Thank you!

[@WesIncredible]

Dude!!! I just randomly came across your channel looking at The Protein OD, soon as I could I started watching other videos of yours and it's like you are answering every question I have about electric guitar tone! I have played acoustic for years but never dabbled in electric. You have an instant subscriber in me - your presentation is outstanding. Much love from Canada, I'll be around for a while

[@BenNeal]

Thank you so much!

[@marcelbelanger4424]

Great tones and playing! Try the sustain experiment again using a not-quiet amp and youll get a very different result.

[@anatmanspitama]

intro song was wild. it's insane!!!!

[@BenNeal]

Thank you!

[@robmc1232]

Wow! I came here for information, but got so drawn into the playing that by 1:06 I was thinking, "Just keep playing! I can look up the info later!" (But kept watching... good info, too.)

[@mrodinsen]

The viewcount does Not match the quality of these videos at all Hope more people find this channel

[@BenNeal]

Thanks 🙏🏽

[@AdamJohnSwenson]

Agreed!

[@trevormcgrath9817]

I own quite a few Gretsch guitars, quite possibly have the same guitars that you demonstrated a G5420T hollow body and a G5222 chambered. The hollow body was my first Gretsch that I purchased before purchasing, quite a few others which I’ve been enjoying and then I pulled out the hollow body a couple of nights ago after having not played it for a couple of months, and it really surprise me what a beautiful sounding and versatile guitar, it really is. They just all fantastic. There might be some very minor differences in them but they’re just great guitars. The hollow body will give you sustain if you want to use its feedback capability.

[@Wobbz9413]

The 5222 has double cutouts..it is a 5230T

[@eliasmadias]

Great tones man. Excellent, well thought out playing.

[@feloniousmonk321]

Great playing. The pickups aren't the same though. Your hollowbody has FT-5E filtertrons as opposed to 'blacktop' filtertrons in your jet. I have two Gretsch gujtars - a hollowbody with blacktop and jet with the FT-5E and both sound very different. The latter is much brighter. If you had them the other way around, I imagine your hollowbody would sound even darker. Mine does and for some reason, has far less volume.

[@BenNeal]

Thanks for that 🙏🏼

[@zzupanthemusicman]

I have that electromatic and I love it cause its like the best mix of a LP style, a single coil twang, and a humbucker, all in one. Not expensive but super reliable. I did get a roller bar for the bridge to make that bend a little easier and am replacing the tuners with the 406c locking ones. I came from RG's and my tornado gt and this is a great end of the spectrum without getting a tele.

[@Baci302]

There was something special I heard when you played the hollow body. Excellent playing, btw.

[@michaellinde8871]

I too have wondered if there is a discernible difference in tone between Gretsch hollow body and solid body guitars and I've pretty much concluded that it's all about the pickups although your sustain test was also interesting and revealing. Over time I've owned a 1964 Country Gentleman and two 6120's, one a 1966 and the other a 1967. I freely admit, I was drawn to these guitars for the "cool" factor more than anything else but I enjoyed playing all three. To be honest, both 6120's sounded better than the Country Gent which in the neck position had a SuperTron pickup. I regret selling all three, mostly the last 6120 which was the '67. I'm currently considering a G6128TEE which has TV Jones FilterTron pickups and although made in Japan seems to have a superior build compared with my older hollow body's. It seems to me that a comparison between Gretsch vintage (pre-Baldwin) and current higher end models would also be an interesting exercise. I read that the guitars made in Japan are exceptional but I have yet to actually play one. And I think I read somewhere that it's possible to buy a custom shop version of Gretsch guitars that are made somewhere in the US, maybe at the Fender plant in Corona?

[@WesIncredible]

Also, I've been up in the air on either getting the Gretsch G5655T Center Block Jr. vs. the G5230T Jet FT Single-Cut. I do want a sound that is brighter and cuts through the mix on my team when I play - I do think the solid body is brighter and more crisp, though there is a warmth in the hollow body - possibly a little muted vs the solid one to my ears. My vote is for the Jet

[@HernanHH95]

The solid I have to turn the volume down to 3 or less to have a clean tone. I remember the hollow only had to move it to like 7. Don’t take my comment to serious, might be different on the type of amps and effects you got

[@theblytonian3906]

The G5655T has BroadTrons, the G5230T has FilterTrons. That in conjunction with the body types? The G5230T willl be brighter with more sustain, and the FilterTron's treble will cut through the mix louder with more definition/pronounced. The G5655T will sound warmer. Checked them both out extensively prior and post buying what I have. I have the Electromatic Double Jet sibling of the 5230T (G5232T) and a full hollow G5422TG both FilterTron (Blackface & FT-5E).

[@dacresni]

everyone else gave me a history lesson instead of telling me the difference in sound. thank you!

[@stroopwafel6141]

The soundquality of your vids are superb. And your playing skills and explanations are just as good! I enjoyed it! The hollow Gretsch looks badass. When you're into country or rockabilly yeah, but for other applications I would take a G5220. Without a whammy bar. I never got friends with Bigsby type trems. Keep up the good work. Cheers!

[@BenNeal]

Thank you so much! Yeah Bigsbys certainly aren’t for everyone!

[@jav2531]

I thought the jet sounded a bit more immediate.

[@BenNeal]

Feels more immediate too

[@Niinsa62]

Nice video, I like. Yeah, I know the video is two years old. But I found it. About the sustain thing. A hollowbody will probably feedback much more than a solidbody. So in that situation, with feedback, you will feel that the hollowbody has more sustain. Even if it doesn't really, it just feedbacks much more eagerly. I have a hollowbody Gretsch that is fairly similar to the one you are playing, but mine is probably a little older. It is an Electromatic, and it says so on the headstock, yours don't say that. And mine has humpback inlays, not the thumbnail ones. I think those two things means it is an earlier version. Still the same blacktop pickups, though. A very nice guitar. And it feedbacks like crazy, if you crank up the volume anywhere above polite levels!

[@Loresaur]

The intro was tasty. What artists make music like that?

[@zelxperus745]

Absolutely love the detailed explanation and information, thank you so much for helping me decide on which style of guitar to go with. Also, would it be possible to have the song you were playing in the intro listed? Love how chill it sounded! Came for the awesome information, stayed for the great intro!

[@СтаниславСавицкий-о7в]

Thank you. That is Great'sch video 🙂

[@ZachariahConnor]

Great video!! Crazy how much brighter the solid body guitar is!

[@BenNeal]

Thank you! Yeah surprised me too!

[@adrianguggisberg3656]

Like all good things related to electric guitars, the sustain of a hollowbody comes from volume. I have a hollowbody, and if I even play it at moderate volume, I can strike any note and it will literally sustain for days. And I'm not talking about super loud high gain, that will do that with any guitar. I'm talking about a clean tone played at 90db or so, long before any of my other guitars respond in any way. However, at bedroom volume this will not happen, like many of the other things that create the unique sound of this type of instrument. It will sound like any other electric.

[@Wobbz9413]

Beautiful Electromatic "jet"!

[@cartasinfinito4509]

Beautiful comparison, it sounds practilly the same, the issue comes when cleaing or changing pots, the hollow bodies seems to be a very complicated thing to do because closed wood body.

[@pgman5416]

Bridge pickup positions are a little different, with the hollow body having it a little further from the bridge. This would cause a warmer tone. Im still not sure what i want lol. Deeper down the rabbit hole i go.

[@BenNeal]

Good point. What I’ve found is it’s important to try stuff out and go with whatever you connect with 😊

[@stefancastven2624]

Nice playing at the beginning...

[@beatlemike9]

Quality vids mate and.......Gretsch's rock!

[@BenNeal]

Thanks! Yep, they do!

[@Ethesilentkid2]

I prefer hollow body and without a whammy bar

[@lemac3200]

Your choice of chords (especially on distotion) and your picking on the clean is very sophisticated. I appreciate that very much! A helpful and entertaining video😊

[@DrTomb]

IMO, I hear the electric guitar more slappy sound to the hollowbody. I was suprised to hear the solid body had more sustain tho. doesn't seem like such a difference to care for normal players but I guess if you have a very specific style then it might make a difference

[@mawashigerimasa]

I liked the hollow body Gretsch more with clean sound and the solid body one with distortion.

[@BenNeal]

Yeah good call!

[@LisaVazquez]

New fan here!! You helped me decide on a hollow body vs classic telecaster body. And PHEW … your playing is phenomenal 👏🏽👏🏽

[@phyfts]

Great vid! How do you get your tone?

[@BenNeal]

Thank you! I’m using the Strymon Iridium!

[@krauz111]

came for the info stayed for the song

[@cmore138]

I’m grateful you made this video as it does answer a question I’ve had. Another question I have is how loud is the solid (semi-solid as I’d like to refer to it) when not plugged in. I’m hypothesizing that it’s in between the semi hollow and a full solid and therefore has the potential to be the ideal guitar to play quietly and not annoy roommates much. Input anyone?

[@renanbos]

Making a blind test in myself by only listening the video without knowing which guitar is being played, I cannot tell the difference. For me they are exactly identical. I think the only judge is the blind test, since our senses might mix and we end up hearing things that are not there. If you would show this test blinded to guitarists I bet you would see no consistency in their ability to distinguish them, as it goes in any blind test of guitars with same pickups.

[@ianstu7]

I'm not sure if the solid body was brighter, as much as the hollow body just had a ton of mid focus that the solid body didn't have, which gave the solid body the aural illusion of seeming brighter. Either way, both sounded great.

[@BenNeal]

Could very well be the case!

[@divinduck1352]

This is a comparison that I have missed for a long time. So at first thank you very much for posting this! I agree that the solid body guitar sounds brighter. What you found out about the sustain of hollow body guitars agrees with my experience. I play a Double Anniversary in Rockabilly band and we also bring in a few more modern or bluesy elements. And that's exactly where I sometimes lack the sustain. (But that's not a big problem at all.) There's also something about the tone of the lower strings that draws me more to a hollow body guitar. To me it sounds like the lower strings themselves have a small hollow body. It's hard to describe but I guess that's what the old folks called "Twang". Besides of that, a hollow body guitar, especially a Gretsch, looks soooo coool… ;-)

[@BenNeal]

Thanks for the comment and your thoughts! You can’t really get cooler than a hollow body Gretsch!

[@smoothsam7]

Solid body for me

[@BenNeal]

Good call 🙏🏼

[@itstodd1345]

Great video brother

[@BluesBrogio]

The hollow body had more headroom, meaning it distorted less, and consequently had less high harmonic content when distorted. If you adjust the pickup height you might just get the exact same sound from both

[@davecross4493]

Is this really true though? Surely the amount of distortion comes from the amp or the pedal, not whther it's hollow body or not.

[@BluesBrogio]

@@davecross4493 That's my point. Adjust the pickup height and you'll get the same sound from both

[@bromporke]

Great playing, super clean, precise

[@weasel6535]

What I like the best about your videos is you play the same thing on both guitars, I have seen others where they take guitar A, play a melody, then guitar B and shred the scales and ask "which do you like best?"

[@BenNeal]

Ahaha thanks man

[@spark300c]

well the hollow body is darker because it bleeding off sound energy at faster rate.

[@revolution51]

Wouldn't it make more sense to set the amp and merely plug in the two guitars at exact settings to hear the difference compared alternately.?

[@BenNeal]

Isn’t that what I did? 🤣

[@Glicksman1]

Of course they sound different. No two guitars sound exactly alike. But are the differences that of a semi-solid vs. a hollow body? This is still an open question.

[@andyglamrock]

Man I love your compositions, I'll buy any tab you can sell

[@BenNeal]

Thanks Andy! Keep your eyes peeled for tabs…

[@speckofdust21]

answered my question, thanks!

[@BenNeal]

You’re welcome!

[@finance485]

Like the tone on the hollow body better.

[@BenNeal]

🙏🏽

[@Jonah_Smithy]

I honestly prefer the hollow sound.

[@BenNeal]

Nice and warm 🥰

[@larryconsley2682]

The Gretsch Pro Jet is not a true solid body. It is chambered.

[@BenNeal]

Too true 🙏🏼

[@Wobbz9413]

Exactly what he said, yes.....

[@ArcadiaSupply]

really phenomenal playing

[@yuriherreraburstein2255]

Thanks ! I was about selling my G5230T in order to buy a hollow one, believing it would sound better on jazz, and you have saved my time and money 😅

[@blah163]

The sustain is the only meaningful difference, and it's not much. Whatever difference there is, it's not worth paying for.

[@nayaleezy]

There is a MASSIVE difference in color.

[@BenNeal]

🤣🤣🤣

[@DunderHead.5000]

Gretsch solid bodies are practically hollow.

[@dododododododon]

It's pots and capacitors and pickup heights that make a difference

[@thewey]

Love them both. I think the open body is more attractive but the sound of the solid body is a little brighter.

[@zacharyjohnson6453]

It's simple a solid body guitar sounds more contained where is a hollow body guitar sounds more open and has more air and sound coming out of it plus that also makes it very good for creating more vibrato in your strumming.