Talk:Semi-acoustic guitar

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Anybody know about this? Is it any different then an acoustic-electric? Friday (talk) 18:48, 23 September 2005 (UTC)

An acoustic guitar uses its body to amplify the feeble sound produced by the strings alone. An electrical guitar uses coils in its pick-ups to do the same (it does not have an empty body). The semi-acoustic guitar has pick-ups similar to an electrical guitar (the very same, sometimes, depending on the guitar), but also has an empty body, which produces a different sound (a "rounder" sound, whatever this means ;) ).

A Google search will give out [1], for instance, where you can see typical examples. The Emperor, featured on the image previously on this article, is another example, with a wider body and a single cut-away. Rama 16:04, 24 November 2005 (UTC)

Really? I've never heard of this called a semi-acoustic. I would call that a hollow-body electric, which is a type of electric, not a type of acoustic. The description in this articl of it being a classical with steel strings is wrong then, is it not? Friday (talk) 16:15, 24 November 2005 (UTC)

I think this is a difference in dialect. In the United States, we call these things hollow-body electrics, but it sure looks like that's exactly what they mean by "semi-acoustic", from the link you posted. I'll try to fix up the article a bit. Thanks for the response. Friday (talk) 16:18, 24 November 2005 (UTC)

Hmm, "classical with a micro" is really wrong, that quasi certain.

I make no mystery that English is not my native language; in French, "guitare semi-acoustique" is without a doubt a hollow-body electric. Now, could it be possible that "semi-accoustic" in English would refer to an electrified version of a steel-string accoustic guitar (like this one) ? That woule be a bit odd, though, because these have typically a larger body than classical guitars, so I'd almost say that they are "most acoustic"... perhaps we should ask on talk:guitar. Rama 16:33, 24 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] redirect?

I think this should redirect, probably to Acoustic guitar. Anyone have any objections? Friday (talk) 15:48, 24 November 2005 (UTC)

I do, see above. Rama 16:04, 24 November 2005 (UTC)

Now I wonder if this should redirect to Electric guitar. Perhaps that's as good a place as any for discussion of solid versus hollow bodied. Friday (talk) 16:19, 29 November 2005 (UTC)

FWIW, where I come from, an acoustic guitar that can be plugged in (usually having peizoelectric pickups) is called an acoustic-electric. But, it's still definitely an acoustic. Friday (talk) 16:20, 29 November 2005 (UTC)

Also, I just noticed Archtop guitar which also may be relevant. Friday (talk) 16:22, 29 November 2005 (UTC)

Yes, Archtop guitar reminds me of something indeed :p Rama 16:36, 29 November 2005 (UTC)

Is this settled? A semi-acoustic guitar is a type of electric guitar, and may also be an acoustic guitar. But IMO it deserves its own article. However, guitar should not be capitalised. Andrewa 01:57, 9 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Merger?

We all know that "Hollow Body", "Semi-Acoustic" and "Electric Acoustic" are common interchangeably-used terms for electric guitars with a sound chamber, and for acoustic guitars with pickups. However, I believe we should draw a fine line here. Hollow Bodies should be restricted to electric guitars originally designed as an electric guitar, but with a sound chamber. Electric Acoustics and Acoustic Electrics are acoustic guitars but designed with a piezoelectric transducer, condensor microphone and/or electro-magnetic pickups. Any other confusions will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Therefore, I Support the merger, but Electric Acoustic guitars should then be split into an article of its own, and not be classified under Hollow Body or Semi-Acoustic. Ariedartin JECJY ^Talk 13:40, 24 September 2006 (UTC)