Choosing the Best Strings for Your Hollow Body

There's nothing quite so refined as a good hollow body guitar. Their curves, their airiness, their versatility.... they're like "regular" electric guitars.... in 3-D. 

Whether you're chasing the smokin' sustain of a vintage Gibson ES-335 or the snappy jangle of a Rickenbacker 330, one thing’s for sure: string gauge matters. Semi-hollow and hollow body electric guitars have their own unique tonal fingerprint—and dialing in the best hollow body strings can make a massive difference in how your instrument responds.

Let’s take a look at some of the most iconic guitars in this category, how they’ve historically been strung, and which Stringjoy sets will help you make the most of your hollow body setup.

Gibson ES-335: The Gold Standard of Semi-Hollows

Debuting in 1958, the Gibson ES-335 was the first commercially available semi-hollow electric guitar. Primarily designed by Gibson's then-president Ted McCarty (who called it his proudest invention), the "Electric Spanish" model was meant to bridge the gap between the warm, resonant tones of big jazz-box hollow bodies and the sustain and feedback resistance of solid bodies in an era where players were cranking their amps louder and louder. The ES-335’s center block design made it an instant hit, and it went on to be featured prominently in the guitarsenals of some of rock and blues' greatest royalty - including B.B. King and Chuck Berry.

In the late ‘50s and early ‘60s, Gibson typically shipped guitars with pure nickel roundwounds in heavier gauges that you might find on a straight up acoustic guitar - often something close to 12–56.

If you're after vintage-style blues, jazz, or soul tones, a set of Stringjoy Pure Nickel, Round-core Broadways in 11-48 or 12–52 (with a wound 3rd!) will keep things authentic. Our pure nickel wrap offers a softer attack and warmer response—perfect for the ES-335’s natural midrange growl. And if you want to emphasize that high end? Stringjoy Balanced Light Signatures 10-48 can do it all.

Epiphone Casino: The Beatles’ Not So Secret Weapon

Fully hollow (no center block!), featherlight, P-90 driven, and surprisingly powerful, the Epiphone Casino became an unlikely rock hero in the 1960s. Of course, the Casino is most famously associated with The Beatles who used them extensively in the studio and on stage, but they remain totally relevant today in the hands of Gary Clark Jr. and Noel Gallagher.

Before they bridged the gap between arch-top and rock, Casinos originally came with heavier, flatwound strings (.012s or higher) for mellow jazz voicings before players started swapping them for roundwounds with more bite.

If you're chasing jangly rhythms or garage grit, try Stringjoy Signatures in Balanced Light (10–48) or Super Light Plus (9.5–46). Want more vintage character? Go for Classic Light Broadways (10-46) and experience the awesome flexibility and warmth of pure nickel strings (and remember, if you've never strung up round-cores before, watch this video first!).

Gretsch Electromatic: Twang... with a Side of Bite

Gretsch has been synonymous with classic guitars for a loooong time (1883!!). The Electromatic model has popped up at various points in the company's timeline, and their modern Electromatic series brings the brand’s classic hollow body stylings to an accessible price point—but the tone is anything but budget. And while many will pigeonhole Gretsch into the rockabilly or "Country Gentleman" zone, these guitars are killer whether you're chasing surfy cleans, shoegaze fuzz, or honest-to-goodness rock (see: Jack White).

Like many of their old-school counterparts, Gretsch guitars were commonly strung with medium to heavy gauge roundwounds or flatwounds, often starting with an .011 or .012. Nowadays, a good string match will take your Gretsch to the next level.

Try Stringjoy Orbiters in 10–48 for a modern feel with a brighter top end. If you're leaning into the retro vibe, Stringjoy Broadways in 11-48 will give you both warmth and definition.

Rickenbacker 330: The Jangle Machine

With its distinct body shape and toaster pickups, the Rickenbacker 330 has carved out its own sonic lane. It’s the sound of 1960s pop, college rock, and plenty of shimmering clean chords. Think Peter Buck, Johnny Marr, and Tom Petty. Rickenbackers often ship with the company's own "Compressed Roundwound Strings," that typically run in the 10–46 range. Flatwounds were also popular among early users.

Looking for that iconic chime? Stringjoy Husky Super Light Orbiters in 9.5-48 will give you the flexibility of stable rhythm playing and easy breeze lead work.

Want to warm it up just a bit? Check out Stringjoy Heavy Bottom Light Broadways 10-52 for a richer harmonic response.

Choosing the Best Hollow Body Strings for Your Style

The above suggestions are simply a primer to the best hollow body strings for some seriously popular model. As with all things guitar, there's no one-size-fits-all when it comes to finding the best hollow body strings. A lot depends on your own style, touch, and tonal preferences. And the best hollow body string pairings aren’t just limited to the big-name guitars listed above. These same principles apply to a wide range of instruments from brands like D’Angelico, Ibanez (Artcore series), Eastman, and many more. If your guitar has a hollow or semi-hollow construction, here are some more Stringjoy sets that offer an excellent range of feel and sound:

Stringjoy Classic Super Light Broadways 9-40 - Classic tone from a shredder's touch. These strings are light on tension, but not on tone.

Stringjoy Wound 3rd Light Signatures 10-48 - Ever try a wound 3rd before? If you want to get into it but don't want to go full jazz-mode, our flagship Balanced Light set comes in a wound 3rd configuration.

Stringjoy Balanced Light Plus Orbiters 10.5–50 - Bring a modern edge to your classic hollow body. Orbiters are coated the Stringjoy way - with treatment to the wrap wire only that leads to a brighter more "natural" sounding coated string. The gauges in this set features a bit more heft that'll drive your hollow body's top like an acoustic.

Stringjoy Custom 6 String Signatures - Craft your own custom set with the guidance of our string-sommeliers by reaching out to [email protected].

Stringjoy... Flatwounds?? - Let's say hi to the elephant in the room. Flatwounds sound awesome on a hollow body guitar. Too bad we don't make 'em - or...do we??? Stay tuned!

Final Thoughts

Dialing in the right string gauge and material can unlock new dimensions in your tone—especially on a guitar as resonant as a hollow or semi-hollow body. Whether you’re gigging, recording, or just noodling on the couch, choosing the best hollow body strings for your style makes all the difference.

At Stringjoy, we believe that your strings should match your sound—not the other way around. Explore the options above, experiment with what feels best under your fingers, and don’t be afraid to go a gauge heavier (or lighter) than you're used to. And of course, we're always here if you need a bit more guidance. Because a great set of strings will bring out the voice of your hollow body - and that's where the fun starts.

The Best Strings for Your Hollow body

All the strings to make your hollow body sing.

Stringjoy 11-48 Classic Medium Gauge Broadways - Pure Nickel Electric Guitar Strings

Stringjoy 12-52 Classic Heavy Gauge Broadways - Pure Nickel Electric Guitar Strings

Stringjoy 10-48 Balanced Light Gauge Signatures - Nickel Wound Electric Guitar Strings

Stringjoy 9.5-46 Balanced Super Light Plus Gauge Signatures - Nickel Wound Electric Guitar Strings

Stringjoy 10-46 Classic Light Gauge Broadways - Pure Nickel Electric Guitar Strings

Stringjoy 10-48 Balanced Light Gauge Orbiters - Coated Nickel Electric Guitar Strings

Stringjoy 9-46 Husky Super Light Gauge Orbiters - Coated Nickel Electric Guitar Strings

Stringjoy 10-52 Heavy Bottom Light Gauge Broadways - Pure Nickel Electric Guitar Strings

Stringjoy 9-40 Classic Super Light Gauge Broadways - Pure Nickel Electric Guitar Strings

Stringjoy 10-48 Wound 3rd Light Gauge Signatures - Nickel Wound Electric Guitar Strings

Stringjoy 10.5-50 Balanced Light Plus Gauge Orbiters - Coated Nickel Electric Guitar Strings

Stringjoy Custom 6 String Signatures - Nickel Wound Electric Guitar Strings