Epiphone Archtop Archtop & Semi-Acoustic Guitars
Welcome to Music Street, your premier destination for archtop and semi-acoustic guitars in the UK. Perfect for jazz, blues, indie, and classic rock, these instruments blend the organic warmth of an acoustic chamber with the power and sustain of an electric guitar. Every semi-acoustic we sell undergoes a rigorous, multi-point inspection and a custom, professional setup by our in-house luthiers in our Huntingdon workshop before shipping. Browse our selection below.
Explore Epiphone Archtop Archtop & Semi-Acoustic Guitars at MusicStreet
The MusicStreet Setup Advantage: Why Your Semi-Acoustic Deserves It
Hollowbody and semi-acoustic guitars are highly complex instruments. Because they feature internal air cavities, f-holes, and floating or tune-o-matic bridges, they are exceptionally sensitive to changes in temperature, humidity, and string tension. A factory setup, while consistent, is rarely optimized for the UK climate or your individual playing style. Floating bridges must be perfectly positioned for accurate intonation, and pickup heights must be balanced to prevent unwanted feedback.
At MusicStreet, we treat every semi-acoustic with the reverence it deserves. We perform a **free £75 professional workshop setup** on every single hollow and semi-hollow guitar we sell. Our expert luthiers adjust the truss rod, file the nut slots, precision-shave or adjust the bridge saddles, balance the pickups, and polish the frets to ensure your new instrument plays with a comfortable, buzz-free low action straight out of the box.
🔧 Free £75 Professional Setup
Every semi-acoustic guitar is individually set up in our in-house workshop. We adjust the action, intonation, and neck relief to match your playing style, ensuring it plays perfectly straight out of the box.
🛡️ 12-Month Warranty
We stand behind every instrument we sell. All of our hollow and semi-hollow guitars come with a full 12-month warranty, giving you complete peace of mind with your purchase.
🚚 Free UK Delivery & 7-Day Returns
Get free, fully insured UK shipping on all orders over £99. If the guitar isn't the perfect fit for your hands, return it to us within 7 days for a hassle-free refund or exchange.
Explore Hollowbody & Semi-Acoustic Guitar Styles
Hollow and semi-hollow guitars offer a wide spectrum of tones, ranging from the tight, feedback-resistant bite of a center-block rock machine to the smoky, acoustic warmth of a traditional jazz archtop:
Semi-Hollow Center Block Classics
The ultimate crossover instruments. Featuring a solid wood block running down the center of the body beneath the pickups and bridge, these guitars (such as the iconic ES-335 style) combine the warm, airy resonance of f-hole chambers with the high-gain feedback resistance and sustain of a solid-body electric. They are the go-to choice for blues, rock, and session players worldwide.
Full Hollowbody & Archtop Guitars
Pure acoustic-electric heritage. Built without a center block, full hollowbody archtops deliver a deep, woody, and highly resonant acoustic voice. Favored by traditional jazz guitarists and rockabilly players, these instruments offer unmatched dynamic response, sweet mid-range focus, and a highly organic playing feel.
Premium Brands & Pre-Owned
We stock a hand-selected range of semi-acoustic instruments from the world's finest brands, including Gibson, Gretsch, Ibanez, and Epiphone. We also stock a constantly rotating selection of certified pre-owned hollowbody instruments. Explore our used range in our Pre-Owned Collection.
Guitar Trade-In & Part-Exchange Program
Ready to upgrade your current rig? We make it incredibly easy to trade in your pre-owned gear. Through our straightforward guitar part-exchange program, you can bring your old guitar, amplifier, or effects pedals into our showroom (or send us details online) and put its value directly toward any new or used semi-acoustic guitar in our store.
Visit Our Huntingdon Guitar Showroom
If you are searching for premium guitar shops in Cambridgeshire, come visit our showroom in Huntingdon. Located at 10 Chequers Court, our showroom features a dedicated acoustic and electric room where you can sit back, play, and compare different body shapes, neck profiles, and pickup configurations side-by-side. We are easily accessible from Cambridge, Peterborough, and Bedford, with convenient parking nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions About Archtop & Semi-Acoustic Guitars
What is the difference between a semi-hollow and a full hollowbody guitar? +
A **semi-hollow guitar** features a solid wood block running down the center of the body beneath the pickups and bridge, with hollow "wings" on the sides. This block adds sustain and significantly reduces feedback, making it ideal for high-volume rock and blues. A **full hollowbody (or archtop)** is completely hollow inside, delivering a warmer, more acoustic-like tone with rich resonance, but is more prone to feedback at high stage volumes.
What is included in your £75 professional setup? +
Our expert in-house technicians perform a complete multi-point inspection. This includes adjusting the neck relief (truss rod), setting the optimal string action (height) at both the nut and bridge saddles, setting the intonation, cleaning and conditioning the fretboard, polishing the frets, checking all electronics/pots, and installing a fresh set of premium strings.
How do you control feedback on a hollowbody guitar? +
Feedback occurs when sound waves from your amplifier vibrate the hollow body of your guitar. To control it, you can stand further away from your amplifier, position yourself at an angle to the speakers, use a noise gate pedal, or use rubber f-hole plugs (often called feedback busters) to seal the body chambers. Our professional setup also ensures your pickup heights are perfectly balanced to minimize microphonic feedback.
Can I trade in my old gear toward a purchase? +
Absolutely. We offer a highly competitive part-exchange program. You can bring your gear directly to our Huntingdon showroom for an on-the-spot valuation, or contact us online with photos and details to receive a preliminary trade-in estimate.
Archtop & Semi-Acoustic Guitars: Organic Resonance Meets Electric Power
Semi-acoustic (semi-hollow) and hollow-body archtop guitars occupy a unique and beloved space in guitar history. By incorporating internal acoustic chambers, these guitars produce a warm, woody, and highly resonant tone that solid-body guitars simply cannot replicate.
Understanding Semi-Hollow vs. Fully Hollow Archtops
When choosing the best semi-acoustic guitar for your playing style, it is important to understand the structural differences:
- Semi-Hollow Guitars (e.g., Epiphone Sheraton, Gibson ES-335): These guitars feature a solid wood center block running down the middle of the body, with hollow "wings" on either side. The center block adds sustain, tightens the low-end, and significantly reduces feedback, making them highly versatile for high-gain rock, blues, and fusion.
- Fully Hollow Archtops (e.g., Epiphone Casino, Broadway): These guitars are completely hollow inside, behaving much like a traditional acoustic guitar. They deliver an incredibly warm, open, and woody tone with rich acoustic resonance—the absolute standard for traditional jazz, blues, and early rock 'n' roll.
