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(December 2009)| A semi-acoustic guitar or hollow-body electric
is a type of electric guitar that originates from the 1930s. It
has both a sound box and one or more electric pickups. This is
not the same as an acoustic-electric guitar, which is an
acoustic guitar with the addition of pickups or other means of
amplification, either added by the manufacturer or the player.
In the 1930s guitar players and manufacturers were attempting to
increase the overall volume of the guitar, which had a hard time
competing with other instruments, specifically in large
orchestras and jazz bands, due to its lack of volume. This
created a series of experiments that focused on creating a
guitar that could be amplified through electric currents and out
through a speaker. In 1936, Gibson attempted to make their first
production line of electric guitars. These guitars, known as
ES-150’s (Electric Spanish Series) were the first manufactured
semi-acoustic guitars. They were