Semi-acoustic and hollow body guitars — ES-style, archtops and jazz boxes — have deeper bodies and more fragile tops than solid-body electrics. They need cases built for their shape, not just a “standard electric” interior.
Why Standard Cases Do Not Fit
A typical ES-335 style semi-hollow is about 38–42 cm wide and 5–7 cm deep at the body — deeper than a Les Paul. Archtop jazz boxes can be 4–5 inches deep with carved tops that dent easily. Standard electric interiors are shaped for thinner bodies, so the instrument rocks or the top presses on padding.
What to Check in a Case
- Body depth: the interior must clear the deepest part of the body by 1–2 cm.
- Wider lower bout: semi-hollow bodies are wide; check the interior width against your measurement.
- Top protection: archtops have vulnerable carved tops — the lid padding must not press on the bridge or pickguard.
- Neck cradle: same as always — the headstock must be suspended.
Soft vs Hard for Semi-Hollows
Semi-hollows are light enough for a quality padded gig bag for local gigs, but the thin carved top of an archtop argues for a hard case whenever you travel or store long-term. Many players own both: soft for gigs, hard for travel and storage.
Transport Tips
- Never stack anything on top of a hollow body case.
- Carry the case upright; leaning it on the body area stresses the top.
- In the van, strap cases upright against a padded wall rather than laying them flat under gear.
Custom Interiors for Odd Shapes
Factories with in-house cutting can make custom interiors for unusual archtop shapes — worth it for valuable instruments. Contact us about custom case interiors, or browse our padded gig bag range for semi-hollow-friendly options.