Can someone tell me about factors in choosing an acoustic guitar please...

[Young Angus]

I know all about the way different woods and pickups effect how a solidbody will sound and play, but I really don't have much idea about acoustics.

Would someone be able to just give me a bit of a lowdown on how different woods and makes of acoustics attribute to tone?

Cheers

 

[sufferinrewind]

Re: Can someone tell me about factors in choosing an acoustic guitar please...

It's not only the wood types, but the sizes and shapes of the bodies. There are plenty of different shapes and sizes, then there are different wood combinations. It all depends on what your needs are. Your best bet would be to go out and play some different types and see which fits your needs the best.

 

[theodie]

Re: Can someone tell me about factors in choosing an acoustic guitar please...

Yup, play every acoustic in the store. Whichever sounds and plays the best, Get it!

 

[LesStrat]

Re: Can someone tell me about factors in choosing an acoustic guitar please...

Good advice.

It's hard to go wrong with a Taylor, though.

 

[Young Angus]

Re: Can someone tell me about factors in choosing an acoustic guitar please...

Sorry I seem to have been misunderstood...I'm actually not looking for an acoustic but looking to learn tonally what the differences are between all the woods and body shapes and sizes...just to stick in my vault of knowledge

 

[beandip]

Re: Can someone tell me about factors in choosing an acoustic guitar please...

not only do the type of woods and body shapes effect tone, but so do the thickness' of the tops and sides, the shapes of the braces, the location of the braces, dovetail or (taylor style) bolt on necks, and if the top was "tuned". But that's all the "seperates the awesome from the f*ckin greatest guitar on the earth" kinda stuff.

 

[J Moose]

Re: Can someone tell me about factors in choosing an acoustic guitar please...

not only do the type of woods and body shapes effect tone, but so do the thickness' of the tops and sides, the shapes of the braces, the location of the braces, dovetail or (taylor style) bolt on necks, and if the top was "tuned". But that's all the "seperates the awesome from the f*ckin greatest guitar on the earth" kinda stuff.

Right on.

Generally speaking...rosewood is a little darker & deeper sounding then mahogany. Dreadnaughts will have a tighter lowend and more explosive midrange then a Jumbo (bigger lows) or a '000' body which IMO tend to sound richer and more balanced for finger picking and chordal stuff but they don't have the volume for acoustic ensamble playing, like with banjos & mandolins and all that...

Bluegrass or "string" music as it's commonly called.

But really though, 'ya just gotta play a BUNCH of 'em until you find a guitar that blows you away. There are too many differences in construction and materials to make generalizations...like the Alverez that I aquired a few years back. I never really dig rosewood side/back instruments (too boomy) but I really dig this one. Someone else might call it "thin" but to me it's just right.

Laminates aren't so bad, they're actually stronger then having all solid wood and might be good if your touring & traveling a lot. Getting a guitar with a solid top & back and laminated sides isn't a bad way to go if the budget is tight.

 

[34029324079]

Re: Can someone tell me about factors in choosing an acoustic guitar please...

one word?

Taylor.

More than one word?

Taylor makes various types of acoustic guitars.

 

[Jeff_H]

Re: Can someone tell me about factors in choosing an acoustic guitar please...

I agree with Taylor, although I know that's not what Young Angus is after in this thread. I played every acoustic guitar I could get my hands on 2 years ago ($2500 and under) when I bought my Taylor. Martin, Taylor, Gibson, Guild, Ovation USA's, Seagulls...everything. For the sound I wanted from an acoustic, the Taylor was it above anything else.

Some of the Taylor's were in excess of $2800, and sounded fantastic. I ended up with a 30th Anniversary 314CE. It sounded 95% as good the higher end Taylor's to me, and the extra grand wasn't worth the 5% to me...at the time and in my budget.

The Taylor website has some nice descriptions of how different woods sound. Check that out, and some acoustic forums.

 

[Bludave]

Re: Can someone tell me about factors in choosing an acoustic guitar please...

Go to Santa Cruz guitars website and check the tonewoods list. Its a comprehensive list of how different woods speak!
http://www.santacruzguitar.com/woods/acousticguitarwoods.html

There is more to buying a Acoustic than just wood. Are you a flat picker or a Fingerpicker? Do you strum Chords mostly or are you going to play solos notes a lot as well? This will effect the Body size and the neck width.

Dreadnaughts are large body guitars and IMHO Mahogony would be a good choice for back and sides. D size guitars can be boomy so Mahogony balances the tone a little better than RW does. You have to hit them hard to get a big sound out of them by comparison to a smaller guitar. They are better suited for flatpicking,(1 11/16ths" Nut) yet can be fingerpicked also. They are one of the best for strumming.

OM Size guitars are better for Fingerpicking. They typically have a wider neck (1.75") and the string spacing is better suited for fingerpicking. These guitars are probably the most versatile size for "all" type of playing. You can play very soft and get great sound out of a small guitar. The 000 is also an excellent size guitar. The basic difference between the OM and the 000 is scale length. The OM has a scale of 25.4" and the 000 is a little shorter (24.9" I think) The 000 will have a little less string tension than the OM, but witll sound very similar.

Go for solid wood construction. Laminates are easier to care for. You don't have to worry about laminated woods drying out and cracking like you do with solid wood guitars, but the solid woods will continue to improve in tone as the wood ages. Laminated wood will always sound the same. Its basically plywood!

 

[More-Gear-Than-Skill]

Re: Can someone tell me about factors in choosing an acoustic guitar please...

an electo-acoustic is a compromise most times. It's not just a really good acoustic instrument with a plug in option. They tend to be designed to sound best plugged in, sacrificing some acoustic mojo. think roundback ovations etc, but also cutaway types with normal backs

Make sure the neck angle is good. Otherwise you have a wafer thin bridge saddle, and still high action. Re-set the neck, oh dear.

 

[MikeS]

Re: Can someone tell me about factors in choosing an acoustic guitar please...

an electo-acoustic is a compromise most times. It's not just a really good acoustic instrument with a plug in option. They tend to be designed to sound best plugged in, sacrificing some acoustic mojo. think roundback ovations etc, but also cutaway types with normal backs.

I'd agree with you regarding Ovations (I'm real close to chucking mine out a window), but the Taylors with the Expression System and the Martins with Fishman on board aren't really a compromise. Sure, they are a bit different, especially with a cutaway, but I wouldn't say they are a compromise unless you actually find the difference to be a negative.

Ovations, IMO, should never be unplugged. Some of them sound great plugged in, but man are they bad unplugged (especially the shallow bowl designs).

 

[fingerace]

Re: Can someone tell me about factors in choosing an acoustic guitar please...

an electo-acoustic is a compromise most times. It's not just a really good acoustic instrument with a plug in option. They tend to be designed to sound best plugged in, sacrificing some acoustic mojo. think roundback ovations etc, but also cutaway types with normal backs

Another option to consider is that of the cutaway. If you don't need a cutaway then don't spend the money on one. plus, the sound is better without one.

 

[esandes]

Re: Can someone tell me about factors in choosing an acoustic guitar please...

dreadnought > *

 

[Mr Wolf]

Re: Can someone tell me about factors in choosing an acoustic guitar please...

I recommend Dean acoustics. Im about to pull the trigger on one that a mate is selling. Sounds great, played great. Ive played Martins and Taylors too and they are fantastic. Too pricey for me though! Play some, and let your ears and fingers let you decide.

Jeff

ps. I agree with More-Gear-Than-Skill. Getting an electro-acoustic is often a compromise, they seem to sacrifice natural acoustic tone for a good plugged in tone.

 

[sufferinrewind]

Re: Can someone tell me about factors in choosing an acoustic guitar please...

I recommend Dean acoustics. Im about to pull the trigger on one that a mate is selling. Sounds great, played great. Ive played Martins and Taylors too and they are fantastic. Too pricey for me though! Play some, and let your ears and fingers let you decide.

Jeff

ps. I agree with More-Gear-Than-Skill. Getting an electro-acoustic is often a compromise, they seem to sacrifice natural acoustic tone for a good plugged in tone.

I recommended Dean acoustics to someone recently, but I don't think they actually bought a Dean.

Shame. Dean acoustics are probably the best import acoustics, and can be had for a lot less than most.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Can someone tell me about factors in choosing an acoustic guitar please...

Gearsnob answer time! :laugh2:

Look at the headstock. If it doesn't say Martin or Taylor, find one that does.
:laugh2: :laugh2: :laugh2: Just kidding, don't flame me!

Well, actually I'm not kidding. :27:

 

[sufferinrewind]

Re: Can someone tell me about factors in choosing an acoustic guitar please...

Gearsnob answer time! :laugh2:

Look at the headstock. If it doesn't say Martin or Taylor, find one that does.
:laugh2: :laugh2: :laugh2: Just kidding, don't flame me!

Well, actually I'm not kidding. :27:

If Dean made some USA acoustics, they'd be just as good as Martin or Taylor, I have no doubts on that. The only problem is... they don't. I'm sure you could get one through the custom shop, though.

 

[Robert Delahunt]

Re: Can someone tell me about factors in choosing an acoustic guitar please...

I know all about the way different woods and pickups effect how a solidbody will sound and play, but I really don't have much idea about acoustics. Would someone be able to just give me a bit of a lowdown on how different woods and makes of acoustics attribute to tone? Cheers

I would say the #1 important thing is comfortability: neck especially. Guitar strings are under much more tension than the average electric guitar, and therefore your left hand is going to take much more abuse. Action, neck width, frets, etc, are very important. The very close #2 to #1 is the way it sounds. Materials are part of this, but you can buy a krappy mahogany acoustic just as you can buy an awesome guitar made out of mahogany Beyond that, plugged versus unplugged is a matter of preference and trial (i.e. trying them out in a live amp situation).

For example, my Ovation CS-247. People say maple sucks for a tone wood in an acoustic, and I agree in terms of volume: mine's not as loud unpludded as some of the larger guitars. But it sounds good, even if at a lower volume than the huge guitars.

Plug it in, however, and things change quick. It's one of the best live plugged acoustics I've ever played, and is very comfortable if used while singing. It doesn't get in the way, has onboard EQ, and feels great in the hand and when worn in a strap.

 

[Mephis]

Re: Can someone tell me about factors in choosing an acoustic guitar please...

Funny thing about acoustics is, I've played some for $5k and some for $175, and I've liked alot of the cheaper ones as well as the insanely expensive ones.


Sure these $5k botique guitars are cool feeling, but I don't feel their tone was really that special, I actually found far better sounding acoustics that were far cheaper.

I got a cheapo ibanez acoustic that was the nicest sounding and nicest playing in the store. By nicest sounding, I mean deepest most resonate tone.