Jumbo vs Dreadnaught ACoustic.
- Thread starter Aceman
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treyhaislip
Well-known member
Re: Jumbo vs Dreadnaught ACoustic.
I typically choose a Jumbo over a Dreadnought...just a personal preference
I typically choose a Jumbo over a Dreadnought...just a personal preference
MetalManiac
Li'l Junior Member
Re: Jumbo vs Dreadnaught ACoustic.
Aceman;
Off the cuff, A dreadnaught is a Jumbo that they squashed.
A Jumbo is two semicircular..um..circles, with a tight waist.
A dreadnaught, they pushed the round out of the bottom, gave it harder corners, and opened up the waist. The opened it up to increase the volume to make up for what was lost by shortening it up...the sides have straight runs to them after the curves going into the waist ...The big Gibson Dreadnaughts ;like the Hummingbird and Dove hardly have any waist to them at all, almost -a 4 sided box to give to more volume on the inside.
The smaller bout design of the instrument gives you a tighter tweeter like higher sound., and the bottom gives the bass sounds.
The Dreadnaught was designed to sacrifice some of the definition between the two to give louder volume ;the big Spanish guitars are not real loud , but they have a real precise tight sound.
Aceman;
Off the cuff, A dreadnaught is a Jumbo that they squashed.
A Jumbo is two semicircular..um..circles, with a tight waist.
A dreadnaught, they pushed the round out of the bottom, gave it harder corners, and opened up the waist. The opened it up to increase the volume to make up for what was lost by shortening it up...the sides have straight runs to them after the curves going into the waist ...The big Gibson Dreadnaughts ;like the Hummingbird and Dove hardly have any waist to them at all, almost -a 4 sided box to give to more volume on the inside.
The smaller bout design of the instrument gives you a tighter tweeter like higher sound., and the bottom gives the bass sounds.
The Dreadnaught was designed to sacrifice some of the definition between the two to give louder volume ;the big Spanish guitars are not real loud , but they have a real precise tight sound.
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Matt42
New member
Re: Jumbo vs Dreadnaught ACoustic.
I'm not a fan of traditional jumbos, (such as the Hummingbird), but I love slope shoulder jumbos (J-45, Collings CJ). They combine the best parts of both the jumbo and the dread. I love my AJ-500. It maintains the balanced sound of a full jumbo, but adds the volume and projection of a dread.
I'm not a fan of traditional jumbos, (such as the Hummingbird), but I love slope shoulder jumbos (J-45, Collings CJ). They combine the best parts of both the jumbo and the dread. I love my AJ-500. It maintains the balanced sound of a full jumbo, but adds the volume and projection of a dread.
beaubrummels
Well-known member
Re: Jumbo vs Dreadnaught ACoustic.
Dreadnaught has punchy mids, is weaker in the bass but mixes well with electrics when playing supporting rhythm.
Jumbo has deep fat bass and some treble to it and works better as the main guitar in a mix, either as the lead instrument, or as the main rhythm instrument.
Basically, use the dreadnaught if the acoustic part is just supporting and not so important/expendable. Use a Jumbo if the acoustic is the main body of the music.
Dreadnaught has punchy mids, is weaker in the bass but mixes well with electrics when playing supporting rhythm.
Jumbo has deep fat bass and some treble to it and works better as the main guitar in a mix, either as the lead instrument, or as the main rhythm instrument.
Basically, use the dreadnaught if the acoustic part is just supporting and not so important/expendable. Use a Jumbo if the acoustic is the main body of the music.
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treyhaislip
Well-known member
Re: Jumbo vs Dreadnaught ACoustic.
I love my Advanced Jumbo and also love the J45--both sound amazing with a pick or finger picking. I like the full strum sound Jumbos get compared to Dreadnoughts....but it's just a personal preference.
I love my Advanced Jumbo and also love the J45--both sound amazing with a pick or finger picking. I like the full strum sound Jumbos get compared to Dreadnoughts....but it's just a personal preference.
Matt42
New member
Re: Jumbo vs Dreadnaught ACoustic.
It might be because of my bluegrass roots, but I've always seen the dreadnaught as more of a lead instrument. When I think of a dreadnaught player, I think of Tony Rice, Clarence White, Bryan Sutton, and Norman Blake. When I think of a jumbo player, I think of Emmylou Harris or Lyle Lovett, basically a front person strumming chords.
It probably is just my bluegrass background, though. Bluegrass players look at you funny if you don't use a dreadnaught. Or if you play an Am chord. Or don't play the Flatt run with all down strokes.
It might be because of my bluegrass roots, but I've always seen the dreadnaught as more of a lead instrument. When I think of a dreadnaught player, I think of Tony Rice, Clarence White, Bryan Sutton, and Norman Blake. When I think of a jumbo player, I think of Emmylou Harris or Lyle Lovett, basically a front person strumming chords.
It probably is just my bluegrass background, though. Bluegrass players look at you funny if you don't use a dreadnaught. Or if you play an Am chord. Or don't play the Flatt run with all down strokes.
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beaubrummels
Well-known member
Re: Jumbo vs Dreadnaught ACoustic.
You are correct, but the reason those folks make it work is the microphone and mic preamp, not the guitar. I came to my opinion running the two different guitars through the same mic and preamp and trying to mix them with other instruments, in particular at least one other electric guitar.
The Jumbo having bass and treble and the Dread having mids intuitively makes some sense using Jumbo as scooped rhythm and Dread as punchy lead. But using the same mic and amp, the Dread style didn't have enough character and life while a Jumbo contained so much musical information and projected the intimate articulation of the fingers that, in my experience, made me think it should be used when acoustic is the primary sound.
You say TOE-MAY-TOE, I say TOE-MAH-TOE.
You are correct, but the reason those folks make it work is the microphone and mic preamp, not the guitar. I came to my opinion running the two different guitars through the same mic and preamp and trying to mix them with other instruments, in particular at least one other electric guitar.
The Jumbo having bass and treble and the Dread having mids intuitively makes some sense using Jumbo as scooped rhythm and Dread as punchy lead. But using the same mic and amp, the Dread style didn't have enough character and life while a Jumbo contained so much musical information and projected the intimate articulation of the fingers that, in my experience, made me think it should be used when acoustic is the primary sound.
You say TOE-MAY-TOE, I say TOE-MAH-TOE.
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Matt42
New member
Re: Jumbo vs Dreadnaught ACoustic.
Most of the time I'd rather gig with a slope shoulder jumbo like my AJ-500 than a dreadnaught. I love mine whether it's miced, plugged in, or just playing in a living room.
Most of the time I'd rather gig with a slope shoulder jumbo like my AJ-500 than a dreadnaught. I love mine whether it's miced, plugged in, or just playing in a living room.
Aceman
I am your doctor of love!
Re: Jumbo vs Dreadnaught ACoustic.
I'm looking for a new sing/strum solo instrument is why I am asking.
Not digging some of the shape/size/looks of Jumbos. And digging the tone opt the dread - but as you say miss that may be it. More like my Ovation. And more like the D-28 model I like.
I'm looking for a new sing/strum solo instrument is why I am asking.
Not digging some of the shape/size/looks of Jumbos. And digging the tone opt the dread - but as you say miss that may be it. More like my Ovation. And more like the D-28 model I like.
GuitarStv
Sock Market Trader
Re: Jumbo vs Dreadnaught ACoustic.
Jumbos tend to sound a bit bassier to me. They feel more comfortable against the body and look nicer IMO. The smaller bodied acoustics (000) tend to get the nicest tones the easiest when I'm recording, but I've never tried live playing with them.
Jumbos tend to sound a bit bassier to me. They feel more comfortable against the body and look nicer IMO. The smaller bodied acoustics (000) tend to get the nicest tones the easiest when I'm recording, but I've never tried live playing with them.
Aceman
I am your doctor of love!
DrNewcenstein
He Did the Monster Mash
That90'sGuy
DyzaBoyzologist
Re: Jumbo vs Dreadnaught ACoustic.
Yeah, a Hummingbird is a dreadnaught, not a jumbo.
That said, when I think of a lead instrument, the smaller body "00-" and "000-" series instruments come to mind. When I think of rhythm, I kinda put jumbo and dreadnaughts in the same camp there. I've always thought of jumbo guitars as more of a mid scooped thing with a perceived bass and treble extension vs. the dreadnaughts that seem more balanced, but I haven't played either in a while (I own (2) 000s).
Yeah, a Hummingbird is a dreadnaught, not a jumbo.
That said, when I think of a lead instrument, the smaller body "00-" and "000-" series instruments come to mind. When I think of rhythm, I kinda put jumbo and dreadnaughts in the same camp there. I've always thought of jumbo guitars as more of a mid scooped thing with a perceived bass and treble extension vs. the dreadnaughts that seem more balanced, but I haven't played either in a while (I own (2) 000s).
