Why the dislike for belly cut guitars?

[Gearjoneser]

I see a lot of guitar purists voicing their dislike for "belly cut" guitars, particularly models that traditionally didn't have it, such as teles or LP's.

I really like the feature, which Fender and Gibson are doing more and more on certain models, due to player requests and moving with the times.

When playing, it's nice to have a more ergonomic feel against your torso, like you have when playing a strat. I don't like the feel of a hard edge cutting in toward my stomach, although it doesn't bother me much. Still, it's an improvement, not a hindrance in any way.

I also like when the forearm area is contoured for a more comfortable contact between the body and my arm. Although, this detracts from the look of the body moreso than a hidden belly cut.

What do you think?

 

[phil_104]

Re: Why the dislike for belly cut guitars?

I rarely play sitting down, so it doesn't really matter to me, since I don't see a difference standing up (lack of belly at this point in life).

When sitting down though, I do appreciate the feel of my strat, it just kind of rests on me.

I don't see the problem either way. I see no reason to hate it, but I see no reason to have it there on a LP or Tele.

 

[uOpt]

Re: Why the dislike for belly cut guitars?

The top of the guitar is in the wrong position with a belly cut. And most guitars that have a belly cut also have flat bridges.

The ellbow cut on a Strat or a bass makes a little more sense since it positions the hand close to where it should be.

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: Why the dislike for belly cut guitars?

My last axe before a 335 was a guild bluesbird. Gawd it sounded great and played great. People always commented on how great it sounded at gigs too and kept asking what kind of axe it was. Nice arched top, nice neck angle. It resonated beautifully. Nice pickupsThe guy i sold it to said it was easily the best axe he'd ever played. Why did i sell it? A flat back and no belly cut was uncomfortable against my ribs.

 

[formula73]

Re: Why the dislike for belly cut guitars?

I don't like the way belly cuts naturally position the guitar when playing standing up. With a few exceptions, I like a neck-up sort of feel and belly cuts always make it neck-out because they're designed to be comfortable sitting. In fact, it's the belly cut that makes me dislike Strats so much. I can't get comfortable playing them standing.

 

[crusty philtrum]

Re: Why the dislike for belly cut guitars?

I can see both viewpoints, and of course we now have all manner of variations on the theme, and it's great that we have so many choices.

Personally I kinda like the traditional old guitar designs, and the feel of sitting at an instrument. I love Strats but that doesn't automatically mean I want to feel like every guitar I pick up is going to wrap around me like a blanket. I guess having played a lot of acoustic guitar makes playing any electric guitar feel quite comfortable.

I've recently moved to a new house, and haven't been able to spend much time with my guitars ... they've all been packed away. The other night I broke out my old '74 Tele Custom and started to get my hands moving again. It was all about playing and music and having fun, and not once did the comfort/lack of comfort factor even enter my head (I was sitting down, btw). I can only assume from that that I wasn't uncomfortable.

I like guitars to be what they are ... I like Tele's being the flat slab they always have been, it's what they are. I prefer Strats to be S/S/S for the same reason. I don't wish the traditional designs had better high-fret access. If i want any of those qualities there are thousands of other instruments I could play.

Plenty of legendary performances have been made on traditional, 'old-school' electric guitars, despite their percieved shortcomings. I like the sort of sense of history, although there are a few concessions I make ... for example, the original Fender fretboard radius is a bit too tight for me.

So i guess it's a matter of degrees. To me, a few degrees can be okay or even necessary, but too many degrees and it's no longer the same instrument, it starts to become it's own thing.

Maybe a classic example might be wanting a guitar that's as comfortable as a Strat but sounds like a Les Paul. I'm certain there are many guitars you can buy that are built along this idea, plus of course you could build something. But would it be a Strat or a LP ? No, it wouldn't be either, it would be it's own thing.

It's all good, we live in great times and we have great variety and choices available ... if you can dream it up, somebody out there is probably making it. Personally I like the older designs to stay pretty much the way they always have been, that way they impose themselves slightly upon me when i play them, and they differentiate themselves and are useful because of the differences. The hot-rodded versions are out there, if i ever feel the need for the heavily-modernised versions, I could raise some funds and go out and get one. So far, i haven't really felt the need.

 

[jacksontrader]

Re: Why the dislike for belly cut guitars?

When I was younger a belly cut really didn't matter, now that I'm older it's kind of important to me as it puts the guitar just where I want it. I think this is all just a matter of taste.

 

[Little Pigbacon]

Re: Why the dislike for belly cut guitars?

The Oracle of Melbourne nails it again.

 

[TheTranslator]

Re: Why the dislike for belly cut guitars?

The "mold to your body" feel is one of the reasons I play "Super-Strat" (e.g. Ibanez RG and S-series, Jackson soloist, etc, etc) guitars, since I sit most of the time I practice, although I occasional stand to get back with reality. Sitting makes playing SO easy, that it's almost disappointing at a gig where you have to stand (unless you're playing strait-up Jazz) - even with the guitar set so high it's hitting your chin mg:

 

[Diego]

Re: Why the dislike for belly cut guitars?

Because Leo Fender or Les Paul didn't do it first. If they had, nobody would complain.

I like guitars with belly/elbow cuts for the same reason I like cupholders in my cars. What's the point in not having them?

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Why the dislike for belly cut guitars?

Time to tell it like it is.

Accepting a guitar with a "belly cut" means accepting that one has a paunch. Who wants to face up to that, huh?

 

[62LeftyBlues]

Re: Why the dislike for belly cut guitars?

Didn't Fender make a belly cut Telecaster for Jeff Beck?

 

[metlking]

Re: Why the dislike for belly cut guitars?

Yeah, I knew I reached middle age and acquired the "middle age spread" when I finally grew into the belly-cut on my Stratocaster..............

 

[tonechaser]

Re: Why the dislike for belly cut guitars?

They are just a matter of taste. I tend to agree with leaving the classics alone so I build my Tele's without them but who am I to tell others what they should like or dislike? It's great to live in a time when you can get whatever you can dream up pretty much.

 

[TheLivingDead]

Re: Why the dislike for belly cut guitars?

Either or. Not a dealbreaker for me.

 

[BTMN]

Re: Why the dislike for belly cut guitars?

Either or. Not a dealbreaker for me.

Yep.

 

[macki]

Re: Why the dislike for belly cut guitars?

I just redid my tele with a tummy and forearm cut. The tummy cut isn't really a big deal to me but the lack of forearm cut was really bugging me. I really like playing my tele, but it wasn't till I started to play my other guitars a lot that I noticed what I was missing on my tele.

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: Why the dislike for belly cut guitars?

I prefer guitars without them, personally.

Fender's move doesn't matter to me, as I will never buy a new American Standard (or even a used one, probably). However, I can see how the lack of choice would be annoying. Fender already has an annoying lack of choice across the board when it comes to options.

 

[tonello]

Re: Why the dislike for belly cut guitars?

I play my guitar more at a 45 degree angle than parallel to the ground, especially standing up. When sitting, I play classical style (which is why I love V's to play sitting down), when standing it's pretty much the same angle. To me the belly cut doesn't facilitate the classical style of playing.

 

[zontar]

Re: Why the dislike for belly cut guitars?

I'm fine with or without belly cuts.
I have guitars with them, and without them.

For me, it won't detract from the guitar or be a factor in whether or not I buy the guitar--it hasn't in the past.