Tuesday, 29 March, 2011 17:37 Written by Joshua
In part 1, we discussed the importance of understanding guitar body shapes, models or sizes to find the best fit for your personal playing and tonal preferences. In this next section, we will continue explaining some of the most common guitar body models and how they affect the sound and tonal qualities heard. Before buying, be sure to do adequate research on acoustic guitars to ensure that you get the best entry level acoustic guitar that will suit your style, preferences and pocketbook.
Auditorium Acoustic Guitar: Moving up the scale in terms of size and sound projection is the Auditorium guitar. Though it is smaller than the Grand Auditorium, the Dreadnought and the Jumbo style guitars, it can put forth a decent amount of sound. Typically, the Auditorium and Grand Auditorium have less width and depth than the larger sizes, but the dimensions are a bit more extreme between bouts and waist. Auditorium Guitars tend to have more curvature of the waist between bouts than the Dreadnought, making the auditorium and grand auditorium ad bit easier to handle than the Dreadnought or Jumbo. Additionally, the depth of these guitars are equal to or smaller than the Dreadnought depending on the manufacturer.
Wednesday, 23 March, 2011 20:36 Written by Joshua
Before purchasing your first, your second, or your tenth guitar, it is always best to do a review of the multiple facets of the acoustic guitar to find the very best model to fit your budget and performance standards. In this simple article, we will discuss different body styles to help you understand what to look for and how the different body styles affects sound. Though some body styles are proprietary, many are universal and you can use this general process to find the right size and style for you.
Whether you are a beginner, looking to find the best entry level acoustic guitar you can find, or whether you are a more advanced player looking to deepen or refresh your knowledge to equip you to be fully informed before buying your next guitar, this report will serve as a good foundation and guide.
When going through the buying process, there is a lot to consider. If you purchase an acoustic guitar simply based off the body size or model, you may be disappointed that it does not sound similar to another that you would prefer. If you are looking to purchase within a specific budget, you should be able to find something very suitable if your are patient and do enough research and reviewing. To find the acoustic guitar that suits you best, more than 1 factor should be taken into the equation. In this article, we will not focus on the actual measurements between models, as they vary between manufacturer slightly, but the focus is to make the guitar buyer aware that there are many different body styles available and that they do affect sound and playability depending on the individual.
Monday, 21 March, 2011 13:36 Written by Joshua
how to evaluate acoustic guitars for tone, quality, playing and buyingIn the previous two articles, we discussed the importance of the tonewoods in the anatomy of the guitar body, as well as understanding the acoustic guitar anatomy for various purposes. Additionally, we talked about how different tonewoods affect the projection and sound quality of different guitars. In this article, we will share some common features and woods used in the neck and head regions, specifying the different areas of importance to help the beginner to become the best beginner guitar player possible. Whether you are a beginner, intermediate, or advance player, you will find value in understanding the composition and craftsmanship of the acoustic guitar.
The neck and head of the acoustic guitar
The neck and head of the guitar is where a lot of “player action” happens. From tuning the strings, to setting the action of the neck, to chording, lead playing and finger-tapping, the head and neck region of the acoustic guitar are equally as vital.
The neck
The neck of the guitar is long and slender, with a face that holds the fretboard, fret bars, fret markers, and the nut. The reverse side of the neck is usually curved or “V” shaped for comfort and grip, and the guitar neck comes in several scale lengths and widths, depending on the particular guitar model.
Saturday, 19 March, 2011 18:11 Written by Joshua
In the first part of this series, we learned about the importance of understanding the anatomy of he acoustic guitar, as well as different tonewoods and their “personalities” to help any guitarist find the best beginner acoustic guitar to suit their preferences and budget, without sacrificing quality. Next, we will explore more of the acoustic guitar body to be able to understand what the body is commonly made from, and how to evaluate the acoustic guitar body based on the desired tones and sound you would like to hear if upgrading or purchasing your first model.
The sides and the back of the acoustic guitar
The sides and back of the guitar are also made of tonewoods in quality guitars. In some models, composites, plastics, and laminated woods (higher quality plywood with tonewood veneers) are used, yet they are unable to replicate the finest acoustic guitar sounds that are typical of a quality acoustic guitar. Though some alternate materials can produce rich quality sounds, they will be distinctly different to the seasoned ear of a more intermediate or advanced guitar player. Some tonewoods used in fine acoustic guitars include but are certainly not limited to:
Saturday, 12 March, 2011 16:31 Written by Joshua
how to evaluate acoustic guitars for quality, playing and buyingIt’s pretty amazing, how people have been able to, over time, create and perfect masterful instruments made out of wood, bone, ivory, plastic and some steel, nylon or gut strings to produce one of the most beautiful-sounding instruments. . . the acoustic guitar.
For a beginning or intermediate guitar player, understanding the anatomy or the parts of a working acoustic guitar is important for many reasons:
In this brief overview, we will discuss the Amazing acoustic guitar and all of it’s most common anatomy to aid the new player in becoming equipped. Additionally, if you are a beginner and looking to purchase an entry level or new guitar, this will help equip you when searching to buy the best beginner guitar that you can find for your budget.
