Body size affects... what?

[unhorizon]

What is the difference in sound between a jumbo/dreadnought type guitar and a smaller body size?

[Vasco]

In a word (or two): bottom end

 

Dreads & jumbos will tend to have a fuller, deeper ('bass') than a smaller bodied guitar (like say an OM). Some will say 'greater volume,' too, but I know a lot of smaller bodied guitars that really are surprisingly loud & articulate.

[DonK]

Small bodied guitars will typically (though not always) have better sustain, and often have a woodier sound.

[Cripes]

I had a small Larrivee OO-05 that was a cannon. It was built very lightly and could be heard very well in the mix. Though loud with great sustain, it did not have the richness of sound found in a dread or jumbo. Nor was it the best for strumming.

The concert sized guitar I have now is a much better strummer and I do not see any disadvantage between it and a dread or jumbo. It has all the tone, power, projection and sustain, if not more, of either of those body styles. So, depending on the quality of the guitar, body size and style could be a mute point.

Otherwise, typically the dread and jumbo styles do have more power and bottom end where tonewoods are the same on all three.

[Tony Burns]

Depends on the guitar , strings, wood used - I have a Martin OM-28v thats very close to volume of a dread ,( of course depends on what dread )

[larry50]

Volume, generally speaking, with exceptions of course.

[Hudman]

Smaller body guitars can be loud. Smaller body guitars tend to produce stronger mids and be more responsive to a lighter touch than dreads. Dreads tend to be loud and bass heavy. Jumbos tend to be loud and well balanced due to the small waist.

 

In my opinion, you should own at least one of each. I only own one acoustic guitar at the moment. It's a Yamaha dread. I am GAS'ing for an OM sized guitar for fingerstyle playing.