What body size would be right for me?

[JnBroadbent]

Could someone possibly describe the tonal differences of dreads, auditorium, jumbo, and concert? I guess you could say I have alot of interests in playing styles but have not yet delved into very many considering I am returning to the acoustic after almost have a decade of not focusing on it.

 

I did some searching but couldn't find anything relevant to my question. Thanks!

 

[DonK]

I'm half reluctant to tackle this one, because there are so many exceptions to every generalization that can be made about the different body sizes. Also, the terms aren't completely standardized. For example, a jumbo implies a certain shape, but not every maker uses the same dimensions as to depth, upper and lower bout widths, body length, etc.

 

With that caveat, the general ideas that larger guitars like dreads and jumbos will be louder and have more pronounced bass. Auditorium and concert guitars will frequently have a more even tonal response accross the strings and, often, more sustain. But things like wood combinations, bracing, scale length all affect sound, so a given auditorium might sound more like a stereotypical dread and vice versa.

 

Another generalization is that fingerstyle players often prefer auditorium and concert guitars, while flatpickers and strummers prefer dreads and jumbos. But things like neck profile, fretboard width (at the nut and saddle), and scale length are as apt to affect the choice as is body size.

 

You say you play a variety of styles, but what do you play predominately? If you do a lot of flatpicking and heavy strumming, you'd probably be better off with dreadnought, but one that's been selected to sound good when played fingerstyle as well. If you mostly fingerpick, you might lean toward an auditorium or concert size guitar with a 1.75" nut width.

 

Go try out a bunch at a store; you can have fun while you search.

[Cripes]

What DonK said, read twice.

[Oldskool Texas]

I read this and agree with it as a basic assessment of the tone differences:

"Small bodies tend to favor the midrange and treble and are easier to hold (especially when sitting down). In contrast, large bodies have more bass response. Thus, large guitar bodies, especially the dreadnought, are favored by solo strummers for their infamous boom 'n twang. A cutaway on the upper bout allows easy upper fret access but can reduce volume and bass response by 15% to 20%."


http://emedia.leeward.hawaii.edu/Frary/buying_an_acoustic_gtr.htm

FWIW, I have a 000-sized Martin that's really loud and punchy. I think you'll find that using Rosewood on the back and sides often bring out the bass response a bit, regardless of body dimensions.

And be aware that not all guitars of a given shape have the same depth, and this too affects tone and volume.

[eor]

eor went with the concert shape because dreads are ugly. it does what i wants it to. so maybe pick the coolest looking shape and see how you feel about that sound, and go from there.

for the record, mine is plenty loud enough for 90+% of situations, and unless you punch the guitar in the face, it doesn't "distort", but your action, strings and tuning and stuff play into that, too.

love,
eor

[guitarist21]

I guess you could say I have alot of interests in playing styles but have not yet delved into very many considering I am returning to the acoustic after almost have a decade of not focusing on it.

 

 

What styles are you interested in? Lots of strumming involved or mostly fingerpicking?

 

Ellen

[Tony Burns]

In all honesty - is go to a big GC ( even thou Im not overly fond of them - but they are fun at times ) and play one or two of each - Im going threw a " which one is best for me stage " its a toss up between a Classical and a OM. good luck !

[missedmyexit]

In all honesty - is go to a big GC ( even thou Im not overly fond of them - but they are fun at times ) and play one or two of each - Im going threw a " which one is best for me stage " its a toss up between a Classical and a OM. good luck !

 

 

+1 Different guitars of the same shape and size have different sounds to them. The only way to find out which one is what you are looking for is to play as many as you can. And like Tony said the best place to do that is GC. It's always fun to go in and play other their guitars then leave and buy the guitar you decided on at the privately owned shop down the street.

[Freeman Keller]

Ditto, ditto, ditto. But for some real fun, find the page on Maury's site with sound clips of a whole bunch of Martins. Pick a tonewood - lets as 18 for mahogany, and listen to every different x-18 on the page. Then do the same thing for 28 (rosewood) - try a couple of the D-28's (dreads), OM-28 (medium sized), if the have a J-28 or M-28 or 0000-28 - that will be a jumbo, 00-28 will be a little guy. Don't compare a D-18 (hog dread) with an 000-28 (smaller bodied rose) or you'll just confuse yourself.

I've got some other links to sound clips that you can compare on another computer, and the idea of doing it yourself is golden (just make sure you are comparing apples to apples)

Hey, I just got an idea for a test......

[simplygoodmusic]

Well..

Yes, its mostly generalizations, but VERY loosly this is how it goes.

Smaller bodies tend to not on the bass at all. When fingerpicking this allows for the things to really come through, IMO.

Jumbos are even through out, but have a heavy bass, heavy mid, and heavy treble. They are great for dynamic players mostly.

Dreads, on the other hand, are bass monsters, and are therefore fantastic for that loud, full sound.

Again... I've found that on the whole its really not very true.

[Freeman Keller]

Here are some sound clip websites

http://people.hibbing.edu/~crucials/mguitar.html

http://www.maurysmusic.com/martin_guitar_video_clips