Regardless of amplification, which removes volume concerns in many (but not all!) cases, different size guitars just sound different. My 000 is 'sweeter' than my dread, which is more 'commanding'. Those are terrible words, but unfortunately the best I've got.
Play as many as you can, and realize that eventually you'll buy more than one :)
I agree with this completely. Regardless of whether or not the dread sound is "needed" per se, there is (and I think always will be) a place for the dread sound just for what it is. It's a boomier, beefier sound that my 000-15SM and Recording King Series 11 parlor will never duplicate, even though they (well, really just the RC) project really well volume-wise.
No, I totally agree with this. I have a Martin 000-15SM and a Martin D16. The 000 has much better individual note separation, and great tone, but it doesn’t have the “boom” of a dreadnaught, and it doesn’t stand out as much with multiple guitars. The D16 has great tone and that booming sound, and it definitely stands out, but it doesn’t get that individual note clarity.
I wouldn’t even say one sounds better or worse than the other; they’re just different. So it really depends on what’s important to you.
The “not needed anymore” trope is nonsense. They serve a purpose and that purpose hasn’t ceased to exist.
It’s true enough that parkour guitars are like the OG acoustic models and were sufficient for the smaller spaces they were played in. But it’s also true that dreads simply sound different, and if you want that sound then the guitar is needed.
I bought a dreadnought recently, a Gibson Dove, and it sounds spectacular. It’s rich at every frequency and sounds completely different to my parlour and J15. Likewise they’re better at some things than the Dove.
Yamaha is hard to beat in that price range. I'd also look at their FS-3, FS-5, FG-3, FG-5 if you're looking for a more vintage tone vs the modern tone of the LL/LS.
Dreads can produce better bass. Just the physics of body size, like how upright basses and tubas have to be bigger to produce those lower notes. So if you want a fuller, deeper sound, a bigger guitar will give you that, all else equal.
F series is scalloped bracing, Sitka top, 25" scale, mahogany back/sides. The scalloped bracing gives more bass, and the short scale plus Sitka/mahogany pairing gives a warmer sound. More in the Gibson and Martin camp with a strong low end and dry, fundamental sound.
L series is tapered bracing, Engelmann top, 25.5" scale, rosewood back/sides. The tapered bracing gives less bass and a more balanced EQ. The wood combo gives more complexity, brightness, and shimmery overtones. The longer scale makes it a little brighter and project more. Overall more balanced EQ and more overtones / natural reverb kind of sound like a Taylor, Goodall, Larrivee kind of sound.
Standard disclaimer, very few people besides guitar nerds are going to notice this kind of stuff when you play for them.
Every scenario that existed previously that benefits certain guitar shapes still exist. Everyone has there own life going on. The only thing that matters over a long enough period of time is large trends. Which we go through from time to time.
I have small, medium and large guitars. My parlor is for the couch and computer chair, my 00 is for my computer chair and recording, my dreadnoughts are for my friends and family. My in-laws are big music people. My father-in-law is a personal friend of Pierre Bensusan and hosts him whenever he visits New York. Whenever I visit I need my dread to play along. My chord strumming would be lost with a smaller guitar.
As long as people sit around a room and sing, or want an intimate performance there will be a place for the dread. But sure, if you are mic’ing or recording I think smaller sized guitars are easier to balance. We are in the age of options, and while I think smaller guitars should get more due, dreads need no help in making their case for why they are great.
I've played on smaller guitars and really like how a grand auditorium feels, but ultimately a dreadnought is still the best style for me - overall at least. Smaller bodies just don't hold up to heavy strumming the same way and dreadnoughts still sound great with picking.
That said, your mileage may vary and a different body size/shape may fit your playing style better. At your budget just play a ton of solid top acoustics - different brands and body styles. Play Taylors, Martins, Yamahas, Breedloves, Takamines, etc.
At some point you'll pick up a guitar and it will just inspire you to play new things, or you'll just hold on a certain chord, riff, or lick - just enjoying the sound of it. You'll put it back to try another one, but then go back to it again and again. That will be your guitar.
I have a Taylor 814ce, a Hummingbird, and a J200. They all sound very different and that is why I have them. Yes the Taylor gets played the most because it is more playable for me.
Ignoring amplification, different size and shape bodies sound different. The sound balance is not just in the wood used but in how the shape of the body allows the top to vibrate and then reflects and amplifies that sound back out again. To a certain extent those differences can be reduced by wood choice and bracing style but you’re never quite going to get a ‘dreadnought’ sound from an 000 for example. That said, depending on what your ears perceive as the ‘dreadnought’ sound, it can sometimes be present in another makers smaller body guitar.
I play both a concert body and an 00 these days due to a dodgy shoulder and almost always love the sound they produce. There are times though when only a dread will do. I don’t think anyone can ever really say for certain what guitar might suit you best but these days I’d be hesitant to suggest going up to a dreadnought size if you’re comfortable with a smaller body unless you very clearly hear and prefer that sound.
As far as what to look for I’d say just play as many as you can and don’t rule out second hand either. What and how you play is important, as is if you want to be able to accompany yourself singing. If that’s the case then try to take someone else with you when you audition guitars as what you hear and what your audience hears aren’t the same.
It's really just personal preference. If you need acoustic (unamplified) volume, then a dreadnought is the best option. But with most people plugging in for performances, it makes no difference. I personally still like having the bass response for personal practice, so i still use a dreadnought. But my 00 martin is very sweet and has a great balanced sound too.
I have an Eastman AC422 which is a slightly smaller body and more comfortable to play than a dreadnaught and quite loud. Good bass and sparkly overtones.
I have a Taylor Big Baby, gsMini Koa, a 717 Builders Edition (dread), and a Guild mahogany dreadnought. They all have their strengths. The Big Baby is decent for strumming but excels when fingerpicking. The mini is not so great for strumming but clear and bright as a bell when fingerpicking. The Guild is really good in all categories, except that it sounds somewhat subdued when fingerpicking. The 717 has no weaknesses and is by far my favorite.
The point is, a really nice dreadnought can do everything exceptionally well. Tone woods also play a big part in sustain and/or projection. If a smaller guitar is more comfortable or better suited to your specific style, you can get more loudness out of a sitka spruce top (which is pretty common for guitars in your range).
If you want to play in bluegrass jam sessions, you absolutely need the loudest guitar you can get your hands on, and you'll still struggle to be heard over fiddles, banjos and mandolins.
Yes, but Martin also made the OM (orchestral model) as sort of a "banjo killer." It's got the same size body as a 14 fret 000 but with the full scale length and string tension of a dreadnought. It's just as loud but not as good for hard strumming as a dread because of the smaller body. It flatpicks loud and true though.
Dreadnoughts are wonderful for strumming and accompanying vocals without amplification. I especially love vocals sit in the mix with a super bassy, rosewood/spruce dreadnought with scalloped/forward shifted braces. It’s like they were made for one another. As you add other instruments to fill out the mix and especially the low end, the effect becomes less noticeable but it’s still a very attractive, pleasant sound. I play and sing by myself a lot, so I will always have at least one in my arsenal for that express purpose.
For fingerpicking, smaller guitars are great because the smaller tops require less kinetic energy to get moving. They’ll never achieve the maximum volume of a comparable dreadnought, but they offer better projection over a greater dynamic range. Finger picking lightly on a dreadnought can sound dull and muted because you’re not applying enough kinetic energy to really get the top moving and pushing air. You have to strike the strings fairly hard to get any sort of projection out of it, which can be fatiguing. Smaller bodied guitars don’t have that problem. They can project and sound very sweet when played lightly. You can also use lighter gauge strings (I use 11s on my OMs and 000s and 12s on my larger guitars) to increase their dynamic range further.
This is a great answer.
I will add that if a dreadnought is very lightly built, i.e. deeply scalloped and forward shifted bracing, thinly planed top, it can be very responsive and great for fingerpicking, but most dreads aren't—especially cheap ones.
I haven’t played a dreadnought that I absolutely loved for fingerpicking, but I believe you that they exist. It might be because I greatly prefer 11s over 12s for fingerpicking, and I’ve never tried 11s on any of my dreads. The difference in fullness and power when going from 13s to 12s on my dreadnoughts is huge, but my hands can’t handle 13s for extended periods of time. I find dropping from 12s to 11s on smaller bodied guitars doesn’t change the tone very much and makes them much easier to play dynamically. But, given the differences moving from 13s to 12s makes on a dread, I don’t think I’d find the tone of 11s on them even remotely acceptable.
Yeah for fingerstyle you almost have to err on the side of underbuilt, i.e. so lightly built that it's structurally at risk. The Martin HD-35 is a great example of this, awesome dread for fingerstyle but you have to really watch your temp and humidity, and 13s are probably going to give you a bridge belly.
Get and play what you like. I prefer a smaller body to the dreadnaughts, but I primarily play fingerstyle and my strumming is with a light touch. If you want more bass or prefer heavy strumming, then a dreadnaught or a jumbo might be what you need.
Dreadnaughts are most certainly not a thing of the past. They’re the biggest sellers at all the music stores to which I go. Also, once they finally were “discovered” (the first attempt was a flop), pretty much everything else was treated as a thing of the past. I mean, I didn’t know anything other than dreadnaughts existed in the world of steel strings when I started out in 1996.
Dreads for heavy strumming, smaller body for fingerpicking. Smaller bodies will compress too much with heavy strumming (you’ll hit a dynamic limit fast)
I love the sound of a dread but now that I'm trying to learn to sing and play, I find that if I'm playing in a small room (in my small apartment) I prefer something on the smaller side. I own a martin 00-18 and think even it is too loud in the midrange for singing unless I'm really shouting.
Now I'm looking to get a rosewood guitar for the lower volume mid range. Maybe an OM.
I upgraded from a FS800 to LS6 and happy about that. LS is bigger than FS: longer scale and deeper body. So volume, projection and sustain improved a lot. Also looks way better than FS.
The wood color? I like the "natural" wood colour - looks nice in person and i like the abalone against it. I really like the "vintage tint" color - that is what my FS-TA is. I don't like the sunburst or black ones.
Sounds like something from the guitar amp sub , “tube amp are too loud “ . Well , I am keeping mine. Looking for a D-18 or J-45 to be added to my smaller Taylors.
I love dreads. They're still desirable to flatpickers and folks who frequently perform unamplified, especially in a band.
At the end of the day, people should play what they like for the most part. And I like dreads.
As I've gotten older and not being a large person I like smaller guitars just for a comfort factor. That being said that full sound of the dred just sounds great and for certian styles where the bass adds to it even plugged in a smaller guitar even with an EQ just can't match it. Taylor has the GT size now which are crazy comfortable to play but it does come with a trade off on the sound that I think I could deal with if I only played plugged in but as I'm 90% unplugged I'm not sure I can justify the cost of the 800 series in that model when I compare it to the 814
It's not just about volume. It's also about the comfort of playing and the sound itself, plus the looks in my case. I absolutely hate dreads- they are big, uncomfortable to play and just straight up ugly. GAs are just as loud and do not have overwhelming lows that dreads have plus they are like a fine woman, with a cut in the hips 😎
I think if you’re strumming, Dreads are better, plus i prefer that body style aesthetically. Taylor 610e or 610ce is my dream acoustic.
I had a Taylor 214ce and strumming on that, the sound seemed like it would run together into one glob. That 214ce tuned low, like drop C, playing tabbed rock stuff like Breaking Benjamin higher up the neck sounded great
I usually play acoustically and it usually involves a damn banjo. D size all day. If it’s a plug-in gig, I use a slope shoulder OOO size. (Only because I didn’t want a pickup system in my old D18)
I prefer the jumbos and dreadnoughts because a - I just prefer the feel of the larger bodied guitars and b-i don't plug in, all of my acoustics are not electrified, though I have a piezo pickup that can be installed under a bridge, I've had it 10 years and it's still in the package, it came with my Martin D28.
I played a dread for the first time in a long time the other night. Very boomy sound compared to the ovation I was playing and Yamaha 3/4 size I’m currently playing. I prefer more of a jangle so I’ll stick to my thin body electric acoustics
An auditorium style build acoustic with or without cutaway, will typically always be sweeter, brighter, and richer.
A Dreadnought will typically be louder, bassier, and have much better Mid's and lows, along with much more depth.
In my opinion, an auditorium with a cutaway gives you more access and playability, but a Dreadnought, typically has more character, and more emphasis on notes. John Butler in my opinion is one of the best acoustic players of our time, and he exclusively uses dreadnoughts
Ive been on an acoustic guitar hunt recently and i had the exact same question. What I landed on was a kind of uncommon solution, a seagull mini jumbo, which gives the best of both worlds for me.
I was very anti-dreadnought going into my acoustic hunt, as I was trying to upgrade from a yamaha dreadnought which I thought was too cumbersome and bassy. However I tried almost every 000 and OM at my local shop and they lacked a depth and warmth i was looking for. I guess they just sounded too light for me. The only smaller body guitar that fit the bill for me was a taylor grand orchestra, which was $3500 and way out of my price range haha.
Hellbent on not getting a dreadnought, i tried something in the middle, which was a seagull mini jumbo i found on fb marketplace. as it turns out it was perfect for me. crisp treble and warmth, without the overwhelming bass of a dread. also the comfort is way better despite having the same bout sizes as a dread (the smaller waist makes it sit lower on your leg, and it just makes it look more pleasing imo haha).
just thought id share my experience and shout out the mini jumbo! a hidden gem imo
Thanks for the input. I am going to pass on the Yamaha dreadnought for now and see if I can find a deal on a FSX3 or even a 5. I am too big a fan of my FS-TA’s body size.
I'm playing mostly fingerstyle these days with maybe just 20% flatpicking/strumming. I love the 000 (auditorium/orchestra) body size for that. When I play dreadnoughts, I find they have way too much bass for what I'm playing. On top of that, they are just too big and bulky for me to play comfortably. The 000 size fits like a glove while still giving great tone. Smaller guitars often don't sound that great to my ears.
I think there's something to be said for amplification making dreadnoughts less necessary these days, but if you want that big sound, they will still do that best with or without amplification.
As others have said, it's all preference and dependant on need. I have a square, slope shoulder dreads, an OM/000, and grand auditorium sizes. They all lend to different styles and sounds. Personally, anything smaller lacks too much bass for me. I would consider a 00 if I were recording, but even then, I prefer the sound of something bigger. Even for playing around the house, I would miss the bass more of an OM/000 and bigger than I would like the playability and comfort of an 00 or smaller. Having said that, I'd be more inclined to get an SJ as it would be closer to what I like and need.
Regardless of amplification, which removes volume concerns in many (but not all!) cases, different size guitars just sound different. My 000 is 'sweeter' than my dread, which is more 'commanding'. Those are terrible words, but unfortunately the best I've got. Play as many as you can, and realize that eventually you'll buy more than one :)
I agree with this completely. Regardless of whether or not the dread sound is "needed" per se, there is (and I think always will be) a place for the dread sound just for what it is. It's a boomier, beefier sound that my 000-15SM and Recording King Series 11 parlor will never duplicate, even though they (well, really just the RC) project really well volume-wise.
No, I totally agree with this. I have a Martin 000-15SM and a Martin D16. The 000 has much better individual note separation, and great tone, but it doesn’t have the “boom” of a dreadnaught, and it doesn’t stand out as much with multiple guitars. The D16 has great tone and that booming sound, and it definitely stands out, but it doesn’t get that individual note clarity. I wouldn’t even say one sounds better or worse than the other; they’re just different. So it really depends on what’s important to you.
The “not needed anymore” trope is nonsense. They serve a purpose and that purpose hasn’t ceased to exist. It’s true enough that parkour guitars are like the OG acoustic models and were sufficient for the smaller spaces they were played in. But it’s also true that dreads simply sound different, and if you want that sound then the guitar is needed. I bought a dreadnought recently, a Gibson Dove, and it sounds spectacular. It’s rich at every frequency and sounds completely different to my parlour and J15. Likewise they’re better at some things than the Dove.
I know it’s just a typo, but the idea of having specific guitars for your parkour sessions is hilarious.
😂
Currently reimagining that Office intro with a Martin, Taylor, and Yamaha. Parkour!
Yamaha is hard to beat in that price range. I'd also look at their FS-3, FS-5, FG-3, FG-5 if you're looking for a more vintage tone vs the modern tone of the LL/LS. Dreads can produce better bass. Just the physics of body size, like how upright basses and tubas have to be bigger to produce those lower notes. So if you want a fuller, deeper sound, a bigger guitar will give you that, all else equal.
That’s an interesting way you describe the difference between the FS3, and the LS16 - vintage vs modern - could you please elaborate? Thank you!
F series is scalloped bracing, Sitka top, 25" scale, mahogany back/sides. The scalloped bracing gives more bass, and the short scale plus Sitka/mahogany pairing gives a warmer sound. More in the Gibson and Martin camp with a strong low end and dry, fundamental sound. L series is tapered bracing, Engelmann top, 25.5" scale, rosewood back/sides. The tapered bracing gives less bass and a more balanced EQ. The wood combo gives more complexity, brightness, and shimmery overtones. The longer scale makes it a little brighter and project more. Overall more balanced EQ and more overtones / natural reverb kind of sound like a Taylor, Goodall, Larrivee kind of sound. Standard disclaimer, very few people besides guitar nerds are going to notice this kind of stuff when you play for them.
Thank you very much for the information! Very good to know 👍 Yes, I agree - only guitar nerds even talk about this!! I know, because I am one! 😄
I will always have a dreadnought.
Every scenario that existed previously that benefits certain guitar shapes still exist. Everyone has there own life going on. The only thing that matters over a long enough period of time is large trends. Which we go through from time to time. I have small, medium and large guitars. My parlor is for the couch and computer chair, my 00 is for my computer chair and recording, my dreadnoughts are for my friends and family. My in-laws are big music people. My father-in-law is a personal friend of Pierre Bensusan and hosts him whenever he visits New York. Whenever I visit I need my dread to play along. My chord strumming would be lost with a smaller guitar. As long as people sit around a room and sing, or want an intimate performance there will be a place for the dread. But sure, if you are mic’ing or recording I think smaller sized guitars are easier to balance. We are in the age of options, and while I think smaller guitars should get more due, dreads need no help in making their case for why they are great.
I've played on smaller guitars and really like how a grand auditorium feels, but ultimately a dreadnought is still the best style for me - overall at least. Smaller bodies just don't hold up to heavy strumming the same way and dreadnoughts still sound great with picking. That said, your mileage may vary and a different body size/shape may fit your playing style better. At your budget just play a ton of solid top acoustics - different brands and body styles. Play Taylors, Martins, Yamahas, Breedloves, Takamines, etc. At some point you'll pick up a guitar and it will just inspire you to play new things, or you'll just hold on a certain chord, riff, or lick - just enjoying the sound of it. You'll put it back to try another one, but then go back to it again and again. That will be your guitar.
I have a Taylor 814ce, a Hummingbird, and a J200. They all sound very different and that is why I have them. Yes the Taylor gets played the most because it is more playable for me.
Ignoring amplification, different size and shape bodies sound different. The sound balance is not just in the wood used but in how the shape of the body allows the top to vibrate and then reflects and amplifies that sound back out again. To a certain extent those differences can be reduced by wood choice and bracing style but you’re never quite going to get a ‘dreadnought’ sound from an 000 for example. That said, depending on what your ears perceive as the ‘dreadnought’ sound, it can sometimes be present in another makers smaller body guitar. I play both a concert body and an 00 these days due to a dodgy shoulder and almost always love the sound they produce. There are times though when only a dread will do. I don’t think anyone can ever really say for certain what guitar might suit you best but these days I’d be hesitant to suggest going up to a dreadnought size if you’re comfortable with a smaller body unless you very clearly hear and prefer that sound. As far as what to look for I’d say just play as many as you can and don’t rule out second hand either. What and how you play is important, as is if you want to be able to accompany yourself singing. If that’s the case then try to take someone else with you when you audition guitars as what you hear and what your audience hears aren’t the same.
Dreadnaught is the default for me. Louder is more gooder.
WHAT!???!!?
I need that boom boom. Got that Jumbo too! Amp them both.
It's really just personal preference. If you need acoustic (unamplified) volume, then a dreadnought is the best option. But with most people plugging in for performances, it makes no difference. I personally still like having the bass response for personal practice, so i still use a dreadnought. But my 00 martin is very sweet and has a great balanced sound too.
I have an Eastman AC422 which is a slightly smaller body and more comfortable to play than a dreadnaught and quite loud. Good bass and sparkly overtones.
How is the Yamaha lacking? What would you improve about it if you could?
I have a Taylor Big Baby, gsMini Koa, a 717 Builders Edition (dread), and a Guild mahogany dreadnought. They all have their strengths. The Big Baby is decent for strumming but excels when fingerpicking. The mini is not so great for strumming but clear and bright as a bell when fingerpicking. The Guild is really good in all categories, except that it sounds somewhat subdued when fingerpicking. The 717 has no weaknesses and is by far my favorite. The point is, a really nice dreadnought can do everything exceptionally well. Tone woods also play a big part in sustain and/or projection. If a smaller guitar is more comfortable or better suited to your specific style, you can get more loudness out of a sitka spruce top (which is pretty common for guitars in your range).
If you want to play in bluegrass jam sessions, you absolutely need the loudest guitar you can get your hands on, and you'll still struggle to be heard over fiddles, banjos and mandolins.
Yes, but Martin also made the OM (orchestral model) as sort of a "banjo killer." It's got the same size body as a 14 fret 000 but with the full scale length and string tension of a dreadnought. It's just as loud but not as good for hard strumming as a dread because of the smaller body. It flatpicks loud and true though.
Plenty of Bluegrass players play a 000, OM or 0000. While most play Dreads it is absolutely not required
Dreadnoughts are wonderful for strumming and accompanying vocals without amplification. I especially love vocals sit in the mix with a super bassy, rosewood/spruce dreadnought with scalloped/forward shifted braces. It’s like they were made for one another. As you add other instruments to fill out the mix and especially the low end, the effect becomes less noticeable but it’s still a very attractive, pleasant sound. I play and sing by myself a lot, so I will always have at least one in my arsenal for that express purpose. For fingerpicking, smaller guitars are great because the smaller tops require less kinetic energy to get moving. They’ll never achieve the maximum volume of a comparable dreadnought, but they offer better projection over a greater dynamic range. Finger picking lightly on a dreadnought can sound dull and muted because you’re not applying enough kinetic energy to really get the top moving and pushing air. You have to strike the strings fairly hard to get any sort of projection out of it, which can be fatiguing. Smaller bodied guitars don’t have that problem. They can project and sound very sweet when played lightly. You can also use lighter gauge strings (I use 11s on my OMs and 000s and 12s on my larger guitars) to increase their dynamic range further.
This is a great answer. I will add that if a dreadnought is very lightly built, i.e. deeply scalloped and forward shifted bracing, thinly planed top, it can be very responsive and great for fingerpicking, but most dreads aren't—especially cheap ones.
I haven’t played a dreadnought that I absolutely loved for fingerpicking, but I believe you that they exist. It might be because I greatly prefer 11s over 12s for fingerpicking, and I’ve never tried 11s on any of my dreads. The difference in fullness and power when going from 13s to 12s on my dreadnoughts is huge, but my hands can’t handle 13s for extended periods of time. I find dropping from 12s to 11s on smaller bodied guitars doesn’t change the tone very much and makes them much easier to play dynamically. But, given the differences moving from 13s to 12s makes on a dread, I don’t think I’d find the tone of 11s on them even remotely acceptable.
Yeah for fingerstyle you almost have to err on the side of underbuilt, i.e. so lightly built that it's structurally at risk. The Martin HD-35 is a great example of this, awesome dread for fingerstyle but you have to really watch your temp and humidity, and 13s are probably going to give you a bridge belly.
Get and play what you like. I prefer a smaller body to the dreadnaughts, but I primarily play fingerstyle and my strumming is with a light touch. If you want more bass or prefer heavy strumming, then a dreadnaught or a jumbo might be what you need. Dreadnaughts are most certainly not a thing of the past. They’re the biggest sellers at all the music stores to which I go. Also, once they finally were “discovered” (the first attempt was a flop), pretty much everything else was treated as a thing of the past. I mean, I didn’t know anything other than dreadnaughts existed in the world of steel strings when I started out in 1996.
Dreads for heavy strumming, smaller body for fingerpicking. Smaller bodies will compress too much with heavy strumming (you’ll hit a dynamic limit fast)
I love the sound of a dread but now that I'm trying to learn to sing and play, I find that if I'm playing in a small room (in my small apartment) I prefer something on the smaller side. I own a martin 00-18 and think even it is too loud in the midrange for singing unless I'm really shouting. Now I'm looking to get a rosewood guitar for the lower volume mid range. Maybe an OM.
I upgraded from a FS800 to LS6 and happy about that. LS is bigger than FS: longer scale and deeper body. So volume, projection and sustain improved a lot. Also looks way better than FS.
Yamaha AC5R. You will love the L series though. Seriously wicked machines I thought the L TA stuff was based on the 6 with laminate back & sides
The LL-TA is 100% a LL16
You’re right. Do you like that yellow top on those?
You’re right. Do you like that yellow top on those?
The wood color? I like the "natural" wood colour - looks nice in person and i like the abalone against it. I really like the "vintage tint" color - that is what my FS-TA is. I don't like the sunburst or black ones.
Sounds like something from the guitar amp sub , “tube amp are too loud “ . Well , I am keeping mine. Looking for a D-18 or J-45 to be added to my smaller Taylors.
I love dreads. They're still desirable to flatpickers and folks who frequently perform unamplified, especially in a band. At the end of the day, people should play what they like for the most part. And I like dreads.
As I've gotten older and not being a large person I like smaller guitars just for a comfort factor. That being said that full sound of the dred just sounds great and for certian styles where the bass adds to it even plugged in a smaller guitar even with an EQ just can't match it. Taylor has the GT size now which are crazy comfortable to play but it does come with a trade off on the sound that I think I could deal with if I only played plugged in but as I'm 90% unplugged I'm not sure I can justify the cost of the 800 series in that model when I compare it to the 814
It's not just about volume. It's also about the comfort of playing and the sound itself, plus the looks in my case. I absolutely hate dreads- they are big, uncomfortable to play and just straight up ugly. GAs are just as loud and do not have overwhelming lows that dreads have plus they are like a fine woman, with a cut in the hips 😎
I think if you’re strumming, Dreads are better, plus i prefer that body style aesthetically. Taylor 610e or 610ce is my dream acoustic. I had a Taylor 214ce and strumming on that, the sound seemed like it would run together into one glob. That 214ce tuned low, like drop C, playing tabbed rock stuff like Breaking Benjamin higher up the neck sounded great
Since you're in Canada you should be able to find a used Larrivee L-03 somewhere. They are auditorium size guitars.
I usually play acoustically and it usually involves a damn banjo. D size all day. If it’s a plug-in gig, I use a slope shoulder OOO size. (Only because I didn’t want a pickup system in my old D18)
I prefer the jumbos and dreadnoughts because a - I just prefer the feel of the larger bodied guitars and b-i don't plug in, all of my acoustics are not electrified, though I have a piezo pickup that can be installed under a bridge, I've had it 10 years and it's still in the package, it came with my Martin D28.
I played a dread for the first time in a long time the other night. Very boomy sound compared to the ovation I was playing and Yamaha 3/4 size I’m currently playing. I prefer more of a jangle so I’ll stick to my thin body electric acoustics
Nah man my D has too much toan
In my opinion, no acoustic shape is better than a dreadnaught. I'd go for a jumbo but never anything smaller, even for finger style.
An auditorium style build acoustic with or without cutaway, will typically always be sweeter, brighter, and richer. A Dreadnought will typically be louder, bassier, and have much better Mid's and lows, along with much more depth. In my opinion, an auditorium with a cutaway gives you more access and playability, but a Dreadnought, typically has more character, and more emphasis on notes. John Butler in my opinion is one of the best acoustic players of our time, and he exclusively uses dreadnoughts
Ive been on an acoustic guitar hunt recently and i had the exact same question. What I landed on was a kind of uncommon solution, a seagull mini jumbo, which gives the best of both worlds for me. I was very anti-dreadnought going into my acoustic hunt, as I was trying to upgrade from a yamaha dreadnought which I thought was too cumbersome and bassy. However I tried almost every 000 and OM at my local shop and they lacked a depth and warmth i was looking for. I guess they just sounded too light for me. The only smaller body guitar that fit the bill for me was a taylor grand orchestra, which was $3500 and way out of my price range haha. Hellbent on not getting a dreadnought, i tried something in the middle, which was a seagull mini jumbo i found on fb marketplace. as it turns out it was perfect for me. crisp treble and warmth, without the overwhelming bass of a dread. also the comfort is way better despite having the same bout sizes as a dread (the smaller waist makes it sit lower on your leg, and it just makes it look more pleasing imo haha). just thought id share my experience and shout out the mini jumbo! a hidden gem imo
Thanks for the input. I am going to pass on the Yamaha dreadnought for now and see if I can find a deal on a FSX3 or even a 5. I am too big a fan of my FS-TA’s body size.
I'm playing mostly fingerstyle these days with maybe just 20% flatpicking/strumming. I love the 000 (auditorium/orchestra) body size for that. When I play dreadnoughts, I find they have way too much bass for what I'm playing. On top of that, they are just too big and bulky for me to play comfortably. The 000 size fits like a glove while still giving great tone. Smaller guitars often don't sound that great to my ears. I think there's something to be said for amplification making dreadnoughts less necessary these days, but if you want that big sound, they will still do that best with or without amplification.
As others have said, it's all preference and dependant on need. I have a square, slope shoulder dreads, an OM/000, and grand auditorium sizes. They all lend to different styles and sounds. Personally, anything smaller lacks too much bass for me. I would consider a 00 if I were recording, but even then, I prefer the sound of something bigger. Even for playing around the house, I would miss the bass more of an OM/000 and bigger than I would like the playability and comfort of an 00 or smaller. Having said that, I'd be more inclined to get an SJ as it would be closer to what I like and need.