Acoustic Guitars

Acoustic Guitars

The acoustic guitar is an iconic instrument that has been around in its current form for hundreds of years. You've seen them around campfires, in movies and television shows, and played live by your favorite musicians. From classical to classic rock, folk to funk, flamenco to metal, you can find acoustic guitar in pretty much any genre you can think of.

When you ask someone to picture an acoustic guitar, the first thing that will come to mind is usually what is called a dreadnought. Named after British battleships of the early 20th century, the dreadnought acoustic guitar was created by Martin in the early 1900's. After initially failing to catch on, Martin reintroduced the dreadnought in the 1930s with some tweaks such as X bracing and a 14-fret neck. Because of its size, the dreadnought became an instant favorite for its ability to project more than any other acoustic instrument at the time. The dreadnought would go on to become the industry standard for steel string acoustic guitars.

Dreadnought isn’t the only acoustic body shape available. Acoustic guitars are offered in a wide variety of body shapes such as Parlor, Jumbo, Auditorium (000), Grand Auditorium, and small body/travel acoustics which have recently risen in popularity for both beginners and professional musicians. Certain manufacturers will take these basic shapes and modify them, inventing body shapes unique to their brand.

Steel string not your thing? There are many nylon string acoustic guitars for you to choose from as well. Better suited for fingerstyle players, nylon string acoustics are a great choice for genres such as classical and flamenco.

There are many different types of acoustics beyond just steel string and nylon string. You've got 12-string acoustics, baritone acoustics, acoustic-electric guitars, and even more beyond that.

Though construction methods and materials may vary slightly from model to model, the basic structure of an acoustic guitar is going to be the same. You have a body made up of a top (also known as a soundboard), back, and sides. Inside, you will find bracing designed to help the acoustic guitar project it's natural sound. Bracing materials and patterns can vary depending on the manufacturer. These building materials, or tone woods, affect the way a guitar sounds, so no two model acoustic guitars are going to sound exactly the same.

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