Skip to content
Different types of ...
 
Notifications
Clear all

Different types of acoustic guitars?

7 Posts
4 Users
0 Likes
780 Views
(@katmetal)
Prominent Member
Joined: 17 years ago
Posts: 726
Topic starter  

This topic recently came up between a couple of friends, & we now realize that we need some clarification.

Can y'all tell me the difference between;

1. Dreadnought Guitar.

2. Folk Guitar.

3. Classical Guitar.

4. Any other variants that I might have missed, other than the obvious "electric". I do at least know what that one is! :mrgreen:


   
Quote
(@noteboat)
Illustrious Member
Joined: 21 years ago
Posts: 4921
 

There's more than you can shake a stick at, I think.

1. Dreadnought is a size. Other sizes are called Parlor or Auditorium, Jumbo, "Standard" (which hasn't been standard since the 1800s - it's smaller than a Parlor), Jumbo, Super-Jumbo, 3/4 and 1/2. You'll find more names than those, but there are basically about five different body sizes for full-size guitars. In most of those, you can have the neck join the body at either the 12th or 14th fret, so that gives you a few more overall sizes.

2. "Folk" is two things... a generic term for any acoustic guitar, and a name for a steel (or nylon) string guitar with roller tuners. You can also find some old guitars with viola style tuning pegs... I haven't heard of a separate name for those.

3. In nylon string, you've also got flamenco. They're a lot like classical, except they're traditionally made from different wood (Cedar/cypress), and they have golpeadores - tap plates, kinda like pick guards.

4. Arch top, 12-string, dobro... then there's the ethnic ones, like the vihuela, guitarron, bajo sexto and requnito (go see a mariachi band - all those different guitars have different names!) or the Hawaiian slack key... different voices, like baritone, tenor and even soprano... crossover instruments like harp guitars... antique near-guitars like the chitarra... pseudo-antique "Renaissance" guitars - which are basically guitars with an extreme peghead angle like a lute, and a filigree soundhole insert... I'm sure I'm forgetting a whole bunch. And I'm sure there's a whole bunch more I've never heard of. And other ways to slice things - are cutaways a separate category?

Even the obvious "electric" comes in solid, hollow, and semi-hollow bodies... double neck (and more neck) combinations, and you can even find odd things like DanElectro's electric sitar :)

Guitar teacher offering lessons in Plainfield IL


   
ReplyQuote
(@katmetal)
Prominent Member
Joined: 17 years ago
Posts: 726
Topic starter  

Thanks NoteBoat!

Very interesting read; I knew there wouldn't be a "simple" answer! :lol:
The Folk Guitar definition; you mentioned the "Roller Tuners". Do you mean a "gear" tuner such as on this page - http://www.gilberttuners.com/images.html

Or are you referring to the slotted headstock with the tuner shafts set into it?


   
ReplyQuote
(@noteboat)
Illustrious Member
Joined: 21 years ago
Posts: 4921
 

I meant the ones with rollers, Kat - which is what's on the pic you posted. Most steel-string guitars using tuning posts (which stick up from the face of the peghead) instead of tuning rollers (which sit inside slots on the peghead)

Guitar teacher offering lessons in Plainfield IL


   
ReplyQuote
(@scrybe)
Famed Member
Joined: 16 years ago
Posts: 2241
 

there's also the Picasso guitar as used by Pat Metheny on youtube. weird thing.

thanks for posting Noteboat, I really liked reading about some guitars I'd never heard of before and/or forgotten about. props.

Ra Er Ga.

Ninjazz have SuperChops.

http://www.blipfoto.com/Scrybe


   
ReplyQuote
(@tinsmith)
Prominent Member
Joined: 19 years ago
Posts: 830
 

That's a harp guitar.

what about the OM guitar models......


   
ReplyQuote
(@noteboat)
Illustrious Member
Joined: 21 years ago
Posts: 4921
 

That's a harp guitar.

what about the OM guitar models......

Same as auditorium/parlor size. Like I said, there are lots of names for five basic body sizes.

Guitar teacher offering lessons in Plainfield IL


   
ReplyQuote