What do you use for fingerstyle?

kswilson89 · January 2019

Just wondering which acoustic do you use for playing fingerstyle? Do you prefer short scale or long scale? What tone woods do you prefer? Do you have any suggestions for a prospective buyer? I like the look of the 12 fret Taylors but their prices have increased significantly since I was last looking for a new acoustic a few years ago.

elkay · January 2019

Scale length and neck width do not seem to matter as much to me as neck profile (can't do a thing with chunky necks). Having said that, I do seem to incline more towards a shorter scale. Until recently, I had a Taylor 812ce 12 fret, which had loads of overtones, making chords sound lush and wonderful, but which I felt tended to swamp individual notes. I also have a Martin 000-18, which I find gives much better note definition, while still retaining a lovely bit of sparkle, probably down to the mahogany. Every time I picked up the Taylor, after a short while I felt a need to switch to the Martin. On paper, the Taylor had all the phyical attributes I like, but in practice, I just could not seem to be able to do much with it. On the other hand, for some reason I have just not been able to pin down, I can do things on the 000-18 that I can only dream of with the Taylor. Just to complicate things further, lately I have been really enjoying playing my Gibson J-45. I think what it really boils down to is that it's very much a case of each to his own. I can't even give the normal advise of trying as many guitars as you can, since, over time, I have done the same thing, and ended up with different 'best/favourite guitar' at different times.

Andy79 · January 2019

I have 0 00 000 and dreds. I would say for a light touch go smaller in size. By the time you get to dreadnaughts you really have to work hard to get the top working. 000 would be the compromise, more bass than smaller. I guess that’s why Martins 000 is such a great picker.

For or me my old Yamaha FG with muted bass is hard to beat but the skinny neck width is annoying.

As as things improve you can learn to get enough bass from a small guitar.

Im not fussed on scale. The tighter the strings the tougher your hands get. But I do like tuning down so the short Gibson scale length gets too bendy on light strings.

I have some pre war Stellas 25” ish scale 48mm nut and flat finger boards. Bloody great pickers.

also there’s a recording king copy of the nick Lucas Gibson. 1 3/4 nut with a very deep maple body. Very ‘snappy’ and slightly over built but I like it a lot. Fr

best thing is too by 10 or 15 different guitars for comparison...

Wow on what a waffle

p90fool · January 2019

My J-35 has volume, definition and projection to spare for fingerpicking, but string choice was at least as important as the guitar for me.

stickyfiddle · January 2019

Martin HD28. Mostly because it's my only acoustic, but also because it's the perfect all-rounder. Maybe a 000 or OM would be slightly better for fingerpicking specifically, but I like them less for everything else.

StuartMac290 · January 2019

My favourite fingerpicking guitars are Martin OMs, which I also really like for lead playing. Having said that, I got a Gibson Advanced Jumbo a couple of years ago that is a great fingerpicker as well as being an outstanding flat picker. The J45 shape makes for a very versatile guitar.

octatonic · January 2019

I favour a 000.

Winny_Pooh · January 2019

OM or OOO

BigLicks67 · January 2019

I don't think the size is that important. I probably look at bracing and nut width as the 2 most important factors. A lightly braced top will generally be better for fingerpicking and usually people prefer a slightly wider nut width to improve string separation, but obviously this is down to personal choice. The best sounding guitar I've got is spruce & mahogany, but I would try any permutation when looking for a new one as it mostly depends on the maker.

Bidley · January 2019

OM or 000, strung with 12s as a minimum. I find higher string tension better all round for fingerstyle. Sounds bigger too.

I don't think specific woods lend themselves to fingerstyle, it depends what sort of tone you want and what you sound like as a player.

TheBigDipper · January 2019

In the main, I like to play my Brook Taw for solo and/or fingerstyle playing. It's the nicest acoustic I have for a light touch and response. I love playing it. Spruce top, Bubinga back and sides. Trying a set of Phosphor/Bronze 11s on it, as an alternative to 12s. Slightly easier under the fingers, not decided if the tone is better or worse.

I also use a Martin 0-16NY with Silk'n'steel strings when I'm looking for that classical feeling (as I don't own a nylon string guitar). Very balanced sound but a bit dull-sounding in comparison to the Brook.

Roland · January 2019

Are we talking about home playing or performance? Are you more concerned about sound quality or ease of use?

Nowadays I don't do much acoustic playing, being too occupied with electric, so my experience of current models is limited. Like others I favoured a spruce mahogany OOO for sound, and still use a guitar of this size and shape at home. However, if I were bashing my way around folk clubs then I'd limit myself to something like a Taylor 414, or even 412.

When I bought my 414, and it must have been over 15 years ago, I was expecting to find a Martin. I played a lot of new and used guitars, even got shop staff to play them to me so that I could hear it from the audience perspective. Each time the Martin seemed too refined, whereas the Taylor rang out the upper mids that I wanted to hear. Personal preference at the time, and I guess that designs and wood choices have moved on since then.

One thing that I did want was a cut-away, or at least a neck joint at the 14th. I know that it affects the sound, but I did want access to notes up above the 12th fret.

Strings have a big impact. For my playing I find phosphor bronze have too much of a rasping edge.

bermudianbrit · January 2019

I am also a Martin guy, but I use the GPC35. A cutaway, onboard electronics, and a bit louder than a 000. I recommend it.

Phil_aka_Pip · January 2019

My go-to acoustic is the Epiphone Masterbilt archtop, about which I have raved before. Excellent instrument

EDIT: http://www.epiphone.com/products/acoustic-electric/masterbilt-zenith.aspx

It's louder if you whack it with a decent plectrum but still has a pleasing tone when you fingerpick it.

RMJ · January 2019

I use fingers for fingerstyle playing

Disclaimer...I can't play fingerstyle

ICBM · January 2019

I use a Gibson Dove. I prefer maple, both body and neck (not fingerboard!). Scale length doesn't matter, and body size much less than I thought it did... the Dove is a dreadnought. The best-sounding guitar I've ever owned for any playing style.

Modellista · January 2019

p90fool said:

My J-35 has volume, definition and projection to spare for fingerpicking, but string choice was at least as important as the guitar for me.

What strings did you settle on? I want to replace the stock strings on my new J35, not too keen on my usual Elixirs, would like to avoid the occasional crispy tone they give. But I do like a string that lasts more than a week.

Andy79 · January 2019

Have you ever tried DR sunbeams? Worth a try I really like them

heres a pretty good description of them

https://www.maurysmusic.com/dr_sunbeam_strings___todd_s_review

stickyfiddle · January 2019

ICBM said:

I use a Gibson Dove. I prefer maple, both body and neck (not fingerboard!). Scale length doesn't matter, and body size much less than I thought it did... the Dove is a dreadnought. The best-sounding guitar I've ever owned for any playing style.

Can confirm. My Dove was also amazing for fingerstyle.

Modellista · January 2019

Andy79 said:

Have you ever tried DR sunbeams? Worth a try I really like them

heres a pretty good description of them

https://www.maurysmusic.com/dr_sunbeam_strings___todd_s_review

Will give them a go. Elixirs are good for durability and don’t affect plugged-in tone, but I want something a bit more special for pure acoustic playing. Thanks.

kswilson89 · January 2019

Thanks for the suggestions everyone. Does anyone know of an alternative to the Godin Steel Duet Ambience? I'd be all over it if it wasn't for the 1.72" nut width, I prefer at least 1.75" for fingerstyle.

ToneControl · January 2019

It's worth trying some 1 7/8 inch nut guitars
They are very good for more classical guitar types of arrangements, or generally when playing lots of open strings at the same time as strings fretted much higher up the neck

ICBM · January 2019

kswilson89 said:

I prefer at least 1.75" for fingerstyle.

In that case try a Martin OM-21. That was my previous favourite fingerstyle guitar, but I couldn't get on with the 1.75" neck width and wider string spacing at the bridge.

I sold it to a friend who is a classical guitarist normally... perfect for her.

Moominpapa · January 2019

Andy79 said:

best thing is too by 10 or 15 different guitars for comparison...

I'll bet the OP is really hoping that "by" was meant to be 'try'

Andy79 · January 2019

Buy. It’s always buy. Sometimes try n buy but for me it’s usually buy then try

p90fool · January 2019

Modellista said:

p90fool said:

My J-35 has volume, definition and projection to spare for fingerpicking, but string choice was at least as important as the guitar for me.

What strings did you settle on? I want to replace the stock strings on my new J35, not too keen on my usual Elixirs, would like to avoid the occasional crispy tone they give. But I do like a string that lasts more than a week.

@Modellista that was my problem too, which Elixirs do you normally use? For general around the house use I've settled on Nanoweb PBs, they're a reasonable compromise between longevity and tone and their 80/20s were really brassy and clangy-sounding in comparison.

The strings which suited it perfectly though D'addario ej40 silk and steels, but they only last me about a fortnight. I'll certainly bung some on when I record with it though, they mellow out the J-35's tone nicely, without sounding like old, dead strings.

McSwaggerty · January 2019

I have an Eastman Parlour.
1 13/16 nut width / Short Scale / 12th Fret / Spruce/Mahogany / X Braced / Strung with 11's....
Sounds great to me.....but as a blues picker, I'm keen to try a Ladder Braced Parlour.

Andy79 · January 2019

McSwaggerty said:

I have an Eastman Parlour.
1 13/16 nut width / Short Scale / 12th Fret / Spruce/Mahogany / X Braced / Strung with 11's....
Sounds great to me.....but as a blues picker, I'm keen to try a Ladder Braced Parlour.

As a fellow blues picker you do need to try ladder bracing. They sound so dam good!

McSwaggerty · January 2019

Andy79 said:

McSwaggerty said:

I have an Eastman Parlour.
1 13/16 nut width / Short Scale / 12th Fret / Spruce/Mahogany / X Braced / Strung with 11's....
Sounds great to me.....but as a blues picker, I'm keen to try a Ladder Braced Parlour.

As a fellow blues picker you do need to try ladder bracing. They sound so dam good!

Which Guitar - any suggestions ?

Andy79 · January 2019

Of the guitars I’ve played I think pre war Oscar Schmidt guitars just got it right. Unfortunately not the easiest things to pull off the rack try out
Waterloo will be the closest modern interpretation of them. Fairly easy to find in the uk.
Never ignore Harmony guitars. 1930s 0 size solid birch to some people may sound like fire wood but for me they are fantastic value, boxy punchy and cheap. The 60s H162 and H165 000 size are superb. All solid spruce and or mahogany with gorgeous aged colour and aged tone to match. What’s not to love. Good enough for lightnin Hopkins good enough for me.

These guitars couldnt be deacribed as dynamic but they have a niche all of they’re own.

Sorry to rabbit on. Im in danger of hijacking this thread. I’m not sure these are the kind of guitars the OP is looking for.

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What do you use for fingerstyle?

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