Whats you preferred body size and why?

jaymenon · July 2021

I sing and use my acoustic primarily as an accompanying instrument, I find that dreadnoughts and jumbos have a big bottom end and plenty of upper end zing - with a little dip in the midrange where the my (male) voice sits perfectly.

The smaller bodied guitars (00, OM etc) have a more prominent mid-range, which clashes with my own voice - but are better for playing acoustic solos, and guitar licks in between the vocal lines.

DavidR · July 2021

I'm with ICBM too. Much prefer the sound of dreadnoughts generally when I'm playing alone. So when I'm playing 'properly' I'll use one. But when I'm doodling on a bench outside or on a sofa, or when writing, I'll play an OM. I'm 6 foot but I still find it an OM more comfortable. Also some things sound better when recorded on an OM, but not always. By the time I get around to recording something I will have tried it on an archtop or a resonator too to see which suits.

Big big fan of Yamaha FG's, which are dreadnoughts of course. First acoustic I ever had and although it's long gone (sadly) I still love 'em. Presently have FG5 and FG830. Lovely. Guess I've never moved on!!

Chris_J · July 2021

Preferred... hmm..

I love to play my Martin D18 and Lowden F32, they're similar in size (not shape) with the Lowden being slightly deeper. They both obviously sound superb too!

My most used guitar though is a Martin 00, it's got a different vibe tonally, but, it's just so easy to pick up and noodle on and has been my pub session guitar for the longest time.

Lewy · July 2021

Dreadnought for me, because you can play anything on a properly built (i.e. not overbuilt) one.

Snags · July 2021

Dreadnought for me, ideally, although my main acoustic is a grand auditorium. If they'd actually had the dread in the same model I'd almost certainly have walked out with that though.

koss59 · July 2021

VimFuego said:

ICBM said:

Wow... not one single other person so far?

Dreadnought, for me. They just sound better.

If it matters I'm 5'6", skinny and with small hands too...

the best guitar I've ever heard (but not played) was a 12 fret, round shouldered dread. It had everything. If I ever win the lottery I reckon I'd be hunting down something like that.

I just picked up a limited 44 in the world J45 12 fret. I’m quite taken by it, all the tone of a dread and more with the neck tucked in slightly meaning long playing stints are very comfortable.

dean111music · July 2021

Thanks everyone! Think I need to try some different sizes out. To be honest,I got my Mayon without trying many guitars or shape. I tried The Maton and was blown away by the plugged in sound and it ticked all the boxes. It is a fantastic guitar which i will never sale and always play. I'll defiantly want to have more variation in tones with different shapes. They all do something different. I guess It's a bit like electric guitars (Strat,Tele,335,Les paul) its nice to have one of each

McSwaggerty · July 2021

I always thought l wanted a Martin D18.....eventually managed to get one.
Struggled with it for about a month, all the time thinking 'This is a great guitar, a Martin D18, why is it not doing it for me?' '......Eventually gave up and sold it a month later and bought an Eastman 12 fret Parlour..... Best decision l ever made, effortless to play and the absolute business for sitting on the couch and noodling away. Got a 000 Waterloo now too....which is the absolute max l would go... Dreadnoughts sound great, but just not for me.....

Vinylfan · August 2021

How do the Yamaha range fit into the more common size descriptions? For example, is an LL equivalent to a dreadnought?

Tannin · August 2021

Yes, Vinylfan.

LL = dreadnought
LJ = small jumbo (Yamaha call it a "medium jumbo" but it seems a bit small for that to me. Haven't measured one though.)
LS = auditorium or concert size

Vinylfan · August 2021

Tannin said:

Yes, Vinylfan.

LL = dreadnought
LJ = small jumbo (Yamaha call it a "medium jumbo" but it seems a bit small for that to me. Haven't measured one though.)
LS = auditorium or concert size

Thanks!

westford · August 2021

An OM sort of size suits me, comfortable to play sitting down or standing, and I (or rather my neighbours) don’t need the extra volume from anything bigger.

Mellish · August 2021

I've always had dreads so I can't compare with smaller bodies, but my Martin HD28 Reimagined sounds as big as a barn and I love it because of that. It totally overpowers my squeaky little voice!

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Whats you preferred body size and why?

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