Guitar Depth

guitarjack66 · January 2023

I've noticed that my discomfort with most acoustics seems to stem not only from their overall size,a narrow neck and wide lower bout,but also the guitar depth. I assume many acoustics are deeper to enhance the sound but are there any brands which have narrower depth bodies too?

malcolmkindness · January 2023

I don't know what body shapes you're interested in but OM's are usually less deep than dreadnoughts. Much more comfortable to play in my opinion, I think the brand is irrelevant.

guitarjack66 · January 2023

malcolmkindness said:

I don't know what body shapes you're interested in but OM's are usually less deep than dreadnoughts. Much more comfortable to play in my opinion, I think the brand is irrelevant.

I was hoping somebody would say that. Its the downside of not being able to physically go into many shops and try guitars out.

Snags · January 2023

There are some models that are deliberately comparatively shallow.

From memory the Yamaha APX range have thin bodies.

And OM or Parlour shapes will often be thinner than dreads or jumbo.

I've also seen some Fenders (I think) that are quite shallow but are still full acoustic, so not the Acoustasonic models.

It will affect volume/projection, though.

Mellish · January 2023

@guitarjack66 ; I had the same issue and solved it with an OM.

I found I didn't loses any volume of bass doing that but comfort wise, great improvement.

guitarjack66 · January 2023

Mellish said:

@guitarjack66 ; I had the same issue and solved it with an OM.

I found I didn't loses any volume of bass doing that but comfort wise, great improvement.

Good advice Mellish. OM,000 and Parlour are my acoustic end goals.Maybe one of each or just one from three but the more hours you put in on playing the more you realise that comfort is probably the main priority to begin with. Only then would I get too bogged down with the nuances of tone and so on. Its taken me a month or two to realise that my Tele I bought needs quite a bit of modification to reach a happy comfort level for me. Ultimately its narrow fretboard and string spacing could see me sell another Tele on quite quickly. Acoustics are my preference but at least one electric is what I strive for.

Mellish · January 2023

@guitarjack66 ; just try a few 000/OM mate, you'll see what I mean.

BluesLover · January 2023

I've got a Taylor GS mini, it's a small bodied acoustic, the lower bout is 10 cm deep. Might be what you need?
The Yamaha APX is 9 cm deep.
If you're just playing for yourself and are happy with headphones or a small amp then maybe a Yamaha silent guitar?

Choivert · January 2023

It's a different sound but you could try a full acoustic archtop. These are very shallow, regularly have large necks, but often a big lower bout. Probably wouldn't suit open chord strumming though.

guitarjack66 · January 2023

Choivert said:

It's a different sound but you could try a full acoustic archtop. These are very shallow, regularly have large necks, but often a big lower bout. Probably wouldn't suit open chord strumming though.

Archtops look lovely and they are a bucket list item for me.

bertie · January 2023

it is quite amazing how much impact on playing comfort just 5mm can make both in lower bout width and/or body depth, with very little impact on "fullness of tone"

goldtop · January 2023

My nerdy research spreadsheet shows depths varying between 98mm for Martin 000Jr to 124mm for Martin D.

The Martin SC13/SC10 has been designed from the ground up as a more comfy medium size acoustic and is 103mm. I'll try one when I can.

guitarjack66 · January 2023

goldtop said:

My nerdy research spreadsheet shows depths varying between 98mm for Martin 000Jr to 124mm for Martin D.

The Martin SC13/SC10 has been designed from the ground up as a more comfy medium size acoustic and is 103mm. I'll try one when I can.

They are pretty significant measurements for body depth. I play mostly sitting down and deeper guitars are a bit awkward whereas those who stand maybe gig will probably enjoy or not significantly notice those differences. Wide fretboard,less depth and a narrowish lower bout are my preferred options.

Tannin · January 2023

I'm not so sure about US and your local European makes, but both of my major local makers have made-for-playing-live models with thinline bodies. Presumably this is also done by other makers. These thinline models sacrifice some acoustic tone and volume but are more comfortable for playing gigs with (at least some players think they are, not sure I'd care or even really notice myself) and are also more feedback resistant. Maton's model is called the Performer, Cole Clark have a variety of Thinline models. Both manufacturers, however, make their standard small body guitars the same depth as dreadnoughts, this produces a better, fuller tone especially at the bottom end.

Most of the American majors make their small body models thinner than their dreds - my concert-size Guild, for example, is between 90mm and110mm deep where the standard Matons and the Cole Clark are all 100-120mm, which is also the standard size for dreadnoughts (of pretty much any brand). For comparison, Cole Clark Thinlines are a maximum of 75mm, the Maton Performer a bit more than that.

I had a vague notion that Taylor did the same thing, but looking at their website just now I don't see it. I may have been thinking of their crossover models, or perhaps it was a different maker. Considering how many acoustics are primarily played plugged-in, you'd expect thinline models to be quite common.

A quick search brings up many results, for examplet his one: https://guitaristnextdoor.com/thin-body-acoustic-guitars/

(Not a recommendation, I haven't read it, but on first sight it seems to be on-topic.)

PS: if you want to slip over here one day, bring a hat. You can have a session on one of my 808s (not thinline but very, very comfortable guitars to play). If you don't agree with me about that, I'll eat your hat.

guitarjack66 · January 2023

Tannin said:

I'm not so sure about US and your local European makes, but both of my major local makers have made-for-playing-live models with thinline bodies. Presumably this is also done by other makers. These thinline models sacrifice some acoustic tone and volume but are more comfortable for playing gigs with (at least some players think they are, not sure I'd care or even really notice myself) and are also more feedback resistant. Maton's model is called the Performer, Cole Clark have a variety of Thinline models. Both manufacturers, however, make their standard small body guitars the same depth as dreadnoughts, this produces a better, fuller tone especially at the bottom end.

Most of the American majors make their small body models thinner than their dreds - my concert-size Guild, for example, is between 90mm and110mm deep where the standard Matons and the Cole Clark are all 100-120mm, which is also the standard size for dreadnoughts (of pretty much any brand). For comparison, Cole Clark Thinlines are a maximum of 75mm, the Maton Performer a bit more than that.

I had a vague notion that Taylor did the same thing, but looking at their website just now I don't see it. I may have been thinking of their crossover models, or perhaps it was a different maker. Considering how many acoustics are primarily played plugged-in, you'd expect thinline models to be quite common.

A quick search brings up many results, for examplet his one: https://guitaristnextdoor.com/thin-body-acoustic-guitars/

(Not a recommendation, I haven't read it, but on first sight it seems to be on-topic.)

PS: if you want to slip over here one day, bring a hat. You can have a session on one of my 808s (not thinline but very, very comfortable guitars to play). If you don't agree with me about that, I'll eat your hat.

I'd love to be able to pop over to Tasmania at sometime but it would probably be in another lifetime,unfortunately.

Cranky · January 2023

I think all Martin 10 series are shallower. As is the j-45 studio.

guitarjack66 · January 2023

While I appreciate the various Martin comments(I realise that their sizes became the industry standard,and maybe still are?) but that level of guitar will unlikely ever be in my price range.

bertie · January 2023

@guitarjack66 ;
what do you envisage your budget could be ?

malcolmkindness · January 2023

guitarjack66 said:

While I appreciate the various Martin comments(I realise that their sizes became the industry standard,and maybe still are?) but that level of guitar will unlikely ever be in my price range.

Then I suggest you look at an Eastman E10 00. Small body size, a wider fingerboard and a very good Martin substitute for about £1,000.

guitarjack66 · January 2023

bertie said:

@guitarjack66 ;
what do you envisage your budget could be ?

I've never paid more than 500 quid for a guitar, but often much less.

Mellish · January 2023

@guitarjack66 ; I'd say don't get discourages.

There must be many good guitars out there within your budget. Just pop along to a store, tell 'em your budget and they'll get a few together for you to try.

BillDL · January 2023

I know that this potential suggestion seems to be the exact opposite of what you are looking to find, i.e. a shallower bodied acoustic, but bear with me. I was lusting over a Levinson Sangamon LS-43 that was being sold on Gumtree for £500. New price is between £800 and £900. I ended up buying something else so I never went to check it out, but one thing that I did notice from the Levinson website, and from the appointed distributor Scan.co.uk, was that it is a "deep bodied concert size". This is deliberate and to compensate for the lessened internal air volume and loss in some tonal range, loudness and projection caused by the pinched-in and smaller body size that sits somewhere between a parlour and OM types. One of the comments I heard or read while I was checking out reviews was that, despite the increased body depth, the shape of the guitar made it very easy to play and the greater depth wasn't noticeable. As I say though, I never went to see the guitar and hold it for myself.

Oh damn, just did another search and it's still there on Gumtree calling me quietly but persuasively. The ad has expired about 4 times and been reposted again.

ICBM · January 2023

Leftfield suggestion: have you ever tried an Ovation? They are definitely not for everyone - and do tend to have smaller necks, which may be an issue for you - but the odd shape of the body makes them feel less bulky than they are, even the full-depth ones. Especially when sitting down, the guitar 'leans back' towards you so the top is closer to your body at the upper edge. Equally, a lot of people find this and their tendency to slide into this position from upright offputting... and that's before you get to the sound! It has to be said that the electrified models in particular don't sound like wooden guitars - the fully-acoustic ones (which they haven't made for decades I don't think) are quite a lot more natural-sounding, it seems to be something to do with the bridge.

guitarjack66 · January 2023

ICBM said:

Leftfield suggestion: have you ever tried an Ovation? They are definitely not for everyone - and do tend to have smaller necks, which may be an issue for you - but the odd shape of the body makes them feel less bulky than they are, even the full-depth ones. Especially when sitting down, the guitar 'leans back' towards you so the top is closer to your body at the upper edge. Equally, a lot of people find this and their tendency to slide into this position from upright offputting... and that's before you get to the sound! It has to be said that the electrified models in particular don't sound like wooden guitars - the fully-acoustic ones (which they haven't made for decades I don't think) are quite a lot more natural-sounding, it seems to be something to do with the bridge.

Ironically my guitar teacher has an Ovation and uses it for gigging.

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