Acoustic Guitars

In my opinion acoustic guitars are the most awesome guitars that were every invented. I have sold countless numbers of them, taught music to many guitar students and have made more of these big-voiced guitars than I can recollect. By altering body size, depth and tonewoods, you can acquire a infinite variety of tones and volume.

Acoustic Guitar - A Popular Option

Known by many names such as an steel string, flattop, or bluegrass guitar, it is one of the most popular stringed instruments of all time. Gibson, Epiphone, Gretsch and C.F. Martin have led factory produced acoustic guitars for many years. These guitar manufacturers have been around for many years. Do not overlook these old-time companies when shopping for a new guitar.

 The Japanese guitar makers started taking over the lower-price guitar market starting in the 1960's. This happened just as the quality control was beginning to suffer in the U.S. guitar market. The Japanese guitars that were introduced weren't horrible, but they were considered 'starter' guitars, and I sold my share of them. The tone of these guitar was okay, as they were economical and they were additionally quite long-lasting.

The Foreign Made Acoustic Guitars

The backs, sides and tops of those first Japanese guitars were constructed of plywood. This construction gave these guitars quite a bit of durability. Often they came delivered with a very high string action and they had to have adjustments before they were in a playable condition. When my students asked me for suggestions to buy an acoustic guitar I would urge the purchase of Yamaha guitars, Alvarez Guitars and Takamine Guitars, primarily because of pricing structure.

The guitars that the Japanese manufacturers now have hardly resemble the instruments they first produced. Now their guitars have solid woods, fantastic construction strategies and are setup with the guitar player in mind. They even have nice intermediate and advanced level guitars of fine quality, so don't overlook them when you buy an acoustic guitar.

The 60's and 70's American Guitar Market

Shortly after the foreign guitar market took hold in the U.S., the American guitar builders lost their focus, and in order to compete with these lower cost instruments they lowered their production standards. So as a outcome, the American builders not only lowered their high standards of production, they were trying to enter in a market in which they couldn't compete.

The American Guitar Makers Remade Themselves

Today C.F. Martin is still creating quality guitars, and Gibson pumps out many of the same models they did around the 1930's 1940's to 1950's and they are even using techniques that they used when they first rolled out their pre-war acoustic guitars.

Options for Acoustic Guitars

In your quest to buy an acoustic guitar, you are likely to see many variations, such as:

Cutaway: This variation allows the guitarist to more easily place their fingers up the neck without the body of the guitar obstruction.

12 Fret Necks or 14 Fret Neck: This alternative that is available on many guitar models refers to the fret number with which the guitar neck joins the guitar body.

Body Size: Acoustic guitars are available in a dizzying array of body sizes. Smaller sizes include the 0, 00 and 000. Larger sizes are the grand auditorium and Jumbo models.

Top Bracing Patterns: Bracing variations can range from the standard X bracing, to forward shifted bracing, and finally custom scalloped bracing.

Electronics: Many models now offer built-in acoustic pre-amps and pickups standard from the factory. Many more give you the option to add this option to your new guitar.

Guitar Wood Selection: Woods greatly influence tone and volume qualities of a guitar. Selections range from High Pressure Laminate on the low end guitars, to exotic hardwoods on the higher end models.

Acoustic Guitars offer a number of special options for the guitar player as you can see. Depending on your picking style, level of talent and the depth of your pocket book there is a guitar that is perfect for you.