What size is your Guitar?

Subject: What size is your Guitar?
From: 53
Date: 05 Apr 02 - 10:44 PM

I have a few different sizes of acoustic guitars. I have a regular size dreadnought, and a slope shouder dread, and I have a cutaway electric dread, and then a 15/16 size guitar. What sizes do you guys have?

Subject: RE: What size is your Guitar?
From: Phil Cooper
Date: 05 Apr 02 - 11:13 PM

Bob, I haven't been comfortable with the sound of dreadnaught guitars, for the most part. So my main guitar is a taylor grand concert size. I also have a santa cruz model H (based on a Nick Lucas sized gibson) and a santa cruz OM/PW (based on the OM martin size). I like the more balanced tone on the smaller guitars (being primarily a finger picker).

Subject: RE: What size is your Guitar?
From: DonMeixner
Date: 05 Apr 02 - 11:51 PM

Bob,

My guitars are an O sized Martin, great finger style guitar, an F 30 guild, great all around guitar, a JC 16 Martin. a solid band axe for all purposes and a D sized Yamaha, big ass Bluegrass Wally almost indestructable.

Don

Subject: RE: What size is your Guitar?
From: 53
Date: 05 Apr 02 - 11:54 PM

Don you have some really nice guitars. I am now looking for a guitar and I think that it will be either a Martin or a Larivee. Bob

Subject: RE: What size is your Guitar?
From: Amos
Date: 05 Apr 02 - 11:55 PM

I think they are supposed to be proportional to the size of your thumb, innit?

A

Subject: RE: What size is your Guitar?
From: 53
Date: 05 Apr 02 - 11:58 PM

I don't think so Amos.

Subject: RE: What size is your Guitar?
From: Cap't Bob
Date: 06 Apr 02 - 12:07 AM

My guitars range in size from small (Larivee Parlor) to large (Jumbo Guild 12 string) in between I have a standard size classical, a Gibson ES125 electric, and a Martin D35. They all have features that I like depending on the kind of music I'm playing.

Cap't Bob

Subject: RE: What size is your Guitar?
From: Wincing Devil
Date: 06 Apr 02 - 12:10 AM

I think that's a rather rude and personal question, myself!

Subject: RE: What size is your Guitar?
From:
Date: 06 Apr 02 - 04:21 AM

I have a OO type andy manson called a Nightingale, which has a beautiful tone and a thin neck, and an OM type by him called a Magpie, which has a string raising device to facilitate slide. Its well worth checking out his web site to see the amazing work he does. in truth I mainly find myself playing an old battered Crafter cutaway slimline because it doesnt matter if it falls over, or others borrow it to thrash, but when it comes to performing live or recording I use the Mansons

Subject: RE: What size is your Guitar?
From: Mooh
Date: 06 Apr 02 - 05:46 AM

The jumbo baritone is a little large, but that's a compromise I made for sound. The 12 string is a deep bodied almost grand-auditorium sized 12 fret. The 6 string is a weird slim wasted shape which is the most comfortable guitar to play. None are cutaways. All were made by Marc Beneteau (St.Thomas, Ontario). I also have a Simon & Patrick dreadnaught, and some cheap beaters.

Over the years I've come to prefer guitars which rest a little lower on my lap, like grand-concerts, grand-auditoriums, and parlour sizes because I find them more comfortable to play. It's amazing to me that the low end market is still flooded with dreads when much of the market would be better served by smaller bodies. Several people have told me the reason they gravitated towards more expensive guitars was because they had more choices. Lasido seems to realise this but not so for Yamaha and others.

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: What size is your Guitar?
From: 53
Date: 06 Apr 02 - 12:57 PM

Wincing Devil, if you like the question the you don't have to answer.

Subject: RE: What size is your Guitar?
From: Big John
Date: 07 Apr 02 - 11:03 AM

I bought a "Degas" spanish guitar about 20 years ago for £40 ($50) at an auction. It's always in the boot (trunk) of my car ready for action. Any information on the maker? I recently bought an Epiphone AJ30CE acoustic electric. Despite being "Large" I find that the cutaway body reduces its acoustic volume. I'm looking for gigs so I can try it out with a sound system.

Subject: RE: What size is your Guitar?
From: GUEST
Date: 08 Apr 02 - 06:29 AM

20 cm

Subject: RE: What size is your Guitar?
From: 53
Date: 08 Apr 02 - 11:11 PM

After playing my Taylor Big Baby I think that it would be hard to play one of those acoustic archtops that Gibson makes. The Big Baby is a great guitar to practice on, take on field trips,write, and teach with. It is just an all round great guitar. Try one. Bob

Subject: RE: What size is your Guitar?
From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull
Date: 08 Apr 02 - 11:20 PM

mines medium.john

Subject: RE: What size is your Guitar?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 09 Apr 02 - 12:50 AM

I thought we had to buy the nearly-nude Mudcat calendar to find out! *G*

~Susan

Subject: RE: What size is your Guitar?
From: mooman
Date: 09 Apr 02 - 03:43 AM

M

(not everybody uses the 000-type system!)

mooman

Subject: RE: What size is your Guitar?
From: Ned Ludd
Date: 09 Apr 02 - 03:51 AM

Mine is a Fylde Goodfellow which is about the same size as a classical.I've tried dreadnoughts and J200 type but there's too much air to move before you get the best out of them.Size isn't everything.

Subject: RE: What size is your Guitar?
From: 53
Date: 09 Apr 02 - 03:18 PM

The J-200 is way to big for me now since I have a Taylor Big Baby. I have always wanted one until I played the Taylor, and then I knew it would be way to big. I don't know how anyone can play one now that I've been enlightened. Bob

Subject: RE: What size is your Guitar?
From: GUEST,jonesey
Date: 09 Apr 02 - 06:22 PM

Mine's an A-Yari Dreadnaught Martin knockoff. It's got a solid top and laminated sides and back. I'm' primarily a songwriter. I've got it set up with a Fishman/volume pot which works real well when amplification is needed. Use a soundhole insert by Kyser and I'm good to go. Found it at a local music store for $450.00 w/hs case. Strummed one chord and said 'Sold' as it has a very balanced sound for a dreadnaught.

Subject: RE: What size is your Guitar?
From: GUEST,JudyG
Date: 09 Apr 02 - 07:18 PM

I play a Martin 000M. (Thank you Eric!) When I play a dreadnaught the fingers on my right hand fall asleep. 80)

Subject: RE: What size is your Guitar?
From: Mooh
Date: 10 Apr 02 - 04:50 AM

An aside...I wish guitar shops would stop selling dreads to little kids and smaller adults who have trouble reaching around/over them. Discomfort and awkwardness are interest killers when it comes to guitar. I saw a major shop in my area do this just last weekend, I suspect to make the sale instead of serve the customer. There are better size choices for some people, but we still live in a dreadnaught world.

Sigh, Mooh.

Subject: RE: What size is your Guitar?
From: Dave Bryant
Date: 10 Apr 02 - 12:22 PM

Oooh - I'm a bit shy about mine - thats why I go into the Gent's loo to tune it !

Subject: RE: What size is your Guitar?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 11 Apr 02 - 01:29 PM

None of your business! But I'll say this...it's bigger than Spaw's.

- LH

Subject: RE: What size is your Guitar?
From: 53
Date: 11 Apr 02 - 10:13 PM

This is supposed to be about guitar.

Subject: RE: What size is your Guitar?
From: Lanfranc
Date: 12 Apr 02 - 05:35 AM

At 6'4" and 290+ lbs, I have the opposite problem to that cited above. I have always played Dreadnoughts, and have three (D18, SPD16 and DM12), but have been using a Taylor Baby for sessions recently. It plays and sounds much bigger than it is, is ideal for blues and other songs that need more "edge" than the Martins, and works well against other instruments (even melodeons!) in ensemble work. It also takes up less room in a crowded session.

The trouble is, on me, it looks like a ukulele!

I doubt if I would use the Baby on stage or at a solo gig, but I am learning to live with the uncalledfor comments about big blokes and small equipment!

Size isn't everything - but it helps!

Alan

Subject: RE: What size is your Guitar?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 12 Apr 02 - 10:05 AM

53 - Oh, I see. I thought you were being subtle. Well, my guitars have mostly been dreadnoughts. I have had some small body ones too, but presently it's dreadnoughts only. I generally like them for the big sound, as long as the treble end is also coming through clearly.

- LH

Subject: RE: What size is your Guitar?
From: GUEST,Roger O'Keeffe
Date: 12 Apr 02 - 12:32 PM

Know nothing about guitars. But I couldn't let it pass when I saw "What size is your guitar" immediately after "Do age & sex matter" in the thread list.

On the other hand, piano accordeon size in Irish music - there's a real issue for discussion.

Subject: RE: What size is your Guitar?
From: 53
Date: 15 Oct 02 - 02:43 PM

refresh

Subject: RE: What size is your Guitar?
From: GUEST,John Of The Hill
Date: 15 Oct 02 - 03:54 PM

Bob, My main guitar is a Larrivee L-03W, the W for black walnut. The L size is a very versatile guitar, and as a recent visit to a good acoustic shop reminded me, I would have to part with a lot of cash to get a guitar that sounded as good to my ears. I would like to try an L model made from Australian Blackwood, but have yet to come across one. John

Subject: RE: What size is your Guitar?
From: 53
Date: 15 Oct 02 - 03:56 PM

thanks John for that bit of info, I really hope that you find the guitar that you're looking for

Subject: RE: What size is your Guitar?
From: Wesley S
Date: 15 Oct 02 - 04:27 PM

I've got four different sizes - a D-18 Martin, an OM28V, a OOO slothead Collings and a jumbo sized Lowden 12-string. The most comfortable instrument in the hands is the OM. But the D-18 is my gig guitar. If I had to have just one size { and I wasn't going to be on stage a lot } I'd have to pick the OM as being the best all around. Your mileage may vary.

Good to see you posting again 53.

Subject: RE: What size is your Guitar?
From: GUEST,Su Rynas
Date: 15 Oct 02 - 04:29 PM

I have two:
One is a 3/4 size Johnson (*blam-o!* "not to worry!")
My performance guitar is a Washburn EA-45 Tanglewood Series Dreadnought size guitar.

I've gotten used to the teeny-tiny guitar!

Subject: RE: What size is your Guitar?
From: Justa Picker
Date: 15 Oct 02 - 05:32 PM

Have 3 right now.
Dred.
OM.
OOO.
For sheer comfort I prefer the OM and the OOO.

Subject: RE: What size is your Guitar?
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 15 Oct 02 - 05:42 PM

I play several different styles and used to have a job that accomodated frequent GAS attacks. So, before joining the ranks of the starving self-employed, I accumulated this assortment:

Santa Cruz OMPW - my favorite for fingerpicking
Martin DC-28 - cutaway version of the D-28
Martin 00-15 - "my wife's guitar", this is the one that stays "at the ready" on a stand
Martin J12-15 - 12-string, stays in open C tuning - my retirement present
Gibson J-45 - my favorite for sessions because the shorter scale length=fewer broken strings
'60s Gibson archtop - don't know the model number - just for playing swing
Guild JF30 12-string - just a big old jangly Guild 12
Wechter Pathmaker Elite - double-cutaway, stays tuned CGCGCG, sort of a 6-string bouzouki
LoPrinzi mahogany D - my only guitar for years, needs some TLC
Alvarez 5080 Classical - for when the urge to play nylon strikes
Dean resonator - a cheap substitute for a real Dobro
Yamaha SA800 - ES-335 copy, for when the urge to plug in yet remain civil strikes
Fender Standard Stratocaster - for when the urge to plug in and get weird strikes

Subject: RE: What size is your Guitar?
From: Guy Wolff
Date: 15 Oct 02 - 06:36 PM

Hi Because I fingerpick and fingerpick hard I use MAhagany back guitars to socke up some of the extra energy.. I use a 018 martin alot and also when traveling a new LOO gibson that I love.. For some blues work I use a Deoian National and also a great old Kallamazoo the size of a o martin but the shape of a drednaught with a huge sound hole.. It is incredable for slide work.. Also I sometimes use a Kay Profeetional arch top for a smoother sound.. All the best, Guy
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Subject: RE: What size is your Guitar?
From: CraigS
Date: 15 Oct 02 - 06:53 PM

I've got all sizes and lots of types, so we will not go into that too much!

The point is this: From a luthier's point of view, it is much harder to make a good small guitar than a good big guitar. There are reasons for this, relating to resonances and the sizes of the plates of the guitar top, which are boring. On the factory scale, if the design is OK it is simple to reproduce, so if the design is optimised for a factory guitar, one should be as good as the other. On the other hand it sometimes happens that a factory guitar can be amazingly good because it has been made a little out of specification. I have personally come across two Washburns, a Guild, a Norman, and a Kay which fall into this category - all dreadnoughts. I have a Seagull Grande which is exceptional as they go, but this is the only case of an exceptional small-bodied guitar I have come across (and it needed a lot of set-up work). Although the most astonishing new guitar I ever met was a Martin 00-25K, I would say that for the complete ignoramus, trying to buy a new guitar without help, buying a dreadnaught is safer than buying a small guitar - and more likely to result in the possible purchase of something better than average.

Subject: RE: What size is your Guitar?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 15 Oct 02 - 08:10 PM

Came across a tiny one the other week - neck hanging off and looking miserable, in a hospice charity shop. I liked something about it, and bought it for a fiver, and took it home and fixed it up.

Only 32 inches long, and just 22 inches from nut to bridge. But it sounds pretty good. I thought my backpacker's guitar I bought last year was tiny, but this one is even smaller. Makes a nice change from playing my aged Angelica, which is a bit bigger (that came from a charity shop too).

Subject: RE: What size is your Guitar?
From: reggie miles
Date: 16 Oct 02 - 11:05 AM

I'm gonna have to side with Ned and Craig on this one. It's not the size of your gitter that matters, It's the gitter of yer size. That is to say, what you do with what you've got. I've heard some of the most amazing music being played on some of the least impressive boxes. The only size that matters is the dedication of the player twangin' the strangs. As for me I have have plans to make me one of them great big huge ones, bigger than jumbo, a jumbo jumbo, a Megatriple D, a quadriple XXXX, King Kong, Ultrasaurus. You know what I mean? That's what I'm talkin' about. Okay, I do drive a midlife Chrysler but I'm not trying to make up for a less than adequate, well, you know.

Subject: RE: What size is your Guitar?
From: GUEST,noddy
Date: 17 Oct 02 - 06:47 AM

never mind the quality feel the width.

Subject: RE: What size is your Guitar?
From: Allan Dennehy
Date: 17 Oct 02 - 07:47 AM

I've got a big bastard of a Lowden 010 to go with my ego.

Subject: RE: What size is your Guitar?
From: HuwG
Date: 17 Oct 02 - 08:59 AM

I am well aware that it's not what you've got, it's how you use it but ...

I have a second-hand Yamaha F340, which I have praised before in this forum. This is Dreadnought-sized (equivalent to the more widely available FG-310, I believe). For some unknown reason, the tone from it is very loud, clear, and mellow. Whenever I attend open mic or singaround sessions, it is the one which is in most demand to be borrowed, even when there are smaller alternatives available.

All strings save the 1st and 6th are Elixirs, [the other two are miscellaneous; someone broke the bottom string tuning it to dropped "D", and I played the top string rather vigorously with a Fender thin pick with a slightly ragged edge], but this doesn't quite explain why it should be such a nice-sounding instrument. I shall just be forever thankful that I have it, and it cost me only £60 (US = ~ $90).

I also have a Gremlin GR2919B, bought as slightly damaged stock from Johnny Roadhouse, again for only £70. The blue veneer is chipped, and black bodge tape does look unsightly, but the sound is fine. (Again, I have replaced the original strings with Elixirs). I normally play this through a 30W Hohner practice amp, to annoy the neighbours. (I was advised to get a dedicated acoustic amplifier, otherwise I would get tons of distortion. "Great!", I replied. "That saves me a pedal").

This isn't in so much demand at open-mic sessions etc, as most people who might like to plug in an Electro-Acoustic have plenty of others to choose from in nicer colours with 4-band equalisers and all the trimmings; but here again, it's not what you've got ...

Incidentally, I seem to be keeping the Guitar Acquisition Syndrome under control; those two, plus an absolutely knackered classical which had once been restrung with steel, and which I bought for a tenner, will do me nicely, thanks.