Acoustic guitars are among the most beautiful musical instruments ever made. After hundreds of years of building, from design to design we now have a plethora of different acoustic guitars that each offer completely different sounds.
From classical nylon strung instruments to modern steel strung acoustics that come in many shapes and sizes - every guitarist needs an acoustic guitar in their life!
The size and shape of an acoustic guitar not only affects its sound but its feel as well. It's important to make sure that, when buying an acoustic guitar, you get the right one to suit your needs.
These days, many acoustic guitar brands have their own labels for the various sizes of acoustic guitars they produce, which can somewhat muddy the waters. Generally, however, any given instrument will fit into one of the categories below. So, here are some of the most common acoustic guitar shapes, styles, and sizes, and the essential details about them.
For a more detailed look at how guitar shapes affect their sound, see our Guide to Acoustic Guitar Shapes.
Acoustic guitar strings come in two different forms – nylon and steel. With few exceptions, any given acoustic guitar will be designed to fit one or the other, but not both. This is because the design and construction of steel string acoustic guitars and nylon sting guitars are very different. It's important to note the steel and nylon strings operate at different tensions. Putting steel strings on a guitar designed to take nylon will most likely damage your instrument, whilst nylon strings on a steel-orientated guitar will not provide the correct intonation.
As so often, choice comes down to individual tastes and needs. Nylon string guitars are easier to play but lack volume and require frequent tuning. The main advantage of steel string guitars is that they are louder and, once the strings settle, will not often require re-tuning. Tonally, nylon strung guitars will sound less harsh and more 'flowing,' whilst steel strings give you more punch.
When picking up an acoustic guitar, choosing the right woods to fit your sound is one of the most important decisions. While it’s vital to your tone, there aren’t that many different options with tonewoods apart from a few more premium exceptions.
Starting off, there’s the choice between laminated/layered woods or solid woods. This may not be a choice you actually need to worry about as this is normally determined by budget. Lower cost guitars are normally made out of a selection of laminated wood, while in more expensive guitars you will get solid tops made out of a single piece.
Please note that at this point we are not referring to whether a top is one, two or three piece, as normally this is talking about pieces of solid wood glued side to side. The difference between laminate and solid wood comes on the sections being glued one on top of the other, using very thin pieces that eventually add up to the same thickness as a solid top.
The benefits of using solid wood are that you get a much more resonant sound, as you only have one material there. Also, woods like solid spruce age wonderfully, actually sounding better as the years go on which can’t happen with a laminate top.
Spruce is one of the most commonly used woods in acoustic guitars. If you look at what’s currently available, about 90% of the guitars you see will have some kind of Spruce top. This is due to the fact that it is lightweight while still being very strong, and has a flat frequency response letting the back woods help define the sound.
Available in a bunch of different variants, you will often see Sitka, Engelmann and Adirondack Spruce available on different guitars. Each of these top woods all offer a slight difference in tone. Sitka is often considered to be the most sensible choice with its wide dynamic range and rather flat sound. Engelmann is often used on guitars where you want lower weight and a sound more suited for strumming styles. Finally, Adirondack is the most desirable option with the ability to be driven much louder with stronger overtones. Sadly, it is also very expensive and with its lack of consistency from tree to tree, makes it much harder to work with.
Most commonly found as a back wood but sometimes as a top wood as well, Mahogany has a very warm sound that can either be used to mellow out a bright sounding top or make a small guitar sound massive.
This warm and almost dark sounding wood really brings the most out of the mid-range of your guitar. This is great if you are using a smaller guitar, as it allows you to get a punch full sound without needing to use a bigger guitar.
This is one of the most interesting woods, as it’s very bright-sounding and has a great attack meaning that it suits fingerpickers to a tee. But normally you’ll find this wood on much bigger, jumbo-sized guitars to help bring out the high-end in what would have otherwise been a warm sounding guitar.
Often used as a top and sometimes as a back as well, Maple is sometimes used for an aesthetic touch as well. Thanks to some of the incredible flame and quilted Maple that is available today, you can make your guitar really stand out by choosing Maple.
The most expensive of the regularly used tone woods is by far Rosewood. Never really used as a top wood, Rosewood has an interesting mid-range sound that is neither too bright nor too dark. It does however have a scooped midrange that really makes both the lows and highs pop out.
Popular with both strummed and fingerpicked styles when matched with something like Spruce, you get a stunning ‘Hi-Fi’ sound that’s really brought in through the scooped mid-range of the rosewood.
'Laminated' and 'Solid Top' are phrases you will hear a lot when talking about acoustic guitars. Laminated refers to a guitar made out of thin layers of wood glued one on top of the other, using very thin pieces that eventually add up to the same thickness as a solid top. Solid tops, as you might expect, will be made out of single piece of wood.
Lower cost guitars are normally made out of a selection of laminated wood, while in more expensive guitars you will get solid tops. The benefits of using solid wood are that you get a much more resonant sound. Also, woods like solid spruce age wonderfully, actually sounding better as the years go on, which can’t happen with a laminate top.
This doesn't mean that laminated acoustic guitars sound bad, it's simply that higher end models will be constructed using premium materials and will, inevitably, sound better. That said, there are many great entry level acoustic guitars that not only sound and look great but will serve you well up to intermediate levels.
You might think that acoustic guitars are all about natural, 'unplugged', sounds, but there are many options for acoustic guitarists wanted to boost the volume of their instrument.
• Acoustic Guitar Pickups: As you can see from our Ultimate Guide to Acoustic Guitar Pickups, there are many types of pickups (essentially microphones for your guitar) available, designed to work for both steel string and nylon string guitars, which can amplify your guitar's sound for any occasion.
• Steel string Electro-Acoustic: Many models of steel string guitars are electro-acoustic, meaning that they come with built-in electronics and a standard connection port. This enables you to plug them in to a PA system or guitar amplifier in just the same way that you would an electric guitar. Unplugged, they will sound exactly like a normal steel string acoustic.
• Hybrid Acoustic: The hybrid guitar is not a very common type of acoustic guitar, but it does something very interesting, using a mix of pickups designed for both electric and acoustic guitars to replicate a wide range of sounds. You can buy both hybrid nylon-string guitars and hybrid steel string guitars, either of which can plug into an amplifier.
With more choice than ever, from established names to niche manufacturers and new kids on the block, here are just a few of the available brands to look out for.
Martin
A company dating back to 1883, Martin guitars are premium handcrafted instruments. The company's reputation both for innovation and unparalleled tone make Martin guitars the preferred instruments for big name professional players across the board. Popular Martin guitar models include the LX1 Little Martin, the Standard series, and the Junior series.
Taylor
California based Taylor have been going since 1974 – a trusted brand with a range of acoustic guitars from intermediate-level models such as the Academy series, to high-end instruments such as their Gold and Catch Custom series.
Yamaha
Chances are you've heard of Yamaha, a prestigious company which produces everything from pianos to motorcycles. When it comes to acoustic guitars, Yamaha have models from entry-level up to professional. Their highly affordable C40 and C40II acoustic guitars have an enviable reputation for fantastic sound and exceptional value.
Alvarez
Founded in 1965, Alvarez boasts a large and varied product line. From steel-string acoustics to classical & electro-acoustic models, you'll definitely find something to suit your style. The combination of innovative design, solid tonewoods, and affordable price tags makes Alvarez guitars great alternatives to many Taylor, Martin and Gibson models.
Furch
František Furch began his guitar-building journey in socialist Czechoslovakia in 1981. Today, Furch Guitars is one of the most prominent and highly regarded guitar manufacturers in the world. Lovingly handcrafted in modern Czechia, Furch Guitars are renowned for their expert craftsmanship, with models starting at mid-range all the way up to pro.
Recording King
The Recording King name dates back to the 1930s. but lay dormant for many decades before being brought back to life in 2007 by the California-based Music Link Corporation. Recording King's current instrument range reproduces the look, feel, and sound of its '30s predecessors, providing a great, distinctive sound at a bargain price.
Does the wood used to make an acoustic guitar affect its tone?
Yes, especially when it comes to the 'top' or 'soundboard' of the guitar. Each wood has different acoustic properties, lending them a slightly different sound. The majority of acoustic guitars will have a spruce top, but other common woods used include maple, mahogany, and rosewood. Generally, a manufacturer will choose a wood suited to a particular guitar's intended size and use – fingerpicking, strumming, or all-round.
What is a 12-string acoustic guitar?
12 string acoustic guitars are just the same as regular 6 string acoustics, except that they use two courses of strings for every one string found on a traditional model. You'll have two high E-strings, two A-strings, etc. This produces a beautiful, harmonically rich sound. See our blog on 12 String Guitars: Why Everyone Needs One.
Do I need an amp for my acoustic guitar?
No, acoustic guitars are designed to be played without amplification, and you will not need any equipment beyond the instrument itself.
Is acoustic guitar harder to learn than electric guitar?
This is a difficult question to answer. In most cases, acoustic guitars will be larger and heavier than an electric guitar, and the light strings on an electric guitar will be easier to play, although electric guitars come with their own challenges. As we mentioned before, the steel strings on an acoustic guitar can put a beginner off, but it only takes a little practice to overcome this. Once again, it comes down to individual taste. See our blog: Should I Learn Acoustic Guitar Or Electric Guitar?
Which acoustic size and shape is right for me?
The right guitar for you is as much down to individual choice as the clothes that you wear. Different players prefer different shapes, although if you're physically on the smaller end of the scale, you may find life easier with a smaller size guitar. Don't forget to account for which style and what purpose you intend to use your acoustic guitar. Do you want to play folk music in your bedroom, or popular tunes onstage? The information above should point you in the right direction, but you can also pop into a physical store, such as Anderton's own in Guildford, and try out a range of guitars first hand. Also, check out our handy Guide to Acoustic Guitar Shapes.
