Classic by Design
Acoustic Guitar Reviews – Introduction to the Acoustic Guitar
Before we look at individual guitar brands and models it is worth stopping for a moment to consider the origins and types of acoustic guitar. Of course the word acoustic was only coined to differentiate it from electric guitars, before which it was simply the guitar. This differential is blurred in the modern era by electro-acoutic guitars often referred to as semi-acoustic or acoustic guitars that are manufactured with electric pick-up devices for sound amplification. In reviewing acoustic guitars we will consider any model that uses a hollow sound box at least in part to generate the sound of the instrument. Everything with a solid body will be considered an electric guitar.
The Acoustic Guitar is just one of many acoustic stringed instruments that have evolved over thousands of years and in that time has gone through many changes to get to today’s basic acoustic guitar types. These being:
Classical Guitar
Flat top Steel Strung Guitar
Arch top Steel Stung Guitar
Round back Guitar
12 String Guitar
Steel Guitar
Acoustic Base Guitar
There are of course many variations of these and different regions of the world have instruments similar to the guitar but with specific distinctive features.
It could be said that the main variations of the guitar are the type of strings, either nylon or steel, the number of strings and the shape and materials of the sound-box. The combination of these give an incredibly wide tonal range whilst always giving the distinctively recognizable guitar sound.
Sound is not the only thing with an acoustic guitar. For the owner the guitar can be a thing of great beauty. True many a beat up old guitar played a great tune but on the other hand they have the potential to be a work of art. The choice of materials both wood and composites give infinite variation and no two guitars will be visually identical and each will have its own tonal qualities. Like a good violin it sometimes takes many years for an instrument to mellow.
Look out for the best acoustic guitars at ArveyGuitars.com
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