
This means that the top section or the “soundboard” is made of one solid piece of tonewood, usually spruce, cedar, mahogany or a number of other woods. The construction methods of acoustic guitars and the materials used to make them provide the instruments with a variety of tonal qualities as well as their distinctive sounds.Īlthough some acoustic guitars have laminate or veneer tops, the majority of acoustic guitars have what is known as a solid top. We also carry left-handed and acoustic-electric models as well as amplifiers for acoustic guitars to allow you to play for larger audiences. Nylon-stringed guitars are often found in flamenco and classical music while steel-stringed models are popular for most other genres. While six-string acoustic guitars are the most common and popular, you’ll find some musicians prefer 12-string models as the extra strings add to the lushness of the sound. Upper-scale guitars are typically made of woods such as maple, spruce, mahogany and rosewood while entry-level models are often constructed of laminated tonewood. They can be found in numerous shapes and sizes with the Dreadnought, first designed by CF Martin, being the most common style/shape. Versions of these instruments have been played across the globe for over 4,000 years with the modern acoustic guitar being produced around 1850. In addition, since acoustic guitars are built with hollow bodies which resonate, it enables more efficient lower frequencies. The soundboard can supply numerous tones due to the materials used and bracing and it also adds to the volume. Turner, Taj Mahal, Alvin Hart, Eric Sardinas, Derek Trucks, Warren Haynes, John Hammon Jr, John Mooney and Roland Chadwick.Īcoustic guitars transmit their sound through the airwaves via the top of the instrument, known as an acoustic soundboard.

Some famous resonator guitar players include Josh Graves, Tut Taylor, Andy Hall, Jerry Douglas, Rob Ickes, Mike Auldridge, Phil Leadbetter, Emily Robison, Rory Gallagher, Bo Carter, Bukka White, Tampa Red, Blind Boy Fuller, Son House, B.K. The resonator has been played often with the assistance of finger picks, slides and/or steel bars. The Dobro company then got into the action soon after as competitors. The first models were made of metal and produced by National in the 1920s. Resonator guitars can be found in an assortment of designs, sizes and styles and are typically constructed with metal or wood. These steel-stringed guitars are popular with bluegrass and blues performers because of their distinctive tone and louder volume. The resonator cone is built into the guitar’s soundboard and enables louder volume as well as their signature, high-frequency tonality. When it comes to resonator guitars, these instruments come equipped with an aluminum or steel cone, which is known as the resonator.

