There are many various shapes and sizes of acoustic guitars that are tailored for different sorts of music. Most guitar sizes are for full-grown adults while some are guitar sizes for kids.
We’ll take you through the numerous distinct guitar shapes in this post, from little guitar kinds to dreadnought guitar sizes and beyond.
1. Traveler:
If you’ve ever travelled, especially backpacking, you know how valuable room is. While travelling for months with a full-size one is possible, it’s not ideal, especially since one of these may do the job just as well and make your journey more fun.
Traveler guitars are the tiniest of the bunch (much smaller and you’re looking at a ukulele, which comes in some ridiculously small packaging) — as you can see in the photo, they feature a very narrow body to conserve space. This makes them a little more difficult to play, but if conserving space is a necessity, you might be ready to accept the trade-off. They’re also pretty light, so hauling them about won’t strain your back.
2. Mini:
The mini is the next size up in size. The beautiful thing about these is that they play like 4/4 models but are smaller. Check out the micro if you want the finest sound in the smallest package.
Because of their small size, they sacrifice one feature that you may or may not value: bass frequencies. They tremble a lot due to their anatomy. They have more bass than the traveller versions, but they still sound light in comparison to the larger models lower down the page.
3. The Parlor:
The Parlor guitar (or ‘Parlour’) is next on the list. These were the first small guitars, and they were popular from the late 1800s to the 1950s. The characteristic shrunken body shape was devised by CF Martin, with the neck often joining the body around the 12th fret.
They’re at ease on a front porch or in small to medium settings (thus the name Parlor, which refers to ancient reception and trade rooms).
A smaller frame offers obvious advantages in terms of comfort and playability, but the trade-off, like with the micro and traveller types above, is a lack of bass.
4. Grand Concert and Concert:
The Concert model, which dates from roughly 1854 and was the usual size during and after the American Civil War, is another timeless classic. It has a trebly, brilliant tone, similar to the Parlor, with minimal bass. Martin 000 or ‘Triple-O’
This style, like the Parlor, has had a recent rebirth. The Grand Concert type was introduced in 1877, and it was actually smaller than the Concert, having a flatter body form and rounder bouts (shoulders). Its modest size makes it ideal for younger players or people with petite frames.
5.Dreadnought
The ‘Dreadnought’ design was introduced by CF Martin in 1916, taking its name from a series of historic English warships known as HMS Dreadnought, which were the most formidable battleships in the British Royal Navy at the time.
When the ordinary Joe thinks of an Acoustic, the Dreadnought design is likely to spring to mind first. It’s the most popular of all genres, and everyone from Elvis Presley to Jimi Hendrix has performed it.
Its appeal stems from its versatility: it finds a good balance between loudness, body size, and simplicity of play. Its broad and deep tone makes it ideal for playing in a group, which adds to its appeal.
6. Jumbo
Jumbos are the largest of the bunch, producing a loud, powerful sound that’s perfect for guitarists who like to strumming hard. The first of the great Jumbos was created by Gibson (starting with the Gibson J200).
Because of their size (some Jumbos have a bottom bout width of 17 inches), there’s plenty of area for sound to ricochet throughout the body, producing a powerful, huge tone that smaller-bodied models can only dream of.
They have the maximum loudness and bottom response, making them ideal for fingerstyle since the bass and treble notes are clearly separated. They’re also useful if you’re in a band and want to provide a robust, bassy sound to the ensemble.
7. Classical
This is by far the oldest sort of axe on our list, going back to the early 16th century, as the name suggests.
The nylon strings and the larger neck are two of the main distinctions between them and the bulk of the other guitars on this page.
The nylon strings are the most noticeable change from steel-string versions, offering a subtlety in tone colour that metal strings cannot equal.
Fingerpicking is simpler with the broader neck, and the fretboard on these models tends to connect the body at the 12th fret. This results in a mellow tone that is easy to play.
In conclusion,
We’ve done our best to cover all of the many varieties of acoustic guitars available, and maybe reading this has helped you decide which one is right for you. The best guitars are the ones you fall in love with at first glance.
The ideal one for you will be determined by a number of factors, including, most obviously, the music you listen to, but also your physical size.
