[gcd23]

I was wondering what the strengths and weaknesses are of each bodystyle (ie. Jumbo, Concert, Grand Concert, Dreadnought, etc.). I do some fingerpicking and light to heavy strumming but I have been told that my Taylor isn't really meant for the style I play. I have noticed I tend to get some fret buzzing when I do hard strumming and thats only when it buzzes. I got my Taylor within the first couple months of playing and I got a good deal so I didn't think twice about not getting it but now I'm asking myself if I should of done it. Can anyone recommend a certain bodystyle for my kind of playing; I've been told many different things about bodystyles so I would rather have you guys help me get a definite answer instead of taking parts here and there from what people tell me. I do realize that the choice of wood also plays a part in styles also but I would just like to have a generalization of the different bodystyles. Sorry once again for a drawn out post but I would like to make sure that I have the right guitar for my money. Thanks again.

This post has been edited by gcd23: 15 November 2004 - 02:38 PM

[gcd23]

Thanks for all the help guys! lol.

[dadfad]

Gcd, I was going to answer, but I was really trying to think about your question more first (the strumming part). I can't really say that one guitar is more suited to the physical aspect of strumming any more than another, assuming you have a good instrument (and a Taylor certainly qualifies). Maybe it's related to stumming too hard (where the larger eliptical pattern of the vibrating strings are a bit more likely to contact a fret, etc), in that some guitars project more of a richness and volume with less force (I'm thinking say classic Moody Blues acoustic, or Pete Townshend in various parts of the Tommy opera, etc). Gibson J-models do give more richness than say a Taylor or Martin in that way. The deeper the body, the more deep-response. Actually, more total body-volume than simple depth, but usually the two are the same thing. Not always, like for example a J-200 has less depth than a J-45, but having a slightly wider body-bouts has similar volumes, etc. (This is why an acoustic with a cutaway has a little less richness and volume than an identical guitar without the cutaway.)

Generally refering to body-styles, the smaller body sizes are often more comfortable to play (Gibson L-models, Martin 00s, etc) because they fit more easily under your arm maybe, but you do sacrifice volume and richness of tone a bit generally speaking. I prefer the larger jumbo styles for that reason, but it's purely a matter of personal preference.

[gcd23]

I guess its all my fault, I don't like the buzzing but I guess I have to live with it. Thanks again Dadfad, without you I wouldn't know what to do.

[goldrush]

DADFAD's right. In general the smaller the body the less volume. On the other hand smaller-bodied guitars tend to have better tonal balance (not so bassy like a dreadnaught). If you need to simplify or generalize (which I don't usually like to do) a smaller-bodied guitar is more suited for fingerstyle or light strumming. Larger-bodied guitars are more suited to aggressive strumming or competing with other acoustic instruments. That said, there are exceptions to every rule. Hope this helps.

[dadfad]

If you strum with a pick now, you might want to try strumming with the backs of the nails of the index, middle and ring ringers in sort of an opening the hand from a closed-fist kind of motion in conjunction with the normal wrist/arm strumming motion. Or as a sort of hybrid strumming, hold the pick as usual and use the backs of the nails of the other three fingers, mixing both styles of strumming where ever necessary.

[gcd23]

Thanks for the suggestions dadfad. I have at times tried strumming the way you described but I tend to forget all about it. Thanks for your insight goldrush, I was hoping that you wouldn't have said it but you did. I bought the taylor because I got a hell of a deal on it and because I was new Ihad no idea about the capabilities it had. I guess I'll have to live with it now and go to the guitarcenter and play all sorts of styles and cuts to see what feels and sounds the best. unfortunately I don't have money to spend on a guitar now but it will be nice to dream for quite a while. Thanks again guys.

[goldrush]

...Thanks for your insight goldrush, I was hoping that you wouldn't have said it but you did.  I bought the taylor because I got a hell of a deal on it and because I was new Ihad no idea about the capabilities it had.  I guess I'll have to live with it now and go to the guitarcenter and play all sorts of styles and cuts to see what feels and sounds the best....

Don't feel bad about your purchase. I have a similar story:

10 years ago I was in the market for a really nice guitar to replace the old Yamaha I had learned on since I was 16. Wanting a Martin, I had a "friend" talk me into getting a D35. Not knowing much at that time about body styles and tones I decided to buy one. I remember opening it up at home (I mail ordered it because the nearest music store to me at that time was 100 miles away) and being VERY disappointed in its dark, muddy tone. I was hoping for something bright and clear that sounded good when fingerpicking, which I was starting to focus on more and more at the time. I eventually got used to the D35's bassy tone (which sounds great, by the way, when strumming chords), but it always nagged at me that I had purchased the wrong guitar. It was only earlier this year (9 years later) that I was able to afford my next "ultimate" guitar: the Martin 000-28EC.

Of course there were a lot worse guitars to be "stuck" with for 9 years than a D35, but I have to say the 000-28EC fits my style perfectly. I love its tone, balance, and playability. So don't regret the Taylor! If you're getting buzz I would look at raising the action, checking the intonation, or adjusting your strumming style (sometimes less is more). There are a lot worse guitars to be "stuck" with...

[gcd23]

I hear you, I'm not saying I don't like my guitar but just wish I would have known earlier and picked out something that fit me but oh well. I am still leaning on The Takamine EG-523, Ovation Celebrity 1861, Takamine EAN-40C, Takamine EF-341SC, and Martin D-16.

[epearson]

Yeah...well, you guys are all like "Boo hoo, I got stuck with a Martin or a Taylor that doesn't fit my style". Know what guitars I had for a long time? A Samick D-1 dreadnought made entirely out of Nato and a Fender CG-7, made out of laminate spruce and meranti. These weren't near quality, but I played on them for a loooong time and now I currently use a Samick CT5-CE, which is a Thin Bodied Electro Classical, pretty good, but not really a Takamine. That Taylor you have GCD looks pretty well designed for fingerpicking, as a matter of fact, I'm sure that it's orchestra model body is intended for that (like a slightly large classical) and light strumming, just keep at it and it'll work just fine for you, and I was just teasing earlier, wasn't seriously poking fun at you guys or anything lol.