At 6'4" 270 lbs, anything but a dreadnought feels like a toothpick in my hands. I've been playing the same 65 Hummingbird since I was ten years old, at first it seemed a little big, but I loved the sound of the guitar so much, I just dealt with it till I grew into it. When you play the same guitar for 47 years, trust me, it becomes a part of you, it knows what I'm going to play next even before I do, dreadnaughts forever Baxter!
@@artr2ot everyone is 270 either. Dude is 6'4 270. Giant. I've played dreads my entire life. Long arms, big thin hands. And I still am starting to go to smaller guitars.
@@el34glo59I’m 5’8’’ and 160lbs and have never thought a dread was uncomfortable. To me an OM or OOO just doesn’t feel or sound right. If I want a smaller guitar for finger style I’ll play a classical guitar. For strumming, flat picking, and Travis picking I’ll stick with my Martin box
Hey hey hey! it's J - O - K! says Johnny Young. Johnny O'Keefe RIP - Aussie Rock n'Roll Star Frontman & Pioneer.? I began June 1979 aged 10 on a Maton CW80/12 dreadnaught. I sucked the chrome off trailer-hitches totally with torque converter Dysonesque force for years, I learnt by ear & at 54 I'm still learning but fear no music & my fave is playing with muso's 3x better than me. I can more often than not survive. Jonathan rocks Baxter is just disgusting &❤Little Tommy from Cleveland. I'm a guitarcheopteryx i.e. a guitar dinosaur fossil 🤘@Didyabringyabongalong Station🦘Central QLD🎸Oz🪃
Just bought my first real high-end acoustic, trading up from a MIM Martin DRS-1. It came down to a D-28 and 000-18. The 000-18 had a beautiful top end clarity, was thin-bodied so you could hug it closer to the body which made very comfortable to play in a sitting position. I got the D-28 because it had a magnificent bottom-end and the top end clarity in one package. I can live with the Dreadnought shape for that kind of sound.
I made the same mistake when I moved from just being a bassist and songwriter for bands to performing solo with an acoustic guitar. I bought a dread because I figured "that's what everyone plays". I spent a couple years struggling with it until I realized that the dread was working against me vocally. I don't have a lot of range, or power vocally and when I'd lean into the dread it would get that low mid range drive right where I work vocally. It wasn't until I switched to Gretsch Rancher Jumbos that I realized that the Jumbo was the right guitar design for me. When you lean in on a Jumbo it gets bigger and wider on the top and low end. Allowing my voice to still sit naturally right in between. I wish someone had mentioned this to me when I was starting. Great video.
1:) Buy a $200 Fender Dreadnought. 2:) Go to nearest Guitar Center. 3:) Play 'Recuerdos de la Alhambra.' 4:) Ask "Who is James Hetfield; isn't he the guy from Nirvana?" 5:) Walk out a Legend! Bonus:) Find a way to inject, "Nah this is a Fender; it's the Best," into a conversation.
The 000-15M has turned out be my dream guitar. Had a D-28 but after a left shoulder injury that required 2 plates and a dozen 2" screws in my upper humorous, I lost the ability to wrap my arms around the D-28. I play mostly by myself or my wife and the sound of the 000-15M is so sweet and not overpowering, and just a perfect size for my new situation!
I'm 6'5 so find dreadnoughts comfortable but I just got a great deal on a Gibson LG-2 American Eagle and it's the uktimate couch guitar. I'm also impressed by how much bark and low end it's got for such a small body
Great topic for a video. I just always assumed the dreadnaught was basically the "it" acoustic and everything else was the oddball. I'm 6'2" with long enough arms that it shouldn't bother me, but I ended up going after a Martin 000-15M and it's the only acoustic I own now. Fits just perfect, plenty loud, great unique tone. I also used to be the "Nah man, you GOTTA put 13's on that acoustic for the toans, man." I play 10's on my electrics and decided to set up the 000 with 11's. Best decision I ever made.
My first guitar was a Dreadnought. I don’t think it’s a coincidence I quit almost a month after starting. Never felt comfortable. Years later after making progress on electric, I came back to acoustic with a Taylor GA size. Much more better for me.
I would wager a lot of folks did about the same thing. I certainly did. While I can play dreadnaught fine, the Taylors are WAY more comfortable. I was actually shocked at how nice they felt. And as you know, how it feels matters. We play longer when the guitar feels better and melts into our bodies.
I had to get a smaller body style because I have a bad shoulder on my strumming hand side. But, I still love that low end bass when you strum an open chord.
Martin apparently agrees. They now make a small, comfortable and uncharacteristically affordable laminate guitar that sounds pretty great. That being said, im 99 percent going in on an acoustasonic for my next guitar purely for comfort and ease of play with full understanding that it is sorta meh without an amp. I tried and quit guitar with a jumbo 20 years ago because the size made me touch every part of the instrument wrong as a learner, i mean every part was hard to reach and the thing was a pain in the ass just to hold. Martin Dreadnoughts sound beautiful, mind you. Make your decisions based on your own observations. Just try to wrap your head around the idea that a perfect guitar can be "unplayable" based on your body dimensions and skill in order that you dont sabotage and stymie your journey. It is frustrating to have music inside you and not be able to let it out:)
Great video!!! “It’s the guitar you can’t put down that’s right for you” I’m 6’2” and I love playing my 000-17 and RO 328. I also have a GS mini, wonderful, fun and easy to play. I think a GS mini should be the standard for all beginners, no matter your age or size.
After playing a 50 dollar classical guitar for a year I bought a gs mini as my first real guitar. Been playing it as my main acoustic since 2016 and I have never had the the urge to upgrade.
This applies to electrics too. You don't need a big, heavy guitar to get good tone. Small, light guitars are liberating. They make you want to move the guitar around more and you can play longer with a lighter guitar. I'm looking or a parlor acoustic now.
@@meanmrmustard7042 Good to know, I've been eyeing one of those for a few months now. Which one do you have? I've been looking at the mahogany or rosewood.
great topic, and one that's rarely discussed it seems. i'm a larger guy, but gravitate towards smaller guitars. this preference wasn't realized, however, until i was much older and had been playing for over a decade. i'd bought a parlor and was amazed at how much i enjoyed playing it. i have my dreads still but my main player today is an orchestra model. it's just so comfortable and excellent for fingerpicking. yet another reason to play many guitars before buying.
I'm not a slight person and own several dreadnoughts. They are wonderful. However, I find that I am more inclined to grab a parlour or OM sized when I just want to play acoustically for fun. I also find my Gibson L00 or Boucher JP Cormier signature awesome for recording using a two mike method. We are all different and thus different guitars suit each of us differently.
I purchased one of the new Gibson J50 originals during Lockdown and it was the best thing I've ever done. It sounds and plays great. Also, it just looks so god darn cool that it makes me want to pick it up and play it. So important. I now own the guitar I always wanted but it was all through trial and error. I think the journey of buying and selling guitars as a young player is all part of the fun. Try stuff, find out what you like.
Similar story. I got a great deal on a used J-45 during lockdown, and I absolutely love it. I also love my 1996 Taylor 514c (grand auditorium, cedar top). Now I just need me a nice Martin parlor guitar to complete my acoustic collection! 🤔
Well done spelling it correctly . . . I have a D-28 and a 000-28 and the auditorium size is SO much more comfortable to play. Good point letting people know regarding the alternatives. Mind you, I'm 72. I am very happy with the 1 11/16 fretboard size.
I’m an at home player and 6’1” but I still prefer a 000 size guitar for its comfort. I mostly play at home on the couch. Slope shoulder dreads are more comfortable for me on the couch.
I’ve always loved smaller acoustic guitars, the newest feature I’m loving is the little shaved corner on the upper bought, it really makes my arm fall in a more comfortable way. I don’t have a guitar with that feature but I would point a new player in that direction as it is a big boost in the comfort area.
i don't play acoustic, but sometimes when i don't feel like plugging into an amp i just grab my ES339 and play it acoustically/unplugged. You don't get the true acoustic sound but it is loud enough when practicing at home and messing about.
My main guitar for the last few years has been a Martin dreadnought, but recently I bought a Guild OM and, between the comfortable body size, the wider nut width, and the thicker neck, I found it much more comfortable to play and I love the more balanced sound as well. I'll never get rid of my Martin, but it's nice to have choices.
Played a Takamine dreadnought exclusively for over 10 years, for writing recording and performing, in perpetual discomfort, then bought a cheap 3/4 sized Tanglewood and now I only play the old big boy once in a blue moon - I get it out of the case, noodle around going “woahhhh that sounds sooo gooood”…. then I put it back in the case under the bed and proceed to play my tinny little Tanglewood again everyday because it’s just so comfortable (yeah small hands help). Ergonomics can be more important than tone if you want to enjoy and progress in your playing.
For younger players or those with smaller hands the Taylor Baby was exceptional, I have a Yairi-Alvarez DY51 & 65 Dove but gave my wife a Baby Taylor for her first acoustic and she loved it until fell in love with Fender Electric Guitars
6’ tall, 185 lbs., tune down D to D, strum hard, sing loudly, and always play standing up, so I can sing / practice for the stage…. Dreadnoughts and Jumbos are the only size guitars I own. Once bought a concert size, and gave it to my daughter after playing 1 hour… the smaller guitar just didn’t work with my tuning and style, and felt like a uke in my hands… And then Baxter said, “Dreadnoughts don’t have cutaways…” YES! If you want to shred 20th fret leads, buy a friggin Strat or Les Paul, and leave my dreadnoughts alone! THNX Baxter!
@gunkanjima3408 true... I have not. As lead singer / rhythm guitarist, I play first position chords and finger pick in the first position. I have never touched the fretboard above the 9th fret. So, for me, no cutaway means more low-end and overall better tone. Keep strumming!
From my very little experience sitting down with different bodies, the grand concert seems to be a great fit for me...big sound with not the biggest size.
I randomly stumbled across your channel and I want to Know about my Dreadnought acoustic i literally found while working as a trash man over 2 years ago in excellent condition. I considered learning to play after but I've kept it in a case since then. This video is helping me reconsider.
Acoustic - Personally - 1- Yamaha NTX1 Classical Nylon Acoustic 2- PRS Parlor SE P20E 3- Fender Newporter/Ibanez AEG0N/Ovation Elite/Luna/Love Breed/Taylor these are all under $800 and for the most part are really good, small and large size with a classical acoustic. Then personally speaking when you are advanced get a Martin and Gibson.
For starters here's a few types: Dreadnought, Jumbo, Auditorium (regular or Grande) Classical, Parlor, Travel and many many more. A problem arises when the parent doesn't know a guitar from a broomstick so they're at the mercy of the salesman so take a friend who does play. Nothing infuriates me more than the parent who says, " we'll just get a cheap one and if he/she remains keen on the guitar then we'll get a better one" Believe me the poor kid WILL LOSE INTEREST if his first guitar is a shit box. I'm 70 but I was really keen in spite of the piece of crap I was forced to play. I remember my first decent guitar was a Gold-top and it was like being in heaven. and having a great guitar really inspires the player. Also get the thing set up properly the kid will thank you for it later.
You are right. I'm a 48 year old on my tenth or so attempt at learning the guitar. My folks got me a cheapo which I have tried to play (and quit), over and over, for the better part of 4 decades. I'll give it a couple of months, think I'll never learn it, and put it in storage for 5 years. Repeat.
I bought a used 2002 Taylor 810 dreadnaught in 2019. Near mint condition, had it set up to Taylor specs... I just can't fall in love with this guitar no matter how hard I try. I played a Taylor 818e in GC and it blew me away, just fantastic tone and feel. However, expensive!
I thought I always wanted a dreadnaught... and I thought I NEEDED a Martin. The budget for my first guitar didn't let me get the Martin, so I got a Fender.... dreadnaught. And then I went and played a bunch of other guitars, to include Martins. But I didn't like how the necks felt on the Martins. They were just too "chunky" for me. But I still loved a classic dreadnaught. The problem for me was that my shoulder tended to hurt when playing for any amount of time. I could reposition, but it just didn't feel right. That brings me to Taylor..... I didn't think they were for me. But I PLAYED one. And the way it seemed to melt into my body, and I LOVED the neck profile. More so than that, my shoulder didn't even notice I was playing. What Taylor was it? The 14 series.... yup, the Grand Auditorium. And guess what? When you do the measurements it's the SAME AS A DREADNAUGHT IN SIZE. The shape and narrower waist just makes it sit differently. But it's no smaller than a dreadnaught. And for my ACTUAL style of playing (not what I had "thought" I would) it is perfect. I am not a bluegrass player, nor really a strummer. I am a pretty simple finger stylist. And for that... oh yes. The Taylor 14 series is the right choice for me. I have several guitars, but my go-to is my Taylor 314cd LTD. That all said, some of the comments being made clearly miss the point of what this video presented. The video could have better expressed some of their points, but... there it is. Always TRY different sizes and shapes, and learn what works for YOU... in reality, not in "your mind". Cheers!
I'm 6'5, a very large guy. A dreadnought feels perfect to me in most scenarios. I've never picked up a small acoustic and really enjoyed the form factor, personally.
Got a Gibson L-00. Very pleased with it. The L-00 Studio is probably not worth it for the $1849 they're trying to sell it for (maybe the sunburst but even that's still a stretch) but I got it for $1249 in the natural finish on clearance at Sam Ash and it outplays and outperforms every other Gibson I've played in the pricerange.
I prefer an OM to a Dreadnought. The 000 body just fits me better and the I want the same scale length as the Dreadnought. So when it came time to upgrade to a Martin I went with the OM-21
I got a 000 LAG. Hangs on the wall right next to me in the studio all day. Gets played many times throughout the day. All the big acoustics are in the cases out of the way. Only get pulled out when necessary which has not been that often since I have the LAG.
@casinoguitars I'm a small guy and I have always wanted dread! Ive lusted after them for years. in 2015 I finally saved up enough cash to buy a D-28 I went to my local guitar center to pick one out and somewhere along the way I ended up getting distracted and playing an 814ce and thought it sounded so much better than the Martins I had been playing at the store. The nut width and string spacing on the Taylor felt big to me so it was not the most comfortable guitar for me play...... but the guy at guitar center gave me a screaming deal on it so I took it home and figured I would get used to it.......... well its now 2022 and that guitar has basically sat in its case for 7 years... I've played maybe 2 or 3 shows with it............. Now if I'm playing acoustic i just strum the same Takamine G series jumbo Ive had since Highschool. I definitely learned it doesn't matter how good a guitar sounds if you don't like playing it, It will sit in its case.
Sad / sell it then. As for me, opposite story : got a 17 inches jumbo for its sound and gradually got used to its size and depth ... To the point that I now find it comfortable ... And later got a 17 inches dread too. (A jumbo is more comfortable to play than a dread bcz if its small waist)
I bought me a Washburn acoustic, it is shaped like a grand auditorium and has a nice amount of bass and treble and midrange that stays out of way of vocals. Fishman electronics do a nice work for recording. The piezo has a good sound. I am 5ft 11in tank , but I like a smaller guitar. It is all about ease of use and responsiveness for me.
Great advice! - when you reach the level where you can play then get the tool that fits your need … until then - get something playable. Taylor playability saved my interest in acoustic playing.
I bought a full solid Sigma SGJA SG200 this year. It´s a perfect Gibson J200 super jumbo copy. I payed €1450.-- for it. And yes, it is fantastic. Round tone and a verry good bass. But a Guitar with solid maple is not the most powerfull guitar. The maple makes the tone round, and this we pay with a little bit of volume. I think it´s worth it. But dont worry, a J200 is more loud than a lot of dreadnoughts.
I recently acquired 2 Collings acoustics, an OM2HT and A D1AT and the OM gets played about 80% of the time. My shoulder is much happier for it. When I need that volume and growl I get the dread out, but otherwise the OM is the primary player.
I thought that I had to have the old dread! I recently sold mine and bought a Martin custom shop 0000-18 sinker!! To me it’s the best of both worlds! Sounds unbelievable and the size is perfect. I still get that big sound for strumming, and the size is perfect. I feel the 0000 doesn’t get enough love or attention.
@@JasonChannell its just a type of mahogany. i bought my 0000-18s at Gruhn’s in Nashville. They had a ton of body styles in sinker. They all sound amazing.
You make some valid points. My first guitar was a Yamaha dreadnought and I got used to it so much that I recently upgraded to a Guild dread. Every smaller bodied guitar seemed wimpy in sound in comparison. I was even tempted to get a jumbo, but I didn't think I would enjoy standing up and playing it. I don't regret buying another dread, HOWEVER, I do want to purchase a jumbo and OM to balance out my collection. Gotta save up for them, though. The good ones ain't cheap.
My Collings D2H original hang tag says on the back of it 'The Banjo Killer' :-) I have three dreads. Been playing bluegrass for quite a while. An old D28 and and old D18. Never parting with them. (oh - and 6'7")
Now I’m a Martin Fan for sure, I have a D18 and an OM28 but I will say that they both inspire you in different ways which is the best part. But I agree that the d18 is the best guitar to record with! And even though I’m a Martin Fan, I would love to have a Taylor and a Gibson and any other guitar hahah
Back in 2011 I wanted to buy myself a really good steelstring guitar. I played a Washburn dreadnought so far. I ended up selecting either a Martin HD28 or OM28. I chose the HD28. Because I was used to a dreadnought, and everybody said: you sound great with that HD28! But actually it was a big mistake for several reasons: I wanted to get into acoustic fingerstyle and Tommy Emmanuel stuff, and a dreadnought is just not a good guitar for practicing several hours, and it's also too heavy to play that stuff. I am 172cm tall, which is not so big either.
I have a D-18, and I’m not a big guy. I do play bluegrass occasionally, and not very well. But you are right, it’s NOT a couch guitar. There are only certain places I can sit to play it, that thing is huge. And when I’m practicing bad blue grass licks my neighbors complain, I have amps that are quieter.
Just started 38 5"10 180 lbs spent Months researching guitars tried ALL sizes yeah Dreadnought is a handful but eas the most comfy not all of them tho . But THE SOUND !!!! What got to me trough my soul !!!
I had a shoulder injury a few years ago (picking hand side) that limited my arm's range of motion. Unfortunately it causes me pain to get my arm around those fat bodied acoustic guitars. Dreadnought in particular. I can only play electric or thinline acoustic guitars.
I wish I had known this a year ago when I bought my first guitar. I bought a Fender CD-60S, which is a very cheap Dreadnought -- too cheap, as it turns out. And so very uncomfortable. I never could *fit* around the thing. So I just bought a Taylor Academy 12e to replace it -- Grand Concert size, and a far higher quality, overall. It shipped yesterday, and I hope to receive it tomorrow. *SO* very much looking forward to it, because this Fender is 100% holding me back. I wish I had known about the Taylor Academy 12e a year ago...
I have a dozen guitars and they are all Jumboes, mostly of the honking big 17" variety. Gibson, Epiphone, Taylor, Guild, and a Sigma. Love their balanced sound in 6 and 12 string varieties. Small Grand Concert to monster Grand Orchestra, both rosewood. Yum. Fingerpick and/or strum. For this septuagenarian, no dreadnoughts need apply.
I've had a taylor 110e dread for years now. Beat it up pretty good. It's great. I bought a Taylor 324ce last year and it's amazing I like the mid sized acoustics. Jumbo sized not so much lol
My next acoustic will be a dreadnaught--but that is because my main guitar for the last 30+ years is a '53 00-17. I LOVE that guitar, but I also want (on occasion) to have that contrasting big Dreadnaught sound.
My couch/chair guitar is the PRS P20E. I'm 6'6" 300 lbs. so I can "accommodate" a dreadnought size in my recliner, but the parlor is the perfect size. Just easier.
In my opinion, if you start with a dreadnought, you’ll be ruined to the way any other sized guitar will sound. An E chord on a D-18, or some open-tuning on a J-45 and you’re in heaven!
My first acoustic guitar was a Takamine F Series dread that I bought in the mid 80s. At the time I didn’t know that other guitar sizes existed. These days my acoustics are a Martin DRS2 and a Takamine G Series 12 string. If I were to get another acoustic I might get a 000-28
My 1st guitar (which I still own) was one of those $20 yard sale dreadnought guitars. It did feel kind of big when I was a teenager & in some way it kind of made me into a huge neck kind of guy due to it's 1.09" thick neck @ the 1st fret ... 1st guitars are that impressionable.
We bought a cheap Montana dreadnought from a guitar shop 20 years ago. It was uncomfortable. The body felt too big of course but also the neck and action. The finish on the back of the neck didn’t feel right and the strings never felt right when trying to learn chords. It’s been sitting in its case unused and mostly unplayed ever since. Fast forward to this year and I won a Taylor ad24ce which feels great and I look forward to practicing it almost every day now for the past couple of months.
You guys are great, good sense of humor. About the dreadnought I was I started playing my dad's 12 string it was grueling. Fat neck sore fingers. But when I got to a six string dreadnought it was a breeze. I don't feel comfortable with any other guitar except the dreadnought, basically for the sound I'm looking for. Also about don't get a dreadnought, tell that to Jake Workman LOL!
Come on guys, get a clue! Finest acoustic guitar I played was a Lowden, (Irish maker). Fylde are another great brand, made in UK. Tons of others if you care to look. Also, if you really want to understand the roots of bluegrass, you need to study the folk music of the British Isles. Not sure about “Danish Pete” but great guitar playing and guitar makers are alive and well in the UK!
. I feel like small acoustic group/gigs in smaller rooms benefit from the projection of a dreadnought. I had a Taylor 810 that I played at church which I traded, never should have let go. had a D-18 golden era with a big v neck which just became too difficult to play. Now its just a Martin GC model and no more bluegrass but I do miss it
Correct! I have a dreadnaught, but frankly it is not as comfortable to play as MANY other choices out there. But "cowboy" right? Well, sure, but I am a fingerstylist and frankly don't "need" a dreadnaught. I am 6'4" and can sit anywhere without arms and be fine, to include a couch, but again, still NOT as comfortable as other body shapes. And I also would direct folks to Taylor. I don't own one, but WILL. The Taylors simply feel better, melt into your body, and give you everything you really need (and frankly most want) in a much better way. Another point is that the better the guitar feels, and if you can eliminate shoulder issues and other things, the longer you will play. And that's SUPER important. That said, I think everyone should own a dreadnaught as well. LOL Just because. Cheers!
When a guitar is too big for someone your right arm kind of hangs over and this pressure drives the neck away from you, so in between chord changes your neck goes in and out. Yep comfort is key.
Sold my D18 and bought a J45 studio and couldn't fall in love with it. Bought a D28 and love it - but I also love the Yamaha FG800 (smaller, not as high end - but NICE)
Tried a dreadnought for my upgrade guitar (my 1st guitar was a cheep Epiphone 00 size). I loved the guitar but it didn’t love me. After playing 15 minutes my arm would go numb. Too big for my small size. I ended up selling it and having my local luthier make me a custom guitar 00 size. I like finger picking so cedar and rosewood sounds great. Now I have a guitar I love that I can play for hours.
Just bought the academy 10e over the weekend. Not my first acoustic but 100 percent agree about the size. Sound is incredible on Dreads. But if you can learn on something smaller do it!
I wish the guitar community made it more aware to get guitars based on height. Most of the time it's age but height is what it's all about when starting out unless the challenge is what people want at the start. full-size guitars are generally best for those over 5 feet tall, while 3/4 size guitars are more suitable for those between 4'2" and 5' tall. This ensures that the guitar is comfortable to hold and play, making the learning process much more enjoyable.
Of course, there is one big factor not taken in to account here: Playing in public setting with no amplification what so ever.( I'm not talking about a living room jam) I wonder if that situation exists in many places, now. As a result, the “It’s the guitar you can’t put down that’s right for you” doesn't apply! It's the "guitar that gets the job done" that is the main criteria.
Good topic and I do agree. If it's comfortable ,now days with the ever advanced in electronics .small guitars can nang with the best .little fine tuning can fit into the mix with no trouble
I saw the title of this video and thought, what the hell? so good job luring me in, guys. turns out I agree with you (you convinced me) and will start looking for a smaller acoustic guitar. I'm a little older and was just brought up on Jimmy Page with his D-28, so I thought that was the way to go- not knowing that smaller versions are capable of projection comparable to the old standard. not to mention, you can save a LOT of money by going with a smaller guitar. thanks for posting this.
I have been playing electric for a while but never had an acoustic. Went and tried a Taylor 114CE and loved it but was offered a 210CE for $200 less than the 114CE so I bought that. I am loving it but I get the point these guys are making. I don’t sit on a couch, I have a stool in the music room that I practice on so I am all good but…I get it. If I could I would have purchased a 214CE but that was half again what I paid.
As a 6'3 muscle gutted dude, a dreadnought is ok but still a bit uncomfortable to play i freaking love my Harley Benton CLJ-503CE WN (a jumbo) perfect in size & the tone is outstanding!!!
I'm of the opinion that a parlor guitar is the ultimate acoustic. My first guitar, which I still have, is a Stella parlor guitar from the 70s, I think.
I have a US Guild D-4 dreadnought since more tha 30 years. It was always my one and only guitar. Did´nt had any problems with it. But this year I did want to try something new. And now I have a Yamaha LJ 16. They call the body "medium jumbo". And it fits perfekt in my body. And the sound is exact that what I want to have on most of my music. And I bought a Sigma J200 copy. Solid spruce and maple. This guitar is nearly the opposite of the LJ16. Absolut round tone, and good bass. And its lies not to bad in my hands. Sometimes this guitar is this what I need. But my Guild is now only hanging at the wall. Sometimes I put it down, try some things, and hang it back. There is something in a dread, what is not mine.
I can sympathize with Baxter and Jonathan about the size of a dreadnaught. I have a limited edition Taylor 810e from a number of years ago that is 1/4" deeper than a standard dreadnaught. We all know that guitars are made of wood, but when I hold that guitar, I feel like I'm holding the whole tree! However, IMHO, nothing beats the sound of a dreadnaught if you want that traditional acoustic guitar sound.
Thanks for the Martin 15 series shoutout, Baxter! I’ve got one and couldn’t agree more about the quality and price point. Also, kinda weird to say, but it is the best smelling guitar!
I totally regret selling off my Martin 000 12 fret slot head. I replaced it with a Collings/Waterloo WLK 00 which is fantastic, but I still sometimes miss that 000... (The Waterloo 00 is so nice I ended up getting a second one for different tunings/string gauges.) I got the very first Taylor GS Mini to hit my town (like 10 years ago??) and liked it a lot, but it split badly down the center line within the first few months. (I live in the desert; it's rough on acoustic guitars.) I still recommend them to a lot of folks; I love that short scale... Dreadnoughts with a cutaway??? Most fugly configuration in my opinion. And I'm still searching for the right small body (00-000) 12 STRING (12 or 14 fret). I have a Taylor GA3-12 which is pretty close, but not quite 'old-timey' enough for me. I wish I could afford a Fraulini OS Stella style 12! Or that Waterloo would do a 00 size 12 string!
I'm 5'4 and weigh around 220, and I've only ever felt comfortable playing on Dreadnoughts. I've had a Taylor 114 and a K22, among some other smaller bodies guitars, and never felt satisfied with their sound. The only thing I really have to complain about is that I wish there was an armrest for my current Taylor, objectively just a comfy addition to have.
I have a 000, Dreadnought, and small Travel acoustic -- All are great, but nothing gets volume and can take the harder playing like the Dreadnought. Oh, Dreadnoughts should NOT have cutouts! 😁
How does this equation change if you slope those shoulders? I found Dreadnaughts too big for me, but I have a slope shouldered Epiphone (their newish inspired by line) and it's vastly more comfortable. I was shocked how much sloping the shoulders made a difference.
At 6'4" 270 lbs, anything but a dreadnought feels like a toothpick in my hands. I've been playing the same 65 Hummingbird since I was ten years old, at first it seemed a little big, but I loved the sound of the guitar so much, I just dealt with it till I grew into it. When you play the same guitar for 47 years, trust me, it becomes a part of you, it knows what I'm going to play next even before I do, dreadnaughts forever Baxter!
Not everyone is 6'4.. But yes we get what you mean. 👍
@@artr2ot everyone is 270 either. Dude is 6'4 270. Giant. I've played dreads my entire life. Long arms, big thin hands. And I still am starting to go to smaller guitars.
@@el34glo59I’m 5’8’’ and 160lbs and have never thought a dread was uncomfortable. To me an OM or OOO just doesn’t feel or sound right. If I want a smaller guitar for finger style I’ll play a classical guitar. For strumming, flat picking, and Travis picking I’ll stick with my Martin box
I’m 175cm tall. Feeling uncomfortable with dreadnought especially after shoulder injuries.
Hey hey hey! it's J - O - K! says Johnny Young. Johnny O'Keefe RIP - Aussie Rock n'Roll Star Frontman & Pioneer.?
I began June 1979 aged 10 on a Maton CW80/12 dreadnaught. I sucked the chrome off trailer-hitches totally with torque
converter Dysonesque force for years, I learnt by ear & at 54 I'm still learning but fear no music & my fave is playing with muso's 3x better than me. I can more often than not survive. Jonathan rocks Baxter is just disgusting &❤Little Tommy from Cleveland. I'm a guitarcheopteryx i.e. a guitar dinosaur fossil 🤘@Didyabringyabongalong Station🦘Central QLD🎸Oz🪃
Just bought my first real high-end acoustic, trading up from a MIM Martin DRS-1. It came down to a D-28 and 000-18. The 000-18 had a beautiful top end clarity, was thin-bodied so you could hug it closer to the body which made very comfortable to play in a sitting position. I got the D-28 because it had a magnificent bottom-end and the top end clarity in one package. I can live with the Dreadnought shape for that kind of sound.
I made the same mistake when I moved from just being a bassist and songwriter for bands to performing solo with an acoustic guitar. I bought a dread because I figured "that's what everyone plays". I spent a couple years struggling with it until I realized that the dread was working against me vocally. I don't have a lot of range, or power vocally and when I'd lean into the dread it would get that low mid range drive right where I work vocally. It wasn't until I switched to Gretsch Rancher Jumbos that I realized that the Jumbo was the right guitar design for me. When you lean in on a Jumbo it gets bigger and wider on the top and low end. Allowing my voice to still sit naturally right in between. I wish someone had mentioned this to me when I was starting. Great video.
1:) Buy a $200 Fender Dreadnought.
2:) Go to nearest Guitar Center.
3:) Play 'Recuerdos de la Alhambra.'
4:) Ask "Who is James Hetfield; isn't he the guy from Nirvana?"
5:) Walk out a Legend!
Bonus:) Find a way to inject, "Nah this is a Fender; it's the Best," into a conversation.
The 000-15M has turned out be my dream guitar. Had a D-28 but after a left shoulder injury that required 2 plates and a dozen 2" screws in my upper humorous, I lost the ability to wrap my arms around the D-28. I play mostly by myself or my wife and the sound of the 000-15M is so sweet and not overpowering, and just a perfect size for my new situation!
I'm 6'5 so find dreadnoughts comfortable but I just got a great deal on a Gibson LG-2 American Eagle and it's the uktimate couch guitar. I'm also impressed by how much bark and low end it's got for such a small body
Great topic for a video. I just always assumed the dreadnaught was basically the "it" acoustic and everything else was the oddball. I'm 6'2" with long enough arms that it shouldn't bother me, but I ended up going after a Martin 000-15M and it's the only acoustic I own now. Fits just perfect, plenty loud, great unique tone. I also used to be the "Nah man, you GOTTA put 13's on that acoustic for the toans, man." I play 10's on my electrics and decided to set up the 000 with 11's. Best decision I ever made.
6'2 isn't tall
Yes it is.
My first guitar was a Dreadnought. I don’t think it’s a coincidence I quit almost a month after starting. Never felt comfortable. Years later after making progress on electric, I came back to acoustic with a Taylor GA size. Much more better for me.
I would wager a lot of folks did about the same thing. I certainly did. While I can play dreadnaught fine, the Taylors are WAY more comfortable. I was actually shocked at how nice they felt. And as you know, how it feels matters. We play longer when the guitar feels better and melts into our bodies.
I had to get a smaller body style because I have a bad shoulder on my strumming hand side. But, I still love that low end bass when you strum an open chord.
I bought my son a Taylor Academy 12e-N to learn on. What a great 1st guitar. I often find myself picking it up.
I actually just got the Academy 10E this past weekend. Not my first acoustic but just a killer guitar.
@@LeanBackMac He's so lucky!!!!
@@taojones4941 Right! great choice, I would have loved one of those as a beginner. Plus you get the benefits of it too.
Martin apparently agrees. They now make a small, comfortable and uncharacteristically affordable laminate guitar that sounds pretty great. That being said, im 99 percent going in on an acoustasonic for my next guitar purely for comfort and ease of play with full understanding that it is sorta meh without an amp. I tried and quit guitar with a jumbo 20 years ago because the size made me touch every part of the instrument wrong as a learner, i mean every part was hard to reach and the thing was a pain in the ass just to hold. Martin Dreadnoughts sound beautiful, mind you. Make your decisions based on your own observations. Just try to wrap your head around the idea that a perfect guitar can be "unplayable" based on your body dimensions and skill in order that you dont sabotage and stymie your journey. It is frustrating to have music inside you and not be able to let it out:)
Great video!!! “It’s the guitar you can’t put down that’s right for you” I’m 6’2” and I love playing my 000-17 and RO 328. I also have a GS mini, wonderful, fun and easy to play. I think a GS mini should be the standard for all beginners, no matter your age or size.
How do you like the RO? I am interested in one and the new RO-342 looks beautiful.
After playing a 50 dollar classical guitar for a year I bought a gs mini as my first real guitar. Been playing it as my main acoustic since 2016 and I have never had the the urge to upgrade.
Have 6 guitars and my 000-17 loves me and I love it.
This applies to electrics too. You don't need a big, heavy guitar to get good tone. Small, light guitars are liberating. They make you want to move the guitar around more and you can play longer with a lighter guitar. I'm looking or a parlor acoustic now.
Parlors are so crisp and bright.
Especially really old ones.
They are fantastic for fingerstyle.
Nothing is more articulate.
While not a parlor guitar, I can’t recommend Taylor’s gs mini enough. I got one last year and it’s fantastic.
@@meanmrmustard7042 Good to know, I've been eyeing one of those for a few months now. Which one do you have? I've been looking at the mahogany or rosewood.
I'm a big guy I need a full size guitar for a full man not for a manlet, dreadnought guitar was made 1956* this boomers don't know about guitars
@@Dante.mb8 First Dreadnought appeared in 1916, not 1956. Just use what fits you better. Every acoustic size of guitar has its applications.
Love this. I play a 00-12 fret after years of dreadnought. Love the responsiveness of the smaller 12 fret guitar.
great topic, and one that's rarely discussed it seems. i'm a larger guy, but gravitate towards smaller guitars. this preference wasn't realized, however, until i was much older and had been playing for over a decade. i'd bought a parlor and was amazed at how much i enjoyed playing it. i have my dreads still but my main player today is an orchestra model. it's just so comfortable and excellent for fingerpicking.
yet another reason to play many guitars before buying.
I'm not a slight person and own several dreadnoughts. They are wonderful. However, I find that I am more inclined to grab a parlour or OM sized when I just want to play acoustically for fun. I also find my Gibson L00 or Boucher JP Cormier signature awesome for recording using a two mike method. We are all different and thus different guitars suit each of us differently.
Boucher's are awesome my friend!!
My favorite acoustic, 3/4 scale Martin, and I'm 60. Also, loved the "gut-shaped muscles" I have those, too.
I purchased one of the new Gibson J50 originals during Lockdown and it was the best thing I've ever done. It sounds and plays great. Also, it just looks so god darn cool that it makes me want to pick it up and play it. So important. I now own the guitar I always wanted but it was all through trial and error. I think the journey of buying and selling guitars as a young player is all part of the fun. Try stuff, find out what you like.
Similar story. I got a great deal on a used J-45 during lockdown, and I absolutely love it. I also love my 1996 Taylor 514c (grand auditorium, cedar top). Now I just need me a nice Martin parlor guitar to complete my acoustic collection! 🤔
Well done spelling it correctly . . .
I have a D-28 and a 000-28 and the auditorium size is SO much more comfortable to play. Good point letting people know regarding the alternatives. Mind you, I'm 72.
I am very happy with the 1 11/16 fretboard size.
I’m an at home player and 6’1” but I still prefer a 000 size guitar for its comfort. I mostly play at home on the couch. Slope shoulder dreads are more comfortable for me on the couch.
I’ve always loved smaller acoustic guitars, the newest feature I’m loving is the little shaved corner on the upper bought, it really makes my arm fall in a more comfortable way. I don’t have a guitar with that feature but I would point a new player in that direction as it is a big boost in the comfort area.
D&D Noval Traveller for that arm rest
i don't play acoustic, but sometimes when i don't feel like plugging into an amp i just grab my ES339 and play it acoustically/unplugged. You don't get the true acoustic sound but it is loud enough when practicing at home and messing about.
I have a 335 out of the case which fills that same roll around here.
I have a Gretsch that covers the same territory but even a small acoustic has such a different tone.
Yep, same thing w/ my 335.
Same
Same with my Casino
My main guitar for the last few years has been a Martin dreadnought, but recently I bought a Guild OM and, between the comfortable body size, the wider nut width, and the thicker neck, I found it much more comfortable to play and I love the more balanced sound as well. I'll never get rid of my Martin, but it's nice to have choices.
Don't get rid of your dread or you will regret it
@@jjoltra oh I never will! It's still my favorite guitar and the one I connect with most.
6’3” 280. Most guitars look like ukuleles on me
Played a Takamine dreadnought exclusively for over 10 years, for writing recording and performing, in perpetual discomfort, then bought a cheap 3/4 sized Tanglewood and now I only play the old big boy once in a blue moon - I get it out of the case, noodle around going “woahhhh that sounds sooo gooood”…. then I put it back in the case under the bed and proceed to play my tinny little Tanglewood again everyday because it’s just so comfortable (yeah small hands help). Ergonomics can be more important than tone if you want to enjoy and progress in your playing.
For younger players or those with smaller hands the Taylor Baby was exceptional, I have a Yairi-Alvarez DY51 & 65 Dove but gave my wife a Baby Taylor for her first acoustic and she loved it until fell in love with Fender Electric Guitars
6’ tall, 185 lbs., tune down D to D, strum hard, sing loudly, and always play standing up, so I can sing / practice for the stage…. Dreadnoughts and Jumbos are the only size guitars I own. Once bought a concert size, and gave it to my daughter after playing 1 hour… the smaller guitar just didn’t work with my tuning and style, and felt like a uke in my hands…
And then Baxter said, “Dreadnoughts don’t have cutaways…” YES! If you want to shred 20th fret leads, buy a friggin Strat or Les Paul, and leave my dreadnoughts alone! THNX Baxter!
Your telling me you’ve never played on the 15 fret and had the non cutaway get in the way?
@gunkanjima3408 true... I have not. As lead singer / rhythm guitarist, I play first position chords and finger pick in the first position. I have never touched the fretboard above the 9th fret. So, for me, no cutaway means more low-end and overall better tone. Keep strumming!
@GluedBarstool yes, I had a P4DC. I sold it and replaced it with a Glenn Frey non-cutaway... better low end, better overall tone. Keep strumming!
First bought a dread, tried upgrading but the dread was the most comfortable size for me and the biggest nice sound. Im 1,73cm.
From my very little experience sitting down with different bodies, the grand concert seems to be a great fit for me...big sound with not the biggest size.
I randomly stumbled across your channel and I want to Know about my Dreadnought acoustic i literally found while working as a trash man over 2 years ago in excellent condition. I considered learning to play after but I've kept it in a case since then. This video is helping me reconsider.
I have a 0-18 an absolutely love it. It’s great when hanging out on the couch and the wife doesn’t complain about it being too loud.
Billy Strings is 5’9” and Dreadnaughts are his main guitar.
Acoustic - Personally -
1- Yamaha NTX1 Classical Nylon Acoustic
2- PRS Parlor SE P20E
3- Fender Newporter/Ibanez AEG0N/Ovation Elite/Luna/Love Breed/Taylor
these are all under $800 and for the most part are really good, small and large size with a classical acoustic.
Then personally speaking when you are advanced get a Martin and Gibson.
For starters here's a few types: Dreadnought, Jumbo, Auditorium (regular or Grande) Classical, Parlor, Travel and many many more. A problem arises when the parent doesn't know a guitar from a broomstick so they're at the mercy of the salesman so take a friend who does play. Nothing infuriates me more than the parent who says, " we'll just get a cheap one and if he/she remains keen on the guitar then we'll get a better one" Believe me the poor kid WILL LOSE INTEREST if his first guitar is a shit box. I'm 70 but I was really keen in spite of the piece of crap I was forced to play. I remember my first decent guitar was a Gold-top and it was like being in heaven. and having a great guitar really inspires the player. Also get the thing set up properly the kid will thank you for it later.
You are right. I'm a 48 year old on my tenth or so attempt at learning the guitar. My folks got me a cheapo which I have tried to play (and quit), over and over, for the better part of 4 decades. I'll give it a couple of months, think I'll never learn it, and put it in storage for 5 years. Repeat.
I bought a used 2002 Taylor 810 dreadnaught in 2019. Near mint condition, had it set up to Taylor specs... I just can't fall in love with this guitar no matter how hard I try. I played a Taylor 818e in GC and it blew me away, just fantastic tone and feel. However, expensive!
I thought I always wanted a dreadnaught... and I thought I NEEDED a Martin. The budget for my first guitar didn't let me get the Martin, so I got a Fender.... dreadnaught. And then I went and played a bunch of other guitars, to include Martins. But I didn't like how the necks felt on the Martins. They were just too "chunky" for me. But I still loved a classic dreadnaught.
The problem for me was that my shoulder tended to hurt when playing for any amount of time. I could reposition, but it just didn't feel right.
That brings me to Taylor..... I didn't think they were for me. But I PLAYED one. And the way it seemed to melt into my body, and I LOVED the neck profile. More so than that, my shoulder didn't even notice I was playing.
What Taylor was it? The 14 series.... yup, the Grand Auditorium. And guess what? When you do the measurements it's the SAME AS A DREADNAUGHT IN SIZE. The shape and narrower waist just makes it sit differently. But it's no smaller than a dreadnaught. And for my ACTUAL style of playing (not what I had "thought" I would) it is perfect. I am not a bluegrass player, nor really a strummer. I am a pretty simple finger stylist. And for that... oh yes. The Taylor 14 series is the right choice for me.
I have several guitars, but my go-to is my Taylor 314cd LTD.
That all said, some of the comments being made clearly miss the point of what this video presented. The video could have better expressed some of their points, but... there it is. Always TRY different sizes and shapes, and learn what works for YOU... in reality, not in "your mind". Cheers!
I'm 6'5, a very large guy. A dreadnought feels perfect to me in most scenarios. I've never picked up a small acoustic and really enjoyed the form factor, personally.
I'm 6,5 too and play a LP Custom. Looks a bit weird but I can't be bothered.
I'm 6'7 I can only play jumbo
Got a Gibson L-00. Very pleased with it. The L-00 Studio is probably not worth it for the $1849 they're trying to sell it for (maybe the sunburst but even that's still a stretch) but I got it for $1249 in the natural finish on clearance at Sam Ash and it outplays and outperforms every other Gibson I've played in the pricerange.
I prefer an OM to a Dreadnought. The 000 body just fits me better and the I want the same scale length as the Dreadnought. So when it came time to upgrade to a Martin I went with the OM-21
I got a 000 LAG. Hangs on the wall right next to me in the studio all day. Gets played many times throughout the day. All the big acoustics are in the cases out of the way. Only get pulled out when necessary which has not been that often since I have the LAG.
@casinoguitars I'm a small guy and I have always wanted dread! Ive lusted after them for years. in 2015 I finally saved up enough cash to buy a D-28 I went to my local guitar center to pick one out and somewhere along the way I ended up getting distracted and playing an 814ce and thought it sounded so much better than the Martins I had been playing at the store. The nut width and string spacing on the Taylor felt big to me so it was not the most comfortable guitar for me play...... but the guy at guitar center gave me a screaming deal on it so I took it home and figured I would get used to it.......... well its now 2022 and that guitar has basically sat in its case for 7 years... I've played maybe 2 or 3 shows with it............. Now if I'm playing acoustic i just strum the same Takamine G series jumbo Ive had since Highschool. I definitely learned it doesn't matter how good a guitar sounds if you don't like playing it, It will sit in its case.
Sad / sell it then.
As for me, opposite story : got a 17 inches jumbo for its sound and gradually got used to its size and depth ... To the point that I now find it comfortable ... And later got a 17 inches dread too.
(A jumbo is more comfortable to play than a dread bcz if its small waist)
I bought me a Washburn acoustic, it is shaped like a grand auditorium and has a nice amount of bass and treble and midrange that stays out of way of vocals. Fishman electronics do a nice work for recording. The piezo has a good sound. I am 5ft 11in tank , but I like a smaller guitar. It is all about ease of use and responsiveness for me.
Great advice! - when you reach the level where you can play then get the tool that fits your need … until then - get something playable. Taylor playability saved my interest in acoustic playing.
I want a Gibson super jumbo so bad.
It's got so much power. And I love the flamed maple.
I bought a full solid Sigma SGJA SG200 this year. It´s a perfect Gibson J200 super jumbo copy. I payed €1450.-- for it. And yes, it is fantastic. Round tone and a verry good bass. But a Guitar with solid maple is not the most powerfull guitar. The maple makes the tone round, and this we pay with a little bit of volume. I think it´s worth it.
But dont worry, a J200 is more loud than a lot of dreadnoughts.
I recently acquired 2 Collings acoustics, an OM2HT and A D1AT and the OM gets played about 80% of the time. My shoulder is much happier for it. When I need that volume and growl I get the dread out, but otherwise the OM is the primary player.
I'm craving a Collings OM2
I thought that I had to have the old dread! I recently sold mine and bought a Martin custom shop 0000-18 sinker!! To me it’s the best of both worlds! Sounds unbelievable and the size is perfect. I still get that big sound for strumming, and the size is perfect. I feel the 0000 doesn’t get enough love or attention.
What exactly is a "sinker?"
@@JasonChannell it’s a type of mahogany, old harvest stuff that’s been sitting at the bottom of a river for a few hundred years.
@@JasonChannell here’s a quick video about it. ua-cam.com/video/T8WlxvOORM4/v-deo.html
@@JasonChannell its just a type of mahogany. i bought my 0000-18s at Gruhn’s in Nashville. They had a ton of body styles in sinker. They all sound amazing.
You make some valid points. My first guitar was a Yamaha dreadnought and I got used to it so much that I recently upgraded to a Guild dread. Every smaller bodied guitar seemed wimpy in sound in comparison. I was even tempted to get a jumbo, but I didn't think I would enjoy standing up and playing it. I don't regret buying another dread, HOWEVER, I do want to purchase a jumbo and OM to balance out my collection. Gotta save up for them, though. The good ones ain't cheap.
My Collings D2H original hang tag says on the back of it 'The Banjo Killer' :-) I have three dreads. Been playing bluegrass for quite a while. An old D28 and and old D18. Never parting with them. (oh - and 6'7")
Now I’m a Martin Fan for sure, I have a D18 and an OM28 but I will say that they both inspire you in different ways which is the best part. But I agree that the d18 is the best guitar to record with! And even though I’m a Martin Fan, I would love to have a Taylor and a Gibson and any other guitar hahah
I love my Taylor 514c and Gibson J-45. Now I'm in the hunt for a smaller sized Martin to round out my collection!
I just had this conversation with someone after church on Sunday, who was thinking about getting a guitar. Great video topic!
Back in 2011 I wanted to buy myself a really good steelstring guitar. I played a Washburn dreadnought so far. I ended up selecting either a Martin HD28 or OM28. I chose the HD28. Because I was used to a dreadnought, and everybody said: you sound great with that HD28! But actually it was a big mistake for several reasons: I wanted to get into acoustic fingerstyle and Tommy Emmanuel stuff, and a dreadnought is just not a good guitar for practicing several hours, and it's also too heavy to play that stuff. I am 172cm tall, which is not so big either.
I have a D-18, and I’m not a big guy. I do play bluegrass occasionally, and not very well. But you are right, it’s NOT a couch guitar. There are only certain places I can sit to play it, that thing is huge. And when I’m practicing bad blue grass licks my neighbors complain, I have amps that are quieter.
Just started 38 5"10 180 lbs spent Months researching guitars tried ALL sizes yeah Dreadnought is a handful but eas the most comfy not all of them tho . But THE SOUND !!!! What got to me trough my soul !!!
I'm a pretty average sized guy at 5'11" and I found the old Yamaha for $40 that is a 7/8 sized guitar and I absolutely love the shape.
Gut shaped muscles. I'm cleaning up the orange juice now.lol
I had a shoulder injury a few years ago (picking hand side) that limited my arm's range of motion. Unfortunately it causes me pain to get my arm around those fat bodied acoustic guitars. Dreadnought in particular. I can only play electric or thinline acoustic guitars.
I wish I had known this a year ago when I bought my first guitar. I bought a Fender CD-60S, which is a very cheap Dreadnought -- too cheap, as it turns out. And so very uncomfortable. I never could *fit* around the thing. So I just bought a Taylor Academy 12e to replace it -- Grand Concert size, and a far higher quality, overall. It shipped yesterday, and I hope to receive it tomorrow. *SO* very much looking forward to it, because this Fender is 100% holding me back. I wish I had known about the Taylor Academy 12e a year ago...
I have a dozen guitars and they are all Jumboes, mostly of the honking big 17" variety. Gibson, Epiphone, Taylor, Guild, and a Sigma. Love their balanced sound in 6 and 12 string varieties. Small Grand Concert to monster Grand Orchestra, both rosewood. Yum. Fingerpick and/or strum. For this septuagenarian, no dreadnoughts need apply.
Good video.
I play a small bodied takamine with 11s. Fills my bedroom with sound just fine and fingerpicks like a dream 😍
I've had a taylor 110e dread for years now. Beat it up pretty good. It's great. I bought a Taylor 324ce last year and it's amazing I like the mid sized acoustics. Jumbo sized not so much lol
My next acoustic will be a dreadnaught--but that is because my main guitar for the last 30+ years is a '53 00-17.
I LOVE that guitar, but I also want (on occasion) to have that contrasting big Dreadnaught sound.
My couch/chair guitar is the PRS P20E. I'm 6'6" 300 lbs. so I can "accommodate" a dreadnought size in my recliner, but the parlor is the perfect size. Just easier.
In my opinion, if you start with a dreadnought, you’ll be ruined to the way any other sized guitar will sound.
An E chord on a D-18, or some open-tuning on a J-45 and you’re in heaven!
My first acoustic guitar was a Takamine F Series dread that I bought in the mid 80s. At the time I didn’t know that other guitar sizes existed. These days my acoustics are a Martin DRS2 and a Takamine G Series 12 string. If I were to get another acoustic I might get a 000-28
A have a 1982 takamine ef340 man those ef and f series are amazing guitars,I picked mine up for $400with hardshell case
I started with a yamaha apx500. Bought a Dreadnought. Been quite the adjustment I must say. Glad I stuck with it. Love the dread tone
My 1st guitar (which I still own) was one of those $20 yard sale dreadnought guitars. It did feel kind of big when I was a teenager & in some way it kind of made me into a huge neck kind of guy due to it's 1.09" thick neck @ the 1st fret ... 1st guitars are that impressionable.
We bought a cheap Montana dreadnought from a guitar shop 20 years ago. It was uncomfortable. The body felt too big of course but also the neck and action. The finish on the back of the neck didn’t feel right and the strings never felt right when trying to learn chords. It’s been sitting in its case unused and mostly unplayed ever since.
Fast forward to this year and I won a Taylor ad24ce which feels great and I look forward to practicing it almost every day now for the past couple of months.
just made a video talking about some of this stuff and you guys nailed it 🙏🤟 it wasn't for me as a teenager
You guys are great, good sense of humor. About the dreadnought I was I started playing my dad's 12 string it was grueling. Fat neck sore fingers. But when I got to a six string dreadnought it was a breeze. I don't feel comfortable with any other guitar except the dreadnought, basically for the sound I'm looking for. Also about don't get a dreadnought, tell that to Jake Workman LOL!
Come on guys, get a clue! Finest acoustic guitar I played was a Lowden, (Irish maker). Fylde are another great brand, made in UK. Tons of others if you care to look. Also, if you really want to understand the roots of bluegrass, you need to study the folk music of the British Isles. Not sure about “Danish Pete” but great guitar playing and guitar makers are alive and well in the UK!
. I feel like small acoustic group/gigs in smaller rooms benefit from the projection of a dreadnought. I had a Taylor 810 that I played at church which I traded, never should have let go.
had a D-18 golden era with a big v neck which just became too difficult to play. Now its just a Martin GC model and no more bluegrass but I do miss it
Correct! I have a dreadnaught, but frankly it is not as comfortable to play as MANY other choices out there. But "cowboy" right? Well, sure, but I am a fingerstylist and frankly don't "need" a dreadnaught. I am 6'4" and can sit anywhere without arms and be fine, to include a couch, but again, still NOT as comfortable as other body shapes. And I also would direct folks to Taylor. I don't own one, but WILL. The Taylors simply feel better, melt into your body, and give you everything you really need (and frankly most want) in a much better way.
Another point is that the better the guitar feels, and if you can eliminate shoulder issues and other things, the longer you will play. And that's SUPER important.
That said, I think everyone should own a dreadnaught as well. LOL Just because.
Cheers!
I really ❤ my Yamaha F340bl 1999 that I bought when i was 17. I'm so in love with it still. I'm 5.9" tho
You guys really are my favorites. Great episode!
When a guitar is too big for someone your right arm kind of hangs over and this pressure drives the neck away from you, so in between chord changes your neck goes in and out.
Yep comfort is key.
Sold my D18 and bought a J45 studio and couldn't fall in love with it. Bought a D28 and love it - but I also love the Yamaha FG800 (smaller, not as high end - but NICE)
Body size doesn’t mean it’s louder than something smaller. Can just handle being strummed harder to be heard
And out of all the sizes a
single O or parlor is still my favorite of all time I woke up with that guitar next to me more time’s than I can imagine
Good point. Tony Rice was tall, with long arms. Some of have short arms.
Tried a dreadnought for my upgrade guitar (my 1st guitar was a cheep Epiphone 00 size). I loved the guitar but it didn’t love me. After playing 15 minutes my arm would go numb. Too big for my small size. I ended up selling it and having my local luthier make me a custom guitar 00 size. I like finger picking so cedar and rosewood sounds great. Now I have a guitar I love that I can play for hours.
Only issues are the size or if you fingerpick a lot. Otherwise Dreads are the most full rich sound for playing live, alone or w bands.
Just bought the academy 10e over the weekend. Not my first acoustic but 100 percent agree about the size. Sound is incredible on Dreads. But if you can learn on something smaller do it!
I wish the guitar community made it more aware to get guitars based on height. Most of the time it's age but height is what it's all about when starting out unless the challenge is what people want at the start.
full-size guitars are generally best for those over 5 feet tall, while 3/4 size guitars are more suitable for those between 4'2" and 5' tall. This ensures that the guitar is comfortable to hold and play, making the learning process much more enjoyable.
Of course, there is one big factor not taken in to account here: Playing in public setting with no amplification what so ever.( I'm not talking about a living room jam) I wonder if that situation exists in many places, now. As a result, the “It’s the guitar you can’t put down that’s right for you” doesn't apply! It's the "guitar that gets the job done" that is the main criteria.
Good topic and I do agree. If it's comfortable ,now days with the ever advanced in electronics .small guitars can nang with the best .little fine tuning can fit into the mix with no trouble
I saw the title of this video and thought, what the hell? so good job luring me in, guys. turns out I agree with you (you convinced me) and will start looking for a smaller acoustic guitar. I'm a little older and was just brought up on Jimmy Page with his D-28, so I thought that was the way to go- not knowing that smaller versions are capable of projection comparable to the old standard. not to mention, you can save a LOT of money by going with a smaller guitar. thanks for posting this.
For me it simple. Play with pick nothing beat a Dread. Play with finger ? Buy a good OM. Or a Taylor with their trending GA shape if you do both
I have been playing electric for a while but never had an acoustic. Went and tried a Taylor 114CE and loved it but was offered a 210CE for $200 less than the 114CE so I bought that. I am loving it but I get the point these guys are making. I don’t sit on a couch, I have a stool in the music room that I practice on so I am all good but…I get it. If I could I would have purchased a 214CE but that was half again what I paid.
As a 6'3 muscle gutted dude, a dreadnought is ok but still a bit uncomfortable to play i freaking love my Harley Benton CLJ-503CE WN (a jumbo) perfect in size & the tone is outstanding!!!
Im 6'6 and agree
I'm of the opinion that a parlor guitar is the ultimate acoustic. My first guitar, which I still have, is a Stella parlor guitar from the 70s, I think.
I have a US Guild D-4 dreadnought since more tha 30 years. It was always my one and only guitar. Did´nt had any problems with it. But this year I did want to try something new. And now I have a Yamaha LJ 16. They call the body "medium jumbo". And it fits perfekt in my body. And the sound is exact that what I want to have on most of my music. And I bought a Sigma J200 copy. Solid spruce and maple. This guitar is nearly the opposite of the LJ16. Absolut round tone, and good bass. And its lies not to bad in my hands. Sometimes this guitar is this what I need.
But my Guild is now only hanging at the wall. Sometimes I put it down, try some things, and hang it back. There is something in a dread, what is not mine.
I can sympathize with Baxter and Jonathan about the size of a dreadnaught. I have a limited edition Taylor 810e from a number of years ago that is 1/4" deeper than a standard dreadnaught. We all know that guitars are made of wood, but when I hold that guitar, I feel like I'm holding the whole tree! However, IMHO, nothing beats the sound of a dreadnaught if you want that traditional acoustic guitar sound.
I've played a dreadnought once. I couldn't see the fretboard because of the thickness of the guitar. So I bought a concert sized guitar.
I’ve played almost 1000 shows on my 2016 000-15sm since it was new. Wouldn’t have any other size.
000-16gt here - first good guitar i got 20 years ago and shockingly I still have it 😂
Thanks for the Martin 15 series shoutout, Baxter! I’ve got one and couldn’t agree more about the quality and price point. Also, kinda weird to say, but it is the best smelling guitar!
I totally regret selling off my Martin 000 12 fret slot head. I replaced it with a Collings/Waterloo WLK 00 which is fantastic, but I still sometimes miss that 000... (The Waterloo 00 is so nice I ended up getting a second one for different tunings/string gauges.)
I got the very first Taylor GS Mini to hit my town (like 10 years ago??) and liked it a lot, but it split badly down the center line within the first few months. (I live in the desert; it's rough on acoustic guitars.) I still recommend them to a lot of folks; I love that short scale...
Dreadnoughts with a cutaway??? Most fugly configuration in my opinion.
And I'm still searching for the right small body (00-000) 12 STRING (12 or 14 fret). I have a Taylor GA3-12 which is pretty close, but not quite 'old-timey' enough for me. I wish I could afford a Fraulini OS Stella style 12! Or that Waterloo would do a 00 size 12 string!
Great analysis, you're totally right
I'm 5'4 and weigh around 220, and I've only ever felt comfortable playing on Dreadnoughts. I've had a Taylor 114 and a K22, among some other smaller bodies guitars, and never felt satisfied with their sound. The only thing I really have to complain about is that I wish there was an armrest for my current Taylor, objectively just a comfy addition to have.
Get a Martin 000-28 Custom Authentic 1937. You'll change your mind on short scales. And I've always been a dread guy
I have a 000, Dreadnought, and small Travel acoustic -- All are great, but nothing gets volume and can take the harder playing like the Dreadnought. Oh, Dreadnoughts should NOT have cutouts! 😁
How does this equation change if you slope those shoulders? I found Dreadnaughts too big for me, but I have a slope shouldered Epiphone (their newish inspired by line) and it's vastly more comfortable. I was shocked how much sloping the shoulders made a difference.