Cutaway vs Non-Cutaway: Does it affect the sound?
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- Опубліковано 24 сер 2024
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Does a Cutaway affect The Sound of an Acoustic Guitar?
This video compares two Gibson Songwriter Deluxe Studio acoustic guitars. One is a cutaway and the other is a non-cutaway with a burst finish. Other than the cutaway and finish, these guitars are identical. Same woods, same strings, same appointments, same everything.
Listen as Tony plays the two guitars back-to-back. Can you hear the difference? Let us know in the comments below!
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any avid guitar player will notice the sound difference.. non cut away sounds a little deeper and richer. i like cut aways for the access to higher frets. but i love the warmness of the full body.. ugh such a hard decision for a buyer!!!!
Exactly my thoughts!
Yeah, I completely agree. It's a shame to have to sacrifice the bass to get lower neck access.
The non-cutaway pretty clearly has better sympathetic resonances, especially in the lower end.
I would just get the cutaway with some medium gauge strings, to kinda make up for lack of a warm full bodied sound.
I agree but what about a comparison with the standard venetian cut away and the florentine cutaway
The cut away has slightly more clarity but the non cut away has a fuller all round sound. Both as good as each other in my opinion
Agreed.
Caolan Ohara Very sensible of you. You have helped me choose my 1st new guitar. :)
Caolan Ohara also the guitars are not similair in its form which affects the sound too...
+Caolan Ohara I noticed that also. Cutaway has more focus. Non cutaway is fuller sounding. Both sound decent but not great IMO.
+Caolan Ohara Sort of tempted to record one of each of the same parts and layer them.
Damn, I knew it, this video justified the reason why I own more than one guitar.
I prefer the cutaway sound personally, I find it a lot brighter as well as have more clarity then without, but without has more bass end. Interesting, I'd love to own both though anyday
Than not then!
Cutaway sounds a little bit Sul Ponticello and the Non-Cutaway sounds a little bit Sul Tasto. I really believe the Cutaway will cut the mix (away).
im sold on the cut away.
i could simply play closer to the bridge to produce more brightness with the tension of the string on a full body......
@@antman2826 you and the 10 goofs that make any big deal of this are worthless
I think you should have done a song that reaches the high frets to demonstrate the difference why you would want a cutaway in the first place
Too look cool, right?
To not have all the higher frets be blocked
Lmao
I have cut away on both my dreadnoughts and i can probably count with the fingers on one hand the amount of times i've found it necessary haha.
Were talking about the sound not what it can do
Non-cut has fuller sound. I prefer that one. Thanks for comparison. You got a new sub.
I think that depends on the tone woods being used. Try to use the same rosewood tone and it seems has no difference. The rosewood back and sides really differs with mahogany, maple or koa backs and sides.
But non cutaways are problematic while playing acoustic solos
I think it's really down to preference and what you need the guitar for, I'd say that the cutaway is good if played with other instruments, due to it have a brighter sound, so it'd be more prominent, the non-cutaway is good for solo playing, or maybe playing a rhythm bit in a song with a band.
Personally I prefer the sound of the non-cutaway
It DOES make a difference! I’d noticed when recording that my cutaway had a distinct “nasally” tone that I was not able to factor out. I began to wonder if it was something intrinsic to the guitar itself, which led me to your video. Thanks for the great vid!
I would take the cutaway out of the two. It sounds much brighter and for those people saying it lacks bass, just use a thicker pick. The cutaway is sexier plus you can easily access those higher frets. Viva cutaway....
The most noticeable difference is certainly the low end. Much more equal volume on the non-cutaway.
I'm sure the darker paint also makes a difference.
+I just want to post comments Apao hahahahahahahaa
Most experience luthiers are cautious in applying paint to the guitars caused overcoating it can greatly affect the tonal quality of the unit.
non cut has fuller sound, I like it more
Non cutaway sounds much fuller. I notice a fair amount of difference actually...I wanted a cutaway but I think I'll go with the standard acoustic.
I do quite a bit of blues 12th fret beyond. I would want one but I'm more for the sound
The cutaway has a brighter and twangier sound, especially on the higher notes. While the non-cutaway has a much warmer and fuller sound, especially on the lower notes.
I can't believe it! I actually prefer the sound of the cutaway. It sounds richer and maybe a smidge brighter.
From this comparison I found I actually prefer the cutaway sound too, it's the sound of the country music I listen to. So im glad to find out you don't lose much with the cutaway
Very nicely produced video. The trouble taken to make a direct comparison possible is really appreciated. Thanks!
Very good comparison, personally I prefer the bright more high end tone the cutaway produces the non-cutaway was far bassier and was missing the nice crisp sound.
Cutaway model sounds (kind of) Martin-ish, doesn't it?
shiraga Thats exactly what I was thinking.
I would rather to buy cut away because it sound so clearly and a bit crips...it nice for higher notes and probably for female songs
Wow what a difference! They both sound great! I noticed the cut away had more of a snarl growling midrange and had more treble in it so it was brighter.
I could hear a diminished volume on the high end with the cutaway, the standard had a richer fuller tone over all, they both sound beautifully, I suspect when they're plugged in, there's no difference whatsoever....
non-cutaway has more bass and mid tones for me cut away has more of the upper registered sounds :) really just depends on the genre and personal taste
the cutaway is so much brighter, but it lacks the bellow of the non cutaway.
Brighter?
Well I don't know about the others but I like the one with the cutaway better cuz I like the brighter sound. And my voice fits more if it's backed by the cutaway.
on that last melody though, i loved the non cutaway though. it was more intense with the added bass
I like the cutaway sound better but I can definitely see a non cutout being more appropriate for certain genres such as country music.
I usually associate brighter sounds country music.
currently asking myself "go for the cutaway sacrifice the bass but get more clarity and access to higher keys" or "go for the no cutaway and enjoy full bassy tone with warmth" so damn hard..... :(
+Jonathan Modoh choose the non cutaway,your not having fun in cut away the tone was so dry.
Jun Ric Punay what do you mean dry it sounds pretty nice in this video tbh
+Jonathan Modoh maybe if your playing on it with full band.but for me as a solo acoustic guitarist I prefered to use non cut it has a nice BASS response,and thats the very important factor for me hehehe specialy when ur a 1 man band or solo.
Jun Ric Punay ah ok haha I wish the cutaway could keep the benefits of a non cutaway since I do like to use the high keys sometimes but unfortunately nope :( cutaway wont be as bassy which sucks!
+Jonathan Modoh boss AD-3 floor based acoustic processing,gives a warmer richer sound I think that would be ur last option probably men
The Cutaway design is really an Ergonomic variation of the traditional design to where the high notes are easier to reach, a good balance between aesthetic & playability. All those Electric Guitars have body shapes that are essentially Ergonomic variations of the traditional Acoustic shape too. Fasions come & go all the time due to updates.
As a jazz guitarist that plays all over the fretboard, I prefer cut aways. But you need a good maker that actually pays attention to the intonation up top and sets the frets really well. I do not buy into the argument that non cut aways sounds fuller. Move your right hand towards the bridge for brighter tone and away for warmer tone. If you want a fuller sound more bass, use heavier strings or upgrade your saddle, nut and pins. Depending on the setup, you can vary the tone and feel quite a ways. Also if you gig a lot, you are going to plug in anyway and I find cut-aways feedback less.
moving your hands across the guitar and the setup of your guitar in terms of strings, nut, sadle etc makes a whole lot of difference on the sound.
still prefer the non cutaway guitar. just a fuller and more beefy sound.
+ishta Why do cutaways feedback less? I am thinking of switching from cutaway to non-cutaway so very curious.
Oh my goodness, I turned my head away for a second while listening to the cutaway and instantly heard a change in fullness. When I turned back towards my computer I noticed you had switched to the non-cutaway. Definitely a change. I love the full sound of the non-cutaway. All my guitars are cutaway. Dang! Thanks for the comparison. Learn something new every day.
I do realise this video is almost seven years old, but I can't help leaving a comment. I'm amazed the difference in tone is so noticeable to my ear. In fact, I did not expect to hear any. Thank you for the comparison.
Another factor that also comes into play is just the tonality of the wood in each guitar. You can pick up 2 exactly the same acoustics and there is a possibility one will sound different, better or worse, than the other. Wood is a natural material and like any natural material there will be inconsistencies.
You are exactly correct Justin.....It has nothing to do with the cutaway....It has everything to do with the individual guitar and the individuals preferences.
albertaviking HI, I am a pofessional keyboard player but am into learning guitar now, can you please recomend which one, I am confused b/w Nylon or steel and cutaway and non cutaway. However I do like the base in cutaway, so for a starter what shoudl I choose and which make? My budget is around £100 or $140 .Thanks
Thanks for the comparison. I heard no difference and now feel more comfortable buying a cutaway.
Listen again !!
Listen with better monitors or good headphones. There's a big difference ! The full body has more bass while the cutaway is brighter.
Yeah - go with your own perceptions. Mostly people hear what they expect to hear, so any comparison can not be remotely objective unless done blind.
It's not a question of personal expectation. There is a clear and distinct difference. Even blindly tested.
That said, What you prefer is your choice. But we can't say they sound the same.
They sound identical, deaf noob.
I think the difference is the cutaway dampens some of the harmonic overtones on the higher notes. They seem to ring just as long but there’s less full range to them. You can hear them sounding a little tinnier, like some of the comments they’re not as full
Cutaway has a more focused sharper to establish. The non-cutaway has a fuller tone, but some of the notes sound muddier and drowned out. Other than those differences, they both sound great.
I would've demo'd both guitars with their onboard pickups. This would eliminate mic placement error and give a better representation as to the physics of how the sound pressure levels are resonating inside those guitars... not out of them.
I love the sound on the cutaway. sounds a bit more broad
I like how you cut back and forth between guitars while playing the same song. It makes it easier to tell the difference.
Absolutely Professional Video. Nice work..! Very helpful.
Wish all videos were this quality
Non cutaway just sounds lower
Cutaway sounds crisper, non-cut sounds very full and maybe a bit boomy for my taste.
agree with u both
I personally like the cutaway more thoug
I like that kind of jangly tone
you know that kind of crispy tone
***** If someone held a gun to my head, I'd have to say it is when it sounds like the harmonics burst out rather quickly when two or more strings are played, particularly when they are rich enough to sound almost blurry and overwhelm the fundamental notes a bit. I mean that in a good sense.
Video was made 6 years ago but still the best I've seen❤️
In your application there is a slight difference in sound. As one mentioned the sound is brighter, more crisp. The cutaway was designed to allow better access down the fretboard.
Great comparison. I have to say its different but I liked them both. It probably comes down to how often you need to go above 12th fret. I'm very slightly preferring the cutaway in sound and also because (annoyingly) I need to play above 12th fret sometimes.
Non cutaway is more denser while the cutaway is more open
You are missing one key point. NO two guitars sound the same. They are all made from different cuts of wood... Even if they are from the same tree they will have different tonal and resonant properties.... Is it the cutaway? Or is it just the fact that they are made from different cuts of wood, which is part of the whole beauty of acoustic guitars and playing them until you find that exact guitar that sounds like "the one" to you....
Damn, this video is 9 years old. I was like 18 when this came out. Damn time flew by hard.
I like the cut away and it sound clear and precise.
I think that the sound that was on the non cutaway was not as Bright as the Cutaway
I've never played guitar but I did play piano years and years ago and it's such a distinct difference.
Choosing is more difficult than I thought but I appreciate the video!
Yes, sound quite different !
Cutaway is more sharp !
Thanks for your comparison.
You cant make guitar sound the same.. Even the same model will sound differently . With that being said yes there is a difference .
I think if you took two identical guitars (either cutaways or full, doesn't matter), you could hear that much difference. Every guitar is unique. The grain of the wood, the glue on the bracings, the neck setup, everything will affect the sound. In order to truly hear if there is a different between a cutaway and a non-cutaway, you should have about five of each of them, compare them all, and then see if there is a consistent difference between the five cutaways and the five non-cutaways. Otherwise the only real conclusion you can draw is that those two particular guitars sound different, and whether it is the cutaway that makes the difference or some other factor is just conjecture.
In 2022 the difference still blows me away. For singing I prefer the cutaway sound.
Meant to add, yes, I agree with the consensus that the non-cutaway has a fuller sound, though both sound good.
The non-cutaway version has MUCH more depth of sound. The lows resonate and balance out the mids and highs nicely. On the cutaway the lows are cut off. IMO there is no contest. The sunburst wins, hands down.
I'm not an expert and the video compression kills the sound but you're right, even to me, the non-cutaway sounds clearly richer.
Luís Piteira the cutaway is easier to reach lower frets than the non cutaway
Yes. That is the reason for the cutaway. But it makes sense that that non-cutaway has a more resonant sound. If you imagine sound waves bouncing all around inside, you can visualize the angles and see how the cutaway redirects sound waves in a non-symmetrical pattern. Hence, some frequencies will decay more quickly in this model. Of course this will vary from model to model, and even in "twins" as (pointed out by others) that every piece of wood has its own resonant character.
MUCH more?
It seems that the non cutaway is more balanced with more low end and the cutaway has a brighter sound.
I *hugely* prefer the cutaway tonally! I really like the softer, brighter tone the cutaway gives. If it's a taylor, that makes it even brighter which is what I love in acoustics.
Cutaway brighter, but it's a good thing
I liked the sound of the cutaway guitar more. Has a more "Rock" sound.
Three months later, I like the non-cutaway sound more! :P
@@aswinbeats What about three years later?
Lol. Still loving that mellow non-cutaway sound with more body. Got myself a Seagull S6 Entourage Rustic guitar.
@@aswinbeats Damn you responded, but yeah I definitely agree. I found this video because I've been looking into purchasing a guitar to have another activity during the pandemic, so far it's decided to be a non-cutaway dreadnought.
The Bird Go to UA-cam. Search “Seagull S6 Rustic”. Click the video by Guitar Center and listen. Buy the guitar. That’s what I did. 😂
The answer: HELL YES. The sound was affected. The A-B is very easy to hear a difference.
Is it "a negative difference?" Not necessarily. Some may actually prefer how the cutaway decreases some of the bass tones and lowers the overall output of the guitar.
I know that the Taylor cutaway models are much more popular selling than the standard versions. Try to find some used Taylors, you will find that there are several more cutaways listed than the standard versions.
You might argue that "more used ones for sale means more people were dissatisfied with them and are now selling them;"
But I really doubt that. I don't think there are just a ton of idiots out there hand selecting guitars that they have not well researched or bought impulsively, and then realizing later that they don't like them.
I think that several times more cutaways are sold, and that is why the number on the used market is higher.
I have a cutaway dreadnought guitar. I'm pleased to see all the support this type is getting in the comments section. I would describe my cutaway as sounding very bright and sweet, like honey. It has a balance between sparkly and snappy. Hard to describe.
Both sound beautiful and so close to each other but so different it's crazy how wood thickness and shapes can change sounds
cut away is more brighter I guess
Personally, I felt that cutaway sound slightly better than the non cutaway.
Like most say, there is a difference, but it doesn't mean better or worse. Just depends on the sound you want. The non cutaway definitely has a deeper tone.
Two acoustic guitars of the same model and year will often sound different. This seems especially true with Gibsons. I once auditioned about 6 or 7 brand new J45's back to back in the same store. The differences in the voice of each guitar were mostly subtle, though not in every case. Two of them stood out as much more balanced and open sounding than the other identical guitars. While a cutaway may tend to affect the sound of a particular model in a particular way, the net sonic result will depend on additional factors. You might find that the cutaway version is either more or less clear sounding than the non-cutaway version.
i need a cutaway cause I need those high notes, but the quality of the sound is way too lower. Now what :(
Martin Grand Performance Cutaway Body Style. IMO you won't notice the difference because you'll fall in love with the guitar.
LPKJFHIS thanks man! I always feel streched between a real need for a cutaway and the better sound of noncutaway... I will check your recomandation
The way I hear it. Not much of a difference but the non-cutaway is a little bassy.
Big, big difference. That said, both still sound great. Personally, I prefer the sound of the non-cutaway in this case. It's this very difference that pushed me to select the non-cutaway version of the Art and Lutherie Concert Hall for myself.
this comparison definitely shows they sound different, but to me, on this recording, the cutaway sounds much better matched to that mic/EQ. In person, i almost always prefer the non-cutaway sound... the non-cutaway sounds really muddy in this example, but i think some post EQ could there... another interesting comparison i'd like to hear is if EQ in post could make them sound similar again...
Cutaway sounds more crisp, the non cutaway sound warmer.
The cutaway sounds cleaner. The non cutaway is bordering on muddy.
that would probably be due to the mic used and the placement
omfg51
considering he's sitting in the exact same spot with both instruments and the same mic is being used in the exact same spot i don't understand your comment. if the only thing changing between the two clips is the guitar, and you hear a difference - it's not the microphone or placement. it's the guitar. hahaha
What I mean is, they both sound muddier in this video than in person.
Muddy? I don't hear muddy.
I would be glad to have which ever one you want to donate! They both sound amazing.
This is a good comparison. I'm sure that I do not have the world's best ears, but I do hear that the non-cutaway is slightly fuller, deeper. I wouldn't have guessed that it would make this noticeable a difference.
Cutaway sounds a little bit brighter than non cutaway, in my opinion.
I'm gonna go with cutaway. The high tones seem to ring out more. depends on the songs too though.
Wow that was a way bigger difference than I would have thought.
The full body sounds fuller, richer and resonates just that much better. Exactly the reason why I chose mine (Yamaha FG730s) over the cut away and the acoustic/electric.
The non cutaway has a fuller, almost darker sound. I prefer the cutaway though since it sounds brighter and I don't feel too overpowered by the sounds of the lower strings. That's just my preference though.
The cutaway seem to make higher sounds while the non cutaway sounds like it has more base. Male vs Female in simple terms.
It'd be nice to see a graphic EQ on the side while you play the guitars
People love banging on about rich, warm, full and bright. Funny thing is it means something different to each of us.
cutaway is, twangier.. in a good way doe.. crisp sound.. less full bodied doe.. preference of whoever is hearing it
My opinin the cutway make sound better pluse able to solo better and trust me in that , full body guitar more warmer but cut way is hot this is my opinion ,
Oh wow, I had no idea !!! I'm glad I came upon this video because I would of never thought there would be that much of a difference in sound. VERY informative. I never thought about comparing for sounds but I much prefer the non-cutaway myself. Thanks again brother
I play a cutaway. But the non sound has a fullness to my ear that's beautiful. Thanks
same strings ?
People here seem to think there is an added brightness to the cutaway... I think its more because some (mid?)low frequencies are attenuated which only make the cutaway appear brighter..? Anyways the non cutaway sounds so much fuller
I totally agree. the cutaway is simply missing what the non-cutaway has. Id pick the non Cut any day.
You can definitely tell the difference once you play each. Go to a guitar store and try it
You know the first time I purchased a pro level dreadnought guitar was back in the early 80s. I tried over 100 guitars at multiple music stores across Houston, Texas. I played the same model guitars several times. Lots of Martin's, Gibson's, Guild's, Alvarez Yairi's and numerous other brands. One thing I learned was that even two of the exact same brand/model guitars didn't always sound the same. Every different piece of wood has it's own character. I finally settled on an Alvarez Yairi DY46 which had the sweetest sound of any guitar I had played. My wife used to call it "Baby" I still have that guitar today. Long story short, I don't think we can completely contribute the tonal difference between the two guitars in this video to just the effect of the cutaway.
I can clearly hear that the non-cutaway is more full sounding with more bass. HOWEVER, I think placing the microphone in a different location would make this difference less noticeable. He had it basically in front of the cutaway location. This could be totally wrong, but I suspect that mic placement in a more neutral location would result in a smaller difference between the two.
On the cutaway guitar, you can hear the overtones, which are high.
On the non cutaway, the lower overtones are more hearable.
Cutaway has higher tone. like a quarter tone higher i think
We woud've hear the awful transition.
It seems to my ears that the Cutaway sounds a bit like it has a natural EQ, meaning it has less bottom end and the treble is more defined.
I listened with studio headphones and can tell you there is definately a difference. It was harder to hear with fingerpicking but when you started flatpicking, the difference was real noticable. I preferred the non cutaway because it had a more full sound. The cutaway sounded just a tad thinner but still really close. Thanks for posting this.
Which one will allow me to crank Dat Soulja boi?
Non cutaway sounded smoother.
Thanks very much for doing this. It makes the differences crystal clear, and we could never do this for ourselves when shopping.If you listen closely, the full body model has a full and balanced tone, whereas the cutaway REMOVES bass and treble from the tone (the total loudness goes down). It's like turning down the bass and midrange knobs, rather than turning up the treble. This happens because the guitar was designed for the full body version, and the cutaway was done without regard for any effect on the sound. The cutaway has changed the acoustic resonance within the guitar body so that bass and midrange waves are disrupted more than the treble. The result is a guitar that no longer works the way it was designed, and never will. If we wanted a guitar that was subject to all manner of tonal adjustment, we’d buy an electric, not an acoustic. We acoustic lovers want an instrument that produces the sound of all strings, through the balanced resonance of carefully selected and shaped woods. Which is what we hear from the full body model. The cutaway tone is not “brighter”, it is thinner.If I want a cutaway (and I do), I must look for one that is designed as a cutaway from the beginning. It will be a model that does not have a corresponding full body version. These are rare. So I will eliminate cutaways from my current search for a low-end guitar, and wait until I buy a more expensive or custom made instrument.
On the other hand, you can easily boost the bass and such on a decent acoustic amp to help make up for it. Or even make it "better", depending on your need.
+Kougeru
Absolutely not the same. The cutaway never produces the tones that give it warmth and depth. Artificially boosting the volume of the flat bass does not put the missing tones back.
The difference of thickness of the lacquer on the tops are extreme.
lol. the real difference in these guitars was not the cutaway.The biggest difference is that one has an equalizer, volume box in the side of the guitar. The hole to put that makes a huge difference bigger than the cutaway. How this man can say that those 2 guitars were identical except for the cutaway ? is he blind ?
Disagree. That small surface area density change for sound to bounce off has a smaller effect than the angles of the box. Acoustics, dude. It would probably leak a little more sound to the player, but I'm afraid that's about the extent of the effect.
TheTopMostDog umm still the test in invalid due to the differences. The extra variable throws it into question
Adam Goleskie
Lol, no. You could easily argue that the guitars' individual materials have an effect on the sound; one rosewood being slightly denser than the other, perhaps. Or maybe there were variations in the type of lacquer used, or it was applied thicker on one than the other. Of course there are going to be several extraneous variables, as is the case in almost every comparison; but they are simply insignificant compared to the variation between the shapes of the guitars, and far from enough to 'invalidate' this entire demonstration..
In the video, the "real difference" - as it was said - is the body shape of the guitars.
TheTopMostDog It is obvious that you have a serious lack an understanding of acoustics as to simplify the acoustic problem in your terms and dont even consider the structure of the sound box and neglect the effect of a HOLE. I happen to work with a luthier that knows his physics very well.
Charlie Angel Not only that, but the sunburst paint job can actually have a very large effect on the overall sound of the guitar.
Id rather have the cutaway
WAY more difference than I expected. Full body for me…for sure. I don’t spend much time way up there on the dusty frets anyway so I want the richness of the full body.
i love non-cuts in terms of sound and comfortability. Thank you for this ❣