Acoustic Guitar Body Styles

There are a few different body styles of acoustic guitars.  The most common type is the Dreadnought. The dreadnought comes in 6 string and 12 string versions.  Also, there is the Classical and Parlor acoustic guitars.  Each type accommodates different musical styles.

Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar

This is the guitar you see most and what you think of when you hear “acoustic guitar”. The dreadnought can come in different sizes and different sounds among the brands. Dreadnought acoustic guitars fit a wide range of musical genre’s.  For most people this is the right guitar for you.  Also, the dreadnought acoustic guitar is built with many different types of woods.  Different woods gives you different sounds and varying prices.
Some of the most common woods are mohogany and spruce.  You’ll see those two woods a lot.  Some of the more rarer woods that will cost more are Brazilian rosewood, lacewood or jacaranda.  Different types of woods will make a huge difference in the sound of the acoustic guitar. (See my wood guide)

There are some acoustic guitars that don’t use wood at all and are made with composite materials like carbon fiber and laminites.  These guitars will usually be in the lower price ranges.

12-String Dreadnought

Pretty much the same as the 6 string dreadnought but with 12 strings.  12 string acoustic guitars have two pairs of strings tuned to exactly the same pitch an octave apart.  The sound of a 12 string has a fuller richer sound. I love the sound of my Epiphone 12 string but my left hand needs a few minutes to adjust to playing it every time I pick it up. So I wouldn’t recommend a 12-string acoustic guitar for a beginner because it can be a little harder to play.

Parlor Style Acoustic Guitar

Parlor style acoustic guitars are a particular size and style of guitar.  They have smaller bodies then the dreadnought acoustic guitar and can even be smaller than a classical guitar.  But the smaller size is not necessarily for the smaller player (the youngin’).  Even experienced players like the parlor style because of the different sound they get with this type of acoustic guitar.  For the most part, the sound of the bass, treble, and mids have the same volume.  So it won’t have that deep bass of say a Gibson, or the little higher trebley sound of the Taylors.

Jumbo Acoustic Guitar

Jumbo guitars are largest of the acoustic guitars.  Generally, the larger body gives it a much deeper and bassier sound than your standard dreadnought acoustic guitar.  And that’s what they are designed for, to be loud  and full of bass.

Cutaway Dreadnought

This is another style of the dreadnought acoustic guitar but has a cutaway to allow you can reach the higher notes on the fretboard.  I’ve read that some people think there is a loss of bass response because of a little loss of body.  It think you’d really have to have a discerning ear to hear that.  But you know what, if you want to hit those higher notes a cutaway makes it much easier.

Classical Acoustic Guitar (Nylon String Guitar)

Sometimes called a Spanish Guitar, or Nylon String Guitar. Most people that play a classical guitar will play finger pick style and not with a pick.  The six strings consist of three trebles strings made of nylon and three bass strings made of metal thread wrapped around a flossy nylon filament core.