Hi Everyone
I figured i would start this blog off with a post on acoustic guitar body sizes. Here at Rhythmstrummer.com our lessons are based on acoustic guitar renditions of great classic songs. They’ll sound fine on electric guitar as well, but we enjoy the sound of an acoustic instrument. There are alot of different guitars in our videos, and some of you might be wondering what is the difference, and i am shopping for an acoustic guitar what should i choose? These things come a variety of shapes and sizes. Lets look at the different options out there.
Dreadnought
The Dreadnought is probably the most popular acoustic body size out there, and most manufacturers offer some version of this model. It was originally developed by the Martin Guitar Company around 1916, and named after the large battleships of the early 20th century.
Dreadnoughts have a large body shape, with a slight waist and most of them are 14 frets clear of the body. They are generally between 4 5/8″ and 4 7/8″ deep, and between 15 5/8″ and 16″ deep at the widest point. These are big, kind of boxy guitars and may not be as comfortable to people of smaller stature.
Dreadnoughts have a big sound, with lots of boom and bass due to the body size. They function well as a rhythm guitar, accompanying voice, or in a bluegrass ensemble where one needs punchy bass runs and the volume to be heard over other instruments. They are perhaps not as balanced as smaller body sizes, but plenty of players over the years have used a dreadnought guitar for fingerpicking music and other styles where one needs an equal balance between all the strings.
Some popular dreadnought models include Martins D-18 and D-28, as well as Taylor’s DN series, and Larrivee’s D series.
Jumbo
Jumbo guitars are one step up from a Dreadnought in size. Certainly the most popular model that enters my mind is the Gibson J200, as used by countless singer song-writers. These have a big, loud sound, perfect for strummy rhythm guitar parts. These guitars are wider across than a dreadnought, at least 17″, and usually just as deep.
Many major manufacturers, including Martin and Gibson, make a jumbo model guitar. Folks who do alot of aggressive strumming may enjoy this body size, as well as taller people who feel they need a bigger instrument.
Mini Jumbo
Mini Jumbo’s are a bit more recent addition to the guitar world. They combine the bass and volume of a larger bodied dreadnought or jumbo guitar with the smaller waist, comfort, and balance of an OM. This body size usually measures around 16″ at its widest point, is 4.5-5″ deep, and is comfortable to hold due to the tighter waist.
Some good examples of a mini jumbo guitar are the Taylor GS body size, Martin’s M model, and Seagull’s Mini Jumbo. Folks who want a bit more bass and volume than a smaller body guitar, but find dreadnough’ts and full size jumbos uncomfortable might want to check out mini jumbos.
OM
The OM was developed by Martin guitars, and pre WWII examples are considered by many to the holy grail of smaller body guitars. This size instrument is much smaller than a dreadnought in both width and depth, usually measuring around 15″ across and 4 1/8″ deep. The sound is well balanced across the bass and treble strings, making it popular for fingerpicking music where all the notes need to be heard. These guitars are very comfortable to play sitting down.
Due to it being popular among a wide variety of players alot of manufacturers make an OM model guitar. Martin’s OM-28, Larrivee’s OM-09, and Taylor’s GC body size, which is very similar.
OOO
OOO’s are similar to OM’s, but with a shorter scale length, and some may be 12 frets to the body instead of 14. The body size is a touch smaller, so there is going to be bit less bass than an OM. This guitar is great for fingerpicking, but wont necessarily provide as big or full a sound when strummed with a pick as an OM or mini jumbo guitar.
Martin’s OOO is a classic example, and the small shop Santa Cruz Guitar Company makes a beautiful OOO, as does Larrivee.
Parlour
The smallest widely manufactured body size is the parlour or O style. Small instruments like these were usually played in peoples’ parlors, hence the name. They don’t have a huge sound, but are comfortable, well balanced, and alot of fun to play. These guitars work great for fingerstyle or classical music, where there are several parts that need to be balanced and heard simultaneously. The shorter scale length of these instruments can also make alot of left hand stretches much easier. Larrivee’s P model, Martin’s O model, and Santa Cruz’s PJ guitar are all good examples of the parlor guitar body size.
Ultimately what it comes down to is what guitar feels comfortable and sounds good for you. If you like to fingerpick a dreadnought or play bluegrass leads on an OM then go for it. Visit alot of guitars stores, play alot of instruments, and find out what works for your style. Sampling all those instruments is half the fun.
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Well-written post! Thanks for all the info on the different guitar sizes. Learned a lot!
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