Types of Acoustic Guitar

Hi all,

I just started learning to play the guitar recently and plan to buy my own guitar this week. I see that there are 2 types of acoustic guitars - one with a hole in the center and the other with a f-cut. I personally like the one with the hole cause it sounds louder but my wife likes the f-cut cause its sleeker, lighter and hence easier to play even with it strapped on your shoulders.

Now what i want to know is whether there is any distinct advantage or disadvantage associated with either and which is a better buy ...


Thanks a lot in advance.

 

Hi welcome to forum.. Honestly this is toatly your call. what you like better, sounds better and feels better to you. Do look around you will defintly find a guitar with the round sound hole that feels very comfortabl and light... It just depends what it is made of.....

 

in terms of sound, a round hole would be better than f hole in my opinion!..although i agree it might look less attractive than f and less "sleeker" as well!

 

:RollLol:
You want guitar for playing music or as a show-off piece?

In similar vein I would discount Grand Piano, since it is so large, and very difficult to transport + it is costly like hell.
So what if it sounds like heaven?

 

hi Cryptic

You want guitar for playing music or as a show-off piece?

It is not for show-off. Let me rephrase the question. It has to be something comfortable for you to play. The piano thing that you said, is a silly comparison cause you wouldnt normally suspend a piano from you shoulders.

However all these aspects aside, my main question was whether there is, apart from the size and form factor, any considerable difference in the performace of a f-cut and the other one which can prove to be a decisive factor for buying either.

 

hi acoustic_ear...

i can give u my personal opinion...i hv both the types u mentioned...and find the polo one(the one with the hole) better in all counts....
since u r a beginner the first thing that u need to do is to train ur ear and the guitar that gives u better sound should be ur first choice irrespective of looks....

most people start of with a givson jumbo.....but i would suggest u go for one which is a bit smaller than that....for example try the basic acoustic model offered by fender......(and BTW it looks cool too!!!!)

 

^^ :boff:
Easy Boy.
The point is that the way you make a dreadnaught acoustic look like a leviathan seems rather a flimsy reason for rejecting it.

Ofcourse had the reason been: I like the trebly tone and less ringing of thinner body acoustic, then it does make sense.

BTW Most of the pros while playing acoustic use Dreadnaught, that too STANDING.

So I guess your theory of : "sleeker, lighter and hence easier to play even with it strapped on your shoulders. " doesn't hold ground for them.

 

+1 very well said....I personaly prefer the round sound hole for its full sound.... comapred to f-sound hole guitar... I too own both, A full SIZED jumbo ( my fav guitar), and a f-sound hole f- cut accoustic. The F- cut allows me to play more rock-n-roll stuff but that is because of its neck profile too.... You can also go for a smaller sized round soundhole ( standard size), with an f-cut..

 

The guitar with round hole type sounds a bit louder in bass where as the f-cut one is more on treble.
I use a f-cut Hobner...
But I have also used the jumbo Round hole Hobner..Hence I found that difference. But my preference is the Jumbo one with the hole. Its sounds really sweet...

 

i won't really advice u to start with a jumbo
the sound is definitely much btr than the ordinary accoustic but its size is a major drawback
i started with ojne and it was one year before i could get the heck of it
but as it happens with all the good things aftetr that it plays like heaven

i don't personally like the f-cuts. o cuts have a real good bass and when u r playing an accoustic in most cases that's what matters

on second thought, am i qualified enough to talk about all this?

 

Thanks for the reply guys. This thread would help me a lot in deciding the acoustic to buy.
Also in general, the whole site is a delight for a newbie like me. Right from tips to start off to writing notes .. it covers it all ..
Great work !!

 

If u want to feel good (sound good ) playing it, go for the jumbo(round hole). However, if you interested in your well being when you are NOT playing, better go with your wife's advice.:RollLol: :RollLol: :RollLol: :RollLol:

The round hole is a better buy. But I have come across round-hole guitars that are sleeker and not as fat(for lack of a better term) as a jumbo.

 

It is not for show-off. Let me rephrase the question. It has to be something comfortable for you to play. The piano thing that you said, is a silly comparison cause you wouldnt normally suspend a piano from you shoulders.

However all these aspects aside, my main question was whether there is, apart from the size and form factor, any considerable difference in the performace of a f-cut and the other one which can prove to be a decisive factor for buying either.

 

he he :

Hey I did say thanks and that you are all doing a great job, doesnt that still let me off the hook

 

LOL
This kinda thing just goes on internet forums.

We are little bored and slight humor (mebbe brash n rude) should never hurt

So have you finally decided?
Actually you need to go to a shop, try those two out.
The bigger one (with round soundhole) might look uncomfortable, but not any more than the F-cut one.

 

I used to play on a borrowed F-cut acoustic, so when i got my round-hole guitar, i found it a bit uncomfortable initially but got used to it in no time and it sounds wayyyyyyyyy better than the F-cut

 

Round holed guitars gives you more bright sound and when you play a thick f-cut guitar you will get more of a crunchy sound. Something like mre of treble rather than bass.

Round holed guitars always sound beautiful to me.

 

Hey! Why quote ME!!!!!:shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock:

 

Yes,I m decided. I m all sold-out with the idea of buying a round-cut.
But my dilemna doesnt stop here. Next i have a plethora of round-cuts to choose from..Givson, Gibson, Hobner, Signature...(whats a jumbo !!)
I was advised to go for the one whose *sound* appeals to me most. However .. ahem :think: .. for a newbie like me, who cant even tune the guitar yet, sound from any is going to be the same. My mentor told me that all the above-mentioned guitar companies are equally good and i could just pick mine based on the comfort level and the color, something that I m not yet convinced about. Do you guys have any suggestion ???

 

Oh noo!!!
Givson and Hobner are no way close to Gibson.

Wait for others. Am not too much into different makes of Acsoutic Guitars.