• Acoustic Guitars

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Acoustic guitars have long been one of the most popular instruments on the planet and are vital to all types of musical genres. You’ll find numerous construction methods and styles when it comes to acoustic guitars as they can be found in everything from classical to heavy metal music. At the Arts Music Store we provide musicians with a complete line of acoustic guitars from the most popular manufacturers such as Taylor, Martin, Yamaha, Oscar Schmidt, Fender, Takamine, Tanglewood, Gretsch,  Epiphone, Ibanez, Gibson, and Boucher.

Acoustic Guitars

The body of the acoustic guitar was designed to give volume and resonance before the days of electronic amplification. In this modern era, acoustic-electric guitars are available to provide external amplification when required. With acoustic guitars, the sound from the strings resonate throughout the hollow body of the instrument to create the sound we hear. The acoustic guitar has a sound box and soundboard or top to strengthen and shape the tone – the higher quality woods being used will create different expression and tonal variances. Mid-range to high-end acoustic guitars can be found to have a “solid top”, which means that the soundboard or top is constructed of one solid piece of wood leaving the pours in the wood uninhibited – this helps with the instruments clarity and provides mobility so the guitar can slowly gain tonal character. The vibration of the strings continually open the pours in the solid top and this eventually shapes the sound.

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Acoustic Electric Guitars

Acoustic-electric guitars are acoustic guitars that come equipped with an electronic pickup. Guitarists can simply plug these models into an amp or PA system which does away with the need for a microphone. Acoustic electric guitars are popular in most musical genres as they’re ideal for increased volume when performing live in front of larger crowds. They are designed differently than semi-acoustic guitars as semi-acoustic models are electric guitars which come with sound chambers in the body of the instrument. At the Arts Music Store, we carry a selection of popular brands such as Oscar Schmidt, Taylor, Martin, Boucher, Gibson, Yamaha, Fender, Ibanez, Takamine, Epiphone, Simon & Patrick, Seagull, Tanglewood, Gretsch, Art & Lutherie, and Ovation.

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Small Body Acoustic Guitars

They may be smaller, but small body acoustic guitars still produce wonderful sounds as well as provide comfort and portability. Smaller guitars come with scaled-down, compact designs which makes them easier to hold and travel with and are often the ideal size for the musician on the road as well as small children. Their size also makes them favourites with songwriters who like to always have a guitar close by if they become inspired suddenly. All of the major manufacturers produce them such as Fender, Taylor, Epiphone, Gibson, Yamaha, Simon & Patrick. The tone of small body models is well balanced, but the deep bass may sometimes be absent. Most smaller models are made of the same types of woods as regular sized guitars and feature the same options. They’re lightweight, small and durable and some can be surprisingly affordable.

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Resonator Guitars

When it comes to resonator guitars, these instruments come equipped with an aluminum or steel cone, which is known as the resonator. The resonator cone is built into the guitar’s soundboard and enables louder volume as well as their signature, high-frequency tonality. These steel-stringed guitars are popular with bluegrass and blues performers because of their distinctive tone and louder volume. Resonator guitars can be found in an assortment of designs, sizes and styles and are typically constructed with metal or wood. The first models were made of metal and produced by National in the 1920s. The Dobro company then got into the action soon after as competitors. The resonator has been played often with the assistance of finger picks, slides and/or steel bars. Some famous resonator guitar players include Josh Graves, Tut Taylor, Andy Hall, Jerry Douglas, Rob Ickes, Mike Auldridge, Phil Leadbetter, Emily Robison, Rory Gallagher, Bo Carter, Bukka White, Tampa Red, Blind Boy Fuller, Son House, B.K. Turner, Taj Mahal, Alvin Hart, Eric Sardinas, Derek Trucks, Warren Haynes, John Hammon Jr, John Mooney and Roland Chadwick.

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Acoustic guitars transmit their sound through the airwaves via the top of the instrument, known as an acoustic soundboard.  The soundboard can supply numerous tones due to the materials used and bracing and it also adds to the volume. In addition, since acoustic guitars are built with hollow bodies which resonate, it enables more efficient lower frequencies.

Versions of these instruments have been played across the globe for over 4,000 years with the modern acoustic guitar being produced around 1850. They can be found in numerous shapes and sizes with the Dreadnought, first designed by CF Martin, being the most common style/shape.

Upper-scale guitars are typically made of woods such as maple, spruce, mahogany and rosewood while entry-level models are often constructed of laminated tonewood. While six-string acoustic guitars are the most common and popular, you’ll find some musicians prefer 12-string models as the extra strings add to the lushness of the sound.

Nylon-stringed guitars are often found in flamenco and classical music while steel-stringed models are popular for most other genres. We also carry left-handed and acoustic-electric models as well as amplifiers for acoustic guitars to allow you to play for larger audiences.

The construction methods of acoustic guitars and the materials used to make them provide the instruments with a variety of tonal qualities as well as their distinctive sounds.

Frequently Asked Questions About Electric Guitars

Although some acoustic guitars have laminate or veneer tops, the majority of acoustic guitars have what is known as a solid top. This means that the top section or the “soundboard” is made of one solid piece of tonewood, usually spruce, cedar, mahogany or a number of other woods. Not only does this sound better than a laminated top it is also quite fragile. The top of a solid top guitar has the pores exposed – this can lead to the top of the instrument changing and shifting in shape as moisture is depleted from those pores. The dryer the instrument gets, the more the top shrinks. The immense pressure from the strings will also assist in the misshaping of the instrument if it is not properly humidified. Keeping a humidifier in your guitar or the case will keep the pores open and the guitar will remain it’s intended shape. A dry guitar will also change the height of the strings making it extremely difficult to play. A humidifier is by far the most important accessory you can buy for your acoustic guitar, especially if you live in an area with colder climates.

There are thousands of guitar brands out there, each with a multitude of models and sub-brands – it isn’t easy to know if you’re making the right decision or not. The most important thing to know is that in most cases, the more you spend, the better off you’ll be in the long run. The guitar industry is extremely over saturated and as a result, most manufacturers are extremely competitive when it comes to price, tonal quality and technology. Buying from well known, reputable brands would also ensure that you’re purchasing it from a company with long-standing experience. If you consider purchasing something mid-range, the biggest advantage would be the addition of a solid top versus a laminate or veneer top. This upgrade ensures the tone of the instrument to be brighter and fuller as well as continue to grow in tonal quality the more it is played. The biggest advantage of a better quality acoustic guitar is the construction – not only do you have more options when it comes to colour and wood grain, you would also have access to an instrument that has been well taken care of throughout the manufacturing process. This extra focus can make sure that the guitar wouldn’t leave the factory floor with any issues or blemishes. Being made of wood, the acoustic guitar can change shape and if you are an inexperienced player, this change could drastically decrease the playability of the instrument, and if you’re not aware of this process, then you might assume it is user error and be discouraged to continue playing it.

The neck and body of an acoustic guitar is made of wood – wood that undertakes a tremendous amount of pressure from their steel strings. This pressure can sometimes warp a dry guitar as well as heighten the strings on the neck making it quite difficult to play. There are a few ways to make sure the guitar is always playing and sounding the best that it can. The most important thing you can do to maintain your acoustic guitar is to keep it humidified. A guitar humidifier will ensure that the guitar is always between 40% and 60% humidity so that it can function properly. This can also result in over humidification so it is also wise to purchase a guitar hydrometer. Both items should be readily available on our website or your local music shop and shouldn’t cost more than $80 for both items. It is also recommended that the guitar visit an experienced service centre at least once a year to receive what’s called a “setup”. This service should include a full tuneup as well as a polish and a string change giving it a “plays like new” feel.

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