Acoustic Guitars

Acoustic Guitars

The acoustic guitar is the most popular model in the entire guitar family. This traditional instrument can be played unamplified, making it a versatile point-of-entry for dozens of music genres. There are several different models in the acoustic string family, and each has its own special features.

Acoustic guitar models

The two most common acoustic guitar types are the nylon-string (aka classical) and steel-string guitar. Modern classical guitars have a smaller body with a widened fretboard, which makes them ideal for classical pieces, folk music, and Flamenco. Unlike standard steel-string acoustic guitars, the high-tuned strings of a classical guitar are made of nylon, giving them a mellower sound.

The structure of the modern steel-string acoustic guitar is slightly different from the classical format. The 14 frets (instead of the 12) allow players to explore a higher range of notes. All-steel strings make them ideal for strumming chords, and a larger body provides more dynamic range, suiting them to a broader field of genres.

How to choose an acoustic guitar

Steel-string modern acoustic guitars come in different shapes for different playing styles and comfort levels. Small-body acoustic guitars are ideal for punchy mid-tones because of their lower bass response. On the other hand, medium-sized acoustics have better tonal response and wider dynamic range, making them the jack-of-all-trades of the guitar world.

Larger-sized acoustic guitars are known as dreadnought body guitars. Their high bass response puts them at home for both strumming and fingerpicking.

All acoustic guitars can be amplified via a microphone and amplifier setup. Alternatively, you can mount a soundhole pickup on them and plug directly into a mixer or amplifier for live gigs. If you’re hunting a stage-ready acoustic guitar, check out the full line of acoustic-electric guitar models at Adorama.