• From: BELGIUM
  • Registered: 2007-01-27
  • Posts: 3,403

Topic: Dreadnoughts, Orchestra, Jumbo

It's a reissue of a deleted topic, a BAD written topic.
The question is:
- Dreadnoughts are far the most popular models, they sound loud too
- Orchestras + Jumbos are softer, deep warm tone.

I read a lot of comments, and a NON DREADNOUGHT seems to be THE FINGER PICKING GUITAR.
- WHY
- WHAT will be the BIGGEST difference in sound playing, as example, a MARTIN D-15 versus a MARTIN OO-15?
This topic is written because most of us have probably a dreadnought and I am really interested in when you use an orchestra model.
Is it a personal choice, is it because the "sound"?
I have a JUMBO, and the only difference I can find is that some songs sound better with a Jumbo.
IS THIS TRUE? Please help me, it's a PAINFUL thing to go in music stores, due to my condition.
2 months ago, I could play and compare, but I left because I fainted away by pain.

[color=blue]- GITAARDOCPHIL SAIS: TO CONQUER DEAD, YOU HAVE TO DIE[/color]   AND [color=blue] we are born to die[/color]
- MY GUITAR PLAYS EVERY STYLE = BLUES, ROCK, METAL, so I NEED TO LEARN HOW TO PLAY IT.
[color=blue]Civilization began the first time an angry person cast a word instead of a rock.[/color]

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  • Zurf
  • Zurf
  • Blunt but well meaning moderator
  • Offline
  • From: Virginia, USA
  • Registered: 2007-06-27
  • Posts: 7,522

Re: Dreadnoughts, Orchestra, Jumbo

I'll take a stab at it Doc, because I'm mostly a fingerpick player.  As you know, I'm a beginner and self-taught to boot, so anything I say is just personal observation and shouldn't be taken as gospel.

I played a lot of different guitars in the shop trying to decide what I might like to buy.  I have no preference going in between jumbo, dreadnaught, or orchestra.  However, I found that the resting position of my arm on an orchestra model positioned my hands just right for easier finger-picking.  As far as tone, I think the materials used to build the guitar and the strings has a great deal more to do with the tone than the size.  I think the size of the body has more to do with volume. 

Hope you're doing well.  Good to see you being active on the board again.  I missed you while you were away.

- Zurf

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