Amazing discovery or just plain B.S.?

[theflyingturtle]

I've been looking for an acoustic, unsuccessfully, for several weeks now trying to find what I like and just seeing what's out there. After trying dozens of guitars I discovered that I really don't like dreadnaughts! It doesn't matter if they cost $50 or $5,000 I don't like them. Too dark and warm. I've found that I like jumbos. So far I really like Guild's GAD JF30 with flamed maple back and sides. It is a very bright, snappy sounding guitar being maple and spruce. I may not have good taste but I know what I lie. But the last salesguy I talked to suggested that jumbos have a scooped midrange and perhaps I liked that aspect of them. Then I remembered that the only strat that I ever tried and liked was the John Mayer model with the "scooped" pickups. If this is true I think I may have found a definable explination for my tastes in musical instruments. Is it true?

[FlySig]

Go with your gut, and screw everybody else's opinion. Get the guitar that speaks to you, that gives you a smile when you just think about it.

[rhythmeister]

Quite possible. Another test of your mid-range tolerance is whether you prefer black face Fender or Marshall tones. (the bf Fender having a lot less midrange).

If bright and snappy appeals to you, then maple as a tonewood is right up your alley. Have you tried a maple dreadnaught? You might be surprised how the wood can change the tone of that body shape. My maple Gibson J-60 dread sounds very different from my rosewood dread and my mahogany dread. Definitely more bright and snappy.

Cheers,
Blair

[nmiller]

I, too, have never liked dreadnaughts. In fact, the smaller the body, the better I (usually) like the sound.

I always considered jumbos to be similar to dreads but without the boomy bass. I wouldn't say they have a scooped midrange, but as FlySig said, screw everybody else's opinion.

[theflyingturtle]

Quite possible. Another test of your mid-range tolerance is whether you prefer black face Fender or Marshall tones. (the bf Fender having a lot less midrange).

If bright and snappy appeals to you, then maple as a tonewood is right up your alley. Have you tried a maple dreadnaught? You might be surprised how the wood can change the tone of that body shape. My maple Gibson J-60 dread sounds very different from my rosewood dread and my mahogany dread. Definitely more bright and snappy.

Cheers,
Blair

I did not know that anyone made a maple dread?! FWIW no one has discouraged me from dreads it's just my suprise that I don't like what I assume is the most popular guitar shape in the world.

[Bananafist]

I think maybe in all the Spanish speaking countries you might find the classical spanish shape is more popular than the dreadnought, although its probably the most popular in the USA.
I really like smaller bodied guitars, I have a couple of parlour guitars, SC OM and a Collings 0002H on the way.
The guy who said go with a guitar that speaks to you is right, everything else is just opinions.
Good luck

[Mark EL]

Before you write off dreadnoughts completely try a 12 fret slothead dread. Collings DS models in particular!

[Jahn]

believe your ears. if you like that guitar, take it home!

[groovadelic]

In general scooped mids is naturally appealing in a lot of contexts. The only problem I had with an acoustic that had that sound (Gibson SJ-200) is that though they sound great for "coffee house" style environments it can get rather thin fast whenever you introduce more instruments into the mix.

As well, where I need more mids is when I'm climbing up the neck or else it sounds brittle and tinny. For a solo instrument, I completely agree that scooped sound - where there is a pronounced bass and crystal highs - sounds gorgeous.