7 Most Common Acoustic Guitar Body Styles

The development of the acoustic guitar stems from its stringed predecessors, which have been around for hundreds of years in various shapes, sizes, and tunings. It wasn’t until the mid-1800s that the modern acoustic guitar began to take shape in the form of its body size and tuning.

Around 1842, Christian Frederick Martin, a German luthier, was credited with developing one of the first steel string acoustic guitars. If you’re wondering, “Is this the same Martin that founded the C.F. Martin & Company?” …yes, you’re absolutely correct!

This steel string, X-braced guitar became the industry standard for acoustic guitars, inspiring other makers like Gibson, Taylor, Guild, and many others which would follow in production.

Since the 1800s, there have been plenty of advancements, specifically with acoustic guitar body styles. Let’s take a look at the various shapes that acoustics have evolved into and the signature sounds that they bring to the table.

Don’t be fooled by the name, there’s no dread here! Actually, quite the opposite. Dreadnought acoustic guitars happen to be one of the most popular and recognizable acoustic body styles around.

Dreadnoughts have a larger and almost square-like body and soundboard, which allows for louder sound projection and a boomier, low-end character.

In 1916, the first dreadnought guitar was produced by the Martin Guitar Company for the Oliver Ditson Company. In 1931, Martin would start the production of these acoustics under their own name. Although initially it didn’t sell well, however, time would prove that it would become one of the most popular guitars for players of all styles.

Most people would say that dreadnoughts are ideal for rock and bluegrass styles. However, don’t let that limit you, especially if you really like the timbre and sound you get from playing one.

Dreadnoughts produce a big and deep sound, mainly due to the larger body size. Strumming a chord on this styled guitar will give you the rich, low-end sound, magnifying those deeper frequencies.

You’ll have no worries about this getting lost in a mix, as the presence that this kind of instrument brings is one of a kind. We’ve heard it on countless records, which exemplifies why it’s one of the best-selling guitar shapes in the game.

Now, you might be wondering, “Doesn’t every guitar have its own limitations?” Surprisingly, dreadnought guitars have one con that serves as a case-by-case scenario. Because of its large size, it may not be best for any youngsters out there or small players. The large body might make it uncomfortable to reach and navigate the guitar, especially in the higher register of the guitar. So, I would put extra emphasis on trying this body style out before giving it the go-ahead.

Pros:

• Great projection
• Boomy, rich low end
• Great for almost every style

Cons: 

• Large body might not be comfortable for younger or smaller players
• No cutaway means it can be hard to reach higher frets

Auditorium acoustics are the perfect blend of a dreadnought and an orchestra model (which we’ll get to). Featuring a larger lower bout and thin waist, these guitars are smaller than dreadnoughts which make them more comfortable for players to hold.

Originally, Bob Taylor (of Taylor Guitars) introduced a new design in 1994, which moved away from the dreadnought style and aimed to move towards a brighter tone, which looked after the orchestra sizes and a single-cutaway design that made it easier for players to reach the higher frets.

If you’re looking for the balanced tone and comfortable feel of an orchestra model without losing the rich and full sound of the dreadnought, look no further than an Auditorium acoustic guitar.

Most Auditorium guitars have X-shaped bracing, which helps maintain its balanced tone. However, many Taylor Auditorium guitars are switching to their unique V-Class Bracing for better resonance and sustain. For guitar players that do a lot of fingerpicking and lead style articulation, this guitar will be sure to bring out those defining moments of a performance.

Additionally, many auditorium guitars come with electronics, which make it ideal for performers who need to plug in for their shows or in the studio.

With incredible responsiveness, an Auditorium acoustic guitar is a great choice for players of all styles.

Here are some of the top highlights of auditorium guitars:

Pros:

• Clear and balanced tone
• Responsive - great for fingerstyle and solo performances
• Cutaway models offer access to higher frets
• Excellent sustain

Cons:

• Not as bottom-end focused or powerful as dreadnoughts

The Grand Auditorium has quickly become one of the most popular acoustic guitar models out there. Give it a strum, and you’ll instantly find out why so many performers use this model.

Hey, did you know dreadnought guitars aren’t the only ones on the block? Yeah, word is that Jumbo Acoustic Guitars moved in right next door, and they sound similar to dreadnoughts. Jumbo acoustics are the largest and one of the most sonically dynamic acoustic guitars you can get. Let’s get more into why that is!

The first jumbo guitars were actually produced by Gibson in 1937, with the J-200 (the predecessor to the modern SJ-200). When it was first introduced, it was a lot larger than any of the smaller concert body-styled acoustics that were out at that time.

Because of their incredible projection (and lack of amplification systems at the time) jumbo body acoustic guitars exploded in popularity, especially in the country scene. The SJ-200 became known as “King of the Flat-Tops” because of its pure power on the stage.

The larger body cavity means more projection. You won’t need to worry about competing with other musicians. Everyone will hear you! The bottom-end focused tone is great for strumming chords and capturing the full depth of the guitar.

Of course, like with anything, there are upsides and downsides to playing a Jumbo Acoustic Guitar. Below, we highlighted its strengths and weaknesses, so you can compare. Luckily for this particular style, the upside outperforms the downside:

Pros:

• Larger body and sound hole eliminate the need for amplification
• Classy and traditional style, visually appealing
• Balanced, deep tone

Cons:

• Loud for practice sessions in smaller rooms
• The larger body size might make it difficult for any single-note action or higher register playing.

Overall, you wouldn’t be disappointed if you had one of these guys in your hands. Its class and traditional style make it a prized piece to own, no matter what brand or model you choose.

This next acoustic guitar body style is on the other end of the size spectrum: Parlor Guitars. And I’m sure you can understand where they got their name. Yup you guessed it! Parlor Guitars are much smaller and were designed for the rooms they were played in.

Parlor guitars were typically played during the late 19th century; however, their popularity would wane as it started to compete with the volume levels of other instruments in ensembles and barking dogs in vaudeville.

In recent years, parlor guitars have earned a renewed interest for guitar players of all skill levels because of their portability and comfortable playability — plus, with acoustic pickups and amps, you don’t have to worry about projection as much anymore!

One of the main features that set parlor guitars apart from others is their slimmer and smaller body shape, which is about three inches shorter than a standard acoustic. Many claim that it’s the ideal blend between a Spanish nylon-string guitar and the modern steel-string guitar. With its narrow neck and smaller body size providing a tight and focused sound, a Parlor Guitar is ideal for those who play folk and blues.

Players who can pick out defined and intricate picking patterns, emphasizing the tiny nuances and melodies, will love a good Parlor Guitar. Artists like Robert Johnson, John Mayer, Ed Sheeran, Joan Baez, and many more have been known to use parlor guitars during their performances.

Think a Parlor Guitar might be in your future? Here are some of the pros and cons to determine if a parlor guitar is right for your style:

Pros:

• Lightweight and compact frame for traveling
• Tight and focused sound
• Comfortable to play and maneuver around the neck

Cons:

• Not much volume (which might be a pro for bedroom practicing)
• Thinner tone and timbre might not be ideal for every style or musical setting

Of course, every guitar has its own set of strengths and weaknesses. However, this is definitely a model that should be considered, especially when it comes to those looking to play in smaller and intimate environments.

One of the most important guitar styles that created a template for the modern steel-string guitar, invented by C.F. Martin & Co. in 1929, was the orchestra acoustic guitar. The shallow body and pinched waist make it the perfect guitar that balances the weight of the bass, mid-range, and treble sections. Tone balance on an acoustic is something sought after for guitar players, especially those who are looking to dedicate focus to light fingerstyle touch or concert styled playing.

By the mid-1920s, amplification and the use of recording microphones were created and began to change the overall sound of bands playing music. Many banjo players tried shifting to tenor guitars, which was like having a guitar, just with a banjo neck. Martin started making tenor guitars, and moved to a concert-size guitar, titling the new model as the 0 series. A collaboration between Martin and bandleader/guitarist, Perry Bechtel, produced a 14-fret neck, auditorium size guitar called the 000-28 professional.

Martin saw interest from other guitarists when they came out and listed the OM-28, OM-45, and OM–18P as the orchestra models… hence the acronym OM. Over time the OM models took shape into the 000 models, keeping the same specs just with a shorter scale length of 24.9 inches. These new guitars would set standard for orchestra body shapes.

Other brands took Martin’s orchestra guitars as inspiration and developed their own models. Nowadays, many guitarists use these as their go-to acoustic guitars, celebrating the heritage and tonal balance that this model expresses. Artists like Steve Howe, Eric Clapton, John Mayer, and many others have used orchestra body acoustic guitars in their shows.

Orchestra model guitars are best for players doing solo guitar or singer-songwriter sessions, usually places you don’t have to compete (volume-wise) for space. Let’s take a further look into how the pros and cons stack up:

Pros:

• Comfortable and versatile for various music styles
• Small enough to carry around
• Excellent sound projection for its size
• Balanced tone

Cons:

• Not very bass heavy
• Doesn’t project as loudly as jumbos or dreadnoughts

If we go way back, like in the early 16th century, the classical guitar emerged from the lute. Basically, the Spanish loved the sound of the lute, but they associated the instrument with the Moors, whom they didn’t like. It was this whole thing… so they invented a nylon-stringed instrument like the lute but wasn’t the lute.

This new construction allowed players to play by plucking the strings rather than using a plectrum. Classical guitars (as they have since become known) were popularly used in a variety of styles because of their fast, intricate rhythms and passionate melodies of flamenco music.

By the 1960s, the classical guitar saw a transformative light in the rise and popularity of acoustic guitars in folk music, with Bob Dylan and Joan Baez leading the way. Latin musicians playing salsa, boss nova, and tango also utilized the classical guitar, cementing it as an important instrument in the world of music.

The classical guitar grew from its roots in the lute and vihuela, which were stringed instruments that were commonly used in Renaissance music. The classical guitar developed a wider fretboard, allowing more room for your fingers to cover the frets and a different set of strings made from nylon.

One extremely noticeable aspect of using nylon strings is the clearer and thinner sound, as opposed to the metallic twang that you get from using steel strings. You’ll notice with strumming and plucking nylon strings, the sound is so smooth and distinct, setting it in a whole different area code than steel-stringed acoustics.

A nylon string guitar is without a doubt ideal for those playing any type of Latin or Classical music. You can see many performers all over playing this type of guitar.

However, don’t limit yourself to just Latin or classical music. There are many artists who play classical guitars in everything from folk and country to rock and beyond. Willie Nelson technically plays Classical Guitar! (although he uses steel strings, which is typically frowned upon…)

Classical guitars also work well for beginners, as the softer strings allow players to learn the basics without needing to fight the calluses, and the larger fingerboard makes it easy to learn chord patterns. Some teachers are against learning on classical guitars, leaning more into the “throw them in the deep end” mentality. However, experiencing the fretboard and developing your finger strength before graduating to steel strings can be a major benefit for beginners.

Pros:

• Comfortable, lightweight, and easy to play
• Nylon string sound (unique and distinct — necessary for specific styles)
• Good sound projection for its size

Cons:

• Hard to reach higher up on fretboard with no cutaway
• Might not be loud enough for all rooms
• Very different from a steel string (not easy to go back and forth)

Guitars that don’t get talked about enough are travel guitars and 3/4 guitars. Aside from the obvious description in the name, these guitars are usually smaller in body and shorter in scale-length.

Leon Cox has been credited for inventing the traveler guitar in 1992, and a year later resulted in the start of the traveler guitar business. Later, C.F. Martin hopped on and came out with their own travel acoustics, which were originally designed by Robert McAnally.

Travel guitars are ideal for those looking to take an acoustic guitar with them while they move from place to place. Someone even took one to Mount Everest!

Travel acoustic guitars come in a few different scale-lengths, ranging from one quarter, one-half, and three-quarters. Reduced sizes are meant to be portable, so it’s easier to bring with you on the road. The smaller size is also ideal for children.

With a smaller body and shorter scale-length, travel guitars give the player a chance to feel comfortable and the ability to reach up and down the fretboard without any trouble.

Artists like Ed Sheeran, Zac Brown, Madison Cunningham, and Billy Sherwood have all used travel guitars before. Travel guitars make great instruments for country, folk, and singer-songwriters who might need to take a guitar with them on their travels. They’re also great if you just want something small to pick on while you’re sitting on the couch at home.

Pros:

• Compact size, great for traveling
• Various body sizes and shapes offered in (1/4, 1/2, 3/4)
• Excellent for the younger folks

Cons:

• Sound projection won’t cover larger rooms
• Cheaper woods and materials

No matter what, if you’re looking for a travel guitar, it’s usually with a specific reason in mind. Try out a few in various sizes and see which one fits you best.

If you're looking for a good travel-sized guitar, Martin just refreshed their Junior series to be more playable, more comfortable, and sound better. We got a few of their experts in the studio to go over the entire lineup. Check out the video on the AMS YouTube Channel. 

There are many different kinds of guitars out there, and it takes a lot to know which one is right for you. Whether you want the projection and bass response of a Dreadnought, the portability of an Orchestra or travel guitar, or the all-around happiness of a Grand Auditorium, there’s an acoustic guitar shape out there for you!  

If you’re overwhelmed looking for an acoustic guitar or just genuinely curious about some of the advantages of playing different body styles, the AMS Customer Service experts are always more than happy to chat and give some advice. Feel free to give us a call at 800-458-4076 to talk. We enjoy talking about anything gear related, so we look forward to hearing from you!