8 TIPS FOR BUYING ACCOUSTIC GUITAR
5
Do Tonewoods
Make a
Difference?
6
Solid Top
or Laminate?
An acoustic guitar is
essentially a wooden box
that sounds good. It has
hardwood back and sides,
and usually a softwood
top to vibrate and push
air out of the sound hole.
A laminated top doesn’t
resonate as much as solid,
so the tone won’t be as
warm or natural. However,
if you buy an acousticelectric and you’re only ever
going to plug into an amp
or PA for rehearsals or live
gigs, the more affordable
laminate should cover the
basics.
Bottom line: If you want
a superior acoustic tone or
plan to record with mics,
a solid top is by far the
superior choice.
JUNE/JULY
Yes. Most acoustics come with a softwood spruce or cedar top (or
soundboard), and some kind of hardwood neck, back, and sides such as
mahogany, nato, rosewood, and many other choices. These days you may
find acoustics with tropical hardwood tops such as mahogany (like the
Martin D-15) or even Hawaiian koa, which looks gorgeous but will be on
the bright side. Bodies with maple backs and sides are also brighter while
mahogany is the standard for warmth.
Ever been dazzled by a $300 acoustic with a gorgeous flame-maple top?
That’s because they’re usually decal adhesives or thin veneers glued to a
laminated top. You generally wouldn’t want a hardwood maple top anyway
– it’s too hard to vibrate and project sound. That groovy flame decal
doesn’t mean the guitar isn’t functional; but you should know what you’re
paying for.
7
Crank it Up
For decades, guitarists have struggled with the pros of amplifying
acoustics with cons like feedback and tinny tones. In the old
gigging days guitarists often used a removable magnetic pickup
or a microphone, the latter of which often yielded excellent
results, though at the cost of being able to move around onstage.
About 40 years ago, piezo pickups came into fashion. They
provided an acoustic-like tone but were thin, brittle, and sounded
buzzy. For better or worse the piezo, paired with an internal
battery-powered preamp, became the wave of the future and
norm for acoustic amplification.
Over time both preamp EQ technology and acoustic amps have
improved; but you can still buy removable magnetic pickups,
which can sound good and require no battery, or even internal or
clip-on condenser mics for very clear tones.
For the best acoustic-electric results, buy a guitar with the best
pickup and/or preamp you can afford, or use an old-fashioned
mic onstage. There’s no one perfect solution other than to say
that cheap piezo-pickup systems really do stink. Avoid them at all
costs.
8
Bottom Line
What are you waiting for? Go to the
local axe shack and start fingerpickin’
or strumming some acoustics. You’ll
find the perfect boom box in no time
with these tips. ■
DIGITAL EDITION
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