Acoustic Guitars

When choosing an acoustic guitar, there are a few factors of primary relevance. The first is how it looks. It should have a pleasing design that is well executed: it must be clean. Size can be a factor, both for comfort, and in relation to the type of music being played. Secondly, it should play well. This aspect encompasses design, execution of the build and the set up. Thirdly is the sound. We lack a precise vocabulary to describe sound, and its qualities are admittedly difficult to measure. Most luthiers state that they strive for reasonable volume and projection, good note separation, and a balanced frequency response. In addition, most desire a good dynamic range, which means both sensitivity at low volume and good headroom. Regardless of how we attempt to describe the optimal sound of an acoustic guitar, most people know when they play a guitar with “good” sound, just as they know when a guitar is beautiful and plays well. Needless to say, opinions vary widely. The job of the luthier is to help the customer articulate what they desire, and craft a guitar that meets or exceeds expectations. Guitars must also be durable without being overbuilt, a task that is easier to achieve for a custom builder than for a factory. Price is a consideration for most players. My own personal desire is to serve a wide spectrum of guitarists, including those whose financial abilities might be modest, but whose musical abilities are not. My preference is to fashion guitars that are played rather than admired on the wall.