The Acoustic Body Shape

     The iconic design of the acoustic guitar has been shaped and transformed throughout hundreds of years. Some of the earliest instruments that resemble an acoustic guitar were made from natural materials like shells and bamboo. This designed later changed and formed the lute. The lute is a string instrument and the back resembles a round bowl. Today for cost purposes and comfort, the lute changed and the common shape for the acoustic guitar was born and now there are many shapes that are being created to make it ideal for certain genres of music. In relation to Martin guitars, for some guitars, they name their models by adding the 0 (zero) for their guitar models. The models I will be talking about are: 0 (Parlour Model), 000 (Orchestra Model), and the Dreadnought.

     The Martin model 0 was built in 1854 that has a 12 fret to body design that produces a tone with plenty of mid-range punch. The shape of this guitar and model is ideal for Traditional blues, folk, and Americana. The body length is 19 1/8 inches, a max depth of 4 1/16 inches and max width of 13 ½ inches. Although this guitar was very specific in genre and style of music there is one that is well rounded and can be used for almost any style of playing, the 000 model or Orchestra Model.

     The Martin 000 models are acoustic instruments that are well rounded and used by many famous guitar players, one of my favorites Eric Clapton. This guitar is perfect for rock, folk, blues, and many more. This guitar has a scale length of 24.9 inches, body length of 19 3/18 or 14 playable frets, max depth 4 1/8 inches, and max width of 15 inches. This guitar was traditionally made for auditorium use but has adapted for other applications. Although this guitar can versatile, there is one model that is the most iconic and just beats everything out of the water.

     The Dreadnought guitar model guitar model is the most iconic instrument known. Pretty much every guitar player or musician has picked this guitar to be their main choice from Elvis, Johnny Cash, Paul McCartney and many more. This guitar can literally be played in any style of music. The sound can really shine when strummed or picked. This guitar model has rounded shoulders and 12 playable frets and has become synonymous with the very term ‘acoustic guitar’. The body length is 20 inches, depth of 4 7/8inches, and width of 15 5/8 inches. One sad story I have is that I used to have a playable Martin dreadnought, but the rosewood neck has split apart from the back of the neck.

0 Model

000 Model

Dreadnought

     

     These models are the most recognizable guitar shapes known to man but are not the only models that exist. There are hundreds of different guitar shapes that have different acoustical properties and I encourage everyone to go check out a music/guitar store and start jamming out on numerous guitars. Find the one that is just for you and your style of music!