|
Frequently Asked Questions
About Acoustic Guitar
How do I Choose a Good Acoustic Guitar?
Very
complete answers to this question can be found at "The
Guitar Advisor". Here's also a good answer from Harmony Central. But here's one
perspective from Tom Gannaway, Editor of Fingerstyle Guitar Magazine.
"We've all probably had the
experience of sitting around with a group of guitar pickin friends,
passing an ax around, and marveling at what different sounds
emanate, depending on whose hands it is in. This is no earth
shattering revelation, but it continually amazes me how a particular
player's approach is an extension of his or her personality. A
soft-spoken, timid person might have a light, sensitive touch, while
an aggressive, outgoing person might exhibit more volume and flair
in their playing-pops, string snaps, bends, etc. Our technique
and approach can evolve over time (hopefully it will improve!), but
the fact remains that what comes out of our guitars when in in our
hands is a basic expression of our personality. This
being the case, you'll want to use an instrument that suits you and
that you enjoy playing. Ask yourself, "Do I like the way
this feels?" You may prefer to play small-bodied
instruments, such as a twelve-fret, or you may prefer a larger
guitar, such as a Dreadnought. Another fair question is,
"Is this instrument a good fit for my touch?" On
some guitars, the sound may break up a bit when played aggressivelly,
making them a good candidate for those with a lighter
approach. Indeed, with some instruments, the lighter
you play them, the better they seem to sound.
Undergirding these questions, of course, is the necessity of playing
with a guitar that is playable, and possesses good intonation."
Tom Gannaway,
from "Chasing The Rainbow",
March/April '98 issue of
"Fingerstyle Guitar"
How do I assess the action on a Good
Acoustic Guitar?
Here's the advice of Tom
Gannaway, Editor of Fingerstyle Guitar Magazine.
"Action that is
either too low or too high can cause problems: excessively low
action can create fret rattling, necessitating quiet playing, while
excessively high action makes for uncomfortable and laborious
playing. A good rule of thumb is: for classical guitar medium
action, the bottom of the high E string should be 8/64" from
the top of the fret wire at the 12th fret; for steel-string
low-medium action, suited for fingerstyle players, the bottom of the
high E string should be 5/64" from the top of the fret wire at
the 12th fret."
Tom Gannaway,
from "Chasing The Rainbow",
March/April '98 issue of
"Fingerstyle Guitar"
|