How does a cutaway affect tone?

lutehole · #1 09-12-2011, 10:42 AM

How does the cutaway affect the tone/etc of 2 exact guitars?

Ilovetaylors · #2 09-12-2011, 10:43 AM

it doesn't effect tone.

lutehole · #3 09-12-2011, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ilovetaylors

it doesn't effect tone.

That's good to hear. I heard on some other thread that it did.

blaren · #4 09-12-2011, 11:01 AM

Well..it MUST affect tone somewhat. If you remove volume of the box it'll sound different. It has to doesn't it?

Ilovetaylors · #5 09-12-2011, 11:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blaren

Well..it MUST affect tone somewhat. If you remove volume of the box it'll sound different. It has to doesn't it?

nope. there has been like tons and tons and tons of threads on this topic.

but basically I will summon it up, its impossible to tell the difference with the human ear.

so the answer is no.

ericcsong · #6 09-12-2011, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ilovetaylors

nope. there has been like tons and tons and tons of threads on this topic.

but basically I will summon it up, its impossible to tell the difference with the human ear.

so the answer is no.

could the answer be yes, but not discernible by the human ear?

Ilovetaylors · #7 09-12-2011, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ericcsong

could the answer be yes, but not discernible by the human ear?

hahaa isn't this like.....

does a tree make a sound if it falls in the forrest if no one is there to hear it?

Battleman · #8 09-12-2011, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ilovetaylors

nope. there has been like tons and tons and tons of threads on this topic.

but basically I will summon it up, its impossible to tell the difference with the human ear.

so the answer is no.

I respectfully disagree. Depending on the shape of the guitar it,WILL affect tone.

All you have to do is go to the store and play a cut away then play a DN.

flaggerphil · #9 09-12-2011, 11:09 AM

I really don't think many people could tell the difference.

Ilovetaylors · #10 09-12-2011, 11:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by solotaylor

I respectfully disagree. Depending on the shape of the guitar it,WILL affect tone.

All you have to do is go to the store and play a cut away then play a DN.

oh I have...no difference on a taylor and many others I've tried...like 314ce and ga3. The 314ce was somehow louder.

but I attribute that to the specific wood, more than the cutaway. Even though they have the same woods, bracing and etc.

jhchang · #11 09-12-2011, 11:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by solotaylor

I respectfully disagree. Depending on the shape of the guitar it,WILL affect tone.

All you have to do is go to the store and play a cut away then play a DN.

OK it will affect tone, but still sound no different to you.

Are you happy now?

The difference btw a x10 CE and DN is more than what you think, NOT just the cut...

murrmac123 · #12 09-12-2011, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by solotaylor

I respectfully disagree. Depending on the shape of the guitar it,WILL affect tone.

All you have to do is go to the store and play a cut away then play a DN.

How many stores stock two guitars which are identical in every respect except that one has a cutaway and the other doesn't ?

Even Taylor can't guarantee that ...

blaren · #13 09-12-2011, 11:28 AM

Well..I'm kind of shocked. I've never a/b a cut vs non-cut but they HAVE to sound different. If not, why not cut both sides of the top bout right off. You could have a guitar shaped like a banjo and have access to every fret..top and bottom. Does the bottom bout contribute anything to the sound? If not we could get rid of that too and just play awesome sounding necks/sticks.

I saw a documentary YEARS ago where they removed half of a monley's brain and he was just fine. Normal in fact. I wish they would have kept removing pieces until they DID notice a difference. Once they removed the last piece what would happen..the monkey turns into a Newfie?? SORRY..couldnt resist. My wife is a newf.

But yeah..I can't see how removing material (volume) from a guitars body will have no effect on tone. I mean..you make the sides 1/4" or 1/8" shorter and you'll hear the difference. A dread vs GA, a 12fret dread vs 14 fret vs sloped..they all sound different and some of that HAS to do with the lesser body volume.

So if the cutaway makes no difference, if you were to keep removing size from the body, WHEN will you begin to hear the difference?

Not trying to say anyone's wrong..just trying to wrap my head around this and understand. School me.

ewalling · #14 09-12-2011, 11:34 AM

One anecdotal piece of evidence - I've owned 2 Larrivee P-09s in the last 4 years, one a cutaway and one not. The one without the cutaway was noticeably better to my ears. Of course, there could have been a variation in the quality of the spruce and rosewood on the two guitars, but then again, maybe it was the cutaway that made the difference.

Ilovetaylors · #15 09-12-2011, 11:36 AM

(some people actually think the cutaway helps with the tone because it makes the top lighter)

anyways.....

here's a thread to get your started

http://www.acousticguitarforum.com/f...ay+effect+tone