What's a loud small body acoustic?

[DesertTwang]

Absolutely. My bluegrass jamming buddies routinely ask me to take it easy on my small archtop because it drowns out their dreadnoughts if I want it to.

[BobbyLloyd]

Martin 00015m


I also have an old, all lam, Chinese made parlor that is for some reason great in every way, and sounds huge.
It has an adjustable saddle, an I rarely use anything else for slide playing.
Prime example of every guitar being an individual.

[RRuskin]

Originally Posted by luigib

Anyone ever played one that was surprisingly loud compared to a dred?

I have 2 - both by McAlister. And "FA" and 00-28 Herringbone Vintage Series. They are strung with extra lights and lights, respectively.

[aknow]

The Martin OO28VS is quite loud, in spite of it's diminutive size.

[K-vegas]

Originally Posted by DesertTwang

Absolutely. My bluegrass jamming buddies routinely ask me to take it easy on my small archtop because it drowns out their dreadnoughts if I want it to.

That is a cool guitar. I can't believe it's loud... which makes it even cooler

[DCannon]

My Guild F-130R is very loud with great projection and balance. More volume than my old D-41 and my OM-16.
DC

[blaren]

Should I even say it? Well in case the OP has been living.....UNDER A ROCK for the last year or so...lol...I'll go ahead.

I had a Halcyon Advanced Jumbo built ($999 btw) and I spec'd it out to be a bonecrushing thunderous SPL making MACHINE. I was successful.
Loudest craziest guitar I had ever laid hands upon.
6 months or so later I was back to have a smaller bodied guitar built. I was interested in a 12fret OM so we went with a 12fret OOO. I did not spec this one out to be loud at all. I was looking for a sweet sounding and very balanced smaller body. No extremely forward shifted and very highly scalloped and light X bracing. No Adirondack spruce top like the AJ. I went with Lutz for the top and mahogany for the b&s.
Well....ear me nooow and believe me YOU (or check out the clips I posted). Somehow and very ridiculously, and I SWEAR to GOD and strike me down and blow me over and call me pappy and ALL that..even forever and forever amen, this OOO is LOUDER than the AJ. I am NOT even kidding. And again...the AJ is no whisperer boueee.

I feel equally stupid for saying that as I did when I kept saying that the Halcyon guitars are the equal of guitars that cost many many many many times more money. Well, now that some other members here also own Halcyons and confirm what I heard so that I now know that my ears were in fact NOT lying to me all that time...I BET that I'm not the ONLY smaller bodied Halcyon owner who is dumbfounded at how loud these things are.

Good LORD!

[Bill Ashton]

Have not read through all the previous posts, but I will vote for an Adi top/'hog body Huss and Dalton CM.

[billder99]

Originally Posted by Rickytuk

My Lowden S32 is a lot louder than my Talylor 618e and about half the size.

That's saying something Ricky... those maple Taylor guitars are LOUD.

[Long Jon]

Originally Posted by DesertTwang

Absolutely. My bluegrass jamming buddies routinely ask me to take it easy on my small archtop because it drowns out their dreadnoughts if I want it to.

Try finding a cheap one of these anymore.

That Rawlings boy has got a lot to answer for..... !

[Athana]

One guy I talked to has a J200 brazilian Rosewood guitar and he says his little Huss & Dalton 00 blows the J200 away..

I'd suggest a really super small guitar Lowden S…(post 2004)

So I say trhose twop that I know are a good bet.,

[srderby]

My Martin 00028h is loud for a trip O but probably not compared to a dreadnought. The scalloped braces give it nice base and projection in a smaller sized very comfortable guitar.

[handers]

Yep me too. Froggy H12. Ive been in bluegrass trio with banjo and mando and it cut thru

Hans

[jeanray1113]

Not sure what other variables are important to you, but on the lower end price point, the Taylor GS mini is a surprisingly loud little guitar, but is does have a very short scale(23 inches) and lam sides. I know people who have gigged with them, but it's considered more of a travel or "couch" guitar. But, for around $500, it is quite nice. Recently, I added a Taylor 512 12 fret. Prior to this I had never played a either a 12 fret or a Taylor GC body style. This guitar is loud and has a very warm, resonant tone. I have since learned something about why 12 fret guitars are loud for their size and also known for wonderful tone. Whether you want a Taylor or not, I would suggest you play some 12 frets.

[llew]

The New Martin 00-17S....won't hang with a dread but loud for it's size for sure!