Still in love with that old dread...

[RP]

I've recently become a Martin dread owner, and had pretty much forgotten how much I liked dreads. I know that there's been much talk on AGF about the joys of smaller bodied guitars as well as the physical limitations that may affect some of you keeping a dread out of the equation. I'm still pretty crazy about my Taylor Grand Auditorium guitars, but there's just something about a dread that speaks to me. Anyone else have a warm spot for your favorite dread????

[inadu ridge]

I'm a big guy with long arms. The relative size of a dread to me is like a 000 to a smaller guy.
But tone-wise, I just love that big "whomp" sound of a dread, the fullness, the power.
Yep, I'm a dreadnought, slope and jumbo lover.

[pukematrix]

I'm a little surprised by this fact, but in 25 years or so of guitar ownership, a square shouldered dread has never passed my threshold. I've long been a 00-OM-GA type of guy, but over the past few years my view on dreads has softened quite a bit. I still don't own a square shoulder, but have had a handful of sloped shoulder Gibsons come in and out of the fold (J-45, AJ, J-35). I still have the J-35 (purchased from a forumite), and it's really a fantastic guitar that just does everything my limited talent demands of it.

After watching some of Molly Tuttle's work on Youtube, I do have a bit of a hankering for a Huss & Dalton TD-R.

Austin

[Rev Roy]

Originally Posted by RP

I've recently become a Martin dread owner, and had pretty much forgotten how much I liked dreads. I know that there's been much talk on AGF about the joys of smaller bodied guitars as well as the physical limitations that may affect some of you keeping a dread out of the equation. I'm still pretty crazy about my Taylor Grand Auditorium guitars, but there's just something about a dread that speaks to me. Anyone else have a warm spot for your favorite dread????

Yep..me, too. I went through a phase where I unloaded all my dreads and went small. Had some really great smaller guitars - including a CEO-7 and Taylor 812e 12-fret. Fine instruments...but just not for me. I’m a strummer/flatpicker with a heavy hand. I was quickly longing for that big dread sound. So I’m back to being all in dread.

[Pura Vida]

Definitely. I'm also a bigger guy at 6'2", so the size of a dread has never been an issue. As I got back into playing a few years ago, I went through a phase of trying out and buying a variety of guitars. But I always gravitate back to my dreads, so I've been swapping out the smaller ones and replacing them with bigger ones, LOL

[llew]

Absolutely...grew up playing dreads and really never knew smaller guitars even existed? I do have an OM-28 and L-02 and am awaiting a Pre*War 000-28. But in my world dreads rule. At least until (if the time comes...and I hope it won't) I can't play them anymore? Lots of great smaller guitars out there for sure but give me a dread every time...

Originally Posted by RP

Anyone else have a warm spot for your favorite dread????

I know exactly what you mean.

[El Cheapo]

I really like my OO15M. Great sounding, beautiful all mahogany guitar that is oh so comfortable to play. It's gotten the majority of my playing time since I acquired it about a month ago. But the other night I was visiting with a female friend who asked me to play something. I sang one of our favorite songs and accompanied myself on the OO15M, then did the same song with my HD28. I asked which sounded better to her. She said "the big one". I have to agree. If I could only have one acoustic guitar I would definitely keep the dreadnought. It can do it all, flatpicking, fingerpicking, strumming, whatever. It's the best sounding guitar I have and I feel very blessed to own it!

*

[JBCROTTY]

Dreds are all I own. Tried a smaller bodied Yamaha LS16 for a few months but just wasn’t digging it. I dig the big axes.

[inadu ridge]

Originally Posted by Todd Yates

I know exactly what you mean.

Gorgeous, Todd.

[blacknblues]

I recently bought a Martin Dread after years of owning and playing only smaller guitars. I just couldn’t compete when jamming with other heavy-handed Dread owners with anything smaller.

[Oldguy64]

I only learned there were other shapes a few years ago.
I’m up to ten guitars these days.
I believe I have two cutaway dreads.
Four non-cutaway dreads,
One mini Dread.

I have a Tele shaped chambered guitar, a Small single O for traveling, and a big ol’ Jumbo for some things.

But, around here...Dreads are king.

[kcnbys]

I've primarily played dreads since I got my first acoustic guitar 33 years ago. They are definitely my favorite body style, and I can't imagine not having one.

[jrb715]

"After watching some of Molly Tuttle's work on Youtube, I do have a bit of a hankering for a Huss & Dalton TD-R."
Austin

Yes, Molly's dread is sensational, a TD-R with a baked adi top. H & D dreads are really fine. The best mahogany dread I've played is an H & D TD-M with sinker mahogany and a baked adi top.

As for me, I've two dreads that sound wildly different, though both seem great to me: an HD-28 and a Collings D2HA. Although I love my OMs, a terrific dread seems to me to be the most complete acoustic guitar: sweet and expressive and also full of thunder.

[Mbroady]

I agree

Every time I bring home a small(er) guitar I wind up selling it.
I have accepted that I just love/need the low end rumble you get from a dread

She ain’t old but the latest addition is everything I could want from a guitar