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Old 07-01-2020, 02:01 PM
ataylor ataylor is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MartinGibsonFan View Post
I think the visual differences are obvious.

I think the sonic difference are obvious as well.

Jumbo shape (rounder) gives an airy sound, a less projected sound, sort of like a Martin D35

A dreadnought shape give a direct sound, at least for me the player.

That's just my experience from the Jumbos I have in my arsenal, i have to admit i don't have any Jumbos on the Martin side, all mine are on the Gibson side.

Both are good (Jumbo and Dreadnought) just gives more reason to own more guitars for variety sake
Yes, there are obvious visual differences — hence the reason most add the "slope-shoulder" when categorizing the Gibson shape as a dreadnought. That said, when compared to guitars of different sizes — jumbos, small jumbos, orchestra models, auditorium models, etc — the visual differences between the two shapes appear more subtle, which is why they're typically classified together by brands, builders, and shops. Illustrating that was the reason for this post, with the historical context a secondary aim.

As for sonic differences, those are again going to be more apparent when comparing either of the two shapes directly than when compared with other shapes and sizes.

And while there are stereotypical attributes we give to a Martin or Martin-style dreadnought versus a Gibson or Gibson-esque equivalent, it's not necessarily absolute.

For instance, my Martin D-18 has a more airy sound than my J-35-style guitar, which I would hold up to about any Martin or Martin-style guitar I've ever played in terms of projection and volume. Similarly, I've found examples of the Gibson Advanced Jumbo to be every bit as direct as a D-28 or HD-28, if not more so.

It would seem both of these shapes can be built and braced to get a variety of flavors, and can simultaneously be similar but different in good ways. And yes — all the more reason to have a couple on hand
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