Fingerpicking a dreadnought? - Page 3

garysathome · #31 11-10-2019, 03:41 PM

the d18 def sounds better with heavier strings but it is a fantastic guitar for fingerstyle and you don't lose too much using the light strings i recently swapped back to lighter strings on my d18 so my wife could use mine shes decided to learn too.

Oldguy64 · #32 11-10-2019, 08:31 PM

I play everything from a 00-size to several Dreadnoughts and jumbos, including two 12-strings with my fingers only.
So yes, a dread is not going to be a problem for fingerstyle.
The biggest problem is being able to reach over the thing.

pandaroo · #33 11-10-2019, 09:06 PM

I play fingerpicking with soft attack with a combination of bare flesh, fingernails and thumb-pick. I used to own all sorts of body sizes and now I mainly just play on dreads for its depth of tone and bass.

Brucebubs · #34 11-10-2019, 09:10 PM

Fingerpicking is a style not a size.

You can fingerpick a double bass if you really want to.

I fingerpick all my guitars, especially the jumbo's.

Earl49 · #35 11-11-2019, 10:34 AM

I learned to finger pick on a D-28 clone, then later a D-28. Eventually I moved to wider necks, with 1-3/4" as my sweet spot and 1-7/8" being fine too. Play these days is on everything from tenor ukulele to jumbo baritone guitar, about 75% bare nails finger picking and the rest strumming.

Woolbury · #36 11-11-2019, 10:45 AM

Don't own a dread, but have a Martin M36. The only limitation for me is neck size. At 1 11/16, its just a tighter fit than my 1 3/4 or 1 13/16 neck guitars. At that narrower width I get unintended mutes, so I find myself using a pick on that guitar more often than not. Other than that, tonally, its great.

Earl49 · #37 11-11-2019, 10:49 AM

M36 is a great guitar. That 0000 sized body and tighter waist lets the guitar sit lower on your leg, which is why I eventually gave up the D-28 and got a custom shop J40 (0000 shape, dreadnought depth). If that one had a 1-3/4" nut width (or 1-7/8") I might still have it. But I didn't know much about such things when I ordered it back in 1990, and narrower eventually became an issue. And I know that the latest iteration of J40 does have a wider neck, but I'm done with wood guitars.

BluesBelly · #38 11-11-2019, 12:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Earl49

M36 is a great guitar. That 0000 sized body and tighter waist lets the guitar sit lower on your leg, which is why I eventually gave up the D-28 and got a custom shop J40 (0000 shape, dreadnought depth). If that one had a 1-3/4" nut width (or 1-7/8") I might still have it. But I didn't know much about such things when I ordered it back in 1990, and narrower eventually became an issue. And I know that the latest iteration of J40 does have a wider neck, but I'm done with wood guitars.

I'm with Earl49. I'll vouch for the Martin M-36 which in my book is a truly underrated guitar and Martins best kept secret.
I bought a new 2018 M-36 which now comes with a 1-3/4" nut. Great for any style of playing and any kind of music.

I have two OM,s and three Dreads, and a parlor, all with 1-3/4" nut and they can all be played any style. The biggest variation is the tone.

The right Gibson J-45 is going to give you a great Bluesy sound with the Gibson thump when played fingerstyle with finger flesh.

The Martin D-18 will sound like....well, a Martin D-18 which is a bit cleaner to my thinking.

The Martin M-36 is constructed with a three piece rosewood back (Think D-35). Whether finger style or pick, the balanced sound projects very well and could be compared to a cross between a D-28 and D-35 but with great clarity.

Both D-18 and J-45 guitars are Spruce / Hog

Blues

Silly Moustache · #39 11-11-2019, 12:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dafgog

Now I know you can use picks or fingers on all guitars and make them sound good. I am basically a fingerpicker used to OMs but I am considering a Martin D18 or Gibson J45 in order to get a deeper bass sound. Any views? Any finger pickers use dreadnoughts?

hi, as you say, you can play anything any way on any style guitar, if you wish, but some guitars are more suited to certain styles than others.

So, both the dreadnought and the jumbo that you mention can be finger -picked -as to whether these guitars originally intended as rhythm guitars will give you what you want tonally - is for you to investigate.

AcousticDreams · #40 11-11-2019, 12:44 PM

I believe the answer is to find a Dread that is more balanced frequency wise, across the 1st to 6 strings.

OM's are noted for their balance. Many Dreadnoughts are less pronounced High E & B strings, thus seemingly less balanced.

I grew up on classical training and then moved to melodic rock. I combine heavy fingerpicking with heavy strumming. A balanced Dreadnought was the answer for my needs.

There are several luthiers who are making more balanced Dreadnought these days. I am very pleased with Larrivee's D40's series with moonwood tops. Moonwood spruce seemingly adds a bit of articulation which to some provides a slightly more fundamental tone which allows the notes to stand out. I own two, one in Rosewood and one in Walnut. I get a super balanced sound with the deep bass you are looking for. You can also customize your balance with different Saddle and nut materials as well as Bridge pins.

However, there is one issue with Dreadnoughts that may not work for yourself. Many companies build dreadnoughts for 13 to 56 string gauge. When switching to 12 to 54's the response may not always work well with some Dreadnoughts.

Custom Luthier's are a different story. They will build the guitar lighter to be responsive with 12 to 54's.

Ed66 · #41 11-11-2019, 12:46 PM

I play 99% fingerstyle (occasionally with a thumb-pick). Dreadnoughts make up most of my collection. I think fingerstyle on a Dreadnought sounds great, although sometimes my wife might beg to differ

Woolbury · #42 11-11-2019, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BluesBelly

I'm with Earl49. I'll vouch for the Martin M-36 which in my book is a truly underrated guitar and Martins best kept secret.
I bought a new 2018 M-36 which now comes with a 1-3/4" nut. Great for any style of playing and any kind of music.

I'd trade ya

I do like my M36, like the body shape and thinner profile,(vs a dread) but it gets a lot less play time due to narrower nut. I'll probably part with it someday, but I'm in no hurry. Its been with me a long time now.

zmf · #43 11-11-2019, 01:04 PM

Fingerpicking on a dread is great when you want a big, bolder sound.

However, not all dreads are created equal when it comes to fingerpicking, particularly if you pick with bare finger tips. Some dreads come into their own only when flatpicked.

BluesBelly · #44 11-11-2019, 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Woolbury

I'd trade ya

I do like my M36, like the body shape and thinner profile,(vs a dread) but it gets a lot less play time due to narrower nut. I'll probably part with it someday, but I'm in no hurry. Its been with me a long time now.

Yep, The nut width makes all the difference in the world to me.
I had a D-35 with 1-11/16" nut (1985) but I sold it about 10 years later and went with 1-3/4" nuts on any new guitars I bought. I've been eyeing the M-36 for quite sometime so when the M-36 nut specs switched in 2018 I jumped on it. I'll say it again; The M-36 is one heck of a nice guitar in every respect.

Blues

Earl49 · #45 11-11-2019, 01:37 PM

The M36 is more like the 000-28, whereas the J40 is closer tonally to a D28. J40 has more clarity of tone and less of a boomy dreadnought character, due to the tighter waist. That was a real sweet spot for me and my playing style. I could fingerpick it well and with a flat pick it lacked nothing at a bluegrass jam.