Cutaways--fading away?

[hamburg325]

I used to think "Hey, I need to reach those notes up there."

Then I thought of Tony Rice. Leo Kottke (pre-Taylor). Jorma. Norman Blake. Doc Watson.

Maybe there are enough notes to reach sans cutaway.

[ukejon]

Originally Posted by hamburg325

I used to think "Hey, I need to reach those notes up there."

Then I thought of Tony Rice. Leo Kottke (pre-Taylor). Jorma. Norman Blake. Doc Watson.

Maybe there are enough notes to reach sans cutaway.

And for some maybe great musical beauty is found above the 12th. Do what works for you.....

[ukejon]

In the early 70s, after his Gibson was stolen, Leo played his custom cutaway Martin 12 String (the web link is somewhere in this mess below....AGF features don’t work on my iPhone.

URL="https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=tew_fIhz3eY&feature=youtu.be"]https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=tew_fIhz3eY&feature=youtu.be[/URL] ="https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=tew_fIhz3eY&feature=youtu.be"]https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=tew_fIhz3eY&feature=youtu.be[/URL]

[Skip Ellis]

Been playing for 60 years - never felt the need for a cutaway on an acoustic guitar - that's what Teles are for. I think I owned a Northwood and a Taylor at one time, both with cutaways - kept each less than a month.

[EllenGtrGrl]

I might have seen a slight downward trend in the number of cutaway acoustic guitars, but it could just be due to the general fluctuations in guitar fashion. I myself had a cutaway Washburn for several years back in the late 90s & early 00s. As a lead guitar player, I felt I that it significantly made it easier for me to play really high notes when soloing. I haven't had a cutaway acoustic since I got rid of that guitar in 2005 or 2006. Nowadays, I don't feel that it's necessary to always solo above the 14th fret, and have been able to still get above the 14th fret well enough for my playing purposes on non-cutaway acoustics. Also, I feel that non-cutaway acoustics sound better than acoustics with cutaways.

[Oldguy64]

Originally Posted by hamburg325

Looking around our acoustic guitar universe, it's hard to avoid noticing that various body styles (dreads, OMs, slopes, parlors, jumbos) are now far more common in their traditional states than with cutaways. Even Taylor--who rose to dominance partly as a result of their mainstreaming of cutaways--has gone traditional with their Grand Pacific.

I myself have always loved the curvaceous beauty of a great cutaway like the Santa Cruz F/FS (the Marilyn Monroe of guitars). But, like so many things, guitar building goes through styles and trends, and cutaways are now looking so last century.

Of course, the extreme cutaway in Martin's new SC-13E is an exception, but this model seems more geared to electric players than to acoustic purists.

Thoughts?

I have twelve guitars.
Eight have cutaways.
It used to be that to get electronics, you got a cutaway for free.

[String_Theory]

You guys need to come over to the carbon fiber sub forum! Bob Dylan said it best- the times they are a changin' 🙂

[swampyankee]

Now that I'm strictly acoustic, I'd like to find a Martin 000-16 to A/B with my 000C-16 to see if the cutaway has any effect on tone. Some say there's not enough difference to worry about, others say there's a big difference.

[Treenewt]

My second acoustic was a cutaway, bought because I thought I needed it. I never did and have only owned non-cutaways since. However, as my style has morphed and my interests changed, I’m strongly considering a cutaway on my next purchase. It’s all what ya like.

[Bruce Sexauer]

I wonder if anyone could do this: Walter Strauss plays the Penngrove. w/o a cutaway?

Personally, I can take it or leave it, but I play a wider variety of things when the 4th octave is more easily accessible. 2/3 or my customers are willing to pay an extra $800 for the privelege. I don't think the proportion has changed in 30 years.

[whvick]

Originally Posted by Twitch

To each his own

1) I like the disruption to the symmetry, adding to the beauty of an instrument

2) my luthier argues that they do not affect the sound... why stress over losing part of the sound chamber... regardless that it is a small amount

3) I am a veteran performer, I need and use the extra fretboard

4) in a store I do not even pick one up without the cutaway...I concentrate only in cutaway guitars

I hold no malice toward the non cut-away crowd....just not for me







No disrespect intended, only illustrating here that we are all different and will all have differing opinions. In the end I'm thankful that there are a huge number of instruments with options available that can satisfy all.

None taken
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