Anyone going from smaller body to larger bodies?

[jaymarsch]

If I could comfortably play a dread, I would own one. My compromise was to find a luthier who already had designed and perfected a slightly scaled down slope shoulder shape for players who want a tone closer to what a dread offers in a more manageable package. I know plenty of players who would have larger guitars for the tone, but ergonomic considerations keep them playing more mid-sized guitars. Another one of those personal decisions.

Best,
Jayne

[Thrillhouse]

Never. My Guild is just between an 0 and 00. I will only go smaller from here. Love the size and the sound!

[canyongargon]

For me it’s not so much width as it is depth. I have a hard time getting along with dread depth guitars, but I really like wider guitars with thin 000-esque depth, like 0000 sized guitars or Gibson’s J-45 Studio.

[Brucebubs]

You can have my jumbo's when you pry them from my cold dead hands.

[Drak]

I don't play in a band, so I simply don't need the projected volume just for volume's sake.
I prefer the more nuanced tone of an OM or OO in their various flavors.
More immediate, more personal and up-close.
I like that.
No dreads in this house.

[ahorsewithnonam]

I’m pretty sure that going from a small body to a large body guitar is illegal. And the penalty doubles after age 50 or so.

[donlyn]

Originally Posted by Brucebubs

You can have my jumbo's when you pry them from my cold dead hands.

And even then, you'd be fightin' and bitin'.

And a huge thumbs up on this one.

Don

[dwasifar]

I've been going from smaller body to larger body gradually as I get older.

[swarfrat]

I have an Alvarez ABT-60 27" scale jumbo, and a Guild OM-240ce that I got thinking ' it might be nice to try a smaller body with more midrange character and a step up in pedigree (I'm a big Guild fan)

For a while I kept the baritone tuned B-b' and the Guild in standard tuning. Since restringing the baritone to C#, I'm like "why do I even keep this honky little bodied guitar?" I might see if I can trade it towards an F-2512.

Jumbos until I just cant play em anymore.

[Pitar]

I went to smaller bodied guitar many years ago not as a physical comfort dictate but rather for a better all-around sound. I'm pretty sure that decision is still validated by the current available offerings.

[jaymarsch]

Originally Posted by Goodallboy

As a strummer, not fingerstylist, smaller guitars just sound anemic to me. I owned a fine SCGC OM that was as good as they come and it just didn’t please my ear.



For me a Grand Concert or Grand Auditorium (ie:Goodall, and McCollum) are the perfect compromise between Dred and OM.

I love my deep body grand concert and like it better than many OMs that I have played. Lance McCollum’s guitars are definitely a cut above so many others. It is great that you own one!

Best,
Jayne

[GHS]

I really dont get the "comfort" argument against larger body guitars. Just change the playing position when seated (place guitar on left leg for "classical" position and all shoulder problems associated go away. I have rotate cuff problems and no issues at all playing that way. I did not start playing that way because of that ...it just gives me better access to the fret board with my left hand.

[DCCougar]

Originally Posted by Brucebubs

You can have my jumbo's when you pry them from my cold dead hands.

Originally Posted by swarfrat

Jumbos until I just cant play em anymore.

Now you're talkin'!


2002 Guild JF30-12

[Peepaw]

I'm about to go in the other direction and get a slightly smaller bodied guitar.

[boneuphtoner]

Originally Posted by RP

I'm part of that aging guitarist thing and suppose I'd qualify since I've gone from Taylor GAs to dreads in the past six months. I don't have shoulder issues and prefer the tone of larger body guitars...

+1 on this - for the unique classical all fingerstyle flesh only playing I do, I appreciate the increased unplugged volume and depth of tone. And at 6’5”, bigger guitars are actually more comfortable for me.