Acoustic Guitar Facts
15 Interesting Facts About The Acoustic Guitar
Due to its significant body depth, the acoustic guitar can emit a vast array of frequencies and produce a profoundly rich sound. Because of this and its user-friendly nature, it serves as a fundamental ‘stand-alone’ element in social music. Just try picturing a campfire without one!
This category ‘Acoustic Guitars’ specifically covers steel-string acoustic guitars, descendants of a long history of similar instruments. Through a predominantly American influence, it has been a leading factor in Western, Country and Blues genres. It has also stimulated popular and alternative music for years. Let’s enjoy some interesting facts.
1. Everybody Brace!
Let’s separate the steel string guitar from its relative the Spanish guitar: In order to function with the extra tension of steel strings, it relied upon the invention of the X-braced body. This was created in America in the 1930’s and helps to provide that classic, bright, steel string acoustic sound.
2. Holier Than Thou
As previously mentioned, we know that acoustics produce a broad range of tones. In particular, the full-bodied bass of the acoustic relies on the empty space within. Vibration from picking or strumming swells with the air and is audible with help from the big hole on the sound board.
3. It’s... ‘Mr Guitar’
The name ‘acoustic guitar’ was first used to separate it from its younger cousin the electric guitar. Before this, it was just called… ‘guitar’.
4. Are You Hard Enough
The acoustic soundboard should ideally be made of selected hardwood. This normally gives the best tone quality. Many manufacturers tend to use ‘randomly-selected’ hardboards for budget ranges. In general, this causes pockets of poor-quality wood to appear. However, with this cheapskate process in place, it’s possible to accidentally buy a beautiful sounding guitar for much less than it’s worth. In a fantasy world, try twenty different guitars before you make a final decision or be incredibly lucky!
5. King Johnson
In the 1930s two long-lasting recordings were made, by the father of Blues Robert Leroy Johnson. He did not personally experience the great impact of his music, sadly dying in 1938 at the age of 27. His acoustic legacy is extraordinary, being cherished by many famous guitarists.
6. Bobbing About in the Woods
Bob Dylan’s powerful protest image relied on his use of the acoustic guitar (See the electric guitar section). An earlier and similar example of the political power of acoustics comes from the artist Woody Gutherie, who famously displayed the phrase ‘This Machine Kills Fascists” on his famous Gibson acoustic. This was created during his time in the US Navy during the second world war.
7. It's Not Loud Enough (My Ears Aren’t Bleeding!)
There are a variety of ways of electrifying your acoustic. Brands like Yamaha have very affordable and delicious live technologies, onboard relatively cheap instruments. Perhaps you won’t get the benefits of that quality wood around the campfire but you can rely on sounding tremendous live.