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| Moderated by: Richard Hefner |
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| Body Style: Folk or Dreadnought? - Beginner Questions - Guitar - Guitar - ezFolk Forums | |||||||||||||||
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wvengineer Approved
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Hello all, I was wondering about some opinions on which would be better the Alvarez RF8 (Folk body style) or the RD8 (dreadnought). My music interests are folk and bluegrass. I don't know how to play BTW. I was told at the guitar shop that the folk body style is more balanced, and the dreadnought has more bass and is louder. Thanks for any insight. Lance
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garyblanchard Approved 
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I don't know that the body size matters much for folk music. I do know that the dreadnought is considered the standard for most bluegrass guitarists. I would recommend you decide waht sound you like and go with that. Ultimately, you are the one who needs to be pleased with the instrument.
____________________ http://www.brookfieldsmusic.net Preserving the Old-Time/Good-Time Tradition http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/919/ Buy our CDs at: http://kunaki.com/msales.asp?PublisherId=111162 |
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banjo brad Super Moderator 
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The Dreadnought body is bass-heavy, and is the preferred instrument for bluegrass because of it's (the guitar's) role as the bass instrument, concentrating on bass runs and chords. If you are going to be useing the guitar to accompany a singer like the folk singers do, then the folk-style (00, 000, OM, etc.) is probably more what you are looking for. I would visit some stores and listen to both types of instruments, play them yourself, even if that involves merely holding the guitar and strumming the strings. You will begin to hear the differences and then you can decide which you like better. Brad
____________________ ezFolk Help Brad Prickly Pear Music Banjo Brad's ezFolk page TOTMC |
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wvengineer Approved
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Very good points, I appreciate the responses. I may also make the person at the guitar store play both of them for me. I'm the customer so I shall bend them to my will! 
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Will Approved 
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Choose the guitar body style that feels the most comfortable to you. Years ago, I had trouble learning to play guitar because the dreadnought body style felt too large and bulky and I had to struggle with all kinds of playing positions to feel comfortable, while struggling to learn the fingering patterns. About 6 years later, after learning some chords on a baritone uke, I tried learning guitar again, this time, on a parlour-sized folk guitar (Seagull Grand), and it felt much more comfortable and I made much better progress. I now own a Martin dreadnought, as well as a Blueridge 000 (my current favorite), and two 12-strings. A few things to consider for the future... folk music can be played individually or in an ensemble, but bluegrass was primarily designed to be an ensemble style of music. For that reason, a guitar in a bluegrass setting usually needs to be loud and strong in the bass register, because it serves as the primary rhythm instrument; so that usually means a dreadnought. Last edited on Tue Oct 24th, 2006 03:29 am by Will ____________________ Will http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/297/ Loose Change & Friends http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/245/ http://loosechangeandfriends.com The Earth Tones http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/337/ |
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wvengineer Approved
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Thanks Will, You know it's funny you mention a uke. After being on this site and listening to a lot of the songs I'm debating skipping the guitar and getting a uke. I love the way they sound.
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wvengineer Approved
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Well I went back to the music store today. I made the guy working the counter play the rf8 and the rd8. I couldn't tell that much difference between them. I could tell a big difference between the rf8 and the rf20sm though. I guess the solid mahogany really does make a difference. I also had him play a uke for fun. They had a couple Martin's and a generic tenor.
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Philj200 Approved 
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John Herald (may he find his reward), back when he was lead singer and guitar-picker for the legendary Greenbrier Boys played a Gibson-made Kalamazoo-branded guitar. Basically, a factory reject. Small bodied. Sun-burst finish. Looked nothing like a bluegrass guitar. But he produced rock-solid rhythm and sparkling solos with that little instrument for decades both with the Greenbriers and later on his solo career. Doc Watson started out (according to a website I recently read) on a top-end Martin D-28, the king of bluegrass guitars. But while he can play anything, he's not primarily a BG guitarist. (He's everything.) Would he be better or worse if he started out on an OOO-18? I think he would sound good with rubber bands stretched over a cigar box. Clearance White (another great picker called away too soon) would come stage with two Martin Dreadnoughts. He's switch off between them constantly. Both were in standard tuning. But he had one with very low action to facilitate solos. The other had intentionally higher action to produce more volume for accompaniment. And they were both the same model guitar. Sermon concludes with my suggestion that you go to more than one shop. Handle a bunch on instruments YOURSELF. You said you don't play. Learn one or two chords. And go shopping. You'll find one that sings to you. And I'm not giving you anything metaphysical. Necks vary...even within a model number, so they'll feel different. Wood varies, so tone changes. Bridge placement can be within a +/- envelope and be playable and tunable from instrument to instrument, but sweeter on one than another. When you find your guitar, you will know it. Then the only question is, can you afford it. Hint: Only look in your price range. Last edited on Tue Oct 24th, 2006 07:46 pm by Philj200 ____________________ My MP3 Section: http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/1143/ My Myspace area: http://myspace.com/philj200 |
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UkeForever Approved 
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Maybe it's the influence of the uke, but I will never buy another dreadnaught. It's what I play because it's what I have, but I find that for noodling around at home, I always play my inexpensive Art & Lutherie AMI Cedar Parlour guitar. If I ever buy another guitar, it will be a shallow-bodied folk-style. I can reach around it more easily to fingerpick. I can always use a microphone or a pickup to increase the sound. If you're just a strummer, dreadnaught is pretty cool all-purpose guitar. But it's big and heavy. The uke is a great instrument, but entirely different than the guitar. Both have their place. Lately, I reach for the uke(s) more than I reach for the guitar. But the pendulum will swing back again.
____________________ Don't let the door hit 'ya where the good Lord split 'ya. John Rockwell's Crazy Songs 
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wvengineer Approved
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Thanks for the input. A lot of good info.
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wvengineer Approved
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Hello all, Just thought I would give an update. I finally bought a guitar. I went with a Seagull S6. I have a rather absurd question though. I spend much of my time in hotels. I'm an engineer in the power industry so I have to go to the power plants. Anyways is there a way to quiet down my guitar so I can practice without disturbing my neighbors? Thanks for the help, Lance
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Will Approved
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wvengineer wrote: Hello all, There are 2 easy ways to quiet down your guitar: 1. Play without a pick. If you're used to using a flat pick, just substitute your bare thumb and practice a gentle attack on the strings. 2. Use a soundhole cover, which acts as a mute (the guitar body amplifies the vibration of the strings). http://www.music123.com/Players-Silencer-Soundhole-Cover-420180-i1133335.Music123  Congratulations to you on your new Seagull S6 dreadnought. I own a Seagull Grand (parlour size) and S12+ twelve string. Cedar top guitars have a sweet tone, but they are much softer than spruce or mahogany, and are very prone to dings and scratches, especially with a satin finish. Last edited on Wed Jul 18th, 2007 01:33 pm by Will ____________________ Will http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/297/ Loose Change & Friends http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/245/ http://loosechangeandfriends.com The Earth Tones http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/337/ |
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| ezFolk Forums > Guitar > Beginner Questions - Guitar > Body Style: Folk or Dreadnought? | |
