that doesn't build acoustic guitars. I probably won't. I would need to purchase many tools. I can say that I have purchased very many tools needed for electric guitar and it's an investment with no recovery- it's a hobby that doesn't justify expansion.
 
With that said; It doesn't prevent me from learning.
 
I have owned and played many acoustic guitars. I didn't take the time to know about them because I didn't care. My only concerns were how they played and how they sounded.
 
There is a debate about how much wood affects the electric guitars sound. It's a debate because nobody can prove anything.
The importance of wood is greater with acoustics. The construction of acoustics is important.
 
I think there are basic points of interest that help in selecting either for purchase. Naturally how they feel and sound are for each to determine.
 
What I wanted to know more about is acoustic guitars. What are the major questions or concerns one may have after they determine that they do like the feel and sound of an acoustic?
 
Price. Yes, I think that is first. So what exactly am I paying for? What makes this one cost so much more than that one?
Well that can get to be a lengthy list of answers so I'm going to avoid "name" and consider "construction" since I have more interest in the materials used and construction of.
Well that too can become a very lengthy list and I need to keep it "basic". Ok, so what are the "basics"?
 
1. Laminate vs Solid wood.
2. Type of wood.
 
Acoustics can be all solid. Acoustics may have a combination of laminate and solid woods.
Laminated acoustics are (or should be) cheaper.
 
The top (and most important part of an acoustics sound) may be laminated or solid. How does one know?
The manufacturer may say; "solid wood construction" - indicating that the top, sides and back are solid. Not laminated. That is the surest way of determination- a salesperson may be mistaken or just doesn't know.
Looking at the edge of the sound hole for continuing grain pattern thru the depth is a possibility. Also checking grain pattern on the sides and back ...if they are different- laminated.
 
So what's the biggy with all this laminated vs solid wood? 
 
Laminated is going to be tougher but it's not going to improve with age.
Solid is going to resonate/sound better and will improve with age.
 
That is why many pro players keep their solid wood acoustics at home.
There are very good laminated guitars - good enough for the road but they will not be in the group of solid wood acoustics.
 
Cedar and Spruce tops are the two big players. Taste is the choice.
Backs and sides - many choices. Note of interest are two big ones; Indian and Brazilian Rosewoods.
 
In 1992 it became illegal to harvest and export Brazilian Rosewood. The trees cut down before 1992 can be used. Wood grain of Brazilian is favored over Indian Rosewood.
Now there are other woods being used for the backs and sides.
I mention this because one may want to hold on to that old acoustic they have.
 
Wood grain of the top of an acoustic is a major factor. It is probably what determines the price difference in higher end acoustics.
The trick there is; Has the manufacturer made the correct determination of the quality of that top?
If one is not spending over $800.00 for the guitar then they are probably fine just determining that they are satisfied by the sound and feel. Over that and it may be worth while to pay close attention and make sure they are getting that extra quality of wood they are paying for. Best by excellent grain, solid and making that sound.
 
Maybe the rambling has some value...
 

 
I have no answers for you Mike, but I love reading anything you post when you're talking about guitars 

Hi,
 
Loved reading that stuff. 
 
The only weird thing for me, is how is it that they are all "the same shape" and no one tries different combinations of shapes, in order to get different acoustics or sounds. I'm guessing that the blue print is the same as the one 200, 300, or 400 years old?
 
It might end up being a different instrument, but that's like saying that some of those 1000 year old things would not sound good with electrics on them. We don't even KNOW what the thing sounds like without the electricity!

Michael, I don't know the answers to those questions, but your post reminded me of a guitar that my friend Tim had built by Brook Guitars in Devon, England. They're deep in the English countryside (you even have a ford a stream to get to them!) and a large proportion of the woods they use have been sourced locally, cut and dried at their premises; sycamore, cherry, walnut and yew.  I remember Tim's guitar had some 1000-year old English Bog Oak in the construction. It was a really beautiful guitar, sounded wonderful, and perfect for a folky finger-picked style. The pic doesn't really do it justice.
 

 
 

Thanks Steve.
 
That's cool James.
The point I was trying to make was on what I think is the basic information that would help anybody looking to buy an acoustic.
To keep it simple by knowing the main differences between the price groups. The simplicity being the two main differences of construction methods using laminate or solid woods and then the real tricky one- knowing that a big investment cost is based on "quality of the wood".
I think the person spending @ $800.00 and knowing about what is and what is not laminated can make an informed decision.
Over that amount they need to be careful. They need to find out if the quality woods are exactly that.
 
If there seems to be questions about my post that is due to my lack of writing skills. I really don't have any questions.
My writing was to take some of "mystery" about acoustics construction and "marketing" and share a point of view that may be or worth based solely on the very basics of the acoustic guitar.
 
And your post James is a great example of using different woods. Combined with my post one may see that even though they may have used unfamiliar or what one may consider to be unconventional woods the construction methods of laminated vs solid wood is still a question to be answered and known...the way I see it. I see it as one of the most important basic considerations in building the instrument.
 
Mosh...I don't know. I think there have been many design changes made by luthiers. Popularity and what works...I'm not going there. I'm not qualified and I'm just opinionated.
 
 
I know there are members here that have invested in very fine acoustic instruments, such as Randy, that perform with them. It will be interesting when they post and possibly share there their points of interests and factors that help them decide the value of their choices.
 
 
 
Edited with a strike through...because it's a mistake I make that I hate to make. Something about thinking and typing that goes south. I don't know.

spacey
My only concerns were how they played and how they sounded.

This ^^^^ for me to this day still.

Moshkito
Hi,
 
Loved reading that stuff. 
 
The only weird thing for me, is how is it that they are all "the same shape" and no one tries different combinations of shapes, in order to get different acoustics or sounds. I'm guessing that the blue print is the same as the one 200, 300, or 400 years old?
 
It might end up being a different instrument, but that's like saying that some of those 1000 year old things would not sound good with electrics on them. We don't even KNOW what the thing sounds like without the electricity!

I suppose, to be described as an 'acoustic guitar' the shape will always have to meet certain criteria. If different sounds are required, there are lots of other stringed and fretted instruments to choose from; lutes, mandolins, ouds, bouzoukis, citterns, banjos etc etc.

bapu

spacey
My only concerns were how they played and how they sounded.

This ^^^^ for me to this day still.

 
I've changed. Justifying what I'm getting for my money has ruined me. It's made things that use to be fun, work.

Here is hoping it will help make more sense of my post.
 
Scenario for example;
 
If I'm looking for a very good sounding, TUFF guitar for the road then I may find a better deal (less money) and a good guitar for the road by considering a laminated acoustic.
 
If I'm looking for a very good sounding guitar that the sound will improve with age but require taking special care of then a solid wood investment may be my best choice.
 
I posted this because if one may be thinking of purchasing an acoustic there are some- what I think are- very important differences in the way they are constructed and important characteristics/construct detail that are not "personal preference" in the sense of adornments/inlays, nut material,  etc.
 
 
 
 

Moshkito
 
The only weird thing for me, is how is it that they are all "the same shape" and no one tries different combinations of shapes, in order to get different acoustics or sounds. I'm guessing that the blue print is the same as the one 200, 300, or 400 years old?
 

There are a few main factors here:
 
1. Tradition - people want an instrument to sound like they think it should sound so you end up with variations on very successful examples - flattop steel string acoustics perfected by Martin ~100 years ago, archtop designs that are now more associated with big jazz electrics but that started as acoustics with pickups added, classic resonator guitar designs, etc.
 
Innovations like Ovation became known for are not always well received in part precisely because they just don't sound like a good Martin.
 
 
2. Practicality - if you want to sit and play comfortably, an arched waist on the side sits nicely on your knee. And if you want to use bent wood for the sides, you can't have too sharp corners - otherwise you're looking at braced glue joints
 
 
3. Physics - the volume of the interior and the size of the soundhole directly affect the low frequency response. The shape, size, materials and bracing of the top affect the high frequency response. We want the resonances of the instrument to highlight desirable frequencies without resonating strongly at just certain notes/specific frequencies - i.e. we don't want flat frequency response, but we don't want certain individual notes to be dead or resonate like crazy either.
 
Some good overview of acoustic guitar (and other instrument) physics here:
 
http://newt.phys.unsw.edu.au/music/guitar