In your search for your tone, you will sooner or later be faced with the question of how much the weight of your guitar affects the sound. So, which guitar will sound better? Heavy or light? Some guitarists believe that a lightweight instrument swings more easily and resonates better from the vibrations of the strings; accordingly, it sounds more musical, open and bright, with emphasized tops. Others say the big, rich sound is a characteristic of traditional heavy-bodied electric guitars. The more wood, the more sustain. There is truth in both points of view. And there are examples of guitars that sound great but vary dramatically in weight. Until the early 80s, Gibson Les Paul guitars weighed about 5.5 kg. And these guitars were the basis of the sound of such bands and musicians as Led Zeppelin, The Sex Pistols, Boston and Peter Frampton. On the other hand, Fender Stratocaster and Telecaster guitars, which began to be produced back in the 50s, weighed only 3-3.5 kg, and sounded great, which you and I can hear ourselves on the recordings of Jimi Hendrix, Pink Floyd, and on the first album of the same Led Zeppelin. As you can see, good sound can be in both places.

So the answer to the question “what sounds better, a heavy guitar or a light one?” not very simple. It is influenced by many factors. For example, for some people, 5.5 kg on the shoulder during a big concert or rehearsal is too much, even if the guitar sounds cool. Playing a guitar that leaves you feeling physically tired or sore won't be fun and won't inspire you. A lighter instrument, on the contrary, may sound better, simply because it is easier for you to play in every sense.

As for the sound of the wood itself, I think what is fundamentally important is what exactly the guitar is made of, and not its weight. Maple and mahogany are quite heavy woods themselves. The weight of an all-maple guitar will not please you at all, but the combination of mahogany and maple top is what many guitarists adore their Les Pauls for and would not trade them for anything. Low volume sound from mahogany + mid-range tone from maple = that beloved guitar sound we all hear on classic guitar albums.

By the way, since 1982 Gibson have become lighter, they cut out entire pieces inside the bodies before gluing the top. Thus, these guitars lose 1-1.5 kg. Since 2007, the Les Paul has become even lighter - 2.3 kg due to cavities inside the body. Many say that this affected the sound, while others, on the contrary, are happy that their favorite guitar has become lighter.

Alder, ash and linden are lighter wood species. Each of them emphasizes its own special frequency range; accordingly, guitars made from these types of wood are very different from each other. It is the type of wood that influences the sound much more, not its weight. Stratocaster and Telecaster sound either transparent (ash) or balanced (alder), however, the single-coil pickups and the shape of the guitar itself also play a big role here. Sometimes you come across Strats and Teles that weigh a little more than usual, but they still sound like a Strat or Tele.

The quality of the wood is what is really worth chasing. Wood is an organic material whose character is determined by the climatic conditions in which the tree grew. There are no two identical trees, no two identical pieces of wood with the same acoustic properties. The older, lighter and more seasoned the wood, the more likely it will be a better musical instrument.

If we are talking about mass production, then this is a lottery. How lucky. Two seemingly identical guitars will not sound the same and may even differ in weight. So the best way to choose a guitar is to pick it up and play it. And if this is your guitar, you will immediately understand it.

By the way, what is your guitar made of?

In your search for your tone, you will sooner or later be faced with the question of how much the weight of your guitar affects the sound. So, which guitar will sound better? Heavy or light? Some guitarists believe that a lightweight instrument swings more easily and resonates better from the vibrations of the strings; accordingly, it sounds more musical, open and bright, with emphasized tops. Others say the big, rich sound is a characteristic of traditional heavy-bodied electric guitars. The more wood, the more sustain. There is truth in both points of view. And there are examples of guitars that sound great but vary dramatically in weight. Until the early 80s, Gibson Les Paul guitars weighed about 5.5 kg. And these guitars were the basis of the sound of such bands and musicians as Led Zeppelin, The Sex Pistols, Boston and Peter Frampton. On the other hand, Fender Stratocaster and Telecaster guitars, which began to be produced back in the 50s, weighed only 3-3.5 kg, and sounded great, which you and I can hear ourselves on the recordings of Jimi Hendrix, Pink Floyd, and on the first album of the same Led Zeppelin. As you can see, good sound can be in both places.

So the answer to the question “what sounds better, a heavy guitar or a light one?” not very simple. It is influenced by many factors. For example, for some people, 5.5 kg on the shoulder during a big concert or rehearsal is too much, even if the guitar sounds cool. Playing a guitar that leaves you feeling physically tired or sore won't be fun and won't inspire you. A lighter instrument, on the contrary, may sound better, simply because it is easier for you to play in every sense.

As for the sound of the wood itself, I think what is fundamentally important is what exactly the guitar is made of, and not its weight. Maple and mahogany are quite heavy woods themselves. The weight of an all-maple guitar will not please you at all, but the combination of mahogany and maple top is what many guitarists adore their Les Pauls for and would not trade them for anything. Low volume sound from mahogany + mid-range tone from maple = that beloved guitar sound we all hear on classic guitar albums.

By the way, since 1982 Gibson have become lighter, they cut out entire pieces inside the bodies before gluing the top. Thus, these guitars lose 1-1.5 kg. Since 2007, the Les Paul has become even lighter - 2.3 kg due to cavities inside the body. Many say that this affected the sound, while others, on the contrary, are happy that their favorite guitar has become lighter.

Alder, ash and linden are lighter wood species. Each of them emphasizes its own special frequency range; accordingly, guitars made from these types of wood are very different from each other. It is the type of wood that influences the sound much more, not its weight. Stratocaster and Telecaster sound either transparent (ash) or balanced (alder), however, the single-coil pickups and the shape of the guitar itself also play a big role here. Sometimes you come across Strats and Teles that weigh a little more than usual, but they still sound like a Strat or Tele.

The quality of the wood is what is really worth chasing. Wood is an organic material whose character is determined by the climatic conditions in which the tree grew. There are no two identical trees, no two identical pieces of wood with the same acoustic properties. The older, lighter and more seasoned the wood, the more likely it will be a better musical instrument.

If we are talking about mass production, then this is a lottery. How lucky. Two seemingly identical guitars will not sound the same and may even differ in weight. So the best way to choose a guitar is to pick it up and play it. And if this is your guitar, you will immediately understand it.

By the way, what is your guitar made of?

Few aspiring musicians study with a teacher or attend a music school. Most domestic guitar lovers are self-taught, who got the instrument from relatives or friends. They, as a rule, show the first chords. Choosing a guitar that suits a particular performer is not an easy task. You need to know the size of the guitar, ideal for the chosen purposes, its type, and understand what sound it should make. Let's try to understand the generally accepted sizes of this musical instrument.

Guitar type

First of all, before buying an instrument, you need to decide what type of guitar you need:

• Classical - six-string instrument with softer
• Acoustic is a type of classical guitar, but the number of which may vary.
• An electric guitar is a guitar with an electromagnetic pickup.
• The bass guitar is usually a four-string instrument designed to produce low-pitched sounds.

The types listed are the most popular and versatile, available in most music stores. There are rarer varieties, such as those with multiple necks, but they are more needed by professionals.

Beginning guitarists will be helped to choose an instrument by understanding what kind of music will be played. So, for romances, classical works, flamenco or bard songs, a classical guitar is ideal. It is the easiest, an instrument of this type is taught to play in music schools, selecting the size of the guitar depending on the age of the student. For rock music, blues, jazz, country and other rhythmic melodies, it is better to choose an acoustic, electric or bass guitar. The latter is the most difficult for beginners to master, as it has a longer neck and tighter strings.

Classical Guitar Dimensions

You need to understand that a ten-year-old child and an adult guy are a big difference. What is convenient for a small person is not at all suitable for an adult, which is why the international size grid has long been used in classic instrument models. A person of any age and build will be able to choose a suitable instrument.

The size of the guitar is 4/4 (four quarters) suitable for an adult - it is a full standard 7/8 smaller than standard, ideal for teenagers or short adult players. This size of guitar is ideal for bards and travelers; it is lighter and more convenient to transport. A 3/4 guitar, the size of which is intended for children aged 8-11 years, is a popular option, because most often at this age parents take their children to learn how to play a string instrument. If a child is 5-9 years old, then he needs a 1/2 guitar, up to 6 years old - 1/8.

Acoustic guitar sizes

The parameters of acoustic guitars duplicate the classical classification, but differ in the design of the body and its size. Unlike a classical guitar, an acoustic guitar has stiffer steel strings and a thin neck. The body of this guitar is larger than that of the classic model. Acoustic instruments are differentiated by the number of strings (6, 7 or 12), the size of the guitar and the shape of the body. Depending on the size (from smallest to largest), the instrument is distinguished:

• Grand Concert is a compact descendant of the classical acoustic guitar, which does not have the loudest sound due to the small volume of air in the body. A good option for teenagers and children.
• Grand Auditorium - Guitars that are slightly larger in size and often feature a convex back. The sound of the instrument is deeper and richer.
• Dreadnought is one of the most popular designs today. A characteristic feature of the dreadnought is that the near part of the body is much closer to the neck, and the far part is enlarged. Such models have a deeper body, which gives a special sound.
• The Jumbo is a larger version of the Grand Auditorium guitar with volume approaching that of a dreadnought. They were created as competitors to dreadnoughts; they have a richer sound. They are not convenient for everyone, so they also produce mini versions of the Jumbo guitar.
• have 6 pairs of strings that can be tuned in different ways (usually the interval is one octave), which makes it possible to create a choir effect.

Bass Guitar Features

The dimensions of the bass guitar are significantly larger compared to classical or acoustic guitars (about 1.1 meters in length). But this guitar is one of the “youngest” ones - it appeared in the 50s of the last century thanks to the American master Leo Fender.

Bass guitars are the same electric instruments, but produce lower sounds. They have a one-piece body, special sensors and control knobs. These guitars are popular among heavy rock and country music performers. In order to hear the bass sound, it must be connected using a cable with a plug to the amplifier and speaker. The plug or “jack” is inserted into the socket intended for it on the body of the instrument, the sensor signals are sent to the amplifier, which, in turn, converts the signal and transmits it to the speaker.

Which material do you prefer?

Most instruments are made by combining different types of wood. Plastic or metal is used less often. Experts say that there is no “best” or “worse” type of wood - the instrument must be chosen based on sound and comfort.

Brand and country of origin

Choosing a brand is especially important when purchasing electric and bass guitars, since their manufacturing standards are not clearly defined. Different manufacturers vary the number of strings, change the shape of the body and the electronic components of the guitar. Nowadays, every brand caters to a specific niche. So, Jackson is for metalheads, Fender is for getting a “clean” sound, Gibson produces an instrument with a “fat” sound, Yamaha is the optimal ratio of price and quality, but these are conditional signs. All of the manufacturers listed above produce fairly versatile guitars.

It is believed that everything is mass-produced in the USA and Japan. For classical guitars in the upper price segment, the leader is Spain. However, the declared country of origin does not guarantee the quality of the instrument, especially since there are often fakes on the market. When purchasing, you need to check the quality of gluing of the guitar parts, the evenness of the neck, and the absence of cracks.

Tool cost

Used instruments are definitely cheaper (2-3 times). On average, starting from 5,000 Russian rubles you can buy an instrument suitable for teaching. Professional guitars are much more expensive. In addition to the instrument itself, you need a case (preferably waterproof and frost-resistant), a tuner for tuning and other accessories - picks, capo, belt. An electric or bass guitar requires a combo amplifier.