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Post by christoph on Jul 27, 2016 23:02:45 GMT
Was just wondering what your thoughts are on cutaway style acoustic guitars, are they the be all and end all? Or are they a must have in guitar choice please?
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Post by andy3sheds on Jul 27, 2016 23:40:09 GMT
Surely Mario Maccaferi nailed it yonks ago 12 frets to the body bridge where it should be Cutaway allowing access all over the neck What's not to like
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ocarolan
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Post by ocarolan on Jul 27, 2016 23:41:19 GMT
If you want to play notes at the highest frets then a cutaway will make it a bit easier. But if you don't, why pay more for less guitar....? Keith
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Martin
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Post by Martin on Jul 28, 2016 8:03:30 GMT
I don't like the look of them, and since I never venture up towards those silly little frets near the soundhole, it's of no use to me.
They're a functional necessity for some, however.
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mandovark
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Post by mandovark on Jul 28, 2016 9:10:53 GMT
Cutaways are a functional thing. I ordered my most recent guitar with a cutaway because I wanted to be able to play slide above the 12th fret. I think cutaways can look good, but I still wouldn't have one unless it served a practical purpose - however good it looks, it's still taking away part of the guitar body.
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brianr2
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Post by brianr2 on Jul 28, 2016 10:35:57 GMT
I hold to the view that for, should follow function. With stubby figures and an enthusiasm for capos and the dusty end, a cutaway is essential for me. This said, they can look very good and I love mine.
Brian
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missclarktree
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Post by missclarktree on Jul 28, 2016 17:35:34 GMT
I would only have a cutaway if both sides were cut away, to make it symmetrical.
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Post by vikingblues on Jul 28, 2016 21:41:00 GMT
If I could find and try a cutaway where I was happy with the sound ....... ? Mark
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Post by delb0y on Jul 29, 2016 13:42:28 GMT
I can't tell the difference in sound between a cutaway and not, if I'm honest. But I've said similar things before - I envious of all the great ears here. I was listening and watching Pat Donahue play recently (on the Tube) and started lusting after a cutaway after seeing what he does with one... but then I realised that the truth is I'm in the Martin (Martin the Administrator, not Martin the Manufacturer - although I do have a 00015m on my lap at the mo') camp and don't venture up the dusty end very often. Certainly the 12th fret is high enough for me. Anything above there can be played down the proper end with a bigger sound and less effort on the arm muscles!
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Post by bellyshere on Jul 29, 2016 14:04:40 GMT
I hate cutaways. Purely aesthetic reasons though. Spoils the symmetry of acoustics.
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davewhite
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Post by davewhite on Jul 29, 2016 15:43:44 GMT
Spoils the symmetry of acoustics. So does the player.
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colins
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Post by colins on Jul 29, 2016 16:07:47 GMT
I'm not a fan of cutaways, I guess it's because I played classical as well and Tarrega never had any problem playing the higher frets. For altered tunings, where I was going to capo and play higher up the neck, I built 14 fret to the body guitars and never had any problem playing up the neck. For standard tuning and general playing 12 fret, just like my classicals. Work out how many additional notes you actually have past the 15th fret that you can't reproduce on strings up to the 14th fret, and how often you actually play them on an acoustic.
Colin
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Post by bellyshere on Jul 29, 2016 17:19:42 GMT
Spoils the symmetry of acoustics. So does the player. I like to look at them without anyone attached.
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Post by mandovark on Jul 29, 2016 19:44:01 GMT
I'm not a fan of cutaways, I guess it's because I played classical as well and Tarrega never had any problem playing the higher frets. For altered tunings, where I was going to capo and play higher up the neck, I built 14 fret to the body guitars and never had any problem playing up the neck. For standard tuning and general playing 12 fret, just like my classicals. Work out how many additional notes you actually have past the 15th fret that you can't reproduce on strings up to the 14th fret, and how often you actually play them on an acoustic. Colin This is where there's a difference for slide players. I don't often go above the 12th fret if I'm fretting strings, but I do when I'm playing slide. Unfortunately, there isn't really a way of getting at the higher frets with a slide if you don't have a cutaway, and I do like to get those high notes on the high-E string. When I ordered my last guitar, I gave strict instructions that I had to be able to get my slide up to the 17th fret
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