Subj : Re: Acoustic or Spanish?
To : JENN COWFISH
From : Martin Ridgley
Date : Mon Nov 06 2000 09:16 am
Hi Jenn,
It's good to see you back... :-)
-=> JENN COWFISH wrote to ALL <=-
JC> I recently got a second hand guitar from a friend of the family's...
JC> I checked out some books as to how to play etc. and I noticed a few
JC> pictures of acoustic and Spanish/classical guitars. I looked at my
JC> guitar, which I thought was acoustic, but I noticed it looked slightly
JC> like a Spanish guitar as well. There isn't any visible model number
JC> or brand name on my guitar, so I'm unable to refer to anythign...Are
JC> there any distinct differences in the looks of a Spanish and acoustic
JC> guitar?
I see there have been a few replies to your question already, and
there's one thing that everybody seems to have overlooked:
As I understand it, *any* guitar that has a hollow body and projects
it's sound naturally (i.e. without electronic amplification), is an
acoustic guitar. The word 'acoustic' does not indicate the make, or
type of guitar. It refers to the fact that it reproduces the sound
naturally, without amplification.
Spanish, or classical guitars are acoustic instruments. They are
typically strung with nylon strings.
There are also numerous models of acoustic guitars that have steel
strings. They are known variously as 'western' style acoustics, or
'folk' style acoustics, etc. This is the type of acoustic guitar
that most people use in contemporary popular music today (i.e. pop,
rock, country, folk, etc.)
So, your guitar is an acoustic guitar. If it has nylon strings, it
is a Spanish or classical style acoustic. If it has steel strings,
it is a Western style acoustic.
Now, sometimes you will see an electric guitar with a hollow body.
These are commonly known as 'semi-acoustic' guitars. They are made
to be played through an amplifier, but when unplugged, they will
still project enough sound to be heard acoustically - albeit, a bit
more quietly. Hence the term, 'semi-acoustic' - they work both ways.
Solid-body electric guitars are made to be played only through
some form of amplifier. Sure, they *can* be heard without one, but
the only thing you will hear is the actual sound of the strings
vibrating, and the body resonating. The key is that they don't
naturally *project* the sound like and acoustic or semi-acoustic
guitar.
