Wrong Yet Again

[richardp69]

Being wrong seems to happen often to me. Maybe it's just a birth right, I'm not sure.

I've flapped my gums for many years about how a cutaway acoustic can't match the sound of a full body acoustic. Maybe that's actually true but here's what I do know. I have a recently acquired GSR F 30 CE and a NH D 40 CE. Both of these guitars are superb but speaking about the D 40, it's hard for me to believe there's a better playing, better sounding, huge projection D 40 out there that could be any better. I also have the D 40 Traditional Deluxe and this NH cutaway sounds every bit as good, at least to my ear.

I think the message at least to myself is try not to make blanket statements and be open and flexable to potentially changing your mindset over time.

 

[Westerly Wood]

"try not to make blanket statements"

Right on Richard. Sometimes, it's a quilt.

 

[bobouz]

In the real world (vs the internet), guitar generalizations truly are made to be broken. And it surely does keep things interesting!

 

[Taylor Martin Guild]

As I understand it, the area that is cut out doesn't add very much to the sound of the guitar.
That is why it is possible to cut it out and still have a good tone.
I went many years not liking the look of a cut out but it has grown on me over the past few years and I finally got one.
I don't play up the neck, so that has no bearing on things.
I got the guitar with the cutout because it was the size and shape that I wanted and it came with a pickup that I also wanted.

 

[walrus]

My '11 F-30RCE sounds great! More volume than I expected for a guitar that size. I never even thought about the cutaway in regard to volume, I just wanted easier access to the higher frets.

I took the electronics out of it, but as you would expect, no discernable difference in volume because of that!

walrus

 

[GGJaguar]

Cutaways on acoustics are all about aesthetics for me. Some cutaways look fine, others not so good. I don't mind the soft cutaway on my D3CE, but I hated the sharp cutaway on the F-212C I had for a while.

 

[Br1ck]

Cutaways on acoustics is all about aesthetics for me. Some cutaways look fine, others not so good. I don't mind the soft cutaway on my D3CE, but I hated the sharp cutaway on the F-212C I had for a while.

I've never seen a cutaway that looked good on a dread. Add it to the list of biases I've formed, like my dislike of the Eastman logo, and every Taylor neck I've ever played. A guitar with one ding in the top bothers me. Twenty does not. I don't foist my irrationality on others. At least I try not to.

 

[Neal]

An interesting observation in general, Richard.

I have had a number of guitar players over to my house. Of course, I invite them to play my collection.

I am always interested in which guitar they may gravitate toward. I am never right.

To each, his or her own.

 

[KCGuildPicker]

In the past, I had a Martin Road Series and Guild True American both with cut-aways both were great players in their own ways. Also in the past, I had a jazz teacher who despised all things of the "capo mind-set" as he called it. As such, my playing style (if I can call it that) takes me on trips all over the fret board including past the 12th fret. I should have a cut-away, but in true guitar player logic, I do not.

 

[Uke]

If a cut-away is good enough for Charlie Byrd, it's good enough for me.

 

[Gdjjr]

Plugged in, the cut away makes no difference from what I've heard/seen and I do open mic deals, so it is somewhat important. Cosmetically, not my cup of tea.

 

[HeyMikey]

I can’t say for all models but I have owned F30 and F30R regular and cutaway variations from New Hartford and found no discernible difference in sound quality or volume. When done well I prefer a cutaway, at least on the small bodies.

Perhaps it could be more obvious a difference on the larger models, but I think it equally could be natural differences between one guitar vs another. How many times have you gone to a music store and A/B’d two of the same model where one stood out over the other?

 

[hearth_man]

I've never seen a cutaway that looked good on a dread. Add it to the list of biases I've formed, like my dislike of the Eastman logo, and every Taylor neck I've ever played. A guitar with one ding in the top bothers me. Twenty does not. I don't foist my irrationality on others. At least I try not to.

How about this one? My 1983 D-25C.

 

[Guildedagain]

I used to think a cutaway wasn't as good somehow, like unleaded gas, but this "True American" sure changed my mind. A cutaway dread, tone actually exceeds many/most non cutaway guitars. Has some certifiably large derriere tone. Even with horrid looking old EJ16's on it and worn down frets, it's like wow.

Been thru the ringer, and back for more.

 

[Iceman]

I was fortunate enough to buy one of Richard's cutaway's before this epiphany....haha.
It is a gorgeous D-50 CE in excellent shape. Has DTAR factory pickup.
I never go anywhere without it.
It doesn't have the bling of a D55, but the sound is killer.
Sold my D55 (no cutaway) and kept the D50CE.
If you ever get a chance to buy one of Richard's guitars, do it, he's got great guitars.
Charlie

 

[Wilmywood]

I thought my cutaway DCE-1 sounded great. Had I not had a G37 and a DV52 at the time I may have kept it.

 

[Guildedagain]

The cutaway is quite handy if you wander up the neck much.

Is there less tone because of it?

Maybe on some notes (treble notes where the wood is gone) but overall tone and volume are very similar.

Looks wise some are harder to get along with, but this Venitian cutaway is very easy on the eye, arguably more aesthetically pleasing than any competitor's guitars at the time or since, vs crazy huge Florentine cutaways of the past, D40, etc.

 

[Br1ck]

No amount of utility will have me changing my view regarding cutaways on acoustics. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I did use the word irrational describing my personal bias. I hope it doesn't detract from your joy.

 

[Nuuska]

F-212C - especially SB

 

[adorshki]

I used to think a cutaway wasn't as good somehow, like unleaded gas, but this "True American" sure changed my mind. A cutaway dread, tone actually exceeds many/most non cutaway guitars. Has some certifiably large derriere tone. Even with horrid looking old EJ16's on it and worn down frets, it's like wow.

Been thru the ringer, and back for more.

Interesting pinstripes. Looks like a Westerly Wood custom hand-striped "Tone Flames" job.