The Dreadnought is one of the most common variations of the acoustic guitar out there. It was developed by C.F. Martin & Company, a legendary American guitar manufacturer. There are some specific characteristics of the Dreadnought guitar that makes it better than the other variations of acoustic guitars.
Is Dreadnought the best type of guitar? Let’s find out.
What is a Dreadnought Guitar?
The Dreadnought is a popular variation of acoustic guitar that was created by C.F. Martin & Company in 1916. Although there are different variations of the acoustic guitar, the dreadnought is what most of us imagine while talking about an acoustic guitar. These guitars come in a straightforward and bulky design, which assist them to produce an impressively loud and rich tone.
The origin of the name arrived from a royal navy battleship. The name emphasizes the bulkier size of the guitar. The guitar was primarily for a specific retailer company. Later, C.F. Martin revised the design and started manufacturing under their name. The first two models of the guitar were D-1 and D-2, made of mahogany and rosewood.
The loud volume and impressive tone of the guitar make it an instant success. It was highly popular amongst folk and bluegrass musicians. It is even considered the standard guitar for bluegrass music. Seeing the popularity of this specific variation of the guitar, other manufacturers also started producing this type of guitar.
What Makes the Dreadnought Guitar Best?
Although being very simple in design, the sound of the Dreadnought guitar is irresistible. Thanks to the bulky size, the Dreadnought guitar can bring out a loud and thick volume. They are even suitable for the bass to some extent. With the modern dreadnought guitars, you should be able to play both high notes and low notes impressively well. They are so influential that you can even compete with the electric band without any extra support.
Compared to other variations of acoustic guitars like the parlor or OM, Dreadnought can produce a bigger range of frequencies to produce a richer tone. Another pro of the dreadnought guitar is there are different variations of it available widely due to its huge popularity. As a result, you can easily pick out the one that suits you the best. Some of the manufacturers are even ready to custom build them for you.
Is There Any Drawback?
One of the downsides of the dreadnought guitar is its size. Because of their massive size, they may not suit everyone well. Especially, if you are a young musician or smaller-bodied, you may find them hard to utilize. So, it is better to practically try them in-store to find the type that suits you the best. Another sweet drawback of the guitar is they are quite loud and the sound can be disturbing for your family or neighbor while practising at home.
Conclusion
The Dreadnought can be an excellent pick for anyone. However, you really need to be aware of their size as not all the variations will suit everyone. If you can pick the right size, they can be an excellent companion in your gigs.