Acoustic Guitar Shapes & Sizes
There is arguably more enthusiasm for innovation and experimentation in the acoustic guitar world than for electric guitars. Even so, most acoustics conform to a handful of shapes and sizes that have been around for a century or more. Many of these body styles were introduced by Martin Guitars, and its model designations are still widely used – irrespective of the manufacturer. As with solidbody electrics, when one or two brands dominate the market, smaller companies tend to copy their successful designs.
American-made guitars really began to diverge from the European tradition during the 1850s. Most ‘classical’ guitars began following the dimensions and fan-bracing pattern employed by the legendary Spanish luthier Antonio De Torres. Meanwhile, over in Pennsylvania, Christian Frederick Martin developed an X-shaped bracing pattern that proved equally influential.
Migrants brought their musical instruments and traditions to America, and smaller gut-string guitars struggled to compete with the volume of fiddles and mandolins. These instruments often used metal strings, and steel guitar
