Does one really need a cutaway?

[Macpage]

This is AGF. I thought the norm was that owning a cut-away was another reason to have 2 of everything.

I do like to have it for rock solos and some fingerstyle, but it's nice to have a full body around as well.

Best,

Mac

[markrj]

Originally Posted by mattwood

If you have a 12 fretter cutaways can definitely be useful.

+1

My new Larrivee Forum VI is a 12 fret cutaway. I also own a OO-40 12 fret with no cutaway.

I started out with a cutaway back in the day and vastly prefer the feel and the look.

[Bob Womack]

If you need 'em, you need 'em. If you don't, you don't. It is hilarious that something so straightforward can generate such strong opinions.

Bob

[The Bard Rocks]

Originally Posted by zmf

..

Bottom line is that I just don't like the looks of cutaways. But then I also like cars with manual transmissions.

You are my kind of person!

[MarkLee]

Originally Posted by Puddleglum

I’ve been thinking of getting a cutaway guitar since my playing does often take me up into the higher frets. A couple things have held me back.

One, I think of players like Tommy Emmanuel who play insanely good all over the FB and don’t use a cutaway. I know he has cutaway guitars, but 99% of the time he’s on his OM style Matin with no cutaway.

Two, I have only one guitar, only want to have one guitar, and I love it a lot. It’s getting older and well-seasoned and I don’t want to start over with a new model. I know I could add a second guitar but I really like the simplicity of having one great guitar to devote my playing to.

What say you?

I'll start by saying I have only one guitar with a cutaway, and I don't really need it, I can play my repertoire on the other guitars.

I'll also add that the guitar you see Tommy Emmanuel with 99% of the time is neither an OM nor a Martin. It's a Maton 808, more or less the size of a Martin 00 but as deep as a dreadnaught. It's an ugly looking and sounding combination in my opinion, but they sell well here so I'm in the minority.

[ewalling]

Another here who does not see the need for them and does not like the look of them on 14-fret guitars. On 12-fretters, like my Kremona Verea, they are useful and, I think, look good.

I wonder if the popularity of a cutaway on the 14-fret acoustic can be attributed to the popularity of Taylor guitars.

[Purfle Haze]

Originally Posted by Br1ck

Of people I've seen playing cutaway guitars, 95% don't need them.

Sez you!

It's more, by pure numbers, a fashion statement.

You are, of course, free to be unfashionable.

To generalize wildly, as you have, I think that Taylor Guitars have made the cutaway acceptable for the open-minded, and I think that younger people buy Taylors, older farts buy Martins. Someday, non-cutaway guitars will be the minority, if they are not already.

Good luck!

[Coler]

I didn't think I needed a cutaway. Then I guess I started playing/trying to play things that I would never have attempted before and now I'm pretty clear that in general I want one, on a 6 string guitar anyway.

I understand Tommy Emmanuel doesn't need one but there are quite a few people who reckon he's a better player than I am.

[stormin1155]

Of the eight acoustics that I play regularly, only one has a cutaway. I don't miss the cutaway on the other seven and prefer the looks of non-cutaway. Interestingly though, the cutaway guitar has a matte finish on the sides/back/neck, and the finish is worn shiny in the cutaway area, so I do use it without really realizing it.

[Todd123]

Originally Posted by Purfle Haze

Sez you!











You are, of course, free to be unfashionable. [emoji38]



To generalize wildly, as you have, I think that Taylor Guitars have made the cutaway acceptable for the open-minded, and I think that younger people buy Taylors, older farts buy Martins. Someday, non-cutaway guitars will be the minority, if they are not already.



Good luck!

Well THAT was pretty wild...

[KevWind]

Originally Posted by Bob Womack

If you need 'em, you need 'em. If you don't, you don't. It is hilarious that something so straightforward can generate such strong opinions.

Bob

It is pretty funny how people can actually be serious about projecting their personal preference, on to what others need or don't need.
Well except for the well documented Fact that "real" guitar players prefer dark chocolate

[s2y]

I used to think the extra expense generally wasn't worth it until I played the right guitars. I haven't played too many guitars in the Martin family that sound great up there. Contrast that with something like a Willborn and those sound a lot better in the upper register.

[fitness1]

Originally Posted by Bob Womack

If you need 'em, you need 'em. If you don't, you don't. It is hilarious that something so straightforward can generate such strong opinions.

Bob

Haha - yes, nail on the head.

When I saw the title I thought "do you really need a back seat in a car?"

Kind of the same thing - only if you have to use it!

[Vognell]

Sometimes you do, sometimes you don't. I've seen classical guitarists arch their hands over the top to get those high frets...but it ain't convenient. Most of my steel strings do not have cutaways, just my EJ-200 and Breedlove Wildwood.... and there are times I do want the high-fret access... but with the tunes I play right now, not that often.

[EZYPIKINS]

I've got a Gibson J-185ce. The cutaway is not the most usable, because of the thickness of the body.

Martin GPCPA1 on the other hand, is quite ergonomic. I am surprised how easily i can move, well above 14th fret.