Anyone else hate dreadnoughts?

[Twelvefret]

Originally Posted by JamesStA

Don't own any anymore and can't see myself owning one again. I find them incredibly uncomfortable to play, and the shape looks fairly ugly to my eye. Am I alone in this?

Like asking if anyone hates cellos.

[devellis]

I certainly don't hate them, but they're not my favorites. I have one slope-shoulder dread and that's all. I much prefer the tone and comfort of smaller guitars for what I play. Dreads certainly have their place but to me, they're not optimal for my playing style.

[hakotaco]

I couldn't agree with you more OP. I think they're so ugly. I think the OM and the 000 are the most beautiful guitar shapes. You just got to find one with big sound. My OM28V gets the job done

[sweiss]

I used to think if you weren't playing a dread, you weren't playing a real guitar.
Anything smaller was just some three-quarter size toy. An opinion, I'm afraid, with no basis other than my own ignorance.

Now, years later, with some actual experience under my belt, I've come to appreciate the smaller sizes much more. Not in comparison to the dread, but each for it's own unique difference.

I still like dreads, but no longer to the exclusion of everything else.

[Pitar]

Jumbo Concert is as big as I'll go and, yes, they are capable of competing with dreads. I don't strum so that is not one of my needs. Still, the JC I've got can keep up with that if needed.

I don't hate any acoustic guitar. I've seen some electrics that appear to have been designed to elicit that, though. I will say the Florentine cut is out of character for the normally fluid aesthetic of an acoustic like racing stripes are to a Mini Cooper.

[JamesStA]

Perhaps replace hate with dislike?

[JamesStA]

Originally Posted by hakotaco

I couldn't agree with you more OP. I think they're so ugly. I think the OM and the 000 are the most beautiful guitar shapes. You just got to find one with big sound. My OM28V gets the job done

Yes, OM and 000 are my favorite--I think they're actually the same body shape, just different scale lengths.

I came close to picking up an OM-28, but went with a Taylor 314 instead because I didn't feel I knew enough to justify spending that much. But perhaps one day I'll grab one.

[ukejon]

Good bet that United Airlines does:



(I love this song....)

[AndrewG]

I'm not too keen on the traditional square shouldered dread (D-**/Hummingbird), but I'm quite partial to original, modified designs such as Yamaha's 'L' series. I also like slope dreads very much; in particular 12-fret, slot head classic designs like the lovely Martin CEO-5 I once owned.

[Earl49]

Originally Posted by coloradoman

I don't hate them but my right shoulder does.

^ this. My advice kids - don't crash a motorcycle in your youth and torque your right shoulder if you eventually might want to play a dreadnought sized guitar as an adult. That's why all of mine these days are GA sized. And I generally play with a strap now.

[JamesStA]

Originally Posted by ukejon

Good bet that United Airlines does:



(I love this song....)

haha

[muscmp]

why is the term, "hate," being used so much lately? you cannot really hate a guitar. you may not like them but hate is not an option.

that is like just one of the recent posts where someone went to a store wanting to hate a particular guitar. i'm sorry but i just don't understand.

just....

play music!

[oldmanonthebike]

Chances are you haven't owned a stellar dreadnaught yet. When you get bitten by a great dreadnaught, you'll know what you've been missing. A great dreadnaught does everything well. I speak from experience.

[Brucebubs]

Dreadnoughts are undeniably popular because they do all things reasonably well.
They pick, they strum and they finger-style OK.
But they are not my favourite.
I prefer bigger, more rounded bodies and the depth of sound/tone they produce.

[AllThumbsBruce]

A lot of people find dreadnoughts uncomfortable. I wonder if body shape plays a role there? Maybe we need a guitar size vs BMI plot.

As far as looks, I find most guitar shapes appealing. As far as sound, dreads rule!