can someone explain the actual differences between guitar D , J,etc..models

[DMAJ135]

D 16 D 15 D45 J45 j50, ETC?? Is it body dimensions or bracing s???

[Dru Edwards]

D is a dread, J is a jumbo, so they are different body sizes. The dreads you listed are Martins whereas the jumbos are Gibson.

Given that, don't expect one manufacturer's dreads or jumbos or whatever to be the same as another manufacturer's. They often have different body dimensions, different bracing, etc.

The Martin numbers represent the series which have different trims, wood, etc.

BTW - Welcome to the AGF! Are you thinking of buying one of the guitars you listed?

[DMAJ135]

no, just wondering what the differences are...thank you

[davenumber2]

Here's a fairly thorough guide to the Martin body sizes and models.

http://onemanz.com/guitar/reviews/ac...l-designation/

[Dru Edwards]

Originally Posted by DMAJ135

no, just wondering what the differences are...thank you

It gets really confusing for sure. It's a great question.

[DCCougar]

Originally Posted by Dru Edwards

...don't expect one manufacturer's dreads or jumbos or whatever to be the same as another manufacturer's.

Exactly. As far as I know, Gibson's "Advanced Jumbo" is basically a dreadnought. Gibson's SJ100 or SJ200 ("Super Jumbo") is a real jumbo in my book, with a 17+ inch lower bout, as is Guild's F50, F512, etc.

[Hobo_King]

As mentioned the letter is typically a body size and shape that can differ from one brand to another. The numbers usually represent a specific grouping of inlay, color, wood etc.. that's specific to each brand as well. Most brands are pretty consistent about what a basic dreadnought is. It gets really inconsistent between brands when you start talking about smaller body sizes 0,00,000, concert, grand concert, auditorium, grand auditorium, parlor, folk. The only thing consistent is they are generally smaller than a dreadnought.

[ljguitar]

Originally Posted by DMAJ135

D 16 D 15 D45 J45 j50, ETC?? Is it body dimensions or bracing s???

Hi Dmaj-etc

The sizes & names are not universal between different builders, and if anything are still becoming more diverse.

Here's a couple charts from about 2005 someone on this forum did.

None of these have actual physical measurements, scale, or other details.

I find that actual measurements tell me less than playing an instrument. I've played hundreds of guitars, so if someone can give me a measure that is relatively similar to another, I can make conclusions.

I also find that measurements don't tell the story of the tone, sustain, projection, responsiveness, action, neck profile or playability of instruments.

[ljguitar]

Originally Posted by DMAJ135

D 16 D 15 D45 J45 j50, ETC?? Is it body dimensions or bracing s???

HI Dmaj etc

I was thinking, I bet the guys at Norm's Guitar, or The North American Guitar, or Dream Guitars or The Guitar Gal could do a lot of helpful comparisons.

There are far more differences than dimensions and bracing. Sometimes it's the woods (solid or laminate), fingerboard material, scale, string spacing at both nut and saddle, neck profile etc.

[MarkLee]

A Martin Dreadnought is nominally 15⅝" wide, a Gibson Jumbo is 16" unless the number after the J is 100 or more, in which case it's a 17" Super Jumbo.

[blindboyjimi]

Originally Posted by DMAJ135

D 16 D 15 D45 J45 j50, ETC?? Is it body dimensions or bracing s???

As someone already said: The Ds are Martin Dreadnaughts. The letter is the Size and the number is the Series. The D-16 is a lower series as is the D-15 which is a Mahogany back and side with a Mahogany top. The D-18 is a spruce top and Mahogany back, the D-28 is a Spruce top and East Indian Rosewood back and sides. The D-35 has a 3 piece Rosewood back and a Spruce top with a 1/4” X brace (making it very bass heavy). The D-40, 41, 42, 45 all have varying amounts for abalone pearl making for a fancier variety of D-28. Martin varies the nut width, saddle spacing, neck shape, and internal bracing amongst many different models. The Martin sound is traditionally big bass and trebles with a “scooped” (less prominent mid-range)

The Gibsons J-35, 45, 50, AJ, SJ are all slope shoulder dreadnaught so have a rounded upper bout. Whereas the Hummingbird and many others are the traditional dreadnaught shape in the Gibson style. Gibson varies their scal length more offering many short-scale models (J-35/45/50) as well as long-scale such as the AJ. Gibsons traditional tone is more midrange centric.