What's a loud small body acoustic?

[Jersey tuning]

Both my 1930 Martin 2-17 (12" lower bout ) and Tacoma PK 30 are very loud for their size.

[warfrat73]

a mandolin

[PeteCady]

Among those I now own: Rainsong OM-1000 and Collings 000-2H.

Among those I don't own: '61 00-18 that I got, new, for Christmas '62, and that my daughter now owns, following decades of horrible, thoughtless abuse by me, and a major rebuild by Bryan Kimsey in '01; and the long scale 0-28 that Mario Proulx built for his wife, that I got to play briefly at Kaufman Kamp in '08.

Peter.

[guitargarden]

My Halcyon Parlour (Lutz Spruce/Ovangkol) and Thompson T-2 (Sitka Spruce/East Indian Rosewood) are small guitars with plenty of volume (and projection and sustain). I imagine a Halcyon 00 would be another great small one.

If you'd like a larger "small" guitar, consider a Halcyon 000. Love mine!

[JLed79]

My Taylor 412 is surprisingly loud for its small body.

[Ted @ LA Guitar Sales]

Originally Posted by luigib

Anyone ever played one that was surprisingly loud compared to a dred?

Since you don't mention how small I'll assume 0, or parlor size in which case a top contender would be a vintage Martin 0 12-fret or a custom built to vintage specs. Many of the Martin clones are also surprisingly loud and that includes the Eastman Parlors of course.

[GibbyPrague]

Yep, 000-18GE, gave quite a few dreads a good run for its money in terms of volume.

Probably currently my fave Martin model.

[Opa John]

I played a GS mini for the first time about a week ago. I was thoroughly impressed with how much sound comes out of such a small guitar. It wasn't quite a loud as a dreadnought, but it didn't miss it by much. If Taylor would come out with one with body binding on it, I'm sure I'd buy one.

[llew]

The smaller but "deep body" guitars come closest for me to competing with a dread. The Huss & Dalton CM, Bourgeois JOM, and either of Collings offerings in their OM or C-10 line but with the deep body option.

[ljguitar]

Originally Posted by luigib

Anyone ever played one that was surprisingly loud compared to a dred?

Hi luigib...

I've heard some little guitars which are loud in an electric drill sort of way (loud but not particularly pleasant sounding).

I have an OM which holds it's own in a jam. It's amazingly loud compared to a normal OM. When played along with my Dreadnought, it holds it's own nicely…if I were to lean into the Dreadnought, the OM will lose (as if it's a contest).

[muzz76]

Collings 01, Froggy P

[okieboy]

This morning with no one else at home I took out the D-16 Adirondack and the 0-28VS. I played each one. The O is no cannon but it is surprisingly loud.

[random works]

I have a custom guitar that has a 12 inch lower bout and is 3.5 inches body depth at the tail. It is very loud even with nickel strings and can be sweet or sassy, but it is not by any means a guitar for strumming, I don't use a pick at all on this one. I like to experience the difference between it and my OM guitar. When strummed hard it can be too loud in an ear grating way.

[Captain Jim]

I am a fan of the GSmini. I have played out with mine, plugged in and acoustically, and it always pleasantly surprises me. I considered selling it when I bought a Rainsong Shorty (for the virtues of traveling with a carbon fiber guitar), but the Mini is just so comfortable and competent. A lot of sound for the money.

Captain Jim

[vic@leftiesonly]

Lowden S35 ... Collings O has a surprising amount of volume, as well. But, as the saying goes, a Lowden is a loud 'un.

Size comparisons I did a couple days ago of some current inventory guitars, Lowden in the middle ... yes, they are all lefties