Conference napalm::guitar

well, here's how it went for me.

I had an Ovation Balladere..  Dumped it for an Ibanez lonestar.
Now realize the lonestar is an electric acoustic in the purest sense.

The cutaway is more for looks than sound...  It's simply a closed off
hole.. No sound comes from it at all, unlike that Tak's, hammers and
thin body guilds and Washburns.



So what came next was inevitable..


I bought another Ibanez that's a strait acoustic for kitchen
concerts.

one thing about the thin body cutaways.

they are WICKED comfortable to play.  So I keep me electric acoustic
as well as the full-body acoustic. And with a little help from a
graphic eq. and a DSP128, I can get some amazing sounds out
of her.

Eventually, when it's time for the auction block, they'll probably both go 
to pave the way for a twelve stringer...  Right now I need one, and
wouldn't want to do with out the other,,

By the by, the cutaway washbsurns are thin enough, yet thick enough
to do a decent job covering both requirements.

It's not the fullest,,, but then again...

    I've played a couple really fine custom built acoustics, both the same
    guitar, one with and one without a cutaway.  I didn't notice any
    difference in sound.
    
    Will

    
    Hey, Will.  What about the one you're gonna have custom built?
    
    J-Dot

    Don't get me started...("embossed" big?? Aw come on, read a little ;^))
    
    Actually, the two customs I played are the ones like mine.  I ordered
    the cutaway on mine, and I'll probably have a Strat dimensioned neck
    put on it with very low action.
    
    It's Cedar top, Duane's own radial-x bracing, Indian rosewood body and
    neck, ebony fretboard.  Medium sized body, but extra deep for that full
    dreadnaught sound, (same cubic inches as a dreadnaughtt) with the top
    and bracing being tuned for touch sensitivity.  It's killer.  The sound
    just jumps right out of the things.  I guess Duane has built 3 or 4
    with this design.
    
    Like I said, the cutaway didn't make a difference in the sound.
    
    Will (who's drooling just thinking that he can't wait till Christmas)

    In my experience, a cutaway doesn't have an effect on the sound as much
    as the way the guitar is constructed.  Smaller bodied instruments tend
    to have a "tighter", more balanced and focused sound than dreadnaughts. 
    The wood makes a difference too.  I have a D-28 (Indian Roeswood) that
    has a warm, big sound.  But I also have a Martim OM (000-sized) that is
    very warm (Brazilian Rosewood).
    
    The point you make about the Tak and its electronics is no small point. 
    I believe that any good acoustic can be an excellent electric with the
    right components.  I have a Martin Thinline pickup in my D-28.  I feed
    it to a small equalizer/pre-amp that gives the same control as you will
    get from the Tak.  The sound is very good.
    
    Try, if you can, a Taylor guitar.  They are made in California in a
    number of models.  I have a 612, which is like a Martin 000.  It made
    of maple and also has a pickup.  It is very corfortable to play since
    it is smaller than the D-28 and has a tremendous neck, sorta like a Les
    Paul.  The same model can be had in a number of different woods
    (rosewood, koa, mahogany, maple), trims and with a cutaway.  A friend
    has one in koa (top, back and sides) with a cutaway.  It sounds just
    about the same as mine and it is beautiful.
    
    Paul
    

    re .0
    
    I don't think the acoustic sound difference between the Guild and the
    Tak is the cutaway, necessarily -- sounds like the Guild is just a
    better acoustic guitar.  I'd keep the Guild and get a second guitar for
    playing out.  'Course my wife would probably kill me, but she's gonna
    eventually anyway.
    
    - Evan